Somebody Like You Page 24

  Not every man wore a tux, he noted. The ones who didn’t, though, were outfitted in perfectly cut black suits with tailored shirts and big, silver belt buckles. Turquoise and silver bolos took the place of the bow tie currently strangling him. Raising his chin, he tugged at it.

  He glanced at Annie again. That dress was sexy as hell, yet somehow demure at the same time. He wasn’t quite sure how Maggie had pulled it off. He’d have to give her a call, though, and thank her. She’d outdone herself and had made Annie…and him…very happy.

  “I’m gonna sidle over to the bar. Think I’d prefer a Scotch to this bubbly. Unless they’ve got a cold Lone Star in a long-necked bottle, and I don’t guess the chance of getting that lucky is very good.”

  “All right. You know where our table is?”

  “Yeah. I spotted it when I came in.”

  Annie slid her hand in Dottie’s, and the two melted into the throng of benefactors.

  He made his way to the bar and grabbed an empty stool. “I’ll have a Scotch neat,” he said when the bartender approached him.

  “Cash?”

  The man beside him turned.

  “Brawley? Brawley Odell? What the heck are you doing here?” He wrapped an arm around his best friend and clapped him on the back.

  “I might ask the same. You’re lost, bro. Last time I checked, Maverick Junction was due south of the Big D.”

  Cash chuckled. “To be really honest, I’m not sure what I’m doing here. This is so not my thing.” The bartender placed his drink in front of him. Cash tipped him, took a sip, then set the glass on the counter. “You here alone?”

  “No, my date’s the brunette over there in the red dress.” He pointed at a well-endowed woman a few tables away. Brawley nudged Cash in the side. “Rachel’s a Dallas cheerleader. Flexible. Very, very flexible, if you know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, I think I get the picture.” Cash laughed. “Well, having you here, the night just got a whole lot better.”

  “Who’d you come with?”

  “I came with Annie. Actually, I flew her and Dottie Willis up from Maverick Junction today. We’ll stay overnight, then fly back to the ranch tomorrow.”

  “Dottie’s here?”

  “Yep.”

  “Did she bring any cookies?”

  “It wouldn’t surprise me to find a stash of them hidden in her suitcase.”

  “So who’s Annie?”

  “Annelise Montjoy. She’s—”

  He started to point, but Brawley stopped him.

  “I know who Annelise Montjoy is. The entire world knows Annelise. She’s tonight’s star attraction. Stepping up in the world, huh?”

  “Hardly.” A dark cloud flitted over Cash’s head. Everybody except him. How had he not known her? But then neither had the people of Maverick Junction. Guess it was a case of what you expected. No one expected to see the Montjoy heiress dressed in jeans and tees, working on a ranch, so they didn’t. She’d been out of her bubble.

  The town had seen only a hardworking, down-to-earth woman. She’d been hiding in plain sight.

  “You’re really here with Annelise Montjoy?”

  “Yeah, she’s actually working for me. On the ranch.”

  “Come on, you’re pulling my leg.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “No shit.” Brawley slapped him on the back. “Her Now and Then Foundation does good work.”

  “Have you met her?”

  “Nope.”

  Cash dragged Brawley across the room to meet Annie, who finessed a place for him and his date at their table.

  It was like homecoming. Cash, Brawley, and Dottie chatted about friends and neighbors. They talked all through dinner, catching up with one another’s lives.

  Cash noticed that Annie, though she’d carried champagne while schmoozing, stuck to soft drinks. He probably would, too, if he had to speak in front of this group. On second thought, if it was him taking center stage, he’d need more than a few stiff drinks to make it through the ordeal.

  Dinner cleared away, Annie took her place on stage and waited for an introduction. At some point, Rufus had joined Silas. He noticed both men now flanked the stage. They took their job seriously, and he was glad.

  Cash welcomed the chance to sit back and watch Annie. To enjoy her cool, elegant beauty. He marveled at how calm she looked in front of this group of movers and shakers. As she stepped to the podium, no one would have guessed she hadn’t spent hours preparing. She looked totally confident and self-assured.

