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But mostly, he’d realized just recently, their goal wasn’t only fixing him up. No, Thelma and Joyce had targeted him as the ideal blind date for whatever single woman under forty in town had a party, reunion, dance or other social obligation to attend.
His car eased into the driveway where his current—and soon to be one-time—date for the evening awaited. Slowly, aware of each crack in the concrete and each loose piece of gravel, he rolled toward the newly painted house. Apparently Dr. Wheatley—the retiring one, not his daughter—had bought the house years ago with plans to expand his practice someday. Gray had heard in town that the modest two-bedroom dwelling had been fixed up for the new doc.
He’d learned the hard way that the grapevine in Ranger Springs was usually accurate and exceedingly prompt. If he didn’t know better, he’d think that they were using some of the high-tech listening devices his company developed and manufactured. If he kissed a woman good-night, the entire downtown area was buzzing with the implications by lunchtime the next day. Thelma and Joyce seemed to be the ring leaders, although Gray had his suspicions that some of the older men who hung out at the Four Square Café were just as guilty.
He would have felt more used if he’d believed the two women were taking advantage of him. They weren’t. They simply couldn’t believe a single man was happy in his bachelor state. The two old friends believed they had a civic duty to see him matched up with some local woman who possessed the talent, grace or beauty necessary to win his heart.
“Right,” he muttered as he killed the engine of his silver Lexus. Little did they know how resistant he was finding the ideal mate. He’d loved his ex-wife, Connie, with the passion of youth, then with the settled assurance of married life. Sure, he’d spent much of his time building his invention into a business. He’d never realized she “suffered” from his lack of attention or absences. Not until he’d discovered her affair with one of his best friends. One of his former best friends.
Much to his surprise, his heart hadn’t died when he’d discovered his ex-wife’s betrayal, but his pride had suffered a major injury—one he was unwilling to repeat. The experience had reminded him of facts he’d learned from his divorced parents: first, relationships, especially marriages, should never be taken for granted, and second, nothing lasts forever.
His focus for the past four years had been building his company, Grayson Industries, into a high-tech competitor. The move from Dallas to Ranger Springs last year had been a good one. He provided jobs for many who chose to live in the Hill Country, plus his costs were way down since the move. And he was getting settled in a house that suited him on an ideal piece of land overlooking a rugged, winding valley.
Drawing in a deep breath, he ran his hands along the leather-covered steering wheel, letting the texture and shape calm him. He concentrated on everything that was right with his life at this moment: his business, this new town, his single status.
He slipped out of the warm interior of his car, welcoming the blast of cold air that swirled around the house from the north. He ducked his head against the head wind as he followed the cracked concrete walk past the yellow chrysanthemums and orange marigolds. His imported leather shoes made no sound as he climbed the two steps to the front porch. Before ringing the doorbell, he adjusted the lapels of his tux and ran his fingers through his salt-and-pepper hair.
“Showtime,” he whispered as he pressed the buzzer.
AMY TOOK A DEEP BREATH, smoothed a hand down the simple lines of her ice blue, raw silk cocktail dress, and pushed out of the chair. She hadn’t heard her date arrive, despite sitting in her living room listening intently for the past ten minutes.
Not that she was anxious to meet him, or, for that matter, to even attend tonight’s function in Austin. No, she was simply curious about the man so many had praised as the perfect blind date. After her father had informed her he’d made the arrangements, Amy had gotten rave reviews on the man from everyone she’d met. She couldn’t remember any outsider who’d moved into the area who had been so totally accepted by the residents of Ranger Springs and beyond.
What could make this particular man so perfect? And why, unless he had a serious personality flaw or hygiene problem, did he need to go on so many blind dates? From her experience, good-looking, single men who were interested in women could get their own dates. She simply couldn’t imagine why everyone from Pastor Carl Schlepinger to the newest clerk at the Kash ’n’ Karry sang Grayson Phillips’s praises so highly.
Until she opened the door.
She snapped her mouth shut. Standing there gaping like a dead guppy wouldn’t give a great first impression to the tall, drop-dead gorgeous man with riveting gray eyes and dark hair liberally shot with silver. His wide shoulders more than did justice to the well-cut tuxedo and perfectly tailored white shirt.
No ruffles. No baby blue polyester.
