HER SECRET, HIS DUTY Read online

  Debra found Chad Brothers to be exactly the way Trey had described him, an entertaining dinner companion who had a big, bold laugh that escaped him often.

  By the second course he’d declared himself madly in love with her and wanted to hire her away from Kate to work for him. “Sorry, Chad,” she said with a laugh. “No matter how many times you declare your undying love for me, my loyalty is with the Winston family.”

  “You cut me to my very soul,” he declared with a mock look of dismay. “But I suppose I’ll forgive you if you cut the rug with me when the dancing begins.”

  “I would be most delighted,” Debra replied. “Though I have to warn you that I don’t dance very well at all.”

  “Not a problem, I’ve got two left feet so we should be just fine together,” he assured her with a charming smile.

  Tonight she wasn’t thinking about the fact that within another few weeks or so her pregnancy might be impossible to hide. She refused to dwell on the troubling events that had her believing herself half-crazy.

  Tonight she wasn’t anyone’s assistant, she was simply a guest at a dinner party in a waterfall of green silk that made her feel sexy and carefree.

  She’d refused wine at dinner, but felt intoxicated by the surroundings, the soft music and the fact that each time she glanced in Trey’s direction she caught his gaze on her and her heart would beat a little bit faster.

  He probably found it hard to believe that she could actually clean up so nicely, she thought. Still, she felt heady with knowing she had actually managed to turn a few male heads, that the event she’d worked so hard to put into place was going off without a single hiccup.

  When the last dish had been removed from all the tables the band began to play a little louder and Trey and Cecily took to the dance floor.

  “They make a nice couple, don’t they?” Chad said.

  Debra watched the couple gliding smoothly as if born to dance together and couldn’t help the wistful yearning that filled her. “Yes, they do,” she replied.

  “She’ll make a perfect political wife,” Chad continued. “She’s bright and beautiful, but more importantly, she probably wants this more than Trey does. She knows the ins and outs of the game and she plays well with others when she needs to.”

  Cecily plays well with others and I run with scissors, Debra thought dryly. Chad couldn’t know that with each compliment he gave Cecily, every time he mentioned what a perfect couple she and Trey made, he broke Debra’s heart just a little bit.

  Even though she knew that everything Chad said was right, that didn’t mean that Debra couldn’t wish that things could somehow be different.

  But she knew her future, and there was no Trey in it anywhere. She would be a single parent raising a child alone unless she eventually met a good man she wanted to invite into her life, into her child’s life.

  Even without a man she would be fine and at the moment her love for Trey made it impossible for her to think of having any other man in her life.

  There were moments when she ached with her love for Trey, but it was a love that would destroy him, destroy every plan he had for his future. It was a love she would have to lock deep in her heart forever.

  By ten o’clock the cash bar was active and the dance floor was filled with couples enjoying the music. Small groups of people dotted various areas of the room, talking and laughing among themselves.

  She saw Trey on the dance floor with his mother while Cecily danced with the mayor. Debra danced once with Chad and then gracefully declined two other men who approached her.

  She was growing tired, and by eleven she’d found a spot at the edge of the room where a chair sat beneath a potted tree. She was content to hide out and just watch the rest of the evening unfold.

  Another hour and it would all be over. The laughter, the music and the spirit of community that permeated the room would be finished and the tables would be broken down, chairs stored away to await the next big event.

  After tonight there would be no more meetings with Trey. She wouldn’t be surprised if this evening was followed fairly quickly by a public announcement of his and Cecily’s engagement.

  “Hiding out?”

  The familiar deep voice shot a fire of warmth in the pit of her stomach. She turned to see Trey standing next to her. “Just watching the fun,” she replied, and tried to ignore the slight flutter of her heartbeat.

  “You look much too lovely tonight to be hiding out beneath a potted plant,” he replied and held out a hand to her. “Come dance with me. I think they’re playing our song.” His eyes twinkled brightly.

  “We don’t have a song,” she replied. The orchestra was playing a slow song and the last thing she wanted was to be held in his arms. The last thing she needed was to dance with him. Even as these thoughts flew through her head, she found her hand in his as he pulled her up from her chair.

  She felt extremely self-conscious as he pulled her to the dance floor and into his arms. It was only then that she leaned closer to him. “I have two left feet, I can’t dance,” she whispered.

  He smiled down at her. “You can dance with me.” His words held such confidence that he made her believe if she was in his arms she could float across water.

  His hand on her back was strong and masterful as they took off across the dance floor. “You look amazing tonight,” he said and thankfully didn’t mention that at that moment she stepped squarely on his toes.

  “Thank you,” she replied, hoping he couldn’t hear the loud thunder of her heartbeat. She wanted to dip her head into the hollow of his throat, feel his body scandalously close against hers. “Your speech was pretty amazing, too. You had everyone in the room eating right out of the palm of your hand.”

  He laughed. “We’ll see about that by the campaign donations that appear in the next few weeks. If nothing else it seems that everyone has had a wonderful time tonight. My only regret is that I haven’t had a chance to dance with you before now.”