  She made light of the introducer’s remarks about her having dropped out of sight. Smiling, she said, “I didn’t really. I knew right where I was.”

  The audience laughed, and Annie continued. “I’ve been incredibly busy, keeping my head low and getting work done. There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes to keep a business going, as I’m sure everyone here is all too well aware of.”

  Cash studied the audience, the nodding heads, and knew she’d be okay.

  Then she placed both hands on the lectern, leaned into it, and became one with the audience. Her voice, clear and impassioned, rang out over the room.

  “Tonight, you and I shared a wonderful meal. We ate more than we should have and will, no doubt, hit the gym a little harder tomorrow as a result. Yet right now, children are going to bed without dinner. Their bellies hurt, not from overindulging, but from lack of sufficient food, day after day after day.”

  Those spectacular blue eyes moved through the crowd, connecting and making it personal. “No child deserves that. In this land where we’re so blessed and have so much, there’s no excuse for hunger.”

  She paused for effect. “Equally important is seeing to it that when that child reaches adulthood, he can feed himself, can then pass it on and help another hungry child. That’s why our foundation focuses not only on today, but tomorrow. Now and then.”

  His chest swelled as he listened to her.

  “Children will be fed because you attended tonight. Children will be educated and become productive members of our society, and I thank you for that. My thanks, too, to the hotel and the wait staff for all their hard work. Without them, tonight wouldn’t have been possible.”

  As she received a standing ovation, Cash realized all over again that although she’d been brought up with everything, she never forgot the ones behind the scenes, the ones who did the grunt work. And didn’t that make her all that much more attractive? His Annie was beautiful through and through.

  Make that Annie. Just Annie. Not his.

  But oh, how he wished she could be. She’d become important to him. Very important. He didn’t want her to leave.

  He realized she had to. This was a train stop for her. Him, his ranch—they weren’t her life. Annie belonged here amidst this glitter. Here, tonight, this was her world.

  It wasn’t his.

  She wove through the tables, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries. When she reached their table, Cash stood and pulled out her chair, then dropped a light kiss on her cheek.

  “You did well, Annie. Really well. You’ve raised a lot of money tonight for one heck of a worthy cause. I’m proud of you.”

  Surprised, her eyes widened. “Thank you.” Turning her head, she brushed her lips over his. “If that picture makes the morning news”—she shrugged—“I can live with it.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Cash and Brawley returned from a bathroom break to find the star-struck Dottie twisting and turning in her seat, taking it all in.

  “Dottie, am I gonna have to track down a chiropractor for you before the night’s over?” Cash asked.

  Surprised, she swiveled toward him. “Why would you have to do that?”

  He chuckled. “The way you’re craning your neck, it’s bound to be sore.”

  “You’re bad, Cash.”

  When the talk turned to Maverick Junction, Cash noted Rachel’s polite yawns behind her hand. Yet he couldn’t help notice she was somewhat in awe of actually shari
ng a table with Annelise, the belle of the ball. Whenever one of the bigwigs came by, Rachel’s interest spiked, and she turned on the charm.

  Annie, in contrast, chatted happily—with or without a rich or famous audience. She charmed him. Such an old-fashioned term. How many times had his grandfather used it in regards to Grandma Edith? Cash understood now a whole lot better exactly what Grandpa had been talking about.

  People stopped at the table, most to meet Annie or have their picture taken with her. Some, though, were friends of his. When the senator walked away, Annie looked at Cash.

  “You’re pretty shrewd, aren’t you?”

  “Me?” he asked.

  “Yes, you. You come off as the aw-shucks rancher. That’s not you at all.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Part of you, maybe. But there’s a whole lot more to you than that.” When she reached over and straightened his tie, he caught the twinkle in Dottie’s eyes. “You’re a man of many facets, Cash Hardeman.”

  “Aren’t we all?”

  She thought about that a minute, her full lips pursed. “I suppose so.”

  “Well, then, there you go.”

  The talk turned to Doc Gibson, Maverick Junction’s vet for the last forty years or so.

