After taking a few deep breaths, I made my way back into my folks’ kitchen.
“Tell me that wasn’t the hospital calling you to work today,” my father said. I quickly looked over at my mother. She’d seen Truitt’s name on my phone and I was surprised she hadn’t said anything.
“No, that was Truitt. His cousin who normally does all the interior decorating for the playhouses is in England and she won’t be back for a number of weeks because she broke her leg. He asked if Liliana and I wouldn’t mind going shopping with him today to pick out some things for her playhouse and for another one he’s building.”
“Pwayhouse! Yes!” Liliana cried out from her place at the table. Ryan and my father laughed as my mother simply kept her back to me while she cleaned dishes. I knew she was still upset with me regarding the whole one-night-stand thing with Luke. She might not have said it, but she thought it looked bad in front of Truitt.
“What did you say?” Ryan asked before stuffing pancakes into his mouth.
I walked up to Liliana and leaned down to kiss her on the forehead, then wiped her face with a napkin I had quickly picked up without her seeing. She fussed, but I managed to get the syrup off her chin. “I told him we’d love to go. I mean, who better to pick out the things for her little castle than the princess herself.”
Momma turned and wiped her hands down her jeans. The way she was looking at me made me feel uneasy. I pulled my brows in and tilted my head. “You look like you’ve got something on your mind, Momma.”
She folded her hands across her chest. “Not at all. I think it’s lovely he asked you.”
“Why do you have sarcasm in your voice?”
“Oh, hell,” Daddy and Ryan said at once.
“I have no such thing in my voice, Saryn. I believe that is in your imagination.”
She pushed off the counter and headed out of the kitchen. I followed.
“Daddy, can you watch Liliana?” I called back, not waiting for him to answer.
As soon as I caught up with her, I said, “Momma, if you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
Stopping, she turned and looked directly into my eyes. “I raised you better than that, Saryn. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was for your father and me to be standing out there with those two men when you pulled up dressed in the same clothes you went out in? It was clear to all you had spent the night with a man.”
“So what, I’m a grown woman,” I said with a humorless laugh.
“Is this something you’re going to be doing often?”
Anger boiled up inside of me and I shook my head. “Momma, I wanted one night out and yes, a good-looking man paid attention to me and it’s been one hell of a long time since a man has looked at me like that. I wanted to let my hair down for once. I wanted to be reckless and do something all of my friends have done at one point in their lives. If that meant having a one-night stand, then so be it. And to answer you, no I don’t plan on doing that, ever again.”
Concern washed over her face. “Was he…”
“He was a gentleman. He even asked me out again, but I was up front and honest with him. I told him I wasn’t looking for anything more than that night. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed in me, but honestly, it’s none of your business.”
Her mouth opened to speak, then she shut it again.
“I’m sorry, Saryn, I didn’t mean to judge you, sweetheart. It’s just, I only want what’s best for you and Liliana. People still talk in this town, no matter how much it’s grown.”
I nodded. “I know they do.”
“It’s still not the same for women like it is for men. I know for a fact your brother has been a little bit of a manwhore since he broke up with Miranda. Peggy down at the corner store informed me she saw Ryan with some girl and they looked like they had just rolled around in a hay loft.”
I laughed. “They probably had.”
She sighed. “I also know he hooked up with a nurse you work with.”
With a stunned look, I asked, “How do you know that?”
“I have a lot of friends in this town. The gossip mill is as strong as ever.”
I sighed. “Do you think people will be talking if they find out I’m going shopping with Truitt?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. It’s not like y’all are doing shopping on the mile. And for him to be coming over here wouldn’t raise any eyebrows since he’s building the playhouse.”
With a nod, I replied, “Good. I don’t really want the gossip mill filled with details about me. Ryan is another thing.”
Momma winked and then pulled me in for a hug. “I just want what’s best for you, sweetheart.”
“I know, Momma. I know.”
Truitt pulled up exactly an hour later. I had rushed around trying to get Liliana dressed and ready. A cold front was expected to push through today dropping temperatures, so I had to pack us both something in case it got colder, especially since the Rim was an outdoor mall.
When the doorbell rang, Liliana ran to the door calling out Truitt’s name. She was beside herself with glee. I think she was even more excited to see Truitt than to go shopping. I was right there with her.
“Hold on, Liliana, there’s no fire.”
She jumped and clapped until I opened the door. My mouth gaped open when I saw Truitt standing there, a little bouquet of flowers in his hand. He bent down and Liliana threw herself at him.
“Okay, have you put some sort of spell on my child, Truitt? She has never acted this way before.”
He laughed. “Nonsense, I’ve seen her with Ryan and your dad.”
“Yes, but no other man. She’s usually very shy.”
“I told you, it was the playground that won her over.” He handed the flowers to Liliana and said, “These are for you, Princess Liliana. Lilies for Liliana.”
And there went my heart. And my legs. Nearly taking me to the ground. But a strange thought occurred to me. Was Truitt attempting to get to me through my daughter? If he was, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
“Mommy, flowers! For me!” She jumped up and down and held them up for me to smell.
I smiled and reached for her hand. “Let’s go put them in water, and then we can leave.”
