“That would scare the shit out of me.”
“Trust me, it will, but you have to keep it together for her. It’s a medical emergency if she has more than two in less than an hour or if the seizure lasts more than five minutes. They usually only last one minute at the most, and she’s never had more than two unless she’s sick.”
He couldn’t mask the apprehension in his troubled eyes, and I contemplated changing my plans, dropping the whole girl’s night out, but weighed out the situation. The trial run would be better with me being close rather than him taking her to Houston for the first couple of visits. I was only going to be a few miles and a phone call away.
“Don’t sweat it, Stone. If I can do it, so can you. You’ll get the hang of it.”He leaned against the dresser, folding his strong arms across his rippled chest. “I can’t believe she’s mine.”
“I feel the same way, every day.”
At that moment, I felt the truce in the air. His beautiful troubled face softened, the lines creasing around his eyes smoothed, and the narrow lines forming an M between his brows disappeared.
His gaze lingered on my mine, like he was saying something without uttering a single word. His biceps flinched as if he was fighting to keep from reaching out for me, as if nothing stood between us. I tried to stop staring, longing for his touch, hoping he’d had second thoughts about us.
Then I saw the shift, the exact moment he shut down. He cupped his chin, rubbing his thumb against one side, his forefinger opposite in an almost pinching massage. Abruptly he stood tall, lean, and cold.
“Savannah said there was a great little pizza place in town.”
“It’s the best. It’s between the school and the post office. If you pass the courthouse, you went too far. She loves to watch them toss the dough in the air.”
“I think we’ll go out, if that’s good with you.”
“You don’t have to ask. She’s your daughter, Stone. Yours. I trust her with you. You’ll take good care of her. I remember how you always took good care of me.” The last sentence came out of nowhere, and when I realized what I’d said, a pink heat filled my face.
“You’re wrong. It was always you that took good care of me.” He walked away without another word, but not before I saw the regret flashing in his beautiful blues.
I refused to cry, no matter how much I wanted to. My chin trembled and I fought the urge to scream at him, to ask him why he was fighting us.
Me: Okay, maybe now I’m doing it for him. He’s driving me bat-shit crazy. Be here in one hour. I’ll be ready.
Lindsey: Knock him off his ass. I’ll be there.
I showered, styled my hair in bouncy curls, and did my makeup, thinking of Stone and hoping Lindsey had pegged the situation right, hoping he dropped his damn jaw on the floor and forgot how to speak. Finishing the last touches, I guided the plum lipstick over my plump lips, satisfied with the black eyeliner emphasizing my long, thick lashes.
Observing my image in the full-length mirror, I nodded in approval. The chevron dress fell a few inches above my knee, and the red bracelet, earrings, and cowboy boots made the outfit sexy, just like it did on the model wearing the ensemble in the Cowgirl Glamour catalogue. The shop was in the heart of Dallas, and Lindsey and I had made a road trip to the boutique one summer when we were going to a western-themed barbecue.
When I heard my cue—the chime of the doorbell—I waltzed into the living room where Stone and Savannah sat together. As soon as I rounded the corner, his eyes widened and his head cocked to the side. Savannah didn’t pay any attention, her focus remaining on the board game sitting on the coffee table.
Stone stood, rubbing his hands down the front of his shorts. “Where you going?”
“Out with Lindsey.” I diverted my focus to Savannah. “Honey, you and your dad have fun at Mama Carina’s.”
“We will!” Oblivious to anything transpiring, she flashed a wide smile.
“I thought you were going to her house.” He tipped his head toward Lindsey.
“No. I never said what we were doing. I said I was going to spend time with her.”
“Dressed in that?”
“What’s wrong with it? Please tell me I didn’t rub makeup on it.” Hiding a hint of a smile, I glanced down as if looking for a spot I knew didn’t exist.
Stone cleared his throat. “Savannah, go get your shoes so we can go to the pizza place.”
“That dress is amazing!” I said giddily to Lindsey, ignoring Stone. She wore a short tight-fitted white cotton dress with a scalloped hem that fell mid-thigh. Her boots were handmade with patches of cream flowers.
“Nice to see you, Stone.” Lindsey made a circle around me, taking in my outfit. “Damn girl, hope those boots are comfortable, ’cause the guys are gonna keep you busy on the dance floor.”
“Don’t wait up,” I called out before following Lindsey to the front door.
Stone reached out at lightning speed, capturing my hand in his. He didn’t say a word; the entire fucked-up situation had gotten the best of him. His powerful hold didn’t stop me cold in my tracks, but his gentle touch did.
“What is it?” I flashed my most innocent and sweet smile at him.
“Where are you going?” he bit out.
“A place called The Blue Cactus. You have my cell number. If you have any questions, just give me a call.”
The heat of his skin made my insides tingle, burned me to the core. His lips tightened even more and I had the impulse to turn into his arms, if only he’d give me the smallest hint he wanted me there.
He swallowed hard, raking his eyes from my head to my toes and back up again. His blues unnerved me, making me want things I shouldn’t, things that could hurt me when I was already at rock bottom.
