Cathy Thacker - The Texas Christmas Gift

He glanced at his watch as his phone chimed again, his deep blue eyes narrowing. “Yes.”

Wanting to make this work—but only to a point—Eve held up a palm. “Then I’m going to need a lot more information.”

Derek frowned. He might be only thirty-four, if the information she had found on Google prior to meeting him was correct, but he was all autocratic executive. “I’m too busy for that right now.”

Which left her no choice. She walked him to the door and opened it wide. “Then,” she said, just as imperiously, not about to make herself miserable—especially at this time of year—by working with a man who was far too big for his britches, “you’ll have to find yourself another Realtor.”

Derek stared in amazement. “You’re firing me as a client?”

Eve nodded and ushered him out. Then she smiled one last time. “Consider it my Christmas present to myself.”

* * *

TWO HOURS LATER, as she entered the conference room for the Friday afternoon staff meeting, Eve was still trying to figure out how to tell her mother what she’d done.

The two other sales agents, Vanessa and Astrid, were already there. Eve’s mom—the owner of the company—was seated at the head of the table. As always, Marjorie Loughlin was beautifully dressed, today in a red wool suit and heels, her short silvery-blond hair perfectly coiffed. Despite the artful application of makeup, Eve couldn’t help but notice her mother looked tired. But maybe that was to be expected. Like the rest of the staff of the all-female realty firm she had founded, Marjorie put in long hours.

“I have great news,” she said. “We are still ahead of Sibley & Smith Realty in annual sales by several million dollars.” She paused and massaged her left shoulder. “And you all know what that means.”

“More exclusive, top-dollar listings and sales,” Astrid declared, already pulling out her calculator.

Vanessa winked. “Not to mention that new Mercedes convertible I’ve been coveting.”

Marjorie dabbed a bead of sweat from her hairline. “Luckily, we all have clients wanting to close on homes before the end of the year.” Briefly, she went over the list of Astrid’s and Vanessa’s clients, as well as her own. Then she turned to Eve, addressing the properties and clients of primary concern. “There’s Flash Lefleur’s condo—which we really need to get sold before the listing expires—and Derek McCabe.”

“Right.” Eve steeled herself for her mother’s disapproval as she prepared to talk about the latter. “About that...”

Marjorie’s hand went to the left side of her neck. “Don’t tell me there’s a problem there.”

Except for the fact I fired him? Not a one.

Eve noted her mother was pressing her hand against the bottom of her jaw. “Mom, are you all right...?”

Marjorie winced, as if in pain.

Something was wrong! Eve rushed toward her in alarm. “Mom!”

Her skin a peculiar ashen gray, Marjorie swayed slightly. “I feel a little dizzy,” she said, then slumped in her chair in a dead faint.

* * *

ONE HARROWING AMBULANCE ride,admission to the hospital and balloon angioplasty later, Marjorie was finally declared stable and moved to a room in the cardiac care unit. Once she was settled, the doctor came in to go over the results of all the tests, as well as the emergency surgical procedure. “You were lucky. It was only a mild heart attack,” the cardiologist announced.

“Impossible,” Marjorie declared, still looking awfully pale and anxious, despite the medicines they had given her to help her relax. “I’m in perfect health. It was indigestion. A lunch gone wrong. That was all.”

The doctor turned to Eve. “Is your mother always this difficult?”

“Yes,” she said.

“No,” Marjorie stated at the same moment.

Dr. Jackson smiled and shook his head in silent remonstration, obviously having dealt with similar situations before. He turned back to his patient. “We’re going to keep you in the hospital, as a precaution, for forty-eight hours, Mrs. Loughlin. After that, I’d like you to go to the cardiac rehab unit, in the annex across the street, for another month, for further evaluation and treatment.”

“That’s impossible!” Marjorie folded her arms belligerently. “I have work to do.”

Clearly unintimidated, the physician countered, “It’s absolutely necessary, Mrs. Loughlin. You need to rest and rebuild your strength, and above all else, rethink how you’ve been living your life.”

Marjorie sent Eve a look, begging her to intervene.

“I agree with the doctor,” Eve said as the physician slipped from the room, wisely leaving the persuasion to a family member.

“But the annual sales award...”

“I’ll see we still get it,” Eve promised gently.

Still, Marjorie fretted. “I have a new client, that Houston oilman, Red Bloom, coming in soon to see the Santiago Florres‒designed home.”

Eve smiled. “Not to worry, Mom. I’ll take care of that, too.”

“You have Derek McCabe....”

Eve had had plenty of time to regret her foolhardiness. “I’ll handle his sale, too,” she reassured her mother. At least I hope I will.

“You’re sure?” Marjorie started to relax, as the meds finally kicked in.

She nodded. Her mother had done so much for her over the years. It was now her turn to be the caretaker. “Just rest now.” She bent and kissed Marjorie’s temple. And then, hoping like hell it wasn’t too late to undo the damage, Eve went to make good on her vow.

* * *

“WHAT DO YOU mean, it didn’t work out?” Derek’s ex-wife said over the phone late the next afternoon. “Marjorie Loughlin is the best Realtor in Dallas!”

“I didn’t get her. I was assigned her daughter.”

Carleen paused. The sounds of their infant daughter and Carleen’s lively household could be heard in the background. “I haven’t met Eve Loughlin, but she’s supposed to be good, too.”

She was beautiful, Derek mused, that was for sure. Temperamental, too. A knock sounded at his door. Aware that his assistant had already left for the day, he said, “Can you hang on a minute?” He walked across his private office and opened the door.

On the other side was the show-stopping beauty who had sent him packing. In a long cashmere coat, vibrant blue business suit and suede heels, Eve Loughlin was the epitome of Texas elegance and style. Around five feet seven inches tall, she was slender and lithe, with great legs and even more spectacular curves. From her full breasts to her narrow waist and hips, there wasn’t an inch of her left wanting. And despite his irritation with her, his attraction didn’t end there. Her skin was fair and utterly flawless, her nose pert, her cheekbones high and sculpted. Her shoulder-length golden-brown hair was so lush and thick he wanted to sink his hands into it. Most mesmerizing of all, though, were her intelligent, wide-set amber eyes, which seemed to hide as much as they revealed.

Derek swallowed around the sudden dryness of his throat, and tore his eyes from her plump, kissable lips. No good could come of this. “Listen, Carleen, I’ve got to go.”

As always, his ex understood. “I’ll see you at five-thirty. Craig and I will have Tiffany ready to go.”

“Thanks. See you then.” Derek ended the call.

Meanwhile, Eve Loughlin waited with a patient, angelic smile.

Not about to make it easy on her, after the way she had summarily dismissed him the afternoon before, Derek lifted a brow. Waited.

Her smile only became more cordial and determined. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”

If that was the case, Derek thought, she already would have left. “What brings you here?”

“I wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday.”