by Julie Benson
Don’t go there. Worry about now.
Right. Because it’s so great.
How would she face Zane after all she’d done today? Worse yet, what if he spoke with Ginny before leaving the ranch? How would she respond?
Yes, I went to see Ginny. Oops. It backfired. Sorry. My bad.
Sure. That would work.
She needed a strategy fast.
She’d start with remaining calm and in control, no matter what Zane’s reaction. She’d suggest they discuss the issue with Ginny, emphasizing Zane’s increased involvement wasn’t in the business’s best interest. If they acted as professional adults, they could think of additional facts to reinforce their assertion.
Somewhat relieved and feeling more in control, she turned onto Throckmorton and the town square came into view. At ten to seven, McKenna entered the Horseshoe. Her hand tightened on her purse strap, as her eyes adjusted to the dimness. The sounds of country music mixed with laughter, conversation, and an occasional baby crying filled the space.
She scanned the restaurant searching for Grace. Having a live band tonight had drawn half the town to the Horseshoe. Every table was full, as was the bar.
“Table for one?” the teenage hostess, Tammy Jo, according to the nametag attached to her red Horseshoe T-shirt, asked as she grabbed a menu.
McKenna cringed at Tammy Jo’s pity filled voice. Why did people ask the question as if there was something wrong with eating alone? McKenna thought of her sister, Erin. She’d let her fear drive her into a series of lousy relationships. Better to eat alone than eat with the losers Erin chose.
“Actually, I’m meeting Grace Henry. Is she here?”
Tammy Jo nodded and pointed past the bar to an area opening off the main dining room to the left. “They’ve got a big table by the stage.”
“Big table? I thought it was just Grace and the chief.”
Tammy Jo shook her head. “Ty Barnett and his wife, that good-looking new vet Dr. Abbott and his fiancée are with her. You’re late if you’re here for dinner. They done already ate, and the fellas are in the game room playing pool.”
Her hands grew sweaty at the unexpected change. Despite choosing a career revolving around social situations, McKenna had never felt comfortable or skilled in that arena. As a young child she’d struggled to make friends. She was too serious, too studious, and had trouble finding common ground with kids her age. Her father’s inability to hold a job and their frequent moves only worsened the problem, until McKenna quit trying. What was the point in making friends when she’d move again?
Tonight’s gathering, a social setting with a prominent couple and their friends, surrounded by half the town, without managing an event to keep her busy, felt as if one of her nightmares had come to life. At least, unlike in those, she was dressed.
She knew the Barnetts, having helped Ginny with their wedding. Grace and AJ were current clients, but she’d hadn’t met the town’s new vet, Dr. Abbott and his fiancée, Cheyenne. That totaled six people. McKenna swallowed the lump clogging her throat. This wasn’t simply friends getting together tonight. It was worse. It was couples getting together.
As McKenna stumbled through the restaurant following Tammy Jo, people nodded in greeting, some smiled in her direction, though she recognized only a handful. The manners her mother had ingrained in her from infancy kicking in, McKenna responded with mumbled hellos, nods, and smiles despite her nerves.
When she arrived at the table, Grace looked as if she belonged on the cover of Southern Living. Dressed in skinny jeans, gorgeous embroidered cowboy boots, and a simple white blouse, she’d added a large, multistrand coral and turquoise necklace and matching earrings.
After greeting Grace and Cassie, McKenna said, “I had no idea you were getting together with friends. I hate to intrude. If you’d rather, I can sit at another table.”
“Absolutely not. Sit,” Grace said, a bright smile on her face.
Once seated, McKenna nodded to the petite redhead across from her and tried to brush off how out of place she felt. The women surrounding her were gorgeous, and all dressed in jeans, cowboy boots, looking every bit like they belonged in the rustic Texas bar and grill. McKenna smoothed her hand over her mint green blouse.