Chapter 21
The only bar in town was large and historic. It had opened its doors back in the sixties, and the entrance had a wall lined with autographed photographs of famous visitors. A bright florescent blue cactus graced the outside entrance, welcoming people from miles around, and a country band fired up the mood for dancing as we walked across the parking lot.
“I bet Stone’s a hot mess, and I think it’s funny as hell he can’t do shit about it. The way he looked at you, I’d expect him to barge in here beating his chest if he wasn’t taking care of Savannah.”
I cracked a smile. “I don’t care if it bothered him or not. He’s had me in knots for far too long.”
“You need tequila.”
“One drink, Linds. Kaylee is spending the night with your mom, but Savannah is at home. The last thing I want is to get blitzed and have her see me like that.”
“Okay, okay. One drink.”
I couldn’t tell if she was joking or being serious so I put on my best I mean business face. “I mean it. I just want to have a good time for a few hours.”
We found a table in the corner with a good view of the dance floor. Cowboys—some with hats, others without—gathered around the bar, laughing and jeering one another to turn up a bottle. Couples two-stepped around the floor to Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats”, and the place was full of people having a good time.
A waitress dressed in a black short-shorts and a low-cut white tee with a blue sequined cactus on the front stopped to take our drink order.
“Two tequila shots,” Lindsey said quickly, ordering before giving me the chance to stay on the safe side with soda.
I pursed my lips and shot her a warning look—one that she ignored. She started babbling about Aidan going on a golfing trip and pouting because he hadn’t asked her to tag along.
“You know how guys are. Did you ask him if the others were taking their wives and girlfriends?” I did my best at shedding light on the touchy subject; Lindsey was like a small bundle of TNT when she was aggravated.
The waitress slid our drinks in front of us with a smile. “That’ll make you forget your troubles.” she said with a wink, directing the comment toward me.
“That obvious, hu
h?” I handed over cash for the shots, including a tip.
“Doll, when you see it all the time, you can pin it from across the room. I’ll be around again in a little bit for round two,” she said before scurrying off to her next customer.
One shot…two shots…three shots later…
“How about a dance?” A cowboy standing over six feet tall approached our table. In the dim lighting, his eyes seemed a nice shade of green and were lined with thick, long lashes. He wore a crisp blue and white striped shirt and jeans with a starched line running down his long legs. The stranger was handsome as hell, and I’d have bet a hundred dollars he knew it. No way he didn’t know he wore the hell out of those jeans. Every girl dreamed of a guy like him flashing a smile her way. The thing was, my heart didn’t flutter, nor did I feel the least bit giddy.
“I’d love to.” I really wanted to have a great time and forget my troubles, but as I eased out of my seat, I felt twinges of dread.
“I’m Drew McDonald.” He wore a killer smile as he ran his eyes from my head down to the tips of my boots.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Avery Anderson.”
He placed his hand on the small of my back and led me onto the dance floor. As we joined the other couples twirling around, I glanced back at the table. Lindsey nodded in approval as she held up her empty shot glass for a refill.
A new song started playing, calling for a slower, sexier dance. A little nervous, I circled my arms around his neck as he slid his hands around my waist.
“I might be a little rusty at this. It’s been a while.” The only dance partner I’d had in six years was a pole.
Drew lowered his head to my ear and said, “Hang on to me. I’ve got you.”
He led our steps, and I prayed I didn’t trample his expensive alligator boots. Our legs brushed as we made our way around.
“Are you from here?” I asked.
“No, passing through. Me and the guys are here on business.”
“What do you do?” He had my attention. Our small town had a population of less than five thousand in the city limits and was forty-five minutes from the next suburban town outside of Dallas.
“Oil and gas. We research property owners who still have their mineral rights and either negotiate a lease or a purchase of those rights. What do you do?”
“I’m a kindergarten teacher.”
He grinned. “Lucky kids. They’ll always remember having the prettiest teacher when they get older.”
I blushed. It was nice to get a compliment from a stranger, but it also felt strange. Flirting was new to me. My life had consisted of being a mother and a teacher, so I hadn’t been in the right settings for casual flirting.
His lips curved up. “And I’ll never forget the incredible girl that said she was a rusty dancer, but her red boots proved otherwise.”
The perfect gentleman moved in all the right ways. Said all the right things. Had the most kissable lips. And I felt nada for him. The only lips I wanted to kiss were Stone-freaking-Mitchell’s. He was all I thought of. The man holding me as we danced didn’t affect me in the least, but one look from Stone and it was as if the world tilted on its axis.
“You with me?” He winked.
“Sorry, I’m just tired.”
“Care to talk about it? I’m a pretty good listener.”
“Who says there’s something to talk about?”
“If I were to guess, I’d say it’s some guy.”
I tilted my head up, staring him in the eyes. “What makes you say that?”
“I grew up with four sisters.”
I laughed. “Poor sisters.”
“Poor me. I’m the one who had to play with dolls.”
That elicited a giggle from me. “Where’s home?”
“Lubbock. My entire family still lives there. You? Have you always lived here?”
“No. I grew up east of Dallas in a small town.”
“Are you in a serious relationship?”
“I am. He’s not.”
