Texas Roads (A Miller's Creek Novel)

by Bryant, Cathy

  Then the moment was over. Steve held open the screen door, waited for her to enter, and followed her into the house.

  Mama Beth perched in her chair with her crochet, her gaze flitting to the clock when they entered. “You two sure are back early.” Her voice was laced with… disappointment?

  ~~o~~

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Double Trouble

  “I know this is awkward because of our business relationship, but I’d be a fool not to tell you know how I feel.” Her attorney’s hopeful green eyes searched hers, a trace of a smile on his lips.

  Air rushed from Dani’s lungs, his confession hitting like an unexpected slap in the face. She wiggled in her seat and scrambled for words. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

  He raised his gaze to the ceiling of the diner and groaned. “Didn’t you know how I felt about you in college?”

  “I saw us as good friends. I had no idea . . .” Dani stared at her hands and twisted them. Any girl would consider herself lucky to have a man like Andy admit his feelings. She sucked in a deep breath and tried to gather her thoughts, then raised her eyes to his. “I’m very flattered.”

  Andy’s boyish grin faded. “But?”

  “But nothing. I’m just not ready. After what happened with Richard—”

  “Richard didn’t deserve you. If I’d known he was in the picture the summer I finished my classes, I’d have dropped everything.” His eyes didn’t blink.

  What was she supposed to say? Thanks? Sorry I didn’t call?

  He grimaced and ran a hand over his lips. “Well, this is embarrassing. I guess I should’ve kept my mouth shut.”

  Dani’s head throbbed, pounding behind her eyes. What was the best way to handle this? Her mind still reeled from all that transpired last night at the rodeo. How had she ended up in this mess, not just with one man, but two?

  “Is there something going on between you and Steve?” His jaw visibly tightened.

  She lowered her head. The question she’d wrestled with all night. Hadn’t her pain-filled marriage to Richard been enough to teach her a lesson? She massaged her temple. This had to be stopped before it escalated out of control. Determination welled inside, and she raised her spine ramrod straight. “Right now I’m not ready for a relationship with anyone. Not you. Not Steve Miller.” Her words sounded harsh, but it was truth. She couldn’t trust her heart to a man ever again.

  “I understand.” A sad smile rested on Andy’s face, and he reached across the table to take her hand, his tone soft and gentle. “I hope some day you’ll be ready. I plan on being around when that day comes.”

  She couldn’t return his smile. Refused. To offer false hope was cruel.

  He stroked her fingers, but she felt nothing. Not like with Steve, whose tender touch reduced her insides to molten wax. “I don’t want things to be weird between us, Andy. Your friendship means too much.”

  “Ouch. I get the message.” He dropped her hand. “In other words, back to business.”

  She nodded. “Right.”

  They spent the rest of their meeting time reviewing applications and filtering through spending records. Her eyelids drooped. She needed sleep, and lots of it. A quick peek at her watch revealed the elapsed time. Two o’clock in the afternoon already? This renovation was turning out to be more tedious and time consuming than she could’ve ever imagined. A yawn worked its way from her mouth.

  “Prince Charming must’ve kept you out late last night.” Andy’s wry smile and insinuation set her nerves on edge.

  “No, he didn’t. I was home early.” She sipped her hazelnut coffee and averted her eyes. Surely he got the message from her peevish tone. She glanced up and caught his pained expression.

  Ugh. Why was she being so snarky? Maybe a little humor would help lighten the mood. She lifted her nose and feigned a snooty voice. “My golden coach didn’t even come close to reverting to a pumpkin.”

  Andy’s smile disappeared quickly. “You look exhausted. I’ll put the rest of these in an envelope for you to sign later. Let’s get you home.”

  Dani didn’t argue. She had no intention of telling him she needed all the rest she could get before her date with Steve tonight. Setting two men straight in one day was hard work, especially when she was so confused about one of them.

  ~~o~~

  Steve had been a goner from the minute he’d first laid eyes on Dani in her blue and white dress. He put his F-350 pickup in gear and eased out of the driveway on his way to Mama Beth’s. If he’d known in advance how beautiful she was going to look last night, he could’ve prepared himself. He gave his head a shake. Not true. Nothing could’ve prepared him.

  He allowed images of Dani to play in his mind like a slide show—her musical laughter at the antics of the rodeo clowns, her cheers of encouragement for the barrel racers, the horrified look on her face during the bull ride—but especially how she’d looked in the parking lot, with the lights from the rodeo illuminating her clear blue eyes. His pulse quickened. For one all-too-brief moment, no one else existed and time had ceased. If Andy hadn’t come on the scene, he would’ve kissed her.

  Steve drew in a breath. Lord, I don’t understand everything that’s going on here, so I’m leaving this in Your hands. Dani’s hurting and needs answers. Keep me out of Your way, and help her to know You. Whatever happens tonight, I accept as Your will and Your plan.

