“I never think of you as being afraid, but I think you’re afraid of my parents and their social status and expectations. You’re afraid you won’t fit in or live up to their ideal mate for Reed. In your mind, you’re still that farm girl from Hillsboro, Texas.”
“That’s—”
“It’s true.” Marisa didn’t give her a chance to voice a protest. “If you had gone after Reed, you would have been a couple a long time ago.”
Cari bit her lip, not bothering to lie to her friend. “Your mother ties my nerves into tight knots, and after a meeting with your father I have to rush to my office and put my head between my legs to catch my breath again. I don’t know why I’m always trying to fit in.”
Marisa got up and came around the desk. Sitting on the edge, she placed her cup behind her. “Why do you have to try at all? You’re an intelligent, kind, beautiful, funny and compassionate woman. I’m lucky to have you for a friend and I’m so grateful you’re in my life. Just be yourself. My parents are just people and sometimes they haven’t been very kind or understanding. So don’t ever think you’re less than them.”
“You don’t know what it’s like to be raised poor and to never have anything. People look down on you and that’s hard to overcome.” Suddenly Cari remembered the homemade hand-me-down clothes, food stamps and welfare. Her past was like a scar on her soul that would never heal.
“Cari Michaels, I’m going to shake you. Look at all you’ve accomplished. From a saleswoman you’ve risen to a high-paying position in a billion-dollar corporation. That’s no small feat.”
Cari lifted an eyebrow. “It helps to have friends in high places.”
“Who?”
“You, of course.”
Marisa frowned. “I had nothing to do with you getting this job.”
“When you left, you suggested—”
“No, I didn’t,” Marisa quickly interrupted. “I was busy planning a wedding and getting to know my daughter. Dad and Reed always fill the top positions. Your job performance was miles above the rest. I’m sure there was never any doubt about moving you up. My father’s not an idiot. He knows who’s best for Dalton’s.”
Cari was stunned. She’d thought Marisa had gotten her the position. Suddenly she was feeling so many things and each one was labeled stupid with a capital S. Confidence was always her strong suit…yet at times it was her weakest.
“Okay.” She ruffled her hair with her hands. “I’ll admit I have a problem in that area, but I really thought you put in a word for me.”
“Please.” Marisa slid off the desk. “You don’t need a word from me. Everything you’ve accomplished you’ve done on your own. You can stand toe-to-toe with my parents and Reed. I don’t understand why you get so down on yourself at times.”
“I guess I love the misery.”
Marisa pointed a finger at her. “Repeat after me—I am terrific. I am a woman and there’s not one damn thing I can’t do. Even recover from a broken heart.”
Cari smiled and stood, hugging her friend. “Thanks. I needed that today.”
“We have to find you a boyfriend,” Marisa said, her eyes twinkling. “My rodeo husband knows a lot of cowboys. How would you like to date a cowboy?”
Her smile broadened. “I saw on a billboard somewhere ‘Save a horse, ride a cowboy,’ so I’m game. If you find a good-looking cowboy in tight jeans who doesn’t chew tobacco, I’ll go out with him. I’ll put a hitch in his giddyup and a grin on my face.”
They burst out laughing and Cari felt a whole lot better.
Marisa sobered. “You have to come for dinner tonight. The kids would love to see you and we can ply Colter for viable candidates.”
“Why didn’t you think of me when Tripp and Brodie were available?” They were Colter’s incredibly handsome best friends who were now happily married.
“Because you were hung up on you know who.”
“Not anymore.”
After a long pause, Marisa asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she replied, but she hesitated. She hated herself for that.
“If you’re not, this is the time to let Reed know how you feel.”
Cari gasped. “Marisa Kincaid, I can’t believe you said that.”
Marisa walked around the desk and reached for her purse on the floor. “I just don’t want you or Reed to make a mistake.”
“Don’t you like Daphne?”
Marisa brushed back her blond curls and appeared thoughtful for a minute. “Daphne is who I would be if I had continued living with my mother in New York, adhering to the strict regimen she had planned for me. Daphne is structured, disciplined and perfect, but in the two hours I spent with her last night I never heard her laugh. That bothered me.”
“Why?”
“I never laughed until I met Colter. He opened doors to emotions I didn’t know existed and I know with all my heart that a person has to laugh to be really happy.”
“Maybe she was just nervous.” Cari didn’t understand why she was defending the blond beauty. “Meeting your parents can be traumatic for anyone.”
“She’d already met them.”
“Okay. Daphne doesn’t laugh, but Reed loves her.”
Marisa shrugged. “I’m being catty and that’s all I’m saying. What time do you want to come out for dinner?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. We’re flying to the El Paso store today.”
“We? As in you and Reed?”
“Yes.”
“Mmm.” Cari could almost see the plans tripping through Marisa’s head, but she didn’t voice them. “We’ll do it when you get back then.”
“Sure.”
Marisa paused and looked into Cari’s eyes. “Remember what I said.”
“Marisa—”
Marisa held up a hand, stopping her. “This is your last chance.”
Cari knew her friend had good intentions, but Marisa didn’t know everything.
Marisa stared at Cari’s heels on the top of her desk. “I’m not even going to ask what your shoes are doing on your desk or why one heel is broken. The less I know the better. Call me when you get back.”
“I didn’t use it as a weapon if that’s what you’re thinking,” Cari called to her retreating