“Miss Wheatley?” the Adonis at her door asked. “I’m Gray Phillips.”
“Dr. Wheatley,” she said automatically, her voice husky from disuse.
“Of course. My mistake,” he replied, his sculpted features and intelligent eyes giving nothing away. “I’ve met your father, and please, I mean this as no disrespect to him, but you hardly resemble my only experience with a small-town doctor.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said, trying to get her brain and mouth working in sync as she stepped out of his way. “Please, come in. And call me Amy.”
As he walked past her, she noticed that he smelled as good as he looked. So much for her theory on over-thirty single men, personal hygiene and blind dates.
She led him into the living room—not that there was much leading to be done. The front door opened into the room without so much as a half wall to divide the space. New beige carpet covered the floor, and the walls had been painted a pleasing eggshell, but there was only so much a person could do in the week and a half she’d been in town. Decorating hadn’t been high on her list of priorities, so the black leather sofa and matching chair she’d moved with her, along with a couple of nondescript tables, sat abandoned against the walls.
“I’m afraid I haven’t settled in much,” she explained as she rubbed her hands against the chill of the November air that entered along with her date for the evening. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thank you.”
In what she was sure was a case of extremely good manners, he barely glanced at her plain-but-tidy home. His personal scrutiny made her mildly uncomfortable, as if she wanted to check her dress for wrinkles or her shoes for an errant piece of tissue. But despite her reaction, his expression never wavered from the polite interest he’d shown from the first.
“I’ll just get my coat, then,” she said, motioning toward the tiny closet near the front door.
As she grasped the wooden hanger, she felt his presence behind her. An unexpected chill slithered up her spine. She couldn’t blame this reaction on the uncommonly cold weather.
“You’re shivering,” he said, taking the wool-and-cashmere blend coat from her hands. “Allow me.”
His warmth enveloped her as she slid her arms into the sleek, cool satin lining. Unfortunately, she still felt just as shivery. She wrapped her arms around herself. “I suppose I’m not adjusting well to autumn. Except for this cold snap, the temperatures have been above normal.”
“How can you, in Texas? Warm one day, cold the next.” He made the comment without derision, just as polite as ever. So far, he was the perfect date, even when she’d resorted to talking about the weather to hide her unexpected reaction to him.
“You’re not from the Lone Star State?” she asked as she belted her coat. She stepped around him to retrieve her purse and gloves from the living room.
“Actually, I’m from Dallas, so as a native, I can indulge in a little mild criticism.”
Amy smiled at his rationale. “I know what you mean. We can say what we want, but just let some Yankee belittle our state…”
Grayson Phillips smiled. “Shall we go? I understand you’d like to show off a bit for the folks in Austin.”
Amy stopped beside the front door, her mouth gaping once again. “Who told you that?” Her lips thinned as she frowned. “No, let me guess. You’ve been talking to my father.”
“I saw him at the bank yesterday.”
“The man talks entirely too much.”
“He’s a charmer.”
“He’s a meddling old…never mind.” Amy squared her shoulders and clasped her purse to her side. “I’m sorry if you feel railroaded into this. I’d understand if you didn’t want to go.”
“On the contrary, Dr. Amy,” he said, a flash of real amusement in his silvery eyes. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Great looks and humor, too. As he graciously escorted her toward his luxury car, Amy realized that was why Grayson Phillips really was the best blind date in Texas.
DR. AMY WHEATLEY WASN’T quite what he’d expected, Gray acknowledged as he pulled out of Ranger Springs onto the state highway. For one thing, no one had mentioned she was beautiful. Descriptions he’d heard had focused on her achievements in high school, college and medical school rather than her shining dark brown hair and lively blue eyes. Her father, and the rest of the community, for that matter, were very proud of their small-town girl.
Not just beautiful, though. She was also feminine and gave the impression of being slightly vulnerable. She’d obviously been trying to be as polite as he when he’d first arrived at her door. But during the few minutes they’d gotten acquainted at her home, she’d shown a wide range of emotions, from surprise to shyness to exasperation over her father’s meddling. While Gray had perfected the control he exerted over his own emotions and expressions, he appreciated Amy’s honest responses.
“I’ve heard a little about your new facility in town. What exactly do you produce?” she asked.
