Scarlet Fever - Hill Country 2 (7 page)

“What makes you think that I have anything else?” Scarlet teased.

“Well, I’ve only asked for it for years and years.”
 
Alex watched the interplay between the sisters, wondering what Scarlet would bring out.
 
After seeing the intricate work on the wedding gown, nothing would surprise him.
 
He was wrong.

Scarlet came back, literally loaded down with gifts.
 
“Scarlet, this is our brother Bobby,” Ethan introduced them.
 

“Hey!”
 
Bobby stepped forward to give her a hug.
 
“I’m so glad to meet you, I’ve heard so much about you.”
 
Alex watched jealously, knowing this is how their first meeting could have been if it weren’t for his ill-timed tirade.
 

“Bobby, I’ve looked forward to meeting you, too. Congratulations on your winning season with the Longhorns.”
 
As she offered her compliment, she handed him a tapestry that was about four foot by four foot.
 
Bobby took it slowly, not understanding what she was handing him.
 
“I made it for you.
 
Annalise sent me a photograph of you making a great catch.
 
I used the picture to free-hand the needlework.”
 
Bobby held it up, pointing out all of the amazing detail.

“Wow, Scarlet!
 
I see Bevo, the band, the canon – there’s even Mack Brown.
 
This is utterly fabulous!
 
I can’t believe you made this for me.”
 
Once again, he captured her in a hug.

 
When she turned around to pick up another gift, Bobby looked at his brothers and made a solemn,stage-whispered, announcement.
 
“She’s gorgeous.
 
I’m in love.”
 
Bobby was kidding, but Alex actually snarled his displeasure.

“Back-off, little brother.”
 
Alex was the biggest of the brothers, and right now, he aimed to put the fear of God in his younger sibling.
 
He didn’t say, ‘she’s mine’, but the message was crystal clear.
 
The brief exchange was not lost on Ethan or Annalise.

When Scarlet stood in front of Alex, her demeanor was more reserved.
 
He took the tapestry from her hand and held it up.
 
It was the same size and shape as Bobby’s.
 
The background was a tree-shaded bayou, and in the center a majestic whooping crane took flight.
 
“I took this photograph one weekend at the Big Thicket national preserve.”

Alex had to sit down.
 
He had never been more moved by a gesture.
 
“Scarlet, I don’t know what to say.
 
I have never received a more wonderful gift.”
 
He wanted to say more, but now wasn’t the time.
 
Annalise was crowding around, anxious to see what her sister had for her and Ethan as a wedding gift.

“Is it what I think it is?”
 
She was practically panting.

“Yes.”
 
Scarlet finally gave in and handed her sister a King-size quilt.
 
“A double wedding ring.”
 
Ethan had to get up and help his future wife.
 
The quilt was huge and the colors were jewel tones to match the colors in the master suite.
 
Hoping against hope that Scarlet would make her this quilt, Annalise had cheerfully shared every detail of their home’s color scheme with her sister.

Ethan examined the small stitches.
 
“I’m impressed, Scarlet.”

“My sister can do anything.”
 
Annalise announced proudly.
 

“I think I smell bread pudding.”
 
Bobby followed his nose.
 
As everyone pitched in to get the food on the table, Ethan sidled up to Alex.
 
“Have you told ‘Lise about the cakes, yet?”

Alex let out a low hiss.
 
“No.
 
As the prospective groom, why don‘t you do the honors?”

“I guess I have to begin to take some responsibility.”
 
As they sat down around the table, Scarlet’s Creole dish garnered rave reviews.
 
Finally, Ethan worked up the courage to broach the subject of the ill-fated bakery.
 
“Uh, sweetheart,” he began.

“Uh-oh, I know that tone.”
 
Annalise pierced him with a curious stare.

“Sweetheart, the bakery where you ordered your cakes burned down today.”
 
Ethan just threw it out there and then – he dodged.

Alex and Bobby were also very still.
 
Obviously, they expected the worst.

Instead of a hysterical explosion, Annalise calmly turned to her sister.
 
“That French white cake you make with the lemon-raspberry filling. . .
  
Can you make it for a hundred and fifty?”

“I’ve done it dozens of times.
 
White chocolate frosting?”
 
Scarlet didn’t even act surprised.
 
Her sister nodded.
 
“What type of decorations?”

“White roses and white hydrangeas.
 
And a chocolate ganache grooms cake?”

“I’ll have to make a trip into town for pans, tips, tubes and supplies.”

“But you’ll do it?”

“Consider it done.
 
I’ll get what I need tomorrow, that way I can make the flowers and decorations ahead of time.
 
I’ll wait till the day before the wedding to actually bake the cakes, that way they’ll be fresh.”
 
Alex, Ethan and Bobby watched the exchange with mouths ajar.
 

“Well, knock me down with a feather.”
 
Ethan whispered under his breath.
 
“I wasn’t expecting calm and reason.”
 
Raising his voice to a normal level, he asked Scarlet.
 
