Texas Bossa Nova (Texas Montgomery Mavericks Book 5)

by Cynthia D'Alba

  “And a male stripper?” He tried to give her a disapproving look but in the end he chuckled.

  “So you’re not upset about Max? I didn’t know. I swear.”

  “Of course I don’t mind. Blanche thought it was a hoot. And she told me that she’d invited him. Which one is he?”

  “The guy I was just dancing with.”

  “Handsome fellow.”

  “True. Look, Zeb—”

  “You’re leaving,” he said.

  “Maybe. It’s time I grew up. Found out what I want to do with my life, don’t you think?”

  “You seem to be doing just fine.”

  “Right now, sure. But I want more control. I think I want to go back to school.”

  His eyes widen in surprise. “Really? To do what?”

  “I’m not sure. I thought maybe I’d take some time and do a little online research.”

  “So have you told the Montgomery boys you’re leaving?”

  “No. Not yet.”

  “Blanche and I will be gone a couple of weeks. If you need somewhere to stay, you still have a key to my place.”

  “I do, yes. Thanks.”

  “One more favor?”

  “Sure. Anything.”

  “Can you call me Dad instead of Zeb?”

  She nodded. “I think I can do that.”

  The rest of the reception went by in a blur. When Blanche threw her bouquet, it hit Magda in the head and bounced into Delene’s hands, who promptly shoved it back at Magda.

  “No, ma’am. I don’t want that,” Delene said with a laugh.

  Since it was a day wedding, the reception broke up by six. Exhaustion wrapped around Magda like a boa, squeezing any energy out of her. Nothing sounded better than her bed.

  On the drive home, a sharp abdominal cramp racked her gut and drew a gasp. By the time she pulled into the D&R drive, she was almost doubled over with cramps. So it was no surprise when she went to the bathroom to discover her late period had arrived, bringing its sisters, cramps and fluid retention, along for a visit.

  Swell timing, ladies, she thought.

  Since Nadine Montgomery had been the one to hire her, Magda felt it was only right that she let Nadine know that she would be leaving.

  That conversation was harder than she’d thought it would be. Nadine thanked her and told her how much Reno and Darren had bragged on her. She was sure her boys were going to miss Magda.

  Now she only had to tell the guys.

  Reno and Darren came in a couple of hours later, as they’d stayed for drinks and dinner with the rest of the Montgomery family. Magda had been invited to join but had declined, claiming exhaustion. But at least she didn’t have to worry about fixing any type of meal for later.

  She left a note on the table telling them she was upstairs and probably asleep and would see them in the morning.

  The noise they made getting into the house alerted her to their arrival. Reno’s boots clomped on the hardwood stairs as he came up. She shut her eyes and feigned sleep when her door opened. But she made sure she was spread from corner to corner on the mattress, hoping Reno would get the message and not wake her trying to get in the bed.

  It worked as planned. Her door closed quietly as he left.

  Of course he left. She wasn’t pregnant. He didn’t have to pretend an interest in her anymore.

  Now her heart ached along with her menstrual cramps. All she needed now was a stubbed toe and she’d hurt from head to toe.

  Just as she was dropping off to sleep, what she wanted to do came to her like a shot upside her head. Now to figure out how to make it happen.

  Chapter Twenty

  Reno gently shut Magda’s door. Poor girl. She was obviously worn out. He’d go to his own room for tonight. Both of them could start fresh in the morning. He knew how bummed he was about the pregnancy, or rather lack thereof, and suspected she felt the same.

  As he shut his bedroom door, he was already missing her beside him as he slept.

  The aroma of coffee filtered up the stairs and into his bathroom as Reno got dressed the next morning. He hurried through his morning ablutions to get downstairs to see Magda. And have breakfast too, but mostly to see Magda.

  Darren had already beat him to the first cup of coffee and was shoving biscuits in his mouth like it was a Labor Day hot-dog eating contest.

