Saving Dallas 2 Making the Cut (16 page)

“So, what’s the plan?”

“I’m gonna go with you to your office first,
and let you do some catching up, then swing by my office for a few,
then stop by the hospital and visit the PROSPECT.” Just the thought
of seeing Marty lifted my spirits, and abruptly I couldn’t wait to
leave.

We rode in Luke’s truck to town and I stared
out of the window at the beautiful scenery, noticing that the
leaves on the trees were beginning to turn a lovely shade of orange
and yellow. Fall was in the air, and I knew that my days of
sunbathing were coming to an end, until next spring. It was amazing
how fast time seemed to fly. It felt like only yesterday when I had
first met Luke. I looked over at the man I loved so much, watching
as his lips moved in tune with the lyrics of Hank Williams Jr.’s
song “Outlaw Women”. I thought of how perfectly that song fit the
lives of the women I had encountered over the past several weeks.
Red and Brooklyn, especially. Thoughts of Red, led me to thoughts
of Regg and the sacrifices that he had made on my behalf.

“Any news from Regg?” I asked cautiously. I
didn’t want to put a damper on Luke’s mood, but I had not seen
Regg’s face in some time and I was beginning to miss having him
around.

“He is good. Just worried about Red and
trying to piece all this shit together. He won’t rest until blood
is spilled. He is beyond pissed and Red’s making it worse by acting
as if it’s not a big deal.”

“But it is a big deal!” I countered, unsure
of why Red would act like it wasn’t.

“We all know that, babe. Even she does. This
affects her too, but she thinks the more she shows it, the more
it’s gonna bother Regg. She knows what she’s doing,” Luke said,
reaching over and grabbing my hand performing his knuckle kissing
signature move. I thought of how selfish I had been by not dealing
with my own grief in a different way. The more I showed Luke that I
hurt, the more he hurt. “I didn’t mean anything by that, babe. Regg
has a temper much worse than my own, although when it comes to the
woman you love, you will do anything.” I knew Luke was trying to
tell me it was okay to cry and depend on him, but it still didn’t
make me feel any better. Luke read my melancholy mood and reassured
me once again. “Babe, you have dealt with this much better than I
could have imagined. This is all new to you and instead of running,
you have embraced it. Don’t beat yourself up about it. I like that
you turn to me.” He smiled his heart warming, panty dropping, I’m a
fucking stud and I know it, smile and I melted. So what if I was a
big baby? I would suck my thumb and wear a diaper if it got me in
the arms of Luke every night.

My large, corner office was located in one of
the oldest buildings in Downtown Hattiesburg. The old brick road
beneath us made the ride bumpy and the familiar sound the tires
made riding over it was music to my ears. I loved this part of
Hattiesburg. From sidewalk delis to grand theatres, it was
definitely the most exciting place to be. It reminded me of my home
in Atlanta. The buildings were not as tall, and the streets were
not as busy, but the feeling of home was still there.

Luke pulled the truck smoothly onto the side
of the road and I felt a twinge of nervousness. It had been weeks
since I had stepped foot in my office. What if things had gone to
shit? What would I do if Lindsey wasn’t running things as I had
hoped? How big of a bitch would I be if I just waltzed in and took
over?

“Babe,” Luke said, pulling me from my
thoughts. I was breathing a little harder and the look on his face
told me that he understood my rising panic. “It’s gonna be fine.
Come on, I’m sure they will all be excited to see you.”

I rolled my eyes at his comment. The last
thing I was worried about was whether my employees missed me or
not. I was sure they had cocktails at lunch and wore jeans everyday
just because they thought they could. When the cat’s away, the mice
will play. That was a saying that I found to be true a long time
ago. I walked up the brick sidewalk with my head held high, not
even having the opportunity to enjoy the view or the smell of
downtown. I really missed this place.

I paused outside of the door and took a deep
breath. With one heavy, heeled foot in front of the other, I pushed
through the door and welcomed the familiar sound of the bell that
rang though the office.

Chapter 8

Dallas

“Miss Knox is coming and if she sees this,
she is gonna be pissed,” I heard the ever so sweet Lindsey say over
the quiet hum of copy machines and computers. “Get rid of it,
now.”

