Terms of a Texas Marriage(31)

She shook her head. “No. But I would dearly love a bath.”

“To your left through that door, Mrs. Morreston.” A man in a hotel uniform stood just inside the doorway to the suite. “Please, allow me to draw it for you. How do you like the water?”

While Shea groped for an answer, Alec interjected, “Very warm. Thanks.” When the man disappeared into the next room, Alec looked at her, his eyes glittering with amusement. “Hopefully you’ll have plenty of hot water.”

She couldn’t help but return his smile. He was referring to the night Scotty had used all the hot water and she’d had to finish her shower in the icy tap from the well. In frustration she’d then gone after a sleeping Alec with a pillow.

“You’ll find some clothes in the closet and bureau. I left it up to the salesclerk to send over what you’d need until you can replenish your wardrobe. If she missed something, let me know.”

“Thanks.”

The master bedroom was as spacious as the vast living area. It had the same wall of glass offering the million-dollar view, only it was dominated by a huge bed draped with silken linens so thick and luxurious it looked as if a person could completely disappear into the softness when she lay down.

The dressing room and bath were just beyond it. Shea was quite certain the oval tub could hold ten people. At least.

She emerged an hour later feeling clean and pampered and smelling of lilacs. Dressed in one of the comfortable new white T-shirts from the bureau, she walked directly to the bed and climbed in.

Exhaustion pulled her into sleep. She had a vague awareness that Alec joined her sometime in the night. His strong arms pulled her close, offering his warmth and security.



The rays of the morning sun filtered softly through the sheer draperies. Shea opened her eyes, remembering immediately where she was and all that had happened. On the far corner of the bed she spotted a deep red rose with a note underneath it. After picking up the beautiful flower, she inhaled the rich perfumed aroma, then grabbed the small piece of paper.

Knew you needed to rest so I didn’t wake you. I’m in a meeting downstairs.

Coffee and juice on the side table. Back as soon as I can.

-Alec

He had no need to hurry. As far as his plans for the ranch, he would have to wait while she cleared the land of several employees—some of whom lived on the ranch—the horses and roughly three thousand head of cattle. It wouldn’t happen overnight. In fact, she didn’t quite know where to begin. But now that this stumbling block over ownership had been resolved, Alec could get back to his life and somehow she would have to find a way to get on with hers. Wherever that would be. Whatever it entailed.

Fanning through the new clothes that hung in the huge closet, she selected a simple yet elegant dress in robin’s egg blue. There were some pumps with the name Trump in gold lettering on the insole.

As she sipped a cup of delicious coffee delivered by a hotel employee, she sat back and looked out over the city of Dallas, her mind on Alec and what to say to him before she left. It would be painful to say goodbye. She loved him so much. But she would not be one of those women who clung to men who didn’t want them. Leaving was the right thing to do. The only thing to do. Maybe he’d stop by and say hello if his business ever brought him back to the area. The tears welled in her eyes but she forced them back. This time, for Alec, she had to be strong.

By late afternoon she needed a new space. She was not used to sitting idle. Around two, Alec called to explain he would be tied up for a while longer. She assured him there was no hurry and went out to explore the hotel on her own.

With a soft ding, the elevator door opened to the marbled lobby. Stepping out, she immediately noticed a large flat-screen television mounted on the wall behind the concierge’s stand. It listed the various shops and meeting rooms and the locations of each. Beneath the Presidential Suite, one name stood out: Morreston.

A chill ran down her spine. Could this be the meeting Alec had mentioned about the development of the ranch? Without any conscious thought, she began making her way in that direction. After rounding the far corner, she took a small escalator up to the next level.

The royal-blue carpeted reception area was deserted. Her hands clenched into fists as she walked silently to the meeting room entrance and pulled open one of the mahogany doors. Immediately she was assailed with the buzz of conversation. About forty men and women filled the room. Some held flutes of champagne while others sipped coffee. Most stood in smaller groups, nodding or arguing some point they were trying to make. But the mood throughout the entire room was excitement.