  “Morning,” Reno said in a chipper voice, but that’s not how he felt. Chipper. His brain moaned at the word chipper. Geeze. Love was turning his mind to bluebirds and honeybees. He probably should care, but he didn’t.

  “Morning,” Magda said, her back to the kitchen. “Better hurry. Darren’s got a head start on the chow.” His woman even looked good from this angle.

  Darren grinned at Magda’s comment.

  Reno filled a coffee mug, loaded four biscuits, five sausages and some scrambled eggs and then sat at the table. As soon as his chair was under the table, Magda grabbed her coffee and sat.

  There were dark circles under her eyes and they didn’t have their usual sparkle. Her mouth was drawn. Her entire manner screamed sadness.

  Reno set down his fork. “What’s wrong? You look like you lost your last friend.”

  Magda’s mouth moved upward as though she wanted to smile but just couldn’t bring herself to form one. Then she sighed.

  “This is hard,” she said. “Harder than I thought it would be. Your mom gave me a job when I really needed one and I’m indebted to her and both of you for giving me a place to live, a good salary and just about anything a girl would want in a job.”

  “But?” said Darren.

  “I talked to Nadine last night and told her I was leaving.”

  “What?” Reno yelled so loudly Darren and Magda flinched. “What the hell are you talking about? Leaving? Leaving for where? What the fuck, Magda?”

  Darren stared at his brother. “Chill, Reno.” He looked at Magda. “I’ve loved having you here. I—we knew it was temporary.” He tossed a frown at Reno who was still searching for some type of logic behind Magda’s words.

  “Thank you, Darren. As I explained to your mother, I came home to make sure Zeb would be okay. He’s better than okay. There’s no reason for me to stay now.”

  “What?” Reno yelled again. “No reason to stay.” He pounded his fist on the table. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  Darren looked at his brother and then at Magda, nodded his head and said, “I’ll let you two talk. I’ll head down to the barn and, um, do something.”

  Shoving his chair back so hard it left scuff marks on the floor, Darren stood and hobbled out the door as fast as he could.

  The muscles in Reno’s cheeks flexed as he ground his teeth. Standing, he paced, running his hands through his hair.

  “I don’t understand. Explain it to me.”

  “There’s nothing to explain, Reno. I took this as a temporary job just to be near Zeb as he recovered. He’s recovered and doing great. The reason I came back is no longer valid. So there’s no reason to stay.”

  “No reason to stay,” he repeated.

  “That’s right. No reason.”

  His breathing was harsh and ragged. His heart throbbed so violently he was getting a headache.

  “And what about this?” He motioned between them. “What was this all about? A way to kill some time? Scratch an itch while you waited to hit the road again? You think this is a game? Come by, jerk around Reno and leave?”

  She closed her eyes and then opened them to look at him. “That’s not fair. You know I don’t sleep around. We…you and me…” Her voice drifted off.

  “Yes, I know what we means,” he said, his voice cutting and rude.

  She sighed again. “Sit down. I hate when people stand over me.”

  He sat but said nothing.

  “Look, Reno.
I appreciate that you were ready to take one for the team if I had been pregnant. I really do. You are a fabulous man. I know you aren’t looking to get married right now, or hell, even settle down to one girl. You must have told me a million times that your life plan is to get the ranch going and get married maybe by age thirty-five.”

  “When did I say that? I never said that.”

  “Yeah, you did. Last year when we first got together. And trust me when I say that I appreciated how honest you were with me. I knew the score before we ever went to bed together. I went in with my eyes open. This time too.” She reached out and laid her hand on his. “You do not want to get married at age twenty-seven. If there’d been a baby, then yeah. You’d have done it, but only because you are that kind of a man.”

  “What kind? A fool?”

  Pulling her hand back she said, “No. An honorable man. An ethical man. You told me you’d be a good father, and I believe you. You will be a wonderful father…someday. But in all those discussions about marriage, never once did you mention being a good husband.” She held up her hand when he started to interrupt her. “I know you’re going to argue with me and say I’m taking things out of context, but I’m not. Marrying me was all about the baby, not about me as your wife. You will be a great husband to some lucky woman someday, but not today and not me.”