  She raised her head to gaze up at him and in his blue eyes she saw what she felt, desire and want and everything that shouldn’t be in those blue depths.

  She broke the eye contact and gazed over his shoulder. “I’m just glad it’s finally over and I can get back to my regular work.”

  He stiffened slightly, as if perhaps hurt by her words. “I’ve enjoyed working with you,” he finally said.

  “And I’ve enjoyed working with you, too,” she replied with forced lightness. “But now it’s over and it’s time for us each to get back to our own work, back to our own worlds.”

  Thankfully the music ended and she immediately dropped her hands from him and stepped away. “I’ll just tell you good-night now,” she said. “You’ll be busy later telling your guests goodbye.”

  She turned and hurried away, leaving him on the dance floor as she returned to the chair beneath the potted plant. For just a moment as he’d held her in his arms and glided her across the floor, she’d felt as graceful as a ballerina, as beautiful as a fairy-tale princess.

  It was a single moment in time that she would cherish for a very long time to come. By the time she was seated once again, Cecily was back at Trey’s side, smiling up to him with a possessive confidence that Debra could only envy.

  At midnight the orchestra stopped playing, indicating that the festivities were over. As people began to straggle out, Debra went in search of Stacy and found her in a small office just off the industrial kitchen.

  The two women remained there, chatting about the evening and what a success it had been until everyone had left. “Come on, I’ll walk you out,” Stacy said.

  As they reentered the ballroom Debra looked around. There was something almost sad about a ballroom with no people, an orchestra pit without music and a silky green dress going home all alone.

  “You’ll keep me
and the hotel in mind for anything that comes up in the future?” Stacy asked as they reached the lobby.

  “Absolutely,” Debra replied without hesitation. “We worked very well together and I look forward to doing it again.”

  “Great.” The two women said goodbye and Debra walked out into the cold night air.

  She got into her car and waited for her heater to begin to blow hot air. Her exhaustion hit her like a ton of bricks. It had been a long night. It had been a long couple of weeks and now the letdown of it all being over made her realize just how tired she was.

  Maybe she was crazy because she could have sworn Trey’s gaze had been on her far too often throughout the night. And she must be crazy because she thought she’d seen desire in those beautiful blue eyes of his.

  But that couldn’t be right. She had to be misreading him. His life was mapped out before him by duty and responsibilities. He had a path to follow that didn’t include her, but she couldn’t get that spark in his eyes when he’d looked at her out of her head.

  With the interior of her car finally warmed, she pulled out of the now-quiet parking lot and onto the outer road that would take her to the highway. Thankfully the weather had cooperated tonight, with a big full moon overhead and no clouds. A snow or ice storm would have been a potential disaster.

  Eager to get home, she picked up speed as she went downhill, just wanting the comfort of her bed now. It had been a magical evening but she definitely felt as if she’d been turned into a pumpkin.

  When she saw the red light gleaming in the night at the intersection coming up, she stepped on her brakes and the pedal slammed right to the floor.

  With a sharp spike in her adrenaline that drove all tiredness from her body, she tried to pump the pedal, but there was no pump in it. It remained depressed to the floor as her car continued down the hill, picking up speed as it traveled.

  The red light turned green just as she zoomed through the intersection, now frantic as she realized she had no brakes at all and she was a long way from the bottom of the hill.

  If she turned off the engine, then she would lose her ability to steer.

  Frantic terror poured through her. She was going almost seventy miles an hour as she continued downward and there was no way to slow down. Several stoplights were between her and the bottom of the hill and although traffic was light, it wasn’t nonexistent.

  Panic crawled up the back of her throat and in desperation she yanked up the emergency brake, but nothing happened. In that instant, with another red light approaching, she realized the possibility that she might die. She was in a speeding bullet with no way to avoid some sort of impact.

  As the red light came closer and her car careened down the hill, she gripped the wheel tightly and fought the impulse to close her eyes.

  With the red light and the intersection imminent, she took one of her hands and laid on the horn, hoping to warn anyone else that might be coming that she was out of control. The horn blared, echoing inside her brain.

  A hill was just ahead. If she could just make it to the hill then hopefully the car would slow down enough that she could maneuver it off the side of the road safely.

  She was halfway through the intersection when she saw a car coming from the left. She turned her head, blinded by its headlights and braced. There was a squeal of brakes and then she felt the slam to the back left side of her car.

  Instantly she went into a spin. The car swung around and around, dizzying her as she tried to control it, but the steering wheel careened wildly and with a gasp of resignation, she followed her impulse and squeezed her eyes closed.

  The car came to an abrupt halt, crashing into something. As the airbag deployed, everything went black around her.

  * * *

  “The night couldn’t have gone any better for us,” Cecily said as Trey pulled into her driveway.

  “It was a great time,” he agreed. He parked his car in front of her door but didn’t turn off the engine.

  “You aren’t coming in?” Cecily arched a perfect dark brow and looked at him with disappointment.