Though Grace and Cassie put an upscale spin on their Texas style, the redhead was dressed casually in a teal V-neck T-shirt that read Southern as Heck. She also possessed a punk rock look because her hair had been shaved on one side. Then McKenna realized who she was. She’d heard about Cheyenne Whitten, Cooper’s fiancée. Cooper’s father, a neurosurgeon, had operated to remove the brain tumor causing Cheyenne’s seizures. “You must be Cheyenne. Congratulations. I hear you’ve returned to the rodeo and barrel racing.”
A huge smile spilled across the woman’s face. “I’m not finishing in the money because my skills are still rusty, but I’m back at it, and it feels wonderful.”
“You two should’ve seen McKenna in action the other day,” Grace said. “Not only did she suggest ways to save money on the wedding, but she put Zane in his place.”
“I’d have paid to see that,” Cassie said. “I love Zane dearly. He makes me laugh and has a good heart, but someone needs to teach him he can’t flash a brilliant smile and have the world fall at his feet. Good for you, McKenna, for turning the tables on him.”
“I couldn’t believe it. You know how he’s such a smooth talker?” Grace said, and when the other women nodded, she continued. “McKenna had him speechless.”
McKenna’s face grew warm from embarrassment. “I’ve only succeeded once, and it didn’t last long. I really shouldn’t have done it, though. Technically, he’s my boss, and even if he wasn’t, he’s my boss’s grandson.”
Cassie laughed and waved her hand through the air. “I know Ginny, and she’d be the first one to tell you to not let Zane pull anything.”
While Cassie might say so now, what would these women say if they knew she’d gone behind Zane’s back to convince his grandmother he had no business supervising Lucky Stars? Would they still be open and welcoming?
Guitar twangs and a voice repeating testing as the band set up and checked the sound level drew McKenna’s attention. Jumping on the opportunity to steer the conversation away from her and Zane, she said, “What’s your budget for the band?”
“I’d like to get AJ to reconsider a recorded playlist like we had at the engagement party,” Grace said.
“If you’d like I can mention—”
“Howdy, y’all. Give us a couple minutes to get drinks to wet our whistles while we’re playing, and we’ll get this party started,” the lead singer, a handsome man with an ebony beard, dressed in faded jeans and a Texas Sweet Home T-shirt, said from the stage.
Cheers greeted his comment and Grace turned to Cassie and Cheyenne, holding out her fisted hand. “Even or odds, ladies, to see who goes to drag the men back.”
McKenna stiffened. One way or another she’d soon know whether or not Zane had talked to Ginny. She guessed within seconds of seeing him. The noise around her pounded in her ears as her heart rate spiked.
“No need to come lookin’ for us, sweetheart. We’re here,” AJ said.
When McKenna turned, her gaze landed on Zane, standing with his friends. Being slightly taller made Zane stand out, but that wasn’t all that set him apart. While his friends were attractive, Zane gave the word a whole new meaning. But she wouldn’t label him pretty boy handsome because of the roughness about him, an edge when he let down his guard. Sometimes she glimpsed what she thought was an old soul. One who’d been through more tough times than he should have at his age. The way she had. Whatever it was, it was there right now in his braced stance and how he stood back on his heels giving him a James Dean vibe.
How could any man make worn Wranglers, a faded black T-shirt, and a Texas A&M baseball hat look that good?
His gaze landed on her. His eyes narrowed and his right eye twitched. A bad feeling twisted McKenna’s stomach into a giant knot. This
did not bode well for her night.
“Good thing we didn’t have to hunt you down since you promised to be here when the band started.” The love in Grace’s eyes undermined the threat in her statement as AJ kissed her cheek.
The men settled into their seats, leaving the one beside McKenna for Zane. She tensed wiping her sweaty palms on her black slacks. Would he talk to her or mention his discussion with Ginny if he’d seen her? Or would he ignore her? Please let it be the last option.
Once seated beside her, he leaned over. “I hear you talked with Ginny today.”
McKenna closed her eyes and ignored her urge to run. Despite his low tone, his anger rippled through her. Fate was out to destroy her today. Time to face what she’d unwittingly done. “I did, but it didn’t go as I planned.”
