The sound of a car pulling to a stop in the front of the house brought her descent down to the kitchen to a stop. Looking outside, she saw Blanche Jenkins alight from the driver’s side. Okay, this was odd. She couldn’t imagine what Blanche would be doing here.
The knock at the door came and Magda braced herself for whatever fate was bringing her with this visit. After all, she’d handled fate before and she was sure it was through screwing with her.
“Blanche. What a nice surprise. Come on in.” Magda was thankful she’d at least brushed her teeth and her hair and her clothes were clean. She’d hate Blanche leaving here convinced Zeb’s daughter was a total loser. A loser, sure, but not total.
“Good morning, Magda. I hope you don’t mind me dropping in like this.” Blanche wore a Sunday go-to-church dress with hose. Magda didn’t remember ever wearing hose and was pretty sure she didn’t own a pair. Over Blanche’s arm hung the Coach purse from Christmas.
“Of course I don’t. I just made a fresh pot of coffee. Would you like some?”
“Yes, I would.”
“Great. Be right back.”
Magda went to the kitchen to pour the cups, expecting to serve Blanche in the living room, so she was taken aback when she turned around and found her in the kitchen.
“Or you can come to the kitchen with me,” Magda said and gave Blanche a smile. “You need milk or sugar?”
“No, thank you, dear. Black is fine.” Blanche glanced around the kitchen. “Do you mind if we sit in here? I’m more of a kitchen person than a living-room person.”
“Sure. Me too actually.” Magda took a seat at the table and Blanche sat at the end. “Now what can I do for you, Blanche?”
“Well, first I must apologize. This visit is long overdue.”
Magda gave a shrug. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I should have thanked you a long time ago for picking out this purse. I absolutely love it.”
“How do you know I got it? Maybe Zeb did.”
The older woman laughed. “I do love him, but we both know that Zeb has no taste when it comes to women’s fashion.”
Magda nodded. “True. I’m not sure his taste in men’s fashion is much better.”
Blanche smiled. “You do have a point. But thank you.” Lovingly, she ran a hand over her purse. “I’ve never had anything quite this nice before.”
“I’m glad you like it. Zeb wanted you to have something nice.”
Magda took a sip of coffee as she waited for the real reason Blanche came today.
“There’s another reason I came.”
And here it was.
“Zeb misses you. I know when you worked for Mitch and Olivia that you saw him a lot. But now he doesn’t get to see you every day like before.”
Wouldn’t it be strange if Blanche was here to tell her that she was going to be a housewife to Zeb and that Magda’s old job at the Kicking Bull Ranch would be coming open? Would she jump at the chance to go back? A month ago, she might have said yes. Now? She wasn’t sure.
“I’ll try to call more,” Magda said, feeling a little chastised.
“I’m not making myself clear.” Blanche sighed. “I worry that I’m the one keeping you away.”
“What? Of course not,” she lied.
“Zeb told me that the two happiest days in his life were the day he found out he had a daughter and the day he found you.”
Magda swallowed against the lump that’d magically appeared. “Thanks for telling me that.”
“The day he brought you to the ranch was the day his house became your home. Everybody needs a home base. And even though I’m moving in with him, it’ll still be your home. Whenever you need it, it’ll be there for you. We’ll be there for you. I love your dad. I never thought I’d feel this way. Never. I gave up on getting married a long time ago.”
“You’ve never been married?”
“I haven’t. I guess it took me this long to find the right man.” She patted Magda’s arm. “I know this will come out wrong, but thank you for going on your six-month adventure. If your position with the Landrys hadn’t been opened, I would have visited my sister and left town. I would never have met the love of my life. So thank you for opening the door to something I never thought I’d have.”
“Oh, Blanche. I really do hope you and Zeb will be happy.” As she spoke the words, she realized that she meant them, and the thought brought a smile to her face. “A first marriage for both of you.”
A pink blush flared on Blanche’s cheeks. “I know. It’s crazy but I feel like I’m eighteen and just starting life. Your dad has given me so much happiness.”
“I’m glad…for both of you.”
“Thank you. I just want you to know that you have a home with us anytime you need. You’re Zeb’s daughter and I hope you’ll let me be a part of your family too.”
Magda leaned over and hugged Blanche. “Wow. I’m going to have a stepmom,” she said with a laugh.
“And one more favor?” Blanche asked.
“Sure. What?”
“Be one of my bridesmaids. My sister is my matron of honor. I’d be so pleased if you’d stand with me as my maid of honor.”
“Do I have to wear a dress?”
Blanche laughed. “You can wear whatever you want. Polly, my sister, is wearing a light pink dress since it’s Valentine’s Day.”
“I’ll be there and I’ll be in a dress. Of course, that means I’ll need to go shopping for one. Do you want to go with me?”
Magda would have sworn there were tears in the woman’s eyes.
“Thank you. I would love to.”
They made plans for a Monday trip to Dallas. After Blanche left, Magda thought a lot about the conversation. Zeb’s house was the closest thing to a home she’d had since her mom died. The constant stream of foster homes sure didn’t count. She’d thought of his house as her home, just as Whispering Springs was home.
