wear him out. So much that he doesn’t even venture into the office any longer.” Ben leaned forward. “Don’t panic, Noah, but I’d really like you on the board.”
“The ranch is my life. I’ll be on the board, but I won’t take an office job.” He got up and paced the den. “You know, when you leave home, you think you’re coming back to the same life, but you never do,” he said. “Well, hell, this one hurts and it’s just going to hurt more as the days go by.” He stared into space a moment, lost again in memories of his dad. He turned to Ben. “Thanks for telling me.”
“Yeah. I hated to have to tell you.”
“I’m glad I didn’t know it over there. Losing Thane was hell enough. We’ve been friends since we were schoolkids. His wounds were too bad and they couldn’t save him. How’re things with you?”
Ben shrugged. “Business is good. On the home front there have been some tense moments—” He paused to look at Noah. “Hallie and I have tried since we first married to have a baby. Especially since Dad’s heart problems. We wanted him to know his first grandchild.” Ben shook his head and glanced at the closed door. “The docs say we’re both okay, to just relax, that pregnancy will happen. It would give Mom and Dad so much pleasure.” He paused a moment as Noah resumed his seat, then met his brother’s eyes. “I hate to ask, but...have you seen Camilla?”
At the mere mention of her name, his insides knotted. “No, but I will. Thane asked me to take gifts to her and to her baby.”
“She was only married two, three months at most. Then the guy was gone. He was there long enough that she has a baby. He left town before their divorce and I’ve heard he doesn’t have any interest in the kid.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s over between us,” Noah said, his stomach tightening even more. “I’m too much the alpha male for her, which is the pot calling the kettle black, to quote the old saying. And she loves Dallas and won’t even visit my ranch.”
“Sorry. You two seemed close.”
They had been once. They’d dated for a year before he joined the Army. “Not any longer.” Noah stood. “I better go and let you get home.”
They walked back to rejoin the others. He glanced at Stefanie. “If I know you, you’re just getting ready to start your evening. You’re probably meeting friends.”
Smiling, she wrinkled her nose at him. “You might be right. You can even join us.”
“Thanks, but not tonight.” He turned to his brother. “I’ll call and see Dad when it’s convenient for him.”
Ben nodded, then reached out to hug his brother.
“Damn, I’m glad you’re home,” he said.
“Let me know if you need me. I have something I need to do in Dallas before I go to the ranch and I’ll spend a bit longer in Dallas to be with Dad more.”
“That will be good. I’m sorry about you and Camilla.”
It still hurt too much to talk about her. “Thanks. So am I, but I’m not giving up ranching. I sure as hell can’t change my personality.”
He said good-night to Stefanie and Hallie. “See you both soon,” Noah said as he made his way to the door.
Stefanie asked him to wait, walking outside with him.
“How is it with Camilla?” she asked as they headed toward her car. “Have you seen her baby?”
“It’s finished with Camilla, and no, I haven’t seen her baby,” he said.
“Sorry, Noah, if you’re unhappy about it. Come out with me Friday night and have some fun.”
He laughed and squeezed her shoulder. “You’d take the old man out with you? Thanks, but I’ll pass this time.”
“You’re not that much older than my crowd and you’re not as old as some of them.” She smiled at him and touched his arm. “Think about it. Also, I’m a cochairman for the Heart Ball—”
He stopped her with a grin. “I’ll take a table and however many tickets that means.”
“Ahhh, thank you! It’s still three months away but it’s never too soon to sell tickets.” She opened her red sports car and turned back to him. This time he noticed her expression had sobered. “Ben told you about Dad, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, he did. I’ll go by and talk to Dad soon. He has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.”
“It breaks my heart, but I don’t want to be sad around them. He seems to be doing okay, but I’m sure you see a difference.”
“Of course I do.” He reached out to her. “If you want a shoulder to cry on, I’ve got one.”
She gazed up at him. “There will be times I’ll need it. You’re a wonderful big brother.”
He smiled and pulled her to him in a hug. When he released her, he held open her car door, then closed it when she was in. “See you soon,” he said as he turned for his car. As he opened his car door, he glanced back to see her backing out of her parking place. He left, driving to the condo he maintained in Dallas while he thought about his dad, and then his thoughts shifted to Camilla. He would see her—after all this time. His pulse beat faster when he thought about her while at the same time memories of the past clutched at his heart. He had put this meeting off long enough. Even though it might very well open old wounds, the time had come to see her and fulfill his promise.
Stefanie
Stefanie drove to her condo in downtown Dallas. She ran a family office in a suburban area, but she liked the town condo. When she was inside, she walked to the window to look out at the city without really seeing it. Her thoughts were lost on her oldest brother. She was thankful he was home. Noah had a steadying influence on everyone in the family.
She could hear the gruffness in his voice when she had asked about Camilla, and her anger flashed. She’d liked Camilla—until she’d hurt Noah. She’d hurt him before he ever left for overseas and that had worried Stefanie. She’d feared he wouldn’t have his mind on his job as much if he was worried about Camilla—something that could be fatal in hostile territory.
She thought about Camilla, who was pursuing an art career. Stefanie had always wondered if she had married to spite Noah because her husband was gone in a couple of months. Camilla probably hadn’t planned on a pregnancy. The guy hadn’t even wanted his baby.
Stefanie thought about Noah, looking preoccupied tonight, learning about their dad and coming home to unhappiness with Camilla. Noah needed to meet someone, someone who was fun to be with, someone who would get him over his breakup.
Stefanie knew some really gorgeous women who would be perfect for Noah. She knew two women in particular who came to mind right away. Better still, one of them was going to be in Vivian Warner’s wedding party when Thane’s widow remarried next week. She could call Vivian. Noah needed someone who would make him happy.
And Stefanie needed to think of a way to get Camilla away from Dallas and out of her brother’s life.
If