“Then you didn’t mean to get her to force me to help with weddings?”
“Absolutely not. I wanted to convince Ginny you weren’t needed.”
“Then how the hell did it get royally screwed up?” While his voice remained quiet, a vein bulged and throbbed in his forehead, clear evidence of his rising irritation.
“You’re upset. Calm down.”
“You’re right. I’m upset. I’m damn upset because I’m gonna be spending my weekends at rehearsal dinners, weddings, and receptions instead of having a good time.”
Discussion at the table ceased and everyone stared at her and Zane. McKenna cringed as embarrassment sent heat rushing up her neck into her face. The only thing worse than being an outsider in a social gathering was being the center of attention.
“What’s the problem, you two?” AJ asked.
McKenna smiled weakly. “I’m sorry we bothered everyone. We’re having a little work disagreement about who’s handling what, but we can finish this tomorrow.”
“The hell we can. I intend to have a good time, and I can’t until we finish our discussion.”
AJ motioned to everyone at the table. “The rest of us don’t want to see or hear that. Either get along or take it outside.”
McKenna turned to Zane. “Please, let’s drop this until tomorrow.”
“You created the mess, and you’re going to tell me how you’ll fix it. Now,” Zane snapped, his voice loud and sharp.
“That’s it. Outside, or I’ll haul you into jail for disturbing the peace,” AJ said.
“Come on, AJ. You wouldn’t do that to a good friend,” Zane replied.
“Damn straight I would,” AJ said, his face stern and unyielding.
“I’m sorry, Chief.” McKenna’s hands clutched together on her lap shook. “If you—”
“He threatened the same thing with us once,” Cooper said, interrupting her.
“Did you end up in jail?” Zane asked.
“No, but—”
Zane crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m calling your bluff, AJ.”
“No, he’s not.” McKenna placed her hand on Zane’s arms. His muscles contracted under her palm before he shook her off. “Please, let’s go outside.”
“No.”
“That’s it, you two. Let’s go.” When neither she or Zane moved, the chief walked to where they sat, placed a hand on their chair backs, and leaned toward them. “Don’t make me arrest you.”
Chapter Nine
“AJ, you can’t be serious?” Zane said once they stood outside the Horseshoe. How the hell could his friend be pulling this?
“Please, Chief Quinn. We’ll talk this out,” McKenna added quickly.
“I intend to make sure you do. I’ll make a deal, though. If you’ll talk in my office, I won’t throw you in jail.”
“We agree, don’t we, Zane?”
Zane glanced at his friend. Something in AJ’s stance and face told him he’d best not press his luck further. But he vowed his friend would pay for his bonehead stunt.
A few minutes later, AJ unlocked his office door and stepped aside for McKenna and Zane to enter. “I didn’t want to do this, but you two have to work this out for Ginny’s sake. Hell, for all our sake’s, including yours.” Then he turned and closed the door.
Zane dashed across the office, but before he reached the door, the locked clicked. He grabbed the doorknob and turned. Nothing.
“We’re locked in?” McKenna asked, her lower lip trembling.
“AJ, this has gone far enough. You’ve made your point,” Zane said as he pounded on the door.
“I’m doing you a favor. Whatever’s going on, fix it before I get back, and don’t touch anything in my office.”
The hell he was doing him a favor. “AJ, let us out. How can you do this after all we’ve been through over the years?”
Fading footsteps answered his question.
Zane walked across the room to sit behind his friend’s desk in the large leather chair. “You might as well get comfortable, too.”
McKenna spun around to face him so fast her feet tangled, and she nearly fell. “This is your fault. You had to call his bluff. What did you expect he’d do after that?”
He’d expected AJ to laugh and tell him to knock it off. He never dreamed he’d lock them in his office. “My fault? If you hadn’t gone behind my back and talked to Ginny, if you’d accepted my being in charge, or talked to me we wouldn’t be in this mess either.”