  For long minutes, they just sat and looked at each other. Reno’s heart no longer hurt because he was pretty sure he didn’t have one anymore. It’d disintegrated in a ball of flames when he realized she was right. He’d never mentioned being her husband, only being a father to any child they produced. What an ass he’d been.

  But he loved her.

  Yes, and he’d never told her.

  “I love you,” he said.

  She lowered her gaze to the table and a tear rolled off her face and splashed on the tablecloth.

  “I think you loved the idea of my carrying your baby, not loved me, Magda Hobbs.” She spoke to the table, not looking at him.

  “You’re wrong.”

  “No, I don’t think so.” Finally raising her gaze, she said, “And that’s why I left last summer. I didn’t want to be my mother. I didn’t want to fall in love with a cowboy and find myself pregnant and alone like she did.” She scoffed. “And damned if I wasn’t headed down that path on a missile.” Blowing out a long breath, she continued, “I knew taking this job was a risk, and I did pretty good keeping my distance until I saw you lying by the pond in the snow and ice and thought you were dead. Maybe one of the worst scares of my life. And then, well…” She shrugged. “Once I’d had you again, I didn’t want to give you up.”

  “So don’t. Don’t give me—us up. Stay.”

  She shook her head. “No. I need to find Magda Hobbs again. I need to find what I want to do with my life. Staying here is my way of hiding out from life, I think. Please understand. I have to go.”

  The last time Reno had cried was when he was seven and his favorite dog had died. He’d been sure there’d never be a pain so harsh, so staggering as that one.

  He’d been wrong.

  Today was much worse.

  Tears built in his eyes. He swallowed trying to keep them at bay. Finally, he stood and turned away.

  “When are you leaving?”

  “I think it best if I go today. Staying will only make leaving harder.”

  He nodded but refused to turn around. He heard her chair scrape as she pushed it back to stand.

  “One question,” he said.

  “Okay.”

  “Did you ever love me?” His gut twisted and pulled as he waited for her answer.

  It was a long time coming. “Yes. I loved you. I’ve loved you from the first time I took you to my bed. I love you still, but that changes nothing. Sometimes life just doesn’t give us what we want when we want it.”

  He waited until he heard her leave the room, then he went outside behind the barn and let his pain out.

  Magda got all the way to her bedroom before the serious crying started. Reno had finally said that he loved her. God, she wished she believed him. What she believed was that he’d said what she’d wanted to hear. And he was right. She did want to hear those three little words. Only she’d needed to hear them a long time ago, not as she was walking out the door. Who could believe anything at a time like that?

  She gathered her clothes into stacks, shoved everything into plastic bags and began hauling them downstairs. It didn’t take long. She didn’t have much, and she hadn’t collected much in the time she’d been at the D&R. Not that how much she had really mattered. She was in Zeb’s truck, which could easily hold all she had. Her bike was at his house, so once she was there, she could make the swap.

  She made up her bed and Reno’s bed before she left the upstairs for the last time. Standing on the top step, she looked around, taking and storing mental pictures of everything.

  Downstairs, she made Darren’s bed, cleaned up the kitchen, picked up her few belongings and left. As she drove down the drive, she saw Zack Marshall in the field. And while she did strain her neck to look, there was no sign of Reno.

  She drove to Whispering Springs and parked outside Porchia’s Heavenly Delights. For a while, she sat and studied the traffic that went in and out. Porchia had not been bragging. The morning traffic was heavy, even in a town this size. Finally, when the traffic slowed, she got out and went in.

  “Morning, Magda,” Porchia said. “I wondered if you were going to sit out there all day.”

  Magda smiled. “I could have. You never know.”

  Porchia laughed. “I was surprised when you called this morning asking to talk. I’m going to grab a cup of coffee between rushes. You want one?”