  When he pulled into Mama Beth’s driveway a few minutes later, the familiar peace that always followed his prayers settled over him like a warm quilt on a cold night. The light scent of honeysuckle scented the air, and the locusts and dove sang their evening songs. Steve whispered a prayer of gratitude and strode up the steps to where Mama Beth rocked on the front porch.

  She wore a knowing smile. “Well, aren’t you handsome?”

  “Thanks.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “How you feeling?”

  “Better everyday. Especially now that the radiation treatments are finished and the doctor says I’m good to go.” She cocked her head, a gleam in her eyes. “And how are you?”

  Steve couldn’t halt the chuckle that rose in his chest. She knew him too well. He tried to keep the grin off his face, but it didn’t work. “Never been better.”

  Her smile broadened. “Glad to hear it. I’ll go get Dani.”

  While she shuffled into the house, Steve surveyed the area. Cottage-style gardening according to Mama Beth. Blooms of various sizes, shapes, and colors packed every square inch, with tomato plants and their cages inserted as space allowed. The tasty vine-ripened tomatoes would hopefully land some of Mama Beth’s homemade salsa in his pantry.

  Dani had been the one to plant, weed, and water this year. He brought a hand to his face, surprised at the torrential feelings rushing through him. Every day revealed more about her that he admired. As if he needed anything else.

  The screen door squeaked, and he turned his head. Dani stepped onto the porch dressed in an elegant cream-colored pantsuit. Her hair was swept away from her face to reveal tiny pearl earrings. A teardrop pearl suspended from a dainty gold chain at the hollow of her neck. Air bottle-necked in his throat. Mercy, he was in big trouble. “You look stunning.” He hated that his voice quaked.

  She lowered her gaze. “Thank you.”

  Was she being coy? He didn’t know, nor did he care. “You ready?”

  “Yes.” She turned to kiss Mama Beth. “Don’t wait up. I don’t want you overtiring yourself.”

  Steve offered Dani his elbow and winked at a teary-eyed Mama Beth while they headed down the porch steps. He helped Dani into the passenger side. Not only did she look beautiful, she smelled beautiful. Like roses and sunshine.

  He hurried to the driver’s side, a spring in his step. The sun, just beginning to set, perched like a giant orange on the horizon. A contented sigh whooshed from his mouth as he turned the key and peered at Dani, struggling to comprehend how he’d managed her company for the entire evening.

  After a few minutes, it
became all too obvious from Dani’s quiet and withdrawn behavior that she was bothered about something. Maybe he could put the twinkle back into those baby blue eyes of hers by pouring on the cowboy charm. He whistled a cheery tune, lowered the volume on the stereo, and turned to her. “You okay?”

  “Yes. Why?” The frown on her forehead told a different story.

  “You’re so quiet. You haven’t said more than two words since we left Miller’s Creek.”

  “Sorry.” Her lips jutted out and she folded her arms across her chest.

  Someone didn’t get their afternoon nap. Did he dare take the risk of pushing her into a better mood? “Okay, make that three.”

  “What?”

  “Four.”

  Her lips said nothing, but her expression screamed what-are-you-talking-about?

  “Words. Now you’ve said a total of four. Some kind of Guinness Book of World Records thing going on here?” He shot her his best playful grin.

  Her lips locked together, and judging by the set of her jaw, she’d thrown away the key. He couldn’t just give up. “You know I’m going to keep pestering you until you talk, don’t you?”

  She glared at him then turned her head away.

  “Ve have vays to make you talk.”

  Her head rotated back toward him, and he waggled his eyebrows. She raised her gaze to the ceiling and blew exasperation between her lips. What was the old saying? Desperate times call for desperate measures. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, planting a whispered kiss on her knuckles.

  One corner of her lip quivered then turned up, pulling the rest of her mouth with it. “Okay, okay, I give.”

  He chuckled. “Good for you. We’re making progress. You just doubled your word count.”

  Dani burst into a gurgling laugh so contagious he couldn’t help joining her. Her smiling face lightened his heart. Before he realized it, he brought his hand to her face and allowed a finger to brush her cheek. “Now that’s more like it.”

  A few minutes later he glanced over. Her look was that of a lost and bewildered child, cloudy and full of turmoil. He gave her hand a squeeze, and she turned her head to look at him, her eyes searching his face. What was she looking for? Why was she so troubled? His heart twisted. Didn’t she know how much he cared?

  After dinner, on their drive to the theatre, her continued silence unnerved him. During the meal she hadn’t spoken much, but had eaten even less. Was she not feeling well? Her mouth turned down at the corners, and dark circles underlined her stormy blue eyes. She looked exhausted. No wonder she didn’t have a lot to say.

  He thought back over the past week. She’d worked everyday at the daycare, spent no telling how many hours at work downtown with the old geezers, and managed to spend more time with his parents than he had. Besides that, hadn’t Mama Beth said something about Dani taking over her father’s business? He made a mental note to ask about it later.