Stepping inside, she searched for Alec, finally spotting him in the far corner. Like the other men in the room, he wore a dark suit and tie. From the way it fit, no doubt it was custom tailored and probably cost more than the ranch. Surrounded by eight or nine people, his hands moved as he emphasized the point he was making.

The churning in her stomach made her feel queasy. This was it. The meeting. And these were the people, the investors, who’d put up millions to develop the Bar H, putting their faith in Alec to give them America’s grandest entertainment complex for their vested interest.

He was at home in this setting. So confident. So self-assured. These people were accomplished in their own right, yet they held Alec and his capabilities high on a pedestal, clinging to his every word. The more that realization sank in, the smaller she felt.

A white-jacketed waiter appeared next to her, offering glasses of champagne on a silver tray. She shook her head in polite refusal. What was she doing here? Had she honestly thought something good would come of the affair with Alec? And clearly, that’s all it had been. At least to him.

Her eyes fell on a large display table in the center of the room. She knew it was a scale model rendering of the future of the ranch. Strangely, she didn’t care to look any closer. It no longer mattered. Alec would probably direct the project from his office in New York. When this meeting ended, Alec would be gone.

Tears stung her eyes as her entire body began to tremble. Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to swallow back the nausea churning in her stomach. She thought she’d been prepared to accept the eventuality of his leaving and say goodbye with an understanding smile, keeping the agony of regret hidden deep inside. She hadn’t foreseen that the pain of losing him would be so horrific. Now she had to wonder how she would ever get through this.

Feeling lost in the din of voices, she took one last glance toward Alec. A man separated himself from the others, placed his hand on Alec’s arm and nodded in her direction. For an instant, their eyes met before the world tilted and the room began to spin.

Shea turned, making her way back to the lobby, away from the meeting room before her tears fell and she embarrassed Alec in front of his colleagues.

The elevator doors immediately opened when she pressed the button. As she stumbled inside, she heard Alec’s voice calling her name.



“Shea!”

His deep voice exploded into the hotel suite. Despite the emotions running rampant, her heart still responded to the sound of his voice. Hastily she swiped the tears from her face.

“They have it wrong.” He spoke to her from the bedroom doorway. “That scale model is not even close to what I intended. A few of the investors have a tendency to push things to the limit. What you saw is not going to happen.”

“It’s okay.” Shea nodded and began folding the few items of clothing Alec had bought for her. There had been too many harsh words between them, too much pain, too many regrets in the few months they’d been together. She hadn’t even seen the model. She hadn’t wanted to look. Alec had already told her the way of life as she’d known it was over. The old house burning down had underscored his point. Changing the scale model wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t change how she felt about him. It wouldn’t make him stay. She just needed it all to stop, needed this insane emotional roller coaster to come to a permanent end.

“It doesn’t matter,” she replied quietly, calmly. “It’s your land. You can do with it whatever you want.”

“Shea—”

She shook her head and forced a smile as she placed the remaining personal items in the small designer sack that would serve as a suitcase, holding all she had left in the world. Lifting it from the bed and pasting on a brave smile, she turned to face Alec. “Congratulations on your project. I mean that. I’m sure your venture will be a huge success. Your investors have confidence in you. They know you’re the best.”

She had to accept Alec would be leaving and never coming back. She knew once this was a done deal, the restraints of the old lease over and forgotten, she would never see him again. Fresh tears threatened to fall but she determinedly held them in check.

“Someday, if you’re back in this area for any reason, be sure and stop—” She couldn’t finish. She couldn’t tell him to stop by and say hello. She had no idea where she would be. “Stop by Leona’s. She’ll know where to find me.”

For a long moment, Alec watched her. He opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something, then apparently thought better of it. For that she was grateful. The only thing left was admitting her love for the man who stood so tall, so handsome in front of her. But she wouldn’t do that. She would not push him from one awkward situation into another. She respected him too much to do that.