“He’s an idiot. A damn fool. You’re too beautiful to be single.”
Mr. Sexy Cowboy Drew had to be the most eligible bachelor breathing, and I didn’t feel a thing for him. The song ended and the band trailed into an upbeat tune by Miranda Lambert. I pulled out of his arms, but he clasped my hand and started twirling me in a fast two-step.
“One more.” He raised his arms, leading me underneath them as we circled in unison.
Dancing always made me happy. It was where I could forget all my troubles, and I let myself go, freed my emotions in the steps. At one point, I threw my head back and laughed when I added a little sensual sway in my hips and he arched his eyebrow upward. We finished the song and he reached for my hand, placing his lips to the skin below my knuckles.
“He’s one lucky son-of-a-bitch. If you need to make him jealous, you can find me and the boys here for the next two weeks.”
“It was nice meeting you, Drew. Thanks for the dance.”
“My pleasure.” He winked and headed toward a table filled with four other sharp-dressed men in the opposite corner.
Lindsey had another tequila shot waiting on me when I slid down into my chair, but the buzz of the other three had me almost three sheets to the wind. I didn’t need a fourth.
“Wow, Avery. If that guy is as good in bed as he moves on the dance floor, just…wow.”
“He can dance.”
“He can dance? That’s all?” She rolled her eyes. “You don’t want to explore what he’s packing underneath all those jeans? I’d bet you lunch at Carina’s he’s got it going on. Look at the size of those boots.”
I burst out laughing, throwing back the fourth tequila shot. Savannah would be fast asleep when I got home anyway. Plus, it wasn’t like this was going to become a habit. Hell, it had been forever since I’d had more than a glass of wine. I needed to let go, drown myself in my own sorrows.
Almost an hour passed, and Lindsey and I line-danced and giggled quite a bit. We talked about how we could make every jaw drop if we put on a Bombshell Pussycat show, and Monday night couldn’t come fast enough. The pole at the studio was calling my name.
Drew approached our table. “How are you ladies getting home?”
Lindsey and I broke out in full laughter. “Who the hell knows?”
“One last dance, then I’ll take you. My buddy Eric can follow and bring me back to the hotel.”
“I don’t know you well enough to let you take me home,” I slurred.
“Ask the bartender. We’re regulars when we’re in town.”
“Not good enough.”
“See the bouncer by the door? That’s Eddie. His wife Linda is expecting their third baby. Most everyone in town calls him Brickhouse because he protected the quarterback when he played high school football, and no one got through him. He also works part-time at the tire store during the day.”
I’d lived there long enough to know Eddie, and all the facts Drew stated were true. Even so, that didn’t make Drew more than a stranger, and I taught my students the facts about stranger-danger all the time.
“We’ll get a ride,” I said matter-of-factly.
He pointed across the room at Eddie and crooked his finger, telling him to come over. Eddie tilted his head, wearing a questioning expression as he walked toward us.
“Avery? That you?” Surprise filled his voice.
“Hey Eddie. How’s it going?”
“It’s all good. Decided to come for a night of fun at Blue Cactus?”
“These ladies need a ride home. By chance is there an Uber service here?”
Lindsey and I burst out in another fit of drunken laughter. “Tell him Eddie. There’s a whole list in your office. They come on tractors, horses, and ATVs.”
“Vouch for me. Tell them they can trust me. Can’t let something happen to them or someone else because they got behind a wheel.”
I froze, and I lost my breath as flashes of Stone’s broken expression imprinted on my brain. The mem
ory of how broken he’d looked was rough on my emotions. I was pretty messed up, but not enough to not know driving wasn’t an option.
“He’s a good guy. Every time he’s in town, he comes over to the house, plays cards, and has a few beers. Hell, Linda loves him. He’s good to take you ladies home, on my word.”
“Well if we have a ride, I say we have one last drink.” Lindsey held up her shot glass for another round.
I shook my head, and Stone’s eyes blazed into my mind. With every piercing memory, I felt like the air had been kicked out of me, and misery fed into my intoxicated state.
Another cowboy wearing a light pink shirt approached Drew. “We’re going to shoot a couple games of pool, y’all wanna join in?”
“About that, I need you to follow me when I take these ladies home.”
Tipping his hat to me and Lindsey, he asked, “Now?”
“After one last dance.”
I started to decline but he pulled me with him. Thankfully, the song was upbeat, and we moved in pure fun. He didn’t make any unwanted moves, wasn’t anything less than a gentleman as he held me. When the song ended, I gave him a genuine smile.
“Thanks for helping me get my rusty boots moving again.”
“My pleasure. I meant what I said—you can find me here if you need to make him jealous, or hell, if you just want to practice moves that don’t need practice.”
I smiled. There were still great guys out there, and he was definitely one of them.
Drew drove me and Lindsey home with Eric following. Maybe I should have been apprehensive, but I wasn’t, not with Eddie’s assurance. I stepped onto the porch and turned around, waving goodnight at the stroke of midnight. My head buzzed as I made my way inside a darkened house; at least he’d left the porch light on.
Chasing Wicked (The Mitchell Brothers - Wicked Series Book 1) Page 15
