Risking Delaney. Rhonda Leah

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       RISKING DELANEY

      RHONDA LEAH

      LYRICAL PRESS

       http://lyricalpress.com/

      KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.

       http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/

      

       To my writing friends who have encouraged and supported me along the way. Thanks to each one of you.

       Acknowledgements

      

      Thank you to everyone at Lyrical Press. It is a great group to work with.

      Special thanks to Mary Murray. As always, working with you is a pleasure. Thanks for helping me make this story shine.

      Risking Delaney is a work of fiction and Chandler Bayou is a fictional place, although based on my love of the Louisiana coastal areas.

       Chapter 1

      Delaney slipped her carry-on over her shoulder and stared at the paltry pile of luggage on the ground. Her entire life fit inside these three bags. What did that say about her?

      “Having you here will be fantastic,” Callie said. College roommates by chance, they’d formed an easy and lasting bond.

      “You might get sick of me, but right now I’m glad to be out of Manhattan.”

      “I can’t believe you quit your dream job.”

      Neither could she. She loved being a marketing manager of a large New York advertizing firm. She’d busted her ass working her way up the corporate ladder but it was time for a change. She wouldn’t burden Callie. “I’ve had my fun in the big city. I was ready to move home. Being back in New Orleans might take some adjustment, but it’s time.” She plopped her suitcase on the sofa.

      A stone fireplace occupied one corner of the living area. Large windows with a breathtaking view filled the space next to it. From where she stood, she could see into a sparkling kitchen. The whole place felt cozy and open. “I can see why you’re crazy about this place. What I’ve seen of the property is beautiful.”

      “I promise you’ll enjoy your time here. There are all sorts of things you can do when you’re not busy helping me get ready for the wedding.” Callie shrugged. “Of course a lot of stuff is outdoorsy. But we do have a couple of great restaurants, and few other things to entertain you.”

      “I don’t know, Callie. If these views are any indication of the outdoors, I might talk myself into being a nature girl for a few weeks. It couldn’t kill me.”

      “You never know. Look, I’ve got to get back to the main building and take care of a few things. Why don’t you unpack or whatever. There’s a map on the table by the door, and a golf cart for you to use around back. Meet me there in an hour?”

      “Uh, sure,” Delaney said.

      Callie laughed as she headed out. “Call me if you have any problems, and I’ll come get you.”

      “See you then.” From the front porch, she watched Callie drive away. A bird chirped and a small animal of some sort jumped from one tree to another. She’d wanted out of Manhattan and this was about as far away as you could get–the swamps of southern Louisiana. Burying herself in work, and the rat race hadn’t been as great as she’d envisioned. By the time she graduated from Tulane, moving away and succeeding in her profession had been her only desire. She’d lived that life for six years, and knew it didn’t hold the answers she was looking for.

      A quick shower, an investigative walk around the cabin, and it was time to meet Callie. After a couple of minutes fiddling with the golf cart, she found it easy to maneuver. It turned out she didn’t need the map. The asphalt paths and signage along the trails was enough. This place might actually offer the relaxation she needed.

      She parked at the main building and spotted Tim, Callie’s fiancé, as soon as she walked in the door. She mocked surprise. “I made it before Callie?”

      “You did,” Tim said in his robust voice. It was still hard for her to believe he was a plastic surgeon. He seemed more like a big ol’ teddy bear.

      Callie was at her side before she sat down. “What’s this? You trying to prove you can be punctual?”

      Delaney laughed. “I figured you told me five, but meant four-thirty. She did that to me all the time back at Tulane,” she said to Tim. “I bet she doesn’t tell me what time the wedding is going to be.”

      They settled into easy conversation. There were a lot of loose ends to tie up for the wedding, and she was glad to be around to help. Plus from the sound of things, there were several activities she was looking forward to trying out around the grounds. Delaney could feel the tension in her shoulders ease. A few weeks with Callie would be great medicine. It had been years since they’d had more than a weekend together. She hadn’t been shocked when Callie called to tell her she was getting married.

      “Callie, Jamie said you were here,” someone said from behind her. His voice soaked into her like hot bourbon melting ice and took her back to a place she’d almost forgotten, memories she’d kept locked away. She shook her head slightly at the overwhelming idea. Heat surrounded her, and a shiver raced up her spine.

      It couldn’t be.

      “Come meet my friend.” Callie motioned, and when he circled the table Delaney’s heart skipped a beat, her lips parted.

      He choked back a cough when their eyes met. His eyes were the color of dark chocolate, and she loved chocolate. If she’d been standing, she’d have melted into a puddle on the floor. “Austin,” she breathed.

      “Delaney?” Brock’s voice didn’t sound as smooth as it had seconds before.

      Callie’s glances darting back and forth between them caused heat to seep into her face. Cheeks burning, she reminded herself to breathe. He looked better…if possible.

      “Austin?” Callie practically barked out. “This is my cousin, Brock Chandler.”

      She let out the breath she’d been holding. “I, we…we met in Austin a few years back.”

      “When were you in Austin?” Callie questioned.

      “It was for a seminar. The agency sent me.” She sucked in much needed air. “They pretty much kept me in the sky for the first twelve months I worked for them.” How she was able to string together coherent thoughts amazed her.

      “Uh…” Callie started. Surely she wouldn’t remember Delaney’s drunken phone call weeks later. But, unfortunately, there wasn’t a thing wrong with Callie’s memory. The color drained from Callie’s face, and she mouthed, “Oh.”

      Delaney lifted her shoulder.

      Callie said, “I remember.”

      “Have ya’ll ordered?” Brock asked, pulling out the chair next to Callie and motioning for a waiter.

      “I thought you were too busy?” Sarcasm dripped from Callie’s tone.

      “I haven’t eaten. A guy’s got to eat.”

      Tim perked up. “I take it you two know each other?”

      Much better than he could imagine. She dared a glance at Brock, whose eyes roamed her features.

      “I was only in Austin for a short time, several years back. I believe Brock lives there?”

      “I did. I moved home a few months ago.”

      “Home. This is home?”

      He