“Basically, Grayson Industries makes high-tech surveillance devices. Our main market is government as opposed to consumers who want to listen to what their neighbors are saying.”
He risked a glance at her. She appeared surprised, then perplexed. “You mean my neighbors could be eavesdropping on me? Or, worse yet, the government?”
Gray chuckled. “The technology has been around for years, so we’re not providing any less privacy to the average citizen than already exists. My company simply makes smaller, more flexible instruments for specialty surveillance situations.”
“You mean like spies?”
Gray smiled. He’d heard this all before, but he knew Amy’s worries were real to her. “There really aren’t too many James Bonds out there.”
“No, but isn’t industrial espionage on the rise?”
“It’s getting more sophisticated, but with computers and the Internet, more violations are occurring via online theft than through listening devices.”
“Hmm.” She paused as she looked at the fading sunset. “Still, doesn’t it worry you that your products will enable some criminals to steal secrets?”
“No more than if I made modems that allowed some hacker to access the Internet,” he answered, negotiating a series of turns as they traveled north through the rolling hills. “I’m not trying to justify what I do, because I don’t see anything wrong with developing the technology to have an edge over those who would like to harm our country.”
“It’s kind of creepy, though, don’t you think?”
“Not when you invented it,” he said, smiling at her through the gloom of near darkness. “Don’t worry, though. I promise I didn’t plant any bugs in your house, nor will I sit outside in an unmarked van with an earplug and a big antenna.”
“That’s comforting—I think,” she said, partially in jest, he assumed. “So, what brought you to Ranger Springs?”
“Available labor, a good cost of living and quality schools. We’d been in Dallas for several years, but the competition for skilled workers up there is crazy. I decided I could take advantage of the labor market down here and train our employees in the skills they needed. Most of our engineers and research staff relocated after visiting the Hill Country.”
“Did you bring them down to visit when the blue-bonnets and Indian paintbrush were blooming?”
“Of course,” he answered with a grin. Few areas of the world surpassed the beauty of the Texas Hill Country in the spring, when the blue and red flowers dotting the hills resembled an Impressionist’s canvas. When birds soared through the sky and filled the day with song, and the air smelled so fresh and clear a person wanted to join in the singing.
Darkness descended as Gray drove through the rural rolling hills, then into the traffic of Dripping Springs and the outskirts of Austin. Inside the car, he felt isolated from the world, enveloped in the scent of Amy’s light perfume and the softness of her voice. She would have a great bedside manner, he told himself, then stopped his wayward thought. He wasn’t getting anywhere near Amy Wheatley’s bed, nor she near his. One date with any woman was enough. Two and they started expecting commitment. A month, and they were picking out rings.
He wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice, especially now when he had everything he’d worked to achieve.
He knew the hotel where the fund-raiser was taking place, so he pulled into valet parking with time to spare.
“Ready to knock them dead?”
“I’m supposed to save lives, not take them,” she quipped as the attendant opened her car door.
Gray waited until they passed through the glass doors before he leaned close to her ear. “Believe me, you, in that dress, could cause a few heart attacks.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Grayson Phillips, has anyone ever told you you’re a smooth-talking devil?”
How could he answer that question without admitting his greatest strength, and perhaps his biggest weakness? He’d learned at a young age that most people—especially his successful parents—weren’t interested in how he really felt. Outward appearances made all the difference in the world. So he’d learned to become what people expected, and later, what they wanted. Most women wanted a suave, sophisticated date who focused all his attention on them.
So he simply smiled and answered, “That sounds like something your father would say.”
She cocked her head and wrinkled her brow. “You know, you’re right. Maybe there’s more of him in me than I realized.”
“We are a product of our environment,” he said, thinking of his own divorced parents and his ex-wife. What had he learned from those experiences? The notion sobered him, and he put on another smile to cover his darker thoughts.
With a light touch to Amy’s arm, he stopped her in the wide, carpeted hallway leading to the ballroom. “Are you ready?”
“Unless I can pull a good reason out of a hat in the next five seconds.”
“Sorry, but I’m not wearing a hat.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to go in.”
He took a step forward, but her touch on his forearm stopped him. “Gray, I want to thank you again for being my escort this evening. I could have come alone, but my father—”
“Wanted you to have a good time.” Gray smiled, genuinely this time. “I understand.”