Maybe while she and Blanche were out, she could slip away and get one of those home pregnancy tests. Waiting for her period to arrive was getting old. She needed to take the test and get the answer, which she hoped was negative. She knew Reno would insist on marriage otherwise, and as much as she would love to spend her life with him, she would always wonder if he’d married her out of obligation instead of love.
The guys came back about five, starving for dinner.
“Hurting?” Magda asked when she saw Darren pull a pill bottle from his pocket and take a couple.
“A little. I think it’s due to walking around in the car lots yesterday more than the little bit of work I did today.”
“Probably from being on the back of a motorcycle last night,” Reno interjected.
Magda’s temper flared, but before she could say anything Darren gave a bark of laughter.
“Son of a bitch is jealous, Mags. I got to ride on your bike and he hasn’t. Look at him. Green as green can be.”
She looked. Reno was more red than green but…
“Really? You want to ride my bike?”
“Hell, yeah, Magda. I can’t believe you took him for a ride and haven’t taken me.”
That just made Darren laugh harder as he poked his brother’s arm.
“You ever been on a bike, Reno? Driven one?”
“Well, yeah.”
“You are such a liar,” Darren said. “He has driven a scooter. Never a hog like your baby, Magda.”
Magda tilted her head and studied Reno. He looked so flustered that she chuckled to herself.
“Come on, big boy,” she said to Reno. She took her keys out of a drawer and tossed them to him. “You drive. I’ll ride.”
“Hey,” Darren protested. “That’s not fair.”
“So long, sucker,” Reno said, twirling the keys around his finger. “Come on. Let’s ride.”
He grabbed Magda’s hand and pulled her out the back door. And kept hauling her along until they reached the detached carport.
“Hold on, cowboy,” she said. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
“I do. Really, Magda. This is great.”
She handed him a helmet, which produced a frown.
“I don’t need that.”
“Yeah, you do. Put it on if you want to ride my bike.”
He groaned but pushed the helmet on.
“Happy?” His voice was muffled but she could still hear the irritation.
“Very.” She had a spare, smaller helmet that she put on. He’d already straddled the bike and was waiting for her. She climbed on. The Fat Boy fired up on one kick and Reno took her out.
Reno’s heart was racing. He’d been wanting to get his hands on this beast since the day Magda rode it into the yard. And yes, he probably shouldn’t have let her come since there was a chance she was pregnant, but he’d be very careful and make sure nothing happened.
Damn but he hated the helmet. Give him a cowboy hat anytime. The helmet was hot and heavy. Plus, he felt like he couldn’t see as well. And, well, he loved the feel of the wind blowing across his head.
As they reached the end of the drive and got ready to roll out into the road, Magda put her hands on his waist and gave him a squeeze. He gave it gas and the power of that beast let itself be known. The pavement flew beneath the tires in a black haze. Wind whistled past his helmet and he was a little glad to have a shield to protect his eyes from drying out. Trees and fields passed in a blur. He was seriously dying to feed the beast more gas and see what it would really do, but with Magda on the back, he didn’t dare.
Magda moved her hands from his waist and wrapped her arms around him. She pressed up next to him, her full breasts smashed against his back. With each bump, the plump flesh slid up and down on him. Heaven and hell all in one ride.
His cock lengthened at the thought of her breasts and the memory of how they felt in his hands…how they tasted in his mouth. His gut twisted and more blood sank below his waist.
But even with an erection making his ride a little uncomfortable, he loved the feeling of freedom that the Fat Boy gave him. He felt like he could breathe, could fly, could do anything. The experience was so different from driving a truck or even riding a horse, but letting Gordo gallop full out would come close if his horse could do seventy miles per hour.
He grinned and then laughed.
“You okay?” Magda yelled from behind him. He could just barely hear her, but he nodded and slowed to turn into a closed gas station. He rolled to a stop and cut the engine.
“That was incredible,” he said after pulling off the safety helmet. “I felt like I was flying.” He straddled the bike and kicked the stand down to hold it.
Magda laughed as she climbed off the back seat. She cocked an eyebrow as she glanced down at his crotch. His erection strained the denim material. “I think I can see how excited you became.”
He grabbed her and pulled her against his hardness. “God, I want you so bad my balls ache.”
“That sounds serious.”
Her wry smile kicked him in the chest. Right then he knew. He loved her. Loved her with everything he had. Even if he spent the rest of his life loving her, it wouldn’t be enough time to show her. A hundred years wouldn’t be enough.
He caught her mouth in a kiss, deep and wet. He sucked her bottom lip in between his teeth and stroked the inside. Pulling away, he looked at her, angled his head and went back in for another round of lips meeting and tongues sparring.
Her hands, which had been at his waist, slid down to his ass. Shoving her hands in to his hip pockets, she pulled his hard dick against her groin and thrust out to meet him. As she ground against him, his cock hardened to the constitution of the concrete under their feet.
His fingers itched to touch her flesh. He craved being inside her, riding her like he’d just ridden this bike…hard and fast with determination.
She jerked her mouth free and leaned back. Her lips were red and swollen. He liked what he saw. He fucking loved that he made her look like a woman ready for a night in his bed.