My curiosity was immediately peaked at the
tone of her voice. Hell, if they were having cocktails in the
office, I wanted one. Passing through the lobby, I turned down the
small corridor that led to my office and nearly tripped over my own
feet. The office had been completely rearranged. A small desk with
a single lamp sat in the left corner of the room. It was older,
wooden-and had two plush yellow chairs that sat in front of it.
Canvas paintings covered the walls, and the sleek, modern furniture
had been replaced with older more antique pieces. The lighting
seemed dimmer and the place felt more like that of home and of a
spa. Lindsey stood nervously before me dressed in a sharp, all
black business suit. Her hair was swept up on her head and her
makeup was just enough to make her look sultry, but not slutty. By
no means, did her outfit correspond with the office décor. She
would have fit in better in a sundress and flip-flops.

“What the fuck happened?” I asked, waving my
hands through the air and gesturing to the room that held a close
resemblance to Lindsey’s house. My mind momentarily took me back to
the bright colors and hundreds of paintings that hung in her
home-all of which she had painted herself.

“I felt like it needed something. Something
that didn’t scream money or business. Something that made people
feel better about coming in here and signing away the deed to
precious property that had been passed down from generation to
generation, or something that made people less nervous when they
wanted to drop their life savings on a piece of real estate in
hopes of turning it into a successful business. I don’t know, I
just thought you would like it,” Lindsey said, cowering in front of
me. Damn, I was such a bitch.

“No, I like it, I just wasn’t expecting it,”
I said, trying to smooth over my harsh comment. If it were
physically possible to kick myself in the ass, I would have.

Here before me, stood a woman who had taken
on my business and treated it as if it were her own. I never once
thought of the sacrifices she was making to be me while I was out
trying to change who I was. Unlike me, prior to meeting Luke,
Lindsey had a life. She had friends and dogs and shit she did. Her
job was to be at my beck and call, only when she was at work. For
the past several weeks, she had been so much more than that. Seeing
her tears threatening to spill over was almost my un-doing. I would
have signed the company over to her right then, if it would ensure
us a reunion without tears.

“I’m sorry. Really, I like it. It makes the
place feel more like home. You’ve done a great job. Thank you.”

Even from a distance, I could see the shock
on Maria’s face-the part time filing clerk who had been hired on
full time since I had been gone. I knew what she was thinking.
Dallas Knox, apologizing? Damn, that was a new one.

“Really? You like it?” Lindsey asked, her
face now glowing and her eyes round without a tear in sight.

“Yes, I like it.” And I did. There were not a
lot of wealthy people in Hattiesburg. Many of them would have to
spend their life savings to purchase anything that had my name on
it, so giving them a place a little more comfortable and down to
Earth to sign their life away, really wasn’t a bad idea.

“Great! I didn’t touch your office though,”
Lindsey said, reassuring me as she pulled me into her arms. Her
embrace was warm, and welcome. Without even realizing my actions, I
wrapped my arms around her. Lindsey was the kind of girl who did
things because she was a good person. She didn’t hug me because she
had to or because she thought it was the right thing to do, she did
it because she wanted to. I pulled back and held her at arm’s
length.

“You look great,” I said, admiring how much
pride she had taken in her appearance.

“I got laid,” she whispered, winking at me. I
cocked my head to the side and let out an uncomfortable laugh.
Well, that was unexpected.

“Well, good for you,” I said, unsure of the
correct way to respond to a comment like that.

“I would like you to meet the newest members
of Knox Companies, this is Joanna and Kylie,” Lindsey said,
introducing me to the two lovely creatures that stood behind her.
They were impeccably dressed, just as Lindsey was, and had long
blonde hair that fell down their backs. They looked like they could
have been models, or porn stars. Knox Companies most definitely had
a good looking crew. Even though they tried to hide it, I noticed
that both of their gazes seemed to look past me. I smiled, knowing
that the six foot two, amazingly handsome biker boy turned business
man standing behind me was the one drawing their attention.

“Ladies, it is so nice to meet you,” I said,
stepping past Lindsey and forcing them to look at me as I took each
of their hands in mine “Please meet my better half, Luke
Carmical.”

I turned to watch Luke saunter towards us,
wearing that signature smirk that made my panties wet the first
time I saw him. I was sure he was having the same effect on Joanna
and Kylie, but my man had eyes for only me. He looked at them long
enough not to appear rude, and nodded his head, “Ladies.”

