Ella stared at her. “You loved him, and I screwed it up for you. I’m sorry.”
“He thinks I’m much too young for him,” Keely said with a sad smile. She was remembering the way Boone had talked to her at the library and hating circumstances that had robbed her of even a chance with him. Now that she knew the truth about her parents, any sort of a relationship with him would be impossible. Boone Sinclair, with his sterling reputation and impeccable bloodlines, wouldn’t stoop so low as to marry the daughter of drug users and murderers.
“You look so sad,” Ella said. “I really am sorry.”
“I know. It’s all right,” she replied.
Ella got up. “You’d better finish pressing your dress. I’d offer you one of mine,” she added, “but you’re much too slender.”
“Thanks for offering,” Keely said gently.
Ella smiled back, and something twisted deep inside her as she recalled how cruel she’d been to her child. She was sorry about it now. Maybe she could make amends. Maybe, just maybe, she could spare Keely any more heartbreak if she went about it right.
* * *
Clark was right on time to pick up Keely. She was wearing a pretty green velvet dress that clung lovingly to her pretty figure all the way to her shapely ankles, with a fox stole that belonged to her mother. Ella had insisted that she take it. She also had high heels that were expensive and pretty, another loan from Ella, who wore the same shoe size. Keely had no evening shoes at all, never having had occasion to wear them. Her blond hair was clean and shiny, neatly combed, and her eyes were full of dreams.
“You look gorgeous,” Clark said suddenly as he helped her into the car. “I mean it. You really do.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Clark.”
He got into the car, thoughtful. When he frowned like that, he reminded her of Boone.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I was thinking that I’ve been using you and it’s wrong.”
“I don’t mind.”
“That’s what makes it so bad,” he replied. “I’m doing things I don’t like just to keep Boone from asking questions about my girlfriend.” He glanced at her. “If I really cared about her, I’d be doing things differently, wouldn’t I, Keely?”
She was surprised by his attitude, and the question. “You’re in love. It makes people do odd things.”
“Am I? In love, I mean?” He accelerated around a curve. “I’ve invested in a king’s ransom of jewelry and designer clothes for Nellie. She hasn’t refused a thing. In fact, she’s made suggestions about what I could buy her that she’d like best.” He glanced at her. “I can’t get you to accept a pair of inexpensive earrings.”
She flushed. It sounded very much as if Boone had made some idle comment that had started his brother thinking about things.
“I don’t like jewelry.”
“Of course you like it, Keely. All women like jewelry,” Clark replied. “But you won’t accept it from me. You won’t even tell me why.”
She bit her lip. “It would be like accepting payment for helping you out.”
“And that’s wrong?”
“In my world, yes, it is. A small present at Christmas is one thing. But expensive jewelry, that’s something else.”
“That’s what Boone says. His girlfriend was hinting that she’d like a diamond collar. He said she could whistle for it. He didn’t have to pay women to go out with him. She was really mad. She stormed out without another word.”
“I’ll bet she came back,” Keely said sadly.
“Of course she did. Boone’s loaded, and he’s a dish, and he’s relentlessly chased by every spinster south of Dallas.”
Keely’s heart sank. Of course he was. Boone was every woman’s dream. He was certainly Keely’s.
“It started me thinking,” Clark continued. “And not in a good way. If Nellie loved me, she’d be wanting to buy things for me.”
“She couldn’t afford your taste, Clark,” she murmured dryly.