  “I’m exhausted, Cecily. I think I’m going to head on home,” he replied. It had been weeks since he’d had any intimacy with Cecily. In fact, he hadn’t slept with her since he’d been with Debra. How could he make love to Cecily when he couldn’t get the feel of Debra in his arms, the scent of her, out of his head?

  “It’s been weeks,” Cecily said softly. “Are we okay?”

  He forced a tired smile. “We’re fine. I’ve just been so tied up with business and putting together tonight, I’m afraid my sexual drive has taken a temporary vacation.”

  She leaned over and placed a hand on his shoulder, her gaze soft with understanding. “Okay, I’ll give you a pass for now. I know how hard you’ve been working to get things lined up between Adair Enterprises and starting the campaign. I just want to remind you that sex is a great stress reliever,” she added flirtatiously.

  He laughed, but wasn’t a bit tempted. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He sobered as he looked at her. “I think what I need most from you right now is a little patience.”

  “I can give you that,” she replied. “Just don’t shut me out, Trey.”

  “That won’t happen.” He opened his door to get out and usher her to the front entrance, but she stopped him.

  “Don’t bother.” She opened her car door and then leaned over to give him a kiss on his cheek. “No point in both of us getting out. You’ll call me tomorrow?”

  “You’ve got it,” he replied.

  He watched as she got out of the car and then headed to her front steps. Only when she was safely inside did he pull out of her circular driveway.

  What was wrong with him? His sex drive had never taken any kind of a vacation before.

  As he thought over the night he could think of two high points—the applause and hoots and hollers that had followed his speech and dancing with Debra.

  Debra.

  Why couldn’t he get her out of his head? He’d hardly been able to take his eyes off her all night long. Surely it was just because it had been the first time he’d seen her in evening wear.

  Dancing with Cecily was like dancing with a professional. She moved smoothly and gracefully, accustomed to partnering with him. Dancing with Cecily was effortless.

  That hadn’t been the case with Debra. She’d been stiff in his arms, difficult to guide in a natural rhythm and had stepped on his toes more than once, and yet he’d enjoyed that dance more than any one he’d had throughout the entire night.

  His duty dictated that he chose a wife that would be best suited for his future plans and that woman was Cecily. But there was no question that Debra had somehow managed to crawl into his brain where she didn’t belong.

  But at the end of the dance they’d shared, she’d reminded him that their work together was over and it was time for both of them to get back to their separate lives.

  Of course she was right. She was his mother’s personal assistant and he hoped to become the next state senator. It was time to put her firmly out of his mind. He’d probably be far too busy in the next weeks and months to even think about her.

  By the time he got home the adrenaline of the night had left him and he couldn’t wait to get out of his tux and hit the hay. Tomorrow he would know how well he had been received tonight. Hoots and hollers were great, but donations to his campaign, endorsements from unions and fellow politicians would tell the true tale.

  Included in the guest list had been several reporters to ensure that he got a little press time, all of them friends of Cecily’s.

  He knew Chad would already be busy filling his schedule with speaking engagements and burning up the phone lines to solicit support. Thankfully his right-hand man at Adair Enterprises was ready to step up when Trey wasn’t there. He’d
done everything humanly possible to prepare for what was ahead.

  He’d just gotten his clothes off and was looking longingly at the king-size bed in his massive master suite when his cell phone rang.

  Who would possibly be calling him so early in the morning? He grabbed his cell phone and saw his mother’s number on the display.

  “Are you calling to tell me how terrific I was tonight?” he asked teasingly upon answering.

  “Actually, I’m calling to tell you there’s been an accident,” Kate’s voice was brisk and filled with a concern that dropped Trey’s stomach.

  “Is it Grandma?” he asked.

  “No, it’s Debra. She had a car accident on the way home from the hotel and has been rushed by ambulance to Duke University Hospital.”

  Trey’s heart hammered. “Is...is she badly hurt?” The words came out tortured by his tightening of the back of his throat.

  “I don’t have any details. Apparently Debra had me written down as her emergency contact. I got a call from the hospital but that’s all they would tell me. I’m on my way there now.”

  “I’ll meet you there,” Trey replied. He hung up the phone and grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt from his closet. His heart threatened to erupt from his chest with its frantic beating.

  He was out the door and back in his car within ten minutes. An accident. She’d been in a car accident where an ambulance had carried her away. That meant it hadn’t been a simple fender bender. It had been something far worse. How badly was she hurt? Please, don’t let her be hurt badly, his heart pled.

  At just a little after two o’clock in the morning he had little traffic to fight to get to the hospital. Had she fallen asleep at the wheel? He knew she’d appeared more tired than usual lately, but tonight she’d appeared well rested and glowing with good health.

  He was relatively certain alcohol wasn’t involved. He’d noticed that she’d only had club soda all night long and hadn’t even drunk the wine that had been served with dinner.

  So what could have happened and how badly was she hurt? By the time he entered the hospital parking area he had whipped himself into a near frenzy.