Convince Me (Holton Series #1) Read online

  Convince Me

  By B. L. Blair

  Text Copyright © 2013 Brenda Blair

  All Rights Reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, establishment, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1

  The headlights flashed briefly across the green road sign breaking through the dense fog. Anna West slowed her small car and peered through the windshield before breathing a sigh of relief. The sign was the one she had been searching for since turning onto the narrow country road. She glanced at the directions on the sheet of paper lying on the seat next to her. She knew she was close. She turned the car to the left and followed the arrow that pointed to the small town of Holton, Texas.

  "Only three more miles," she said in her soft, quiet voice. Her only answer was the soft meow of a cat. Anna smiled down at the animal carrier on the floorboard of the passenger's seat. She reached down and stuck a finger through the wire door of the carrier and scratched the cat's head. "We're almost there, Sophie."

  The cat, a large gray tabby, curled herself back into a small ball and promptly went to sleep. Anna smiled again and felt some of the tension drain from her body. She had left Mayville, a town just south of Houston, the day before anxious to begin her new life and she was now almost at her destination.

  When her mother had died from cancer seven months earlier, Anna knew this was the perfect time to put the past behind her and begin again. She also knew that in order to do this she would have to leave Mayville.

  The phone call from one of her old college professors had provided an opportunity she could not refuse. Did she want to take over a small accounting business in a small north Texas town? To Anna, this had sounded ideal. She had been saving for such an opportunity ever since she had left college. Far from the town where she had been raised, Holton would give her the chance to build a new life where no one would know about her past. There would be no more whispers about her family. She would not have to hear the stories about the uppity black woman who had married a rich white man. She would no longer have to listen to people saying her mother had gotten what she deserved.

  In spite of the fact that she had never understood her mother's devotion to her father, Anna had loved her mother. The past year had been a difficult one. When her mother had first been diagnosed with cancer, Anna had moved back home to be with her. Her death was still hard to accept so Anna had decided on a new start far from home.

  Mr. Brockman, the accountant from Holton, had retired at the end of the year. He had been more interested in getting someone reliable than in turning a huge profit so Anna had been able to cut a deal. He had told her he always closed his office from the week before Christmas to the week after New Year's so Anna had carefully made her arrangements and left Mayville on New Year's Day. The drive had been full of delays and problems turning the five-hour trip into a full day event. Anna had been forced to stop in Dallas the night before and rent a hotel room although she was less than an hour away from Holton. The fog had moved in last night and with nightfall travel had been almost impossible.

  Unable to sleep, Anna had risen early this morning. She had taken her time hoping the fog would burn off with the early morning sunrise but even now at nine a.m. the fog was still thick and she could only see a few feet in front of her. This is probably why she wasn't prepared for what happened next.

  Driving cautiously, she slowed the car and rounded the curve moving the car closer to the center stripe as she couldn't see the right hand edge. The car coming from the opposite direction had done the same and suddenly, Anna was faced with two bright headlights bearing down on her.

  For a moment, she did not know what to do then reacting instinctively, she jerked the car to the right and her bumper narrowly missed hitting the other vehicle. The slick road made it difficult to control the car but she had been driving slowly enough that she managed to slide into the side ditch unharmed.

  Anna sat in her car stunned and unbelieving. She had never been in a car accident before and wasn't sure what to do which was an unusual situation. Anna had learned at an early age to be calm and efficient. It was the only way to survive. Her abusive father had hated inefficiency and commotion so she had learned to be controlled and competent. Anna hated not being in control.

  For this reason, she loved accounting. Numbers could be controlled. It may take her a little time but she could always find an answer, which was more than she could do with people.

  Anna shook her head and then leaned forward to check on Sophie. The cat appeared unharmed but began protesting the rough treatment. Anna tried to reassure her and soon the cat settled. Anna took a deep breath then reached for the insurance manual in her glove compartment. The manual would tell her what she needed to do. She felt better already. She had a plan.

  All thoughts of a plan immediately flew out of her head when the door of her car swung open and a deep, soft voice asked, "Are you alright?"

  Anna turned and looked up into the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. Eyes that were the color of a cloudless sky on an early spring day. They were framed with dark thick lashes that lighten on the tips. The lean, clean face went well with the eyes. It was a pleasant face, not too hard or too soft, but a man's face none the less. It was lean and powerful. He had strong cheekbones and a straight nose. Light blond hair fell across his forehead. She stared at him unable to move. Her heart began to pound and her body reacted to his nearness. She had never reacted so strongly to any man before and she forced herself to take a deep breath.

  He leaned into the car and asked again, "Miss, are you alright?"

  This time his voice propelled her into action. She shook off the fog that had come over her and nodded once before saying, "Yes, I am fine. Just a little shaken. Was anyone hurt?"