  “Please. Just black.”

  Porchia carried two cardboard cups of coffee to a small table and sat, letting out a long sigh.

  “This morning has been crazy,” she said. “I’m out of jelly-filled doughnuts, cinnamon rolls and egg and sausage rounds. And absolutely no time to make more. Sorry. You didn’t come here to listen to me bitch. What can I do for you?”

  “I was thinking about something you said this week.”

  Porchia frowned. “I say a lot of things. Which thing did you have in mind?”

  Magda took a deep breath before she continued. If Porchia blew off her suggestion, she wasn’t sure where she’d go next.

  “You mentioned taking on a partner. Were you serious?”

  Porchia studied Magda as she sipped her coffee. “How old are you?”

  Magda straightened. “I’m twenty-four. I’ll be twenty-five in a couple of months. Why? Does that matter?”

  “I’m almost thirty-two,” Porchia said.

  “So?”

  “So this is my livelihood. Whispering Springs is my home. I’m not going anywhere. You? You’ve been here a couple of months. You could up and leave in a couple of more months. I need a partner who’s as committed to making this work as I am. This is all I’ve got. And I’m a horrible gambler. Why would I gamble on you? Don’t you already have a job at the D&R?”

  Magda nodded. “I understand your hesitation about me. Hell, I’d be hesitant about me if I didn’t know me so well. The only family I have in the world is here. I did leave here six months ago. I was miserable while I was gone. I love this little town. After meeting all the ladies last week, I was sorry I’d spent so little time in town getting to know more people. But…” Magda paused. Talking about her teen years, the foster homes, the constant moving, the endless hours of self-protection was hard. The words didn’t come easily and usually not without tears. Today was no different. “Let me start at the beginning.” And she did, ending with the pregnancy scare and being in love with Reno. “So,” she said, winding up her life story, “when I got the call about Zeb’s heart attack, I knew I wanted to come home, and home is Whispering Springs.”

 
During her entire tale, Porchia had said nothing. She drank her coffee, nodded, tsked, and even laughed a couple of times. When Magda was done speaking, she was as exhausted as if she’d run a ten-mile race.

  “Wow,” Porchia said. “That’s some story.”

  “I applied to the Dallas School of Culinary Arts last year and got accepted.”

  “To be a chef?”

  “No. To be a baker. I want to make cakes. Those fancy, fabulous cakes you see on television. Cakes so fancy, so magnificent that people seek us out.”

  Porchia laughed. “Do you know what I just hate about my job?”

  “No clue.”

  “Don’t tell anyone, but it’s the cakes. I find them a pain in the butt most of the time. Hold on.” Porchia refilled their coffee cups and sat again. “So it sounds like you’ve got a plan, but why go into partnership with me? Why not do this on your own?”

  “It just wouldn’t be as much fun. Plus, a partner means sharing rent and space and customers.”

  “How long is the program you’re attending?”

  “It’s short. Four months, starting in early April and running through July. And it’s not full time. I’d be able to pull my weight here too, or at least work the front counter. I’d have a lot to learn in the back.”

  Magda lifted her cup to her mouth mostly to make herself shut up. She wanted this, and sometimes when she wanted something really badly, she had a tendency to push.

  “Tell you what. Come to work with me first. Let’s see if we can even work together. We’ll have about six weeks before your program starts. You may find out you hate being a baker.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t think so.”

  “Where are you going to live?”

  “I can stay at my dad’s house until he gets back from his honeymoon but after that?” Magda shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll look for an apartment somewhere in town.”

  Staying in town meant she’d run into Reno or Darren or one of their Montgomery relatives sometime in the future. It was a risk she’d have to take. She wanted Zeb and Blanche as her family, and damn if she didn’t really love Whispering Springs. She’d get over Reno, build a life and a circle of friends. A million times growing up, she’d left homes and schools she loved for new places. Running away and starting over was a skill she’d developed well. Now it was time to stop running and be with her family.