Chapter Seven

Rick was at Cathie’s at five o’clock sharp. He couldn’t believe how long the last few days had been. More than once he’d started to call her but had stopped himself with the reminder that this was a fling. Not a relationship. Would he like for it to move that direction? He wasn’t sure. Lauren’s dishonesty still had him weary of trying to find something serious. Yet something about Cathie had him believing she was different.

In truth, he could already tell she was. Her laughter, her wit, did something to him. Calmed him somehow. Being around her was like when he had been refinishing his banister. Therapeutic. Easy. Right. Surely his people judgement wouldn’t let him down again?

It didn’t matter, for now a fling was all she had agreed to.

Cathie opened the door to his ring and he swooped her into his arms, giving her a kiss that had him rock hard with frustration, before he pulled away. He growled, “I wish I had time to see your bedroom but we’ve got to get going.”

“Well, hello to you too.” She smiled. She was as excited to see him as he was her. He could get used to that.

“Hey.” He really looked at her. She wore a little sundress in a floral print that showed off most of her shoulders. Her legs were bare except for bobby-socks and canvas shoes on her feet. She’d pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Everything about her was completely appealing. There was nothing there of the flash woman he was used to seeing.

“Is something wrong?” She looked worried.

He smiled. “No, not at all. It’s just that you don’t dress anything like you do at work.”

That concerned looked reached her eyes for a second. “I, uh, have to look the part there. This is more like the real me.”

He took her hands and looked at her small perfect face. “I like the real you.”

Her smile was soft as she said, “I like you too.”

That simple statement had him feeling better about himself than he had in a long time.

Cathie’s face turned serious again. “Rick, can we talk for a minute?”

“Let’s do it on the way. We don’t have much time if we’re going to stop by the site and still get out to Mike and Melissa’s.”

“Site?”

“Yeah, I wanted to go by there. I brought the blue prints to show you. Where’s your bag?” She pointed next to the door. He picked it up and took her hand. “Ready?”

Cathie grabbed her purse. “As I’ll ever be.”

As he drove to the site, Rick talked about his plans and the surrounding area. Carrie asked a few questions but mostly she listened. There was no good chance for her to tell him. She would do it on the way to his friend’s. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the grass lot.

She climbed out of the car and looked over the space.

“Come around here and I’ll show you what I have planned.” He pulled some rolled up papers from the back seat of the car.

Carrie came to stand close as he spread the architectural drawings out for her review. She traced a finger along the lines of a couple of buildings. “Tell me a little bit about these.”

Rick explained the apartments he had planned, and the shopping area. As he did, he pointed around the field in the directions of where he envisioned the buildings being located. She studied the acres around them. “It sounds amazing. Have you thought about a green area, with maybe a playground? It would help bring young families in. Add that to a community center and you could bill the development as multi-age.”

“That’s a great idea! The only problem is that I’m not sure there’ll be room. I still have to figure out where to put Herbert’s community center. I already have my architect working double time to make the additions.” Rick rolled the plans up.

“I’m sure you’ll impress him. Your ideas are good enough that you don’t need me.”

He placed the plans in the car. He valued her vote of confidence. His ex-fiancée had never shown any interest in his work. His bottom-line yes, to actually look at plans, never. “Not according to Herbert.”

“Just take off your tie, unbutton your shirt three buttons and show some chest. He should be putty in your hand,” she quipped.

Rick threw back his head and roared with laughter. Her tinkling mirth joined his.

He was still working to control his humor when he said, “I’m not sure my cleavage will be as appreciated as yours.” It had been ages since he’d laughed. Or been around a woman who made him laugh. He could use more of that in his life.

“You never know until you try.” She gave him a teasing grin.

“I think I’ll just stick with taking you. I believe I’d have a better chance that way.” He shrugged. “I know Herbert’s a piece of work but he owns the property.”

“Why’s this such a make it or break deal for you? Surely there’s other land.” She had walked a distance into the lot and had now turned to face him.

Rick wanted her to understand. It mattered that she did. “Because this is the perfect piece of property in the right spot. I have the financial backing I need. I won’t just be doing small projects here and there. With this one, I step into the big league.”

“That matters?”

“Sure it does. I want to grow my business. Make a good name for myself in the city.”

“The name is important. Why?” She was watching him closely.

His eyes narrowed. “Why all the questions?”

Cathie shrugged. “I just want to understand you better.”

He studied her for a minute unsure how to respond. Was there an ulterior motive to her questions? Her innocent look told him differently. “My mother ran around on my father for years. Everyone in town knew it. My father became a laughing stock. Mother lied to cover it up but she made our happy family a joke until my father said enough. Because of her, our name was in the papers for months during the court battle. My father lost his business and was never the same again. The least I can do is make the Marshall name mean something again.”

Now Carrie understood. That was why Rick was so cut and dry about lying. He’d seen firsthand the ugliness that lies created. Because of her he would experience it all again. She wanted to know more about him and she got more than she bargained for. “I’m sorry that happened to you and your family.”

Tell him! But if she did it now after that statement so fresh on his mind he would never forgive her. Their relationship might be about sex and a good time but for some reason it mattered greatly that he thought well of her. She wanted to salvage something of their friendship.

“Me too. I’ve been lied to one to many times.”

She winced. Was that a knife going into her side?

“Hey, you okay?” He walked toward her. “Be careful out here. I don’t want you to twist an ankle.”

Here she was going to hurt him and he was concerned about her. It was nice to have someone who was. The fact that it was Rick made it extra nice. It had always been everyone watching after Cathie. Their parents hadn’t meant it, but the attention had never been on her.

“I didn’t know you could sound so bossy,” she said.

He grinned. “I only get that way around people I care about.”

“Even when they don’t need it?”

Her question made Carrie pause. Is that what she’d been doing on a larger scale with Cathie? Bailing her out even when she really didn’t need it? Calling it caring, when it was closer to enabling? But hadn’t she done it because she loved her sister? But Cathie had started taking advantage of her. Now it was a one-way street going in Cathie’s direction.

Like where Rick was concerned. Cathie was only thinking about herself. Not Carrie or Rick. Why hadn’t she realized how selfish Cathie had become? How she’d helped her to become that way?

Rick threw up his hands. “Hey, I think I accidently stepped into something I know nothing about.”

“You might have but I appreciate your concern.” She joined him. Cupping his face, she gave him a passionate kiss trying to convey her feelings.

Carrie only hoped Rick still cared about her when he found out who she really was. She hoped he liked her enough that it wouldn’t matter that she wasn’t Cathie. Every time they had been in bed together it had been only her.

Now she must find the courage to tell him the truth.

He took her hand and led her towards the car. “You keep that up and we won’t make Mike and Melissa’s.”

She gave him a guiltless look. “Won’t they be hurt if we stand them up?”

“I’ll just tell them I was kidnapped by a sex fiend. They’ll understand.” His grin had a boyish flair.

She laughed. It was fun being around Rick. Slapping him lightly on the shoulder, she said, “You wouldn’t! You can’t blame your raging hormones on me.”

Rick looked perplexed for a second. “Who else can I blame them on? You’re the sexist woman I know.”

If he kept the compliments up she might cry. “Thanks for saying that.”

“You don’t think you’re sexy?” His voice held disbelief.

“I’ve been told I’m not exceptionally so.”

“Honey,” he pulled her against him, the desire evident in the hardening length of his anatomy. “You sure rev my motor.”

He almost filled her entire heart with that compliment. With head held higher, she walked around to her side of the car.