  She glanced again at the man staring at her with a concerned look on his face. Their gazes locked and he watched her silently with his calm blue eyes. He seemed very close and Anna leaned back against the seat to get farther away. His broad shoulders filled the doorway and she felt a small jolt of fear. She hated feeling physically intimidated. But the fear quickly faded as he looked at her a moment longer then a slow, gentle smile crossed his face. Anna felt her heart stop. She willed it to begin beating again.

  "There is only you and me," he said softly. It took Anna a moment to realize he was talking about the accident. They were the only two people involved but briefly she had thought he was talking about something else, something she could not quite understand.

  "Let's make sure you are okay," the man was saying, "then I'll look at your car. Can you stand?"

  He was just trying to be helpful, his eyes were kind and gentle but Anna was used to taking care of herself and had decided long ago never to allow a man to take care of her. His helpful attitude was beginning to irritate her. She knew she was fine but answered him anyway. "Yes, I can stand."

  She slowly got out of the car and stood beside him. She now knew why she had felt so crowded in the car. He was a tall man, standing almost six feet and his chest was broad although his build was thin. He had long muscular legs and a flat stomach. He was dressed conservatively in a dark blue business suit with a multi-colored tie. Over his suit, he wore a light navy over coa
t. To Anna, the tie seemed out of place. It was bright and colorful and didn't fit his image.

  Anna was only five feet, three inches and had to bend her head back to look up into his face. It was not a comfortable feeling. Her father had also been tall and Anna avoided men who towered above her as much as possible. She gave him a quick smile and stepped a few feet away.

  "See," she said quickly, "I'm just fine."

  He stared at her again and then gave her another slow smile. He walked around to the front of the car and then continued around to the back. After making a complete circle, looking at her car from all angles, he returned to her side.

  "There doesn't appear to be any damage. I'm sure I can get it out of the ditch and you should be able to drive it but I suggest you have it checked over as soon as possible, just in case. Where are you heading?"

  She only debated telling him for a moment. He seemed trustworthy and she had no reason to believe otherwise at the moment. Anna knew looks could be deceiving but there was something about this man, something that told her she could trust him.

  "Holton," she said quietly.

  A brief look of surprise crossed his face. "Well, at least you haven't far to go. Are you visiting someone?"

  "No," she answered. "I am moving there. I am taking over the Brockman accounting firm."

  He smiled again. It was then that Anna decided that his smile should be illegal. She watched, cautiously, as he offered a hand to her.

  "Old Mr. Brockman told us he had arranged for a new accountant to take over for him. He just didn't mention she was so pretty."

  Anna tried to stop it but she felt the blush warm her face anyway. It was a habit she had never been able to break. She was grateful the fog was still around and prayed he couldn't see it. The look in his eyes told her that her prayer hadn't been answered but the man didn't say a word. He just waited patiently with his hand still stretched out toward her. She put her hand in his and felt his fingers close around it. For a moment, time stood still. Anna felt an intense attraction unlike any she had ever felt before and it frightened her. She shook his hand and then quickly removed her own. She was angry with herself that she noticed he was not wearing a wedding ring.

  "My name is Steven Carson," he said as he released her hand. "I am one of two lawyers in a law firm located in downtown Holton and I have lived here all my life so let me be the first to welcome you to town."

  "Thank you," she replied. She had read all the literature that had been mailed to her from the Holton Chamber of Commerce. It had listed the law firm of Carson and Moore. "My name is Anna West."

  "Pleased to meet you," Steven said. They exchanged insurance information although Anna was fairly certain she wouldn't need it. Steven took the blame for the accident although Anna knew they were both at fault. She couldn't help but be impressed at his polite, caring manner.

  "Let me see if I can get this car out of the ditch," Steven said and before she could protest he had pulled her a little to the side. Anna watched helplessly as he climbed in her small Honda and adjusted the seat. He should have looked totally ridiculous in the small car but for some reason he didn't. Quickly and effortlessly, he put the car in reverse and backed it out of the ditch.

  Steven climbed back out of the car and gave her a quick grin. "That is quite a cat you have. Is it always that vocal?"

  Anna could hear Sophie from where she was standing. The cat was making a great deal of noise. She did not like traveling in a car and she did not like strangers. If you put the two together, she was bound to protest.

  "I think the accident frightened her," Anna said. She was grateful for Steven's help but anxious to continue her journey. "Well, thanks for your help."

  Steven nodded and then held the door open for her. Anna took her place in the driver's seat and gave him a quick smile. "Thanks again. You have been very nice."

  "You're welcome. When you get into town, take you car to Charlie's garage on Main. Tell him I sent you and he will make sure you car is all right. Be careful driving into town. I am sure I will see you soon." He gave her one more slow, charming smile and then shut her car door.

  Anna watched him walk back across the street to his own car and drive away. She slowly shook her head. He was a take-charge kind of man, just the kind of man Anna had vowed to avoid. She didn't want someone to take care of her. She wasn't about to give any man that kind of power over her. She had seen what it did to her mother and Anna would never live like that again.