Zane grabbed the pencils from the cup on AJ’s desk and placed them on the pristine wood surface in front of him. Holding one, he pressed his thumb against the lead until it snapped. Then he replaced the pencil in the holder, selected another, and repeated the process.
“The chief said not to touch anything.”
In response, Zane grabbed another pencil and snapped off the point.
“Do you ever take responsibility? Is everything a joke?”
“Life’s too short to take anything too seriously.”
“And that’s why we’re locked up.”
“We’re not locked up. We’re locked in AJ’s office.”
“The point is we’re unable to leave,” McKenna shot back.
“You’re being overly dramatic.”
“And you’re being under dramatic.”
“That’s not a real word.” Zane broke the tips off two more pencils.
“Yes, it is. Google it.”
“This is why we’re stuck here.” Maybe AJ was right, and they should work out their differences for everyone’s sake.
McKenna paced the office. “What are people going to think? The Horseshoe was full. Everyone saw us arguing and then walk out with the chief of police.”
“Who’s one of my best friends.” Or was before this stunt. He finished off the last two pencils. “Folks won’t think anything of it.”
“Chief Quinn said he could arrest us for disturbing the peace. What if someone heard?”
“No one did.”
“You’ve been wrong before tonight because here we are locked up.”
“Again, not locked up.” The bookcase behind the desk to his left caught his eye.
“This is the worst day of my life.”
“And yet here you are, surviving it.” Zane removed a book, turned it around, and replaced it binding side first. He continued with the next book, working his way across the shelf. “A day could be a lot worse. Like the one Coop had when his first fiancée died. Or when Cassie learned her sister Chloe and her brother-in-law Jack died in a plane crash, leaving her niece an orphan.” Or being a middle schooler and having your father say he wants a divorce to marry the other mother of his other children.
In his mind, he saw the insecure boy he’d been seated on a box containing his books and other bookshelf items. His mother sat on a box of his clothes on one side of his bedroom. His father leaned against the door jamb, ready to make his getaway. His parents tried to convince him they both wanted him so much they’d been unable to reach a custody agreement. Because of that, he needed to choose who to live with. But he heard the truth when they’d argued the night before. Neither one of them wanted him. They wanted to move on.
“You’r
e right,” McKenna said, yanking him away from the memories. She walked to the love seat situated along the wall and sat, while he moved to the next row of books. “What’re you doing?”
“Leaving a message to piss AJ off when he comes into work.”
“You’ll get us into more trouble.”
“Do you want to get out of here or not?” She nodded, and he continued. “Then we best get to working things out.”
“How do we start?”
“Tell me what you and Ginny talked about.”
She chewed on her lip, and when she quit it was slightly swollen and red the way it had been after he kissed her this afternoon. “I went there to convince her I didn’t need your help.”
“Makes me wonder about your sales skills.” Though with her looking at him wide-eyed, her lips swollen from nervously chewing on them, she could talk him into a thing or two. He frowned and returned his attention to AJ’s books. “Don’t ever help me again.”
“I wasn’t trying to help you today. I was doing it for me.” She explained she’d hoped to impress Ginny during her absence to bolster her case when she asked to be promoted to wedding planner. “Lucky Stars has such potential. With two planners, Ginny could expand to hosting celebration of life and corporate events. But if you’re in charge, how can I prove I can handle more responsibility?”
“Guess you’ll have to impress me.”
She scoffed. “With the way things are going with us working together, I’ll be lucky to still have a job when Ginny returns, and I won’t go through that again.”
“Again?”
Her lips pinched into a thin line and she paled. “My dad was unemployed a lot when I was a kid. It was so bad we got evicted a couple times. I’ll never forget how awful it was.” Her voice quivered with pain. “I hated being the new kid. It was so hard making friends. Eventually I said why bother? We’d only move again.”
His gut insisted she’d left something out. I’ll be lucky to still have a job, and I won’t go through that again. He swore she’d been talking about herself, not her father, but he let her comment go. For now. He started rearranging the next shelf of books. “That’s why you went, but what did you talk about?”