“Are you some kind of rural wedding planner?”

“Heavens, no,” Scarlet replied, modestly.
 
“I’m just the church lady.
 
For the past four or five years, I’ve put together every wedding in three counties.
 
I’ve got it down to a science.”

“That’s why I wanted her to come early,” explained Annalise.
 
“I knew that if anything went wrong, I’d have an expert close at hand.
 
Besides, I haven’t got to spend any quality time with you in ages.”
 
She ran an affectionate hand over Scarlet’s hair, playfully pulling on her braid.

Ethan pinned Alex with a stare.
 
Alex shut his eyes, considering how long it would be before he forgave himself for the way that he had treated Scarlet.
 
She had come to help, to sew the dresses and spend a few days with a sister that she hadn’t seen in a long time.
 
He looked at Scarlet, fully expecting her to cast a disparaging look his way.
 
But she didn’t.
 
She looked happy.
 
He let out a sigh of relief.
 

Annalise stood up and began to clear the table.
 
“You two cooked, we’ll clean up.”
 
She nudged Ethan, who reluctantly agreed.

“I have seed pearls to sew.”
 
Looking at Alex, she enquired.
 
“Is there a corner that I can work in?
 
I only need a chair and a bright light.”

“My bedroom,” he answered with a straight face.

His loaded suggestion didn’t faze her a bit.
 
“I wouldn’t want to be the cause of you missing your beauty sleep.
 
Is there another place?”

“Sure sweetheart, follow me.”
 
He led her to the media room.
 
There were several comfortable chairs and some high-powered lights near the game tables.
 

“Perfect.”
 
She seemed to be more at ease with him, thank God.
 
“Could you show me where you put my things?
 
I think I’ll get ready for bed and then I’ll work until I can’t keep my eyes open.”
 
Every word painted a picture in his mind.
 
A hot steamy shower.
 
A soft, silky nightgown.
 
A warm, cuddly woman.
 
“I put you in the room next to mine.”
 
No explanation necessary.

She didn’t ask for one.
 

Following him, she felt the tingles begin anew.
 
Watching him walk, the movement of his amazing butt in those tight, tight jeans made her tongue grow thick in her mouth.
 
The hall wasn’t narrow, but – swear-to-God – his shoulders seemed to brush both walls.
 
He opened the door to her room and let her go ahead of him.
 
He didn’t leave her much room, so her body briefly brushed his.
 
She heard his harsh intake of breath.
 
She felt his heat.
 
A dampness began to make itself known between her legs.
 
A totally new experience.
 
Still, Scarlet knew what it was.
 

After all, she was a librarian.

The room was charming and furnished with comfort in mind.
 
“This is wonderful, Alex.
 
I’ve never seen a nicer room.
 
It’s too much.”
 
There was a Queen-sized sleigh bed, a roll top desk, a Lazy-Boy recliner and a roomy armoire.
 
The colors were warm earth tones, highlighted by shades of burgundy and mauve.
 
“This is more than I expected.
 
If you need this room for other guests, I’m used to something much, much smaller.”

“Size of the room wasn’t the determining factor, love.
 
I wanted you close to me.”
 
They stood still, just looking at each other.
 
Electrical currents seemed to arc between them.
 
Visions of her in the shower reminded him that he hadn’t shown her the rest of the room.
 
“Let me show you the bath.”
 
Leading her to the oversize bathroom, he showed her the walk-in shower and the claw-foot tub.
 
Nearby were stacks of towels, bottles of lotions and salts, everything that anyone could possibly want.
 

“Alex, I’m not used to luxuries like this.
 
I don’t even know what half this stuff is for.”

“Do you want me to stay and help?”
 
He was as serious as a heart attack.
 

At that, she laughed.
 
“No, maybe I can muddle through.”

“Can I sit with you while you work on the dress?”
 
He asked so sweetly it gave her a warm shiver.

“Sure.
 
I’d appreciate the company.”
 
This friendship business wasn’t so hard.

“Good.”
 
Then he proceeded to knock all thoughts of friendship out of her head.
 
Stepping close, he placed a soft, sweet kiss just to the right of her trembling lips.
 
Every cell in her body commanded her head to turn, just so, so she could move her lips into range for the heady contact.
 
She controlled herself, barely.
 
“I’ll be waiting.”

************************

  
She was so cute, he could hardly stand it.
 
He hadn’t known what to expect when she had told him she was going to get ready for bed.
 
Any of his other female acquaintances would have emerged in silk teddies or sheer baby doll pajamas.
 
When she had come out covered in white eyelet from head to toe, Alex had had to reevaluate his whole definition of sexy.
 
The robe was even long-sleeved.
 
The only skin that was showing was her face, her fingers and her little bare feet.
 
Alex’s response to her chaste, angelic outfit was not so pure.
 
He was as hard as the Rock of Gibraltar.
 
It was a good thing that he had changed into lounge pants and a loose, long, button-up shirt.
 
It hid a multitude of sins.