Truitt stepped inside and shut the door, following me and Liliana into the kitchen.
Before I had a chance to say anything, his phone rang.
“Excuse me,” Truitt said. “This is Truitt. Hey, Shay.”
I paused when I heard the name. I had asked Natalie and Lucy for the name of the woman Truitt had danced with nearly all night at the dance hall. Natalie had told me her name was Shay. I hadn’t wanted to ask if she was a girlfriend since it might have looked weird to ask about Truitt while I had been shamelessly flirting with Luke.
“I would if I could, but I’m actually on my way to San Antonio,” he said. “Want me to call Paul, or Roger?”
With a quick look his way, I tried not to listen to his conversation, but it was hard not to when he was standing right there. I placed the little flowers in a Mason jar then turned and put them on our small table. Liliana climbed up on a chair and smelled them. The gesture truly had been a sweet one, and not anything her own father would have ever thought of.
“Are you sure? I might be able to swing by and help,” Truitt said into the phone.
That caught my attention. I felt like a silly fool, thinking Truitt had given Liliana the flowers as a means to get to me. He clearly was seeing this Shay.
“Call me later if you need anything, I should be back in a few hours.”
He looked at me and mouthed he was sorry. I waved it off.
“Listen, I’ve got to go. Okay, talk soon.”
Truitt ended the call and looked between me and Liliana. “Who’s ready to do some shopping?”
Liliana jumped and shouted, “Me! Me, pwease!”
Truitt chuckled and motioned for us to lead the way.
As we walked out to his truck, I grabbed Li
liana’s car seat and Truitt took it from me. For a moment I was agitated, then quickly pushed it aside. I had no business feeling this way. Truitt didn’t owe me anything.
“Do you know how to put one of those in?” I asked.
Truitt laughed. “Yes. Lee has a daughter. She’s had to go a few times with us to pick up supplies or to run in on shopping trips. I’ve gotten really good at putting her car seat in my truck. She’s about a year older than Liliana. I need to have Lee introduce her to Liliana.”
“That would be nice. I’m planning on starting her in preschool next year.”
“Well, if she’s anything like Netty, she’ll love it.”
Truitt stepped back and put his hand out for me to inspect the seat. I did, and it passed with flying colors.
“Let’s hit the road,” Truitt said after we were all buckled up in the truck.
Liliana talked Truitt’s ear off for the first twenty minutes. Then silence filled the truck and I looked back to see she had talked herself right into a nap.
“Wow, I guess that wore her out.”
Truitt laughed. “Thank goodness you were here to help with half of what she said. I don’t have my little person language down pat yet.”
I giggled and looked over at him. He was rolling his window down. He spit out his gum and then cursed.
“Son of a…crap!”
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“The damn wind blew my gum back into the truck. Shit, it hit me in the eye, and I think it’s in my hair now! Not again.”
I covered my mouth with my hand. “Do you, um…need to pull over?”
“Dang, freaking, crap.”
It was obvious Truitt wasn’t used to keeping his words in check. He pulled over and put the truck into park. He pulled the visor down and looked in the small mirror.
“How in the heck did that come back and hit me right in the eye?”
I chewed on my lip to keep from laughing. When I was able to keep myself in check, I said, “Let me take a look at your eye.”
He turned and I lost it laughing.
“What? What’s so funny?”
“The gum, it’s in your hair. How did you get it in your hair?”
“How did it hit me in the eye is the better question!”
With a quick glance back, I saw Liliana was still sound asleep. I unbuckled and leaned over to try and get it out of his hair. “Don’t move or we might be cutting it out.”
“I refuse to cut it again.”
I looked at him and and asked, “Again? This has happened before?”
He nodded, and I covered my mouth to keep from waking up Liliana.
“What does my eye look like?” he asked.
I glanced down and was struck by how beautiful his eyes were. They were blue, but more of a deep dark blue. So dark they left me stunned for a moment.
“Well?” he asked.
“It’s fine, a little red, but that could be because you keep rubbing it.”
“It feels like there’s something in there.”
I placed my fingers on the top and bottom of his eye and looked closer. I had to crawl out of my seat to get close enough to look.
“Nothing is in your eye, but if you want me to pour water in it, I can.”
I let go of his eye and noticed I was inches from his face. His mouth. Like a stupid idiot, I let my gaze go down to his lips. He licked them.
A moan almost slipped from my lips. What in the heck, Saryn? I jerked my eyes up to the gum again and Truitt cleared his throat.
“Hold on, let me get the gum out of your hair.”
Carefully, I got it out and then tossed it out the still-open window and dropped back down into my seat.
“Thanks,” Truitt said, his voice sounding strained.
“Sure. Did you want me to pour water in your eye?”
He shook his head. “No, I think it’s okay now.”
Rolling up his window, Truitt looked back and saw that Liliana had slept through the whole show.
“She’s a heavy sleeper,” I stated.
All he did was nod, then pull back out onto the road. It took a few moments before he broke the silence.
“You know, you can ask about the gum.”
“Oh, thank goodness! How many times has it happened?”
“Twice. Well, now three times.”
