"Goosey!" He stood and rounded his desk to greet his former classmate with a handshake, then a quick, hard hug.
"Hi, Chase," she said, laughing. "It's good to see you."
"Why haven't you been to any of our class reunions?" Smiling down into Marcie Johns's face, he said, "You look fantastic."
"I can't believe you're calling her by that horrid name!" Tanya exclaimed.
"You didn't take any offense, did you?" Chase asked.
"Of course not. If I could bear it as a sensitive, self-conscious adolescent, I can bear it as a mature adult. As for the class reunions, I lived in Houston for several years, and it was never convenient for me to make one."
Chase regarded her approvingly. "You're really looking terrific, Marcie. The years have been more than kind. They've been generous. I hear your business is going great guns, too."
"Thank you, and yes, I've enjoyed being in business for myself. The economy has slowed things down the past year or two, but I'm hanging in there."
"Wish I could say the same," he remarked good-naturedly.
"Oh, I understand you've got something very happy to celebrate."
"I told her about the baby," Tanya informed him. "And she's convinced me that even though our budget is tight, we can afford a house, and that now is an excellent time to buy. It's a buyer's market," she said, repeating Marcie's words.
"Should I be reaching for my checkbook?" he asked teasingly.
"Not yet. Marcie and I want you to come see the house she showed me yesterday. I think it's perfect. Will you come?"
"What, now?"
"Please."
"Sorry, sweetheart, but I can't." Tanya's animated face became crestfallen. "If it was any other time, I would, but I'm expecting a rep from the insurance company. He was supposed to be here right after lunch, but called to say he was running late. I need to be here when he arrives."
"I read in the morning papers that your brother had been cleared of those ridiculous arson charges," Marcie said.
"Is there another problem, Chase?"
"No," he said, reassuringly pressing Tanya's hand between his. "We just need to go over the inventory list of all the equipment we lost and discuss our claim."
She sighed with disappointment. "Well, maybe tomorrow."
"Or even later today," he offered. "Why don't you go look at the house again, and if you're still excited about it, call me. Maybe I can meet you there after he leaves. That is, if you're free, Marcie."
"I blocked out the entire afternoon for Tanya and you."
Tanya was smiling again. She threw her arms around Chase's neck and kissed him soundly on the mouth. "I love you. And you're going to love this house."
With his arms around her waist he hugged her tight. "I probably will, but not as much as I love you. Call me later."
Following them to the doorway, he waved them off.
* * *
"I know you're looking at me through the peep-hole. I'm not going to leave until I see you, even if it means climbing over your fence again. Save us both the trouble, okay?"
Devon unlatched the lock and pulled open the door. "You shouldn't be here, Lucky. You're only making things worse by—"
Her words were stifled by his mouth, which swooped down to claim hers in a scorching kiss. With his arms locked tightly around her, he walked her backward into the nearest wall. Securing her in place by tilting his body forward at the hip, he cupped her head between his hands and held it still for his plundering mouth.
The kiss left her breathless and unable to speak. He used that to his advantage. "I drove straight here from the prison where I had a chat with Greg Shelby." Ignoring her sudden intake of breath, he doggedly continued, "Notice I didn't call him your husband, because in the strictest sense of the word, he isn't, is he, Devon?"