  “I had him out a few days ago to look at one of my fillies.”

  “He’s one of the best,” Brawley said. “I was lucky to train under him.”

  Cash took a sip of his Scotch. “He’s making noises about retiring. I told him he can’t do that. We wouldn’t have a vet within a hundred-mile radius. But I think he’s serious this time.”

  “Yeah, he’s called me a couple times.”

  “Why are you even discussing this, Brawley? I mean, why in the world would he call you?” Rachel asked, twining her arm through his. “It’s not as if you’re thinking about ever going back to that—”

  She cleared her throat. “Back to your hometown.” She ran her other hand along the length of his arm.

  “No, we were talking, that’s all. Doc Gibson wanted my take on it. He wondered if I knew anyone who might be interested in something more rural.”

  “Something more rural? That’s kind of an understatement, isn’t it?”

  And there you go, Cash thought. The reason why, when he’d reminded Odell of the annual barbecue, he hadn’t wanted to include his Dallas cheerleader. She’d be as out of her element as a newborn colt in a herd of mule deer, nothing in common but the most basic factors. And somehow, he didn’t see Rachel as being a basics kind of gal.

  But, then, he’d been wrong about Brawley, hadn’t he? When his best pal had moved to the city, Cash had been certain he’d hate living in Dallas. Instead, he’d thrived here.

  The band began to play, and Cash looked at Annie, nodded toward the dance floor. With a slow smile, she stood and took his hand.

  She smelled so good. Relieved to finally have a chance to hold her close, Cash released the breath he swore he’d been holding all evening. With her in his arms, he didn’t care about the fancy, schmantzy room, the people who’d sucked up to Annie all night, the tie that still threatened to strangle him.

  It was incredible. It was like making love while standing up. He kissed her ear, the top of her head.

  He swore she purred.

  He spotted Brawley and Rachel on the dance floor and knew he’d pegged the situation correctly. Their body language said it all. As far as Brawley was concerned, they were over, but Rachel still had a ways to go before she crossed the finish line. Tough spot to be in.

  When the song ended, Cash walked Annie back to the table and stepped behind Dottie’s chair. “Hey, sweetheart, do me a favor? Come dance with me. Let’s show these people how it’s done.”

  Brawley seated Rachel, then turned to Annie. He held out a hand, and the two men led their partners onto the floor.

  It was a jitterbug. Cash twirled Dottie and delighted in her laughter. All the while, he watched Annie and Brawley. In addition to having a good seat when it came to horses, Annie moved well on her feet. She’d removed the sheer jacket, and her pale skin sparkled in the chandelier’s dimmed light. Had she dusted her shoulders with something? Or was the shimmer simply Annie?

  Exhausted and smiling, they collapsed in their seats at the end of the dance.

  “I’m giving up the ghost,” Dottie said. “You young people enjoy. It’s been a long day, and I’m tired. I’m going to turn in. Have fun. You certainly don’t need me here to do that.” She winked at Annie. “I won’t stay up waiting for you, honey—if you get my drift.”

  Annie blushed.

  Cash threw back his head and laughed. Standing, he pulled Dottie’s chair out for her. “Night, Dottie. Sleep well.” He gave her a quick buss on the cheek.

  Brawley stood, too, and gave the woman a hug. “Night, sweetheart. It was so good to see you.”

  “Oh.” Dottie clasped her hands in front of her. “This has been the best day. I can’t wait to tell my kids. Annie, honey, I can’t thank you enough.”

  “It was nothing.”

  “Bull. Don’t you even try feeding me that line.” She pirouetted. “All this.” Her hand trailed over her earrings, down the length of her dress. “You thought of everything.”

  Giving Cash a hug, she whispered, “Don’t screw this up and don’t hurt her, or you’ll answer to me.”

  *

  The band played their last song of the night. Annie again thanked everyone involved, and they said their good nights.

  “See you soon, Brawley?”

  “You bet.”

  As Cash walked out, hand in hand with Annie, he said, “You didn’t eat much tonight.”