“We better put a stop to this before I throw you to the ground and take you right here,” she said with a wink.
“I’m not one to argue with a good plan.”
“Yeah, but I’m not one for gravel in my ass, so that’s not gonna happen, cowboy.”
“I’m coming to your bedroom tonight. Last night was hell. If your door is locked, I’ll kick it in.”
Magda chuckled. “Locked. Right. I don’t think there is a key to that door.”
“Good. Saves me from breaking my foot.”
On the ride home, Magda decided to torture Reno. First, she wrapped her arms around his waist and made sure her breasts were snug against his back. Then, since the old helmet she was wearing didn’t have a shield, she proceeded to kiss and lick on his neck. She thought about sliding her hands down to his erection, but she was afraid he’d put them in a ditch.
They’d been gone almost an hour when they finally rolled under the carport.
“That was incredible,” Reno said as he lifted her off the ground in a hug.
“Stop that. Darren might see.”
“I want to do it again.”
“Hug me?”
He snorted. “Well, yeah. But I was talking about the bike. Maybe next month when the weather gets better, I’ll buy one and we can take some long rides.”
Magda couldn’t think as far as next month. Who knew if she’d still be here carrying Reno’s baby or back on the road. No matter how much Blanche assured her that she would always have a home with Zeb and her after the wedding, Magda wasn’t sure. She’d be the proverbial third wheel there, wouldn’t she?
“About time you two got back. I’m starving.” Darren rubbed his stomach, not that he had one.
Magda would place money on his abdomen being as tight and rippled as Reno’s, and yet she had no real desire to see him. There was only one Montgomery she had fantasies about.
“You didn’t have to wait on us,” Magda said. “Everything’s in the oven ready to eat.”
“Yeah, but I wanted to hear about Reno’s ride.”
The two men began an animated conversation about Magda’s Fat Boy. She got out the leftover roast, potatoes and carrots from last night. She added some green beans and fresh rolls and put everything on the table.
“Dig in, guys.”
That night, as Reno had said he would, he slipped into Magda’s room and into her bed. Their love making was gentle. Reno’s touches and strokes fanned the fire Magda had growing in her heart. When he kissed her stomach and laid his head there, tears backed up in her eyes. But what killed her was when he looked up from there and said, “If there is a baby in here, I mean to do the right thing. A baby needs both parents.”
She didn’t answer…couldn’t answer. Her power of speech was gone.
Chapter Eighteen
“Hey, Magda,” Darren said over breakfast Monday morning.
“Hey, Darren.”
He grinned. “I just remembered that I have a doctor’s appointment today. Can you drive me in?”
“I can get you there, but bringing you home might be a problem. I’m going shopping.”
“You? Shopping?” Reno looked aghast. “Is the end of the world near?”
Reno was keenly aware of Magda’s aversion to shopping. Maybe aversion wasn’t the right word. It was more like she had an abhorrence to clothes shopping for herself. He’d seen her in a dress before, just not that often.
She laughed. “It might be but I’m going with Blanche. She wants me in the wedding and I have nothing to wear.” She held up a hand. “And before you make some joke about how women say they have nothing to wear, in this case it’s the
truth. What time is your appointment, Darren?”
“Ten.”
“No problem, if I can borrow Reno’s truck? I’m meeting Blanche in town. I can drop you off, but you’ll have to get yourself home or wait until Blanche and I are done. Why don’t you just call me when you’re done and I can see how the shopping is going.” She gave a dramatic shiver. “I think I’d rather have my teeth cleaned than go clothes shopping.”
“You are so not normal,” Reno said. He nodded to the key rack. “Help yourself to my truck, but be sure to leave your motorcycle key here, you know, just in case.”
She gave him a squinty glare. “If you take Fat Boy anywhere, it’d better be an emergency.”
Darren laughed.
Reno gave her a wide-eyed stare of innocence. “Of course,” he said, and they all knew he was lying.
She left the key there, fingers crossed that he wouldn’t wreck her bike while she was gone because she knew he was taking it out the minute his truck’s taillights were out of sight.
After dropping Darren at his doctor’s office, she met Blanche at Porchia’s Heavenly Delights, the new bakery in town. A sweet cinnamon aroma met them at the door.
“Smells so yummy in here,” Magda said. “I don’t think I’d ever get tired of the scent.”
A blonde head popped around the corner from the back. “Be right with you.”
Magda and Blanche studied the case of goodies.
“I really shouldn’t,” Blanche said. “I need to watch my weight.”
“Obviously, Zeb doesn’t agree,” Magda said. “You look wonderful.”
The tall blonde hurried from kitchen. “Sorry. I was tied up in the back.” When she looked up, a smile bloomed on her face. “Magda. What a nice surprise.”
“Hi, Porchia. This place smells like the best dream I ever had.”
Porchia laughed. “Sad thing is, after a while I no longer smell all the goodness.”
“Well, that sucks,” Magda replied.
“Our sense of smell adjusts when bombarded with the same odor over and over.”
“That’s probably a good thing,” Blanche said. “Otherwise Zeb would never get anyone to clean out the stalls.”
Texas Bossa Nova (Texas Montgomery Mavericks Book 5) Page 16
