Call It Destiny

watched him pace the office for over two hours before he finally decided he wasn’t going to give you any time. By then the storm clouds were moving in and when I found out you were taking your breather up at the old cabin I mentioned that might not be the wisest place in which to be during a summer storm. He asked to borrow Ruth’s car and the next thing I knew I was drawing him a map. He was gone within fifteen minutes.“
    „And arrived in time to rescue me,“ Heather finished for him. „Don’t look at me like that, dad. I love him.“
    Her father eyed her uncertainly. „Then what in heaven’s name is all this warfare about?“
    Heather stared at her father and knew she could never explain that the man he had chosen and groomed for her didn’t love her. „We’re, uh, having to work a few things out before we tie any knots.“
    Paul looked at her with gentle sympathy and a trace of pity. „You mean you’re at war with him. Heather, I know better than anyone else on the face of this earth just how stubborn and strong you are. Do you think I haven’t been incredibly proud of what you accomplished in California? Do you think I don’t realize what it cost you to make it the hard way out there? But I’ve also learned a lot about Jake Cavender during the past couple of years. And believe me, if one of you doesn’t give you’re going to draw a lot of blood. In the end, you’ll be the one who will be in shreds.“
    „Because he’s stronger than I am?“ Heather asked softly.
    Paul shook his head. „Because he simply won’t ever give in. You were right. His instincts are to fight when he’s challenged and his instincts were tempered in a much hotter furnace than yours were, honey. You can fight like a wildcat, but there’s a softness in you.“
    „Because I grew up with love.“
    „It makes you able to bend when necessary. Jake can’t give like that.“
    „I’m beginning to understand that,“ Heather admitted simply, knowing the truth of her father’s words had been creeping up on her for the past four days.
    „If you didn’t love him you might have a chance of winning a pitched battle. But loving him….“ Paul shrugged unhappily. „I just wish to God I had realized what I was starting two years ago when I hired the man.“
    Heather shook her head, her eyes softening. „Even if you knew, you’d have gone ahead and hired him. You always were a good judge of character. Do you think I haven’t come to realize that?“
    „I love you, Heather.“
    „And I love you, dad.“
    „We’ve always had that bond, haven’t we?“ Paul asked gently.
    Heather smiled, dashing the back of her hand across her eyes. „Always. Jake’s never had that kind of attachment to any living human being, as far as I can tell.“
    „Perhaps not. On the other hand – “ Paul announced, as he kissed his daughter on the cheek and headed for the door „ – the guy’s not exactly stupid. See you later, Heather.“
    Not exactly stupid. Heather repeated the words to herself and shook her head once again. It was true Jake wasn’t an idiot, but she wasn’t so sure about herself. Refolding the contract, Heather went back to work on the menus.
    On Saturday Heather politely declined an invitation from her mother to join her parents and Jake for dinner.
    Ruth Strand didn’t press the issue. She knew a woman under pressure when she saw one.
    Heather spent the evening alone, fixing herself a salad and a glass of wine. Then she put her jeaned legs beneath her on the sofa and carefully unfolded the contract Jake had dared her to sign. Her father was right. Ultimately, she had the capacity to bend. Jake didn’t. If she signed this contract Jake would be denied everything he wanted including the feeling of having a real home with a real wife. The relationship with Paul and Ruth that he valued so highly would never again be as warm and comfortable as it was now. He had ownership of the Hacienda but he wouldn’t have achieved the feeling of really belonging to it. And Jake didn’t want a mistress. He wanted a wife.
    All the trappings of a family together with a feeling of a home.
    Heather had told herself that was precisely what she wanted. She had been able to tell herself that until the morning she had realized she was in love with Jake. After that the only thing that had mattered was obtaining his love in return.
    Jake wanted a partner; she wanted a passionate lifelong love affair. Jake could go on playing