Trying with all my might not to laugh, I lost the battle. Soon, Truitt was laughing right along with me.
“Truitt, how?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t think I spit it hard enough, or the wind gods hate me, and it blows back in.”
I laughed again. In that moment he looked at me. Our eyes met and something sparked between us. I chuckled again and let out a sigh.
“Man, I needed that laugh.”
“Glad to be of help.”
There were so many things that just felt right. And right now, it felt amazing to just be in his company.
Truitt
AS WE WALKED along the shops at La Cantera, I carried Liliana up on my shoulders. She’d given up on the idea of walking about thirty minutes ago after we left Pottery Barn Kids.
“Truitt, you don’t have to carry her on your shoulders,” Saryn argued, for the hundredth time.
“She’s light as a feather, stop worrying so much, Saryn.”
Chewing on her lip, she focused ahead of us. When she was unsure of something, or nervous, she nibbled on her lip, and I knew to look away because it did weird things to my body.
“Are you dating anyone?” she asked.
The question had just flown out of her mouth and the moment she asked it she seemed to regret it.
“No.”
Her brows rose. “No?”
Laughing, I replied, “No. I haven’t really ever seriously dated anyone.”
That caused her eyes to go wide with shock. “Never?”
I shrugged. “I mean, I’ve dated one or two women, nothing that I would call serious.”
“Why not?”
I looked straight ahead. “I have a bad habit of comparing them to someone I once cared a lot about.”
Saryn’s gaze felt like it was burning a hole into me.
“What happened? I mean, with this person.”
With a slight smile, I looked down at her. “She started dating someone else.”
Saryn looked like her breath had caught in her throat, then she looked as if a million questions were running through her mind.
Liliana gasped and let out an excited giggle. I looked to where she was pointing and said, “Build-A-Bear? What’s that?”
“Someplace you don’t want to go. Keep walking, Truitt, for your own good,” Saryn stated.
“Pwease!” Liliana cried out and my heart melted on the spot. “Pooh Bear! Momma, pwease.”
“Oh no, no! I see it in your eyes. Truitt…”
Turning to look at Saryn, I replied, “How can you be so cruel? Listen to that voice!”
She shook her head. “Trust me, she’ll forget all about it.”
Liliana bent forward and pulled my chin up to look at her. “Pooh Bear! Pwease!”
Oh, God. How could anyone say no that. Those baby blues pierced right into my soul and damn near brought me to my knees.
“There is no way I’m saying no to that.” I walked straight over to the stuffed animal store. “Let’s get you a Pooh Bear, baby girl.”
Liliana bounced around on my shoulders. I reached up and took her down. She grabbed my hand and pulled me over to a bunch of bins.
“You caved, just like that,” Saryn said, a smirk on her face.
“Do you not see those eyes? They were pleading, Saryn.”
“Yes, I see them every day, and that is called manipulation, Truitt. You’ve just been had by a three-year-old.”
“What’s the harm in getting a little Pooh Bear?”
Her arms folded over her chest. “Okay, this is all on you, Mr. I Can’t Say No.”
I smiled and then focused on Lili
ana. “What do we do first?”
“We gets Pooh!” Liliana exclaimed.
Once she picked out the unstuffed, almost scary version of Pooh, we made our way over to a machine where they stuffed the bear. There was a heart that had a whole procedure with it. When they said to make a wish, Liliana took it very seriously. She had to clutch her chest and say a prayer so long that a line started to form. When I looked at Saryn for help, she made no attempts to move. I’d remember that for the future when she needed my help.
“Okay, let’s say amen and stick it on in there, Liliana,” I said, prompting her to wrap up the prayer.
She kissed the heart and pushed it into Pooh Bear.
After Pooh was all stitched closed, we moved over to give him a bath. Liliana was very thorough in her bathing skills. From there, I quickly learned why Saryn wanted to avoid this place. It was time to shop for clothes.
“Doesn’t Pooh just wear this shirt?” I asked, holding it up for Liliana to inspect.
“Yep!” she answered while she jumped up and down.
So we dressed him. Then she saw the outfit for Eeyore, then Piglet, and when I saw Tigger’s outfit, we were done for. Back through the line for three more bears. This time I made Tigger, and when it came time to make a wish on the heart, I quickly glanced around and made my wish.
If any of my friends had seen me in that moment, I’d never live it down. Once the other three bears were bathed and dressed, we walked out of the store with nearly the entire Hundred Acre Woods in tow.
Saryn gave me a stern look. “You just spent a small fortune, all because of those blue eyes.”
“And the way she says please, don’t forget that,” I added.
“Yeah, that one still gets me sometimes, too. Let me ask you something, is the Tigger for you?” Saryn asked, trying not to laugh.
I looked down at her. “Of course, he is!”
“Tigger!” Liliana said with a giggle. She was back up on my shoulders as I carried the stuffed animals and Saryn carried the other two.
After we dropped the stuffed animals off in the truck and explained to Liliana that it was their nap time, we headed back over to the shops and hit a few stores. Shopping had never been one of my favorite pastimes, but somehow being with Saryn and Liliana made it different. I actually enjoyed myself.
Lucky in Love Page 11