He slipped her coat off her shoulders and handed it to the coat-check attendant outside the ballroom door. “You can introduce me to all your colleagues. I promise not to bore them with technical jargon and high-tech market analysis. I’ll try to be on my most charming behavior.”
“Oh,” she said, looking him over in a very feminine manner that made his insides tighten and his chest expand, “I never doubted you for a moment.”
Chapter Two
Despite the tension she’d experienced upon entering the room full of medical professionals from central Texas, Amy had a good time during the dinner dance. The entertainment, a reunited band from the early seventies, had been upbeat and humorous. And the man who’d been beside her all evening had been a major factor in making her relax and enjoy the fund-raiser.
The only truly tense moment she’d experienced was when she and Gray literally bumped into Maryanne and her husband during a rousing Texas two-step. Amy hadn’t seen her former classmate for two years. Their last encounter had been at Maryanne’s society wedding to a middle-aged surgeon, Dr. Paul Bridges. Amy hadn’t wanted to attend, but in the end, the invitation was just too intriguing to pass up.
Sure enough, Maryanne had outdone herself. The event had been spectacular. The bride was stunning in a dress whose cost probably equaled Amy’s entire student loan for medical school. And Maryanne hadn’t gloated too much about achieving everything she’d ever desired. Just a few subtle hints about Amy’s single status and group practice.
She sighed. At least tonight they hadn’t had time to “chat.”
“What’s wrong?” Gray asked as they waited for his car to be brought around.
“Just thinking about old times,” she answered with a smile. “You know how it is when you haven’t seen someone in a while.”
“And she still looks stunning,” he added.
Amy blinked. “Did you think so?”
Gray chuckled. “Yes, but in a rather contrived manner. I doubt that particular shade of blond occurs in nature.” His gaze became more direct, his mood more serious. “She’s not as naturally beautiful as you.”
She felt her cheeks heat and her heart flutter. “Thank you for the kind words, but being outrageous isn’t part of your date duties for the evening.”
“I thought I was being rather sedate in my compliments,” he said as he tipped the parking attendant. “I may be a smooth-talking devil, as you said earlier, but I’m also a man who knows a lovely woman when he sees one.”
She eased inside the car, pulling her coat tight against the chill. “I’m flattered.”
He took her hand and placed a kiss right above her knuckles. His silvery, hooded eyes sparkled in the reflected light of the hotel portico. “I’m glad.”
Amy hadn’t felt this giddy from a man’s attentions in a long, long time. Too long. She simply hadn’t had the time or the inclination to start a meaningful relationship in what seemed like ages.
No wonder she found Gray’s flattery and old-fashioned gallantry so appealing. That, combined with his reputation as the perfect date, was enough to get any woman’s attention.
Gray pulled the Lexus into the crawl of downtown Austin traffic. “The night’s still fairly young. Would you enjoy going to one of my favorite spots for an after-dinner drink and a little light jazz?”
Amy thought about it for a moment. She hadn’t planned on anything other than the fund-raiser, but Gray was right; the clock on the dash read only ten-thirty. It wasn’t like her father was waiting in the doorway, tapping his foot. As a matter of fact, he’d probably be tickled pink if she stayed out half the night!
Besides, Gray had been a gracious and charming date; the least she could do was accompany him to a favorite haunt. She didn’t know how often he traveled the distance from Ranger Springs to Austin for an evening out.
“Sure. That sounds lovely.”
Gray nodded, then guided the car through frequent stops and unending road construction. Amy lost track of where they were heading, letting her head fall back and relax against the cool leather. She could get used to this type of luxury…but not on a small-town doctor’s salary. In another two years, if she was careful, she might upgrade to a small SUV, but not anything this fancy. Mainly, she needed reliable transportation. Her father still believed in making house calls when absolutely necessary.
Strange how different the practice of medicine was here than in Fort Worth. Oh, the ailments would be the same, Amy knew. But the attitude, the atmosphere, couldn’t be more opposite. She welcomed the sense of community and the support of her father to help her make the transition. She only hoped she was up to the task. She was a good doctor; she knew her abilities and training wouldn’t let her down. But would she be accepted on her own, or forever compared to her father?
