Double Identity

“Does your brother Ben work there, as well?”

“Yes. He’s the quiet one. His wife, Sara, complains that he’s always off on buying trips, but somebody has to do it and Al has enough to handle here. I’m always telling her she should go with him, but so far, she’s stayed at home.”

“Do you have any nieces and nephews?”

“Two nieces and a nephew. Chris and Tina Maria belong to Al and Marisa. Sara and Ben have a toddler, Beth.”

“And you? Do you want to have a family?”

She didn’t answer right away. Finally, she said, “I love children and I want a family, but I want to finish my studies first and see where that takes me.”

“So you’re footloose and fancy free, just like me.”

“I’m not sure about that. I doubt that we have much in common.”

He gave her a sharp look before returning his eyes to the road. “What makes you say that?”

“From everything I’ve heard about you, you lead a busy social life. Whenever your picture shows up in the paper, you seem to be with a different woman, while I seldom date.”

“Then I’m very pleased you’ve made an exception for me. As for the number of women I’ve dated, maybe it’s because I haven’t found the one I want to spend more time with.”

She smiled at him. “Well, good luck in your search.”

He couldn’t think of anything to say to that. Maybe he’d played up his playboy image a little too much, which would be ironic if he’d turned off the one person he needed to attract.

Jude turned off the highway and followed a winding road back into the hills. When the ground leveled off he pulled into a driveway that opened into a parking lot.

“What a beautiful place,” Carina said, looking at what had at one time been a vacation lodge. “The view is awesome.” She looked around. “I don’t see any signs to tell you this is a restaurant. How does anyone know it’s here?”

He took her hand and they walked up the front steps to the wide veranda. “Word of mouth. Reservations are at a premium.” He grinned at her. “I’m glad you like it.”

She gave his hand a quick squeeze. “I’m pleased that you brought me.”

Jude smiled at her obvious pleasure. He still held her hand and she made no effort to pull away. Instead, she stood looking at him with something like wonder and maybe a little bit of trepidation.

“Good evening, Mr. Crenshaw,” the maître d’said, as he approached them. “Your table is this way.” He escorted them outside onto a large deck overlooking a canyon and rolling hills. The sun was close to the horizon and the few clouds in the sky were already tinted with pink and gold.

Carina sank into her chair, unable to take her eyes from the view. “Oh, Jude,” she finally said in a soft voice. “Looking at the sunset makes me feel the same sense of reverence and awe I feel in church. “She looked across the small table at him, her eyes shining.

She was really a beautiful woman. He’d certainly had far worse assignments than spending time with this one.

Their waiter appeared, recited the specials for the night and took their drink orders.

“Does the restaurant have a name?”

“It’s listed in the phone book as the Crown Jewel, but the name doesn’t tell a person it’s a restaurant. You just have to know what it is and where it is.”

Once the sun set behind the hills, twinkle lights lit up the deck and the waiter lit the fat candle on their table for them.

“You picked a good night to be here,” the waiter said. “Last night it was too windy to use the deck.”

The time flew by for Jude. Carina had a delightful sense of humor, which was usually accompanied by her dazzling smile. He discovered that he really liked her. She was funny and without pretense and he enjoyed her company.

They didn’t talk much on the way back to San Antonio. He slipped a CD into the console, one with quiet instrumentals that continued their pleasant mood.

She gave him directions to her apartment building and he found it with no problem. After he opened the front door, he took her hand and didn’t release it as they walked up the stairs to the second floor and down the hallway to her apartment. She paused in front of the door and turned to him.

“This has been a magical evening for me,” Carina said. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“I’m glad to hear it because I’d like to see you again soon.”

She smiled. “How soon?”

“Tomorrow, and the day after that and the day after that,” he said with a grin.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, is it? Seeing me will slow you down in your hunt for that perfect companion.”

He winced. “I’m really not that bad. I’d appreciate it if you’d give me a chance to redeem myself.”

Somehow they had moved closer to each other, so close he could lean over and kiss her. Because kissing her seemed so natural, he lowered his head as she raised hers.

He cupped her face in his hands and explored her delectable mouth. She stiffened when he first touched her and he started to pull away and apologize when she relaxed and flowed into his arms.

Jude had no idea how long they stood there. He continued to kiss her and caress her face and shoulders. He knew she could feel the effect she had on him. By the time he finally let her go, he was having trouble breathing and his heart was pumping like an overworked engine.

“I’m sor—” he began. She placed her fingers over his mouth.

“I’m not,” she said. “It was a perfect ending for the evening.” She stepped back and smiled at him.

He cleared his throat, but still sounded a little hoarse when he said, “You’d better go inside.”

Her smile was mischievous. “Yes, that’s probably a good idea.”

He offered her a rueful look and gave a tiny shrug. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” he asked, brushing his knuckles beneath her chin in a soft caress.

She took a deep breath and exhaled, and for a moment she looked a little uncertain. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until she nodded and said, “Okay, I’d like that,” and went inside, carefully closing the door between them.

Four

John, Hal and Ruth were in the living room when Jude walked into the house from the garage.

“How was your date?” Ruth asked.

“It’s a start. What’s going on with y’all?”

John laughed. “Oh, boy. That Texas twang has definitely gotten thicker since we got here, Crenshaw.”

Hal said, “I’ve got a couple of names for you to keep a watch out for—Ross Davies and Patrick Sullivan.”