“What are you doing here, Cameron?” Jake asked, smiling at his friend.
“One of the actresses in my latest film is part owner in one of the nags that ran in the big race and she asked me to come along with her to watch.” The conspiratorial wink he gave Jake set Heather’s teeth on edge. “You know me. If a woman asks, I’m always up to the challenge.” Turning his attention her way, the man’s grin evolved into an outright leer. “And who do we have here?”
She felt the arm Jake had draped around her waist, stiffen. “Heather McGwire, this is the infamous Cameron Strombeck.”
“Jake!” a tall willowy redhead called as she made her way across the dance floor toward them. “Congratulations. I’ll bet you’ll be out all night. Be sure and save a dance for me, darling.”
As the celebrities continued to gravitate toward them, Heather felt increasingly more uncomfortable. It appeared that instead of having to go back home to pick up his life where it left off, Los Angeles had come to him.
“I think I’ll join your family,” she said, slipping from his arm before he could stop her.
She walked over to the table where the women were gathered as they waited for their husbands to return with their drinks and sank into an empty chair beside Arielle. “I hope you don’t mind my joining you.”
“Not at all,” Callie O’Banyon said, smiling warmly.
“You and Jake looked amazing out there on the dance floor.” Arielle reached over to hug her. “Congratulations, I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you. Dancer’s win was definitely exciting.” She knew that wasn’t what the woman meant, but it was easier to change the subject than to accept good wishes for something that was never going to happen.
When the orchestra started playing again, the volume made conversation impossible and they all fell silent. Heather glanced at Jake several times and her heart broke a little more each time. He looked as if he was having the time of his life with his friends from Tinseltown. As she watched, the redhead melted against him on the dance floor. He didn’t seem to mind in the least.
“I hope you don’t mind but I think I’ll call it a night,” she said, rising to her feet.
“Heather, wait,” Arielle said, placing a hand on her arm to stop her.
“I’m…um, really pretty tired. I’ll see you all in the morning.” She had to get out of there before she humiliated herself by dissolving into a torrent of tears. She’d done the very thing that she’d told herself she couldn’t let happen. She’d started to believe that Jake might be content staying with her and Mandy. But she knew now that wasn’t going to happen. He would soon be leaving Hickory Hills to return to his life in L.A. and the sooner she accepted that, the better off she’d be.
Hurrying across the hotel lobby, when she stepped out onto the sidewalk, she found Mrs. Larson and her assistant waiting on their limousine. “What’s wrong, dear?” Mrs. Larson asked, clearly concerned.
Heather forced a smile. “It’s been a full day and I’m going back to Hickory Hills before I collapse.”
“Would you like to ride with us?” Mrs. Larson offered. “It’s past our bedtime and we’d like to get a good night’s sleep before we fly back to Wichita tomorrow.”
“I would appreciate it. Thank you.”
She’d intended to get a cab, but she was going to have to watch her money for a while. There was no way she could continue working for Jake after what she’d just witnessed. Effective the first thing tomorrow morning she was going to resign her position as farm manager and find employment elsewhere.
“Back off, Lila,” Jake demanded, setting the woman away from him. Aside from the fact that he wanted nothing to do with the woman, he didn’t want Heather getting the wrong idea.
“I thought you’d be open to having a little fun for old times.” Her expression turned to a pout that he was certain she’d practiced for years. He couldn’t for the life of him remember why he’d ever found her attractive.
“I’m with someone else. Besides, if you’ll remember, that ship sailed a long time ago. We went out a total of three times. You’ve got to move on.”
Her lips curled into what could only be described as a snarl. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
“Oh, I think I do.” He started to walk away, then turned back. “And don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll find someone to help you have a good time this evening. Have a nice life, Lila.”
He glanced over at the table where his sister sat and breathed a sigh of relief. At least Heather hadn’t been around to witness Lila’s brazen move.
“Hey, Jake, would you like to go see what the clubs around here have to offer?” Cameron asked, stopping him half way across the room. “This is dull. We want a lot more action than what this horse crowd has to offer.”
As he stared at the man, Jake couldn’t believe he’d ever considered him a friend. A pleasure-seeker from the word go, Cameron Strombeck was about as shallow and self-absorbed as a human could possibly be. His disdain for the fine people of the racing industry—for people like Heather—grated on Jake’s nerves as little else could.
“No, I’m fine right where I’m at. But you might want to check with Lila Dixon. I happen to know she’s looking for a little excitement.”
“Really? That could be interesting. I’ll catch you when you get back to L.A., then,” Cameron said, turning to find Lila. “Give me a call.”
“Don’t hold your breath on that happening,” Jake muttered. Continuing on to the table where Arielle sat, he noticed that she looked ready to tear him in two. “What’s wrong?”
“Sit.”
“Where’s Heather?”
“I said sit!” He didn’t think he’d ever seen his sister look as determined as she did at that very moment.
“Where’s Heather?” he repeated, desperately searching the ballroom for her. He saw his brothers and their wives on the dance floor and his brother-in-law, Zach, over by the bar. But Heather was nowhere in sight.
“She left.” Arielle shook her head. “And I don’t blame her. How could you do that to her, Jake? What were you thinking?”
“What the hell are you talking about? I didn’t do anything.”
When he started to get up, Arielle stopped him. “Stay right where you’re at, big brother. I have something to ask you.”