I swear he breathed the word, and when he
did, there was no mistaking the sigh they blew out at the sound of
his voice. Lindsey, obviously enjoying the show, saved us all from
our moment of swooning.

“Dallas, we have a lot to go over.”

“Yes, of course.” I followed Lindsey to my
office thinking that maybe I should have had handrails installed to
keep me from falling. Luke looked delicious. He smelled delicious,
and I was so caught up in the fact that he was mine that I didn’t
care if the two hotties in the other room were drooling over him. I
shook my head to clear my thoughts and took a seat at my desk. By
the paperwork that covered it, I knew Lindsey was going to have
some good news.

“Forty-seven properties, Luke!” We were back
in the truck and I was still dwelling on the sudden realization
that Lindsey Ingram was possibly a better business woman than I
was. “She acquired forty-seven properties! All of which already
have interests! I can’t believe it!” My voice was a little too high
and Luke laughed at my expression.

“She’s good, babe. You should give her a
raise.”

“Oh, don’t worry. Nobody in the United States
can afford her now.” I didn’t bat an eyelash when I called my
lawyer to prepare the documents for a new contract with my
Assistant CEO. Not only did I pay her what she was worth, but I
doubled it. Lindsey would have no problem buying anything her heart
desired. The kicker? She didn’t even want a raise. She just wanted
permission to hang some of her paintings at the Abbey, the bed and
breakfast that I owned in Tupelo.

“I’m glad she has everything taken care of,
babe. I don’t want you worrying about work until we get this shit
with Frankie sorted out.” I know he didn’t mean to be, but Luke was
definitely a buzz kill.

“I know. When are you leaving?” I asked, my
heart already missing him.

“We will talk over the details tonight after
church.” Ahh. Church. That lovely place of fellowship during which
him and his brothers would be talking about how many different ways
that they planned to murder Frankie. I could only imagine what Regg
had in mind after what happened to Red.

“We won’t be long here. I just need to wrap a
few things up.” I hadn’t noticed that we had pulled into the
offices of Carmical Construction. I had never even seen Luke’s
office, and the thought bothered me. I was a real estate tycoon, I
knew where every piece of property, available or not, was in
Hattiesburg.

“I didn’t know this place existed,” I said,
admiring the large, white wood framed house with a porch that
wrapped all the way around it.

“You wouldn’t, it’s still listed as
residential, and it’s not in the best part of town.” This was true.
The office was one street over from the Avenues, an older
subdivision in the lower part of downtown, but only three houses
down from the low-income government housing that had been taken
over by crackheads and prostitutes.

We got out and Luke held my hand as he led me
up the wide staircase and to the office on the left. A sign hung
above the door that read Lucas Carmical, VP Carmical Construction.
To the right, was another office with a sign above it that read
William Carmical, President Carmical Construction. I looked back at
the road that was void of any traffic. The only sign of life was a
stray cat that rubbed its slender body against the large tires on
Luke’s truck. My first plan of action, once Luke left, was to find
him a better location for an office. I had several buildings
downtown that would be perfect for him.

“You don’t like my office?” Luke asked
smirking at me. His question caught me off guard. Was I really that
transparent? I decided to lie.

“No, I love it,” I said smiling my award
winning, all teeth baring smile.

“You’re a liar,” he said, laughing as he
pushed open the heavy wood door. I shrugged it off, debating in my
mind whether I should give Luke the office next to mine or on the
street behind it. He most definitely would be moving from this shit
hole very soon.

Never judge a book by its cover is a saying I
have heard numerous times over the twenty-six years of my life. I
never fully understood its meaning until now. It didn’t matter that
Luke’s office was located in a terrible part of town, or that it
was in an old two story house instead of a brick building; his
office was beautiful. Everything was made of wood. From the large,
hand crafted, oak desk to the original hardwood floors and the
large beams that ran across the ceiling. The strong smell of cedar
invaded my nostrils, as I crossed the spacious room to admire the
fire place that had a wooden mantel above it. Framed pictures of
every kind of tree imaginable littered the walls. A set of very
comfortable looking chaise lounges sat in front of the
fireplace.