“Not good enough.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Excuse me?”
“Have dinner with me this evening. I have a private dining area. I’d like it if you’d join me.”
“Do you think the boss would mind?”
Now she was teasing him. He guessed it was better than her throwing something at him.
“Please.”
“Okay,” she said as she smoothed her hand over the crisp white sheet and tucked it a little tighter at the corner. “I have a few ideas for the spa that I’d like to talk over with you. Nothing major. I asked Rhonda and she thought they were good ideas.”
“You have ideas already?”
“Oh, it’s a great spa. I just think if you added a few things it could be better.”
“Like tea and cookies?”
The warmth in her smile filled the room. “Yes, like tea and cookies…chocolates.”
“Then I’ll see you about six and we’ll discuss your ideas.”
“Six it is.”
There wasn’t any reason for him to hang around. He’d blundered and apologized. Then he’d invited her to dinner. Dumb excuse, but he did want to make it up to her.
And maybe he wanted to find out more about the woman who had made such a big difference in Katie Darnell’s day.
He left the spa area, his steps lighter than they had been in a long time. He glanced down at his watch as he walked inside the main building. He didn’t have that long to wait, either.
“You look like you’re in a good mood,” Cal said.
Brian looked up. “I’m always in a good mood.” His gaze swept over Cal. “Your hair’s wet.”
“I went swimming in the pond.”
“We have a pool.”
“I like the pond. Remember when we used to go there?”
Brian smiled. “I remember how we used to get in trouble for going there. Grandma was afraid we’d drown.”
“That’s three times.”
Cal had finally lost his marbles. “Huh?”
“You smiled the day I arrived, when we walked up from the barn and you were telling me about Wanda Jo, then just now. I was afraid you’d forgotten how.”
“Funny.”
“Seriously, you need to slow down a little and enjoy life.”
“You’re right,” Brian agreed.
“I am?”
“Yes, you are.” When Cal grinned, Brian remembered just how much his big brother meant to him. Speaking of which. “How’s it going with that reporter? I hate that you’re having to deal with all this crap. Say the word and I’ll toss her off the property.”
“I think I can handle her.”
“Good.”
“I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”
Brian could feel color flooding his face. “Actually, I have other plans.”
Cal gave him a questioning look.
“I’m having dinner with Celeste. She wants to discuss some ideas she thinks will improve the spa.”
“Ideas?”
Brian couldn’t stop his grin. “Yeah, ideas. Now go so I can finish my work.” But as Cal walked away, Brian heard his chuckle.
Brian found himself looking at his watch again and wondering why time was moving so slowly.
And then it was a quarter to six and he could feel his pulse speed up. When he stepped out of his office, Celeste was there, waiting for him.
“I would’ve come to your room,” he said.
“I didn’t know this was a date. I thought it was an apology, and so we could discuss some ideas.”
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. She had him there. “You’re in Texas, ma’am. A gentleman always meets a lady at her door.”
“Is that right?” She still looked skeptical.
“Absolutely.”
“I’m from California.”
“I won’t hold it against you. I’m sure you got to Texas as quickly as you could.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “That’s so not funny.”
“Then I’ll just hope you’re hungry.”
“Starved.”
“Good.” He led the way to the secluded alcove away from the dining room. This was his private spot. The bay windows looked out onto the back pasture, reminding him of what it had been like years ago, before he’d opened the ranch to the public. French doors led to a private patio.
There was no more spectacular view than when the sun was setting as it was now. Soft oranges blended into a darker red, then spread across into a wide open deep blue sky with threads of a light gray weaving through the palette of magnificent colors.
“You really love it here, don’t you?” she said.
“Does it show that much?”
“And then some.”
“I grew up here-me and Cal. It was our grandparents’ place. Our parents were killed in an accident and they raised us.”
“I’m sorry about your parents.”
“I didn’t really know them.”
“Then I’m doubly sorry.”
For a moment, he saw pain etched on her face and he wondered if she was remembering something from her own past, but he didn’t press because one of the young men who helped serve in the kitchen arrived with glasses and a bottle of wine that Brian had arranged for earlier.
“I took the liberty of asking Betty to fix us something special. I hope you enjoy the meal.”
She smiled and again he marveled at how she seemed to brighten the room.
“I’m sure I will.”
The waiter returned a few minutes later with salads and a basket of bread. For the first time in his life, Brian didn’t know what to talk about with a woman. Celeste saved him from stuttering like a fool.
“Tell me about life on the ranch.”
Okay, that was a safe topic as long as he didn’t mention Wanda Jo. “We have a ghost.” Oh, that was smart. Now she’d think she was having dinner with a lunatic.
“Really? I thought you didn’t believe in them.”
He shrugged, feeling the heat move up his face and was glad they were eating by candlelight. “I’ve never seen it or anything.”
“Sometimes you don’t have to. You can sense they’re there. Is it the person who smoked the pipe?”
“No, that was Grandfather. He loved his pipe.” He cleared his throat. “The ghost is at the old homestead. My grandmother said a young woman died there.”
“Oh, how sad that her spirit is trapped.”
He frowned. “I never thought about it like that.” He took a drink of his wine. “We have a guest staying there.”
“Will she free the ghost’s spirit?”
He laughed outright at that. “I don’t think so. She’s a reporter trying to get a story.”
“What kind of story?”
“About Cal.” When she still looked confused, he continued, “My brother plays professional football.”
“Yes, I know, and he does it very well.”
“She’s trying to dig up some dirt on him.”
Celeste frowned. “I hope she doesn’t print anything that will hurt his career. This reporter doesn’t sound like a very nice person.”
“I don’t think she is. Cal said Ms. Scott looks like an old nag our grandfather used to have.” He laughed and shook his head at the description Cal had used. That had been a really ugly horse.
“So why does he let her stay? I would think you’d throw her off the property.”
They stopped talking when the server brought their main course. As soon as he was gone, Brian continued.
“If it had been up to me, the reporter would already be gone.” He shrugged. “I think he wants to teach her a lesson about messing with other people’s lives.”
“I hope he does.”
He studied her. “Do you really like football?”
“I love it.”
An amazing woman. He nodded toward her plate. “How’s the steak?”
“Perfect.”
They finished eating and both declined dessert. He refilled her glass and they stepped to the terrace. A fountain bubbled in the background.
“It’s so tranquil here.” She looked up at the sky. “And so many stars. They seem so bright and so close I could almost imagine that I could reach up and grab a handful.”
He followed her to the edge of the patio, and when she turned to look up at him, he could only stare.