  “I never do at these things. About the time I eat something with spinach in it, someone will pop a picture of me with green between my teeth. The tabloids would love it.”

  He laughed. “I suspected as much. Let’s go grab something.”

  “At midnight?”

  “You bet. My carriage hasn’t turned back into a pumpkin yet.”

  “You don’t have a carriage here in Dallas. You left it back in Maverick Junction.”

  “True.” He nodded toward Rufus. “Think it’ll be safe to take a short walk with the hulk there guarding us?”

  She grinned and nodded.

  “Good. I know a great dive not far from here.”

  And that’s exactly what it was. He and Annie shared a greasy burger and even greasier fries. Heads turned at their formal wear, but no questions were asked.

  Cash invited Rufus to sit with them, but he declined, taking a booth across from them. As if that provided them privacy, Cash thought. Still, he’d take what he could get.

  “How did you know about this place?”

  “I have my ways.” He grinned. “There’s more to me than just a pretty face.”

  “You have such beautiful dimples. Hey, Rufus,” she called across the aisle. Several heads turned toward them. “He’s pretty, isn’t he? He likes to joke about it, but isn’t this man drop-dead gorgeous?”

  Rufus grunted in response.

  “I didn’t hear you,” she teased.

  “Whatever you say, Ms. Montjoy.”

  Cash shook his head. “You sure do know how to embarrass a guy, Annie. Pretty?” He sat back, a smug smile on his face. “I’m handsome. Ruggedly handsome.”

  The elegant heiress snorted.

  They took a slow walk back to the hotel. Even with the city lights, stars winked at them from the heavens. The temperature had dropped slightly. It was one of those nights when you had to be happy to be alive. Rufus kept a respectable distance behind them.

  The doorman welcomed them back, and the three rode up to their floor in the elevator. Rufus stayed at his post at the end of the hall, giving them the appearance of privacy.

  Cash walked Annie to her room.

  “Thanks for the burger,” she said. “And thanks so much for this evening. You’ve been wonderful, Cash. It was my lucky day when I walked into Sally’s and found you.” She
reached up to kiss him lightly on the cheek.

  “No way,” he growled. “Rufus, close your eyes because I’m gonna kiss the girl.”

  At the end of the hallway, Rufus covered his laugh with a fake cough.

  Annie rolled her eyes. “That wasn’t very convincing, Rufus.”

  “See if this is.” Catching her face in his hands, Cash turned slightly so his lips met hers. He deepened the kiss, lingered over it. Their tongues danced and mated. He needed her.

  He broke the kiss, buried his face in her hair. “God, Annie, you smell so good. You’re incredibly beautiful. Come back to my room with me. Take pity on a starving man.”

  “I can’t. Dottie—”

  “Is asleep. You have separate bedrooms. She won’t know. She won’t care.”

  “Cash, I can’t. You don’t understand.”

  “I do understand.”

  “No, you don’t. The photographers—”

  “Screw the photographers.”

  “No. No way. They’ll have us splashed over every page of every magazine, every newspaper, every tabloid, every TV show. You can’t imagine.”

  “Annie, who cares? We’re two consenting adults. What we do doesn’t affect anyone else. It’s between you and me.”

  “I care, Cash.” She thumped her chest, then lowered her voice. “I care. And it isn’t only us who would be affected. I have a company whose shareholders care. Perception can be everything. I make the front page of the tabloids and our shares drop. That’s money out of someone’s pocket. Someone who very well might not be able to afford it.”

  He laid a hand on her shoulder. “You’re carrying a hell of a lot on these shoulders, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I am.” Her expression intense, she said, “And remember, I came here to find my great-aunt. I came hoping to find a cure for my grandfather. That’s the reason I’m here, not to have a fling.”

  Smarting, he stepped away. “I’m a fling?”

  “No. I—bad word choice.” Her face softened. “Now I’ve hurt you.” She laid a hand on his arm, ran it up and down. “You’re more than that, so much more. You’re—I honestly don’t know what you and I are to each other. You said yourself this is temporary. I’ve never—this is all new to me, Cash.”