  "I am sure I will see you soon," she muttered softly, quoting him. "Not if I see you first!"

  With a smile like his, Anna knew she needed to avoid Steven Carson at all costs. He made her feel things she didn't want to feel, think things she knew weren't possible. She just wished his eyes hadn't been so kind.

  #

  Steven slowed his car and watched until her taillights faded into the fog. He returned his attention to the road wondering if this day was going to offer any more surprises. Early this morning, he had received a call about one of their cases and he had to rearrange his whole day so that he could file an injunction this morning. Then he had been very surprised to see the other car coming from around the bend. There was seldom any traffic on the small country road just outside of town and with the fog he had not expected to see anyone else.

  He smiled softly thinking about the woman in the other car. He had been operating on pure adrenaline until he had looked into her eyes. When the car had swerved into the ditch, he first thought had been for Andrew. His best friend and law partner, Andrew Moore, had a terrible fear of automobile accidents and with good cause. Andrew's wife, Carolyn, had been killed in an accident similar to the one Steven had just witnessed only fifteen months before and Steven knew how much it still bothered him. So his first thoughts had been for Andrew. He didn't want his friend to hear about the accident from anyone else. He wanted to reassure Andrew himself.

  Those thoughts had not stayed with Steven long. After watching the small Honda drive off the road, he had quickly pulled his own car to a stop and ran over to offer his assistance. One look had told him that no one was seriously injured but he immediately opened the door to ask if the woman was okay. When she did not respond, Steven had grown very concerned but then she had looked at him with her large brown eyes and spoke in a soft, southern draw. He had been mesmerized. At that moment, Steven had known that he had just met the woman he had been searching for all of his life.

  As he eased his car onto the highway that would take him into McKinney, Steven chuckled. He had always known exactly what he wanted and it had driven his brother, Mitch, crazy. Steven had known since he was eight that he wanted to be an attorney. He had known where he wanted to go to college, where he had wanted to study law, and where he had wanted to set up his law practice. He had returned to Holton to do just that and now he knew he wanted Anna West.

  The rest of his family had never quite understood that part of him. The part that always knew when something was exactly right. Steven wasn't sure he understood it either but he followed his instincts and they had seldom failed him. On the other hand, Mitch was never sure about what he wanted and had spent years searching for it and their sister, Victoria, had never really wanted anything but things fell her way anyway.

  Both Mitch and Victoria would have enjoyed this morning. Mitch would have loved the adventure and the excitement of the accident. He would have heroically helped Anna on her way and stored up the story to retell at some later date. Victoria would have helped Anna and made a new friend in the process. Victoria never met a stranger. But these types of mornings didn't usually happen to Steven. He was the calm one, the stabilizing factor, the older responsible brother. For once in his life, he was glad this morning had been different.

  Once he arrived in McKinney, which was the county seat, Steven quickly made his way to the courthouse to file the injunction against a chemical company. Although he and Andrew had not planned on working so soon after the holidays the report had arrived early that
morning. Steven knew he had to act quickly to stop the company from continuing to mix a certain product in their factory. They finally had proof that it was having harmful side effects on some of the employees. The doctor's report had directly linked the mixture to certain health problems experienced by his patients.

  Usually, Andrew handled all the court hearings. Steven did the paperwork and the background reports while Andrew handled the public side of their practice. It worked well for them for Andrew was a natural in the courtroom, charming and persuasive while Steven enjoyed the research. He knew Andrew was planning a career in politics and that if he did enter the public arena things would change but for the time being their personalities complimented each other.

  After filing the injunction and speaking to the judge, it was nearly lunchtime so Steven decided to stop by the local college and see his mother. Patricia Carson was a professor at the college. She, too, was working although classes weren't scheduled to begin for another week. Like Steven, his mother liked to be well prepared. Although, he had seen her the night before, Steven thought lunch would be a nice break for both of them and he was anxious to tell someone about Anna.

  Anna West, he thought with a smile, a practical name for a practical woman. She was practical, too. Steven had noticed the way she dressed and acted. She was a pretty woman, not classically beautiful like Andrew's late wife and not flamboyantly beautiful like his own sister, Victoria but serenely beautiful like a calm, summer day. She wore her straight black hair in a simple style just touching her shoulders. Her large brown eyes were framed with thick lashes and held just a hint of vulnerability. Her skin was a soft, light brown. Steven thought she must have a mixed racial background.

  She was a small woman but thin with a tiny waist and high breasts. Her smile was sweet but not freely given and she dressed efficiently in jeans and a heavy sweater.

  Steven pulled his thoughts from Anna and walked quickly across the small campus to his mother's office. He paused at the door as she was on the phone. Patricia was a lovely woman. She had a heart-shaped face and lovely blue eyes. Steven had inherited his blond hair and blue eyes from his mother and his serious, protective nature from his father. When Patricia looked up and saw him, a bright smile crossed her face and she motioned for him to have a seat.