  When they arrived at the movie theatre, Dani perked up. “An Affair to Remember! I love this movie.” Her voice lilted, and her eyes regained a little of their familiar sparkle.

  Though he enjoyed the show, Steve was more interested in watching her. As the night wore on her yawns grew more frequent, and during the last part of the show, when he was sure she was oblivious to everything except the movie, he leaned on one elbow to study her more closely. Her eyes were bright with tears, and she reached for a tissue during the final scene. His heart bounced to his throat. He’d never felt this strongly about anyone before, not even Lauren, and it terrified him. Like trying to walk a tightrope made of barbed wire.

  The lights flickered on and revealed her tear-dampened face. She grinned sheepishly, still dabbing her cheeks. “I’ve seen this movie a thousand times and I still cry at the end.”

  He longed to dry her tears the way he’d done that night in the moonlight, but decided against it. His heart couldn’t take it at the moment. Instead, he cradled Dani’s soft hand in his own while they strolled through the parking lot. She didn’t comment or try to pull away.

  After he turned onto the highway to head home, Steve determined to re-light the spark of conversation they’d enjoyed earlier. He leaned toward her. “You seem a little tired tonight.”

  “I am.” Her voice sounded weary in the darkness.

  He rested his elbow on the console and peered at her, her face gently lit by the full moon. “Maybe you should slow down a bit.”

  Her laugh sounded hollow. “I’d love to.”

  Dani spoke the words like it was impossible. Did she have more going on than he was aware of? Or was she seeing Andy on the side? His jaw tensed. Even the thought of her with Andy made his stomach churn. A few minutes later he glanced at her. She was asleep.

  He steered into Mama Beth’s driveway and turned off the ignition. Illuminated by moonlight, her face held an innocence and vulnerability that gripped his heart. She needed him. He’d give anything to erase the years of pain and betrayal she’d endured. To show her what real love was all about. To show her not all men were jerks. He stroked her rose-petal cheek with the back of his hand.

  Her eyes opened with apparent effort, and she sat forward. “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

  “Don’t be.” He let himself out of the truck and sauntered to the passenger side to open her door.

  As she climbed from the pickup, her foot caught on the carpet, and she tumbled into his arms. Their eyes locked, her fingers splayed against his pounding chest. Steve searched her face. It was time to show her how he felt. He bent toward her, capturing her soft lips with his own.

  Palms pushed hard against his chest as she tore herself from his arms. Highlighted against her pale face, Dani’s sorrow-filled eyes stared back at him, her voice coming in short gasps. “I’m sorry, Steve, I-I can’t . . .”

  His heart constricted, and then palpitated wildly against his ribs. This couldn’t be happening. She fled through the gate and into the house, her final words tolling in his ears like death bells.

  ~~o~~

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Assumptions

  Steve gaped at the smashed plate glass windows, his gut twisting. Who would do this and why? During the night, all the storefront windows had been broken, and owners had arrived this morning to shattered glass. In addition, materials and supplies worth hundreds of dollars had been stolen over the past few weeks, and someone had taken a can of spray paint to the historic buildings. Down the street, Ernie Talbot, dressed in his policeman blues, hunched over his clipboard and took a statement.

  “So what are we going to do?” One of the Grannies planted both hands on her hips and glared at Steve.

  “I’ll take care of it.” But how?

  Otis grunted. “I think Dani and her lawyer friend had something to do with this.”

  Dani? No way. “What makes you say that?”

  Otis advanced, his eyes bugged out, his breath foul. “A lot of us have seen the two of them down here at all hours of the night.”

  Hair rose on the back of his neck. Truth or town gossip? The Miller’s Creek rumor mill had been known to operate faster than million-dollar satellites. “That’s a mighty serious accusation.” He thought back to Dani’s actions the past few weeks. There were a lot of things that didn’t add up, like where she’d been keeping herself. He yanked an arm toward the graffiti. “Have you actually seen them do any of this?”

  “No, but I don’t have to. Who else could it be?” Otis twisted his lips in a sneer.

  “That’s what I intend to find out. In the meantime, I suggest you not do any finger pointing unless it’s backed up by fact.”

  The people grumbled among themselves and shook their heads as they dispersed. They looked ready to lynch someone. Otis’ big mouth put him in a predicament. Now he had no choice but to find out what Andy and Dani had been up to. He sighed in exasperation and strode toward Ernie. They entered City Hall together. “What time did you find out about this?”

  “Otis called me at seven this mornin
g.” The policeman tucked a pen behind his ear and headed for the coffee pot. “I got here as soon as I could to take pictures and statements.”

  A sick taste landed in his mouth. Why was Otis always the first one to find the vandalism? “This is the fourth time this week, Ernie, and the people are breathing down my neck. The work will never get finished with these setbacks.”

  Ernie followed him into the office and clicked the door shut. “I know, but I can’t be on the lookout all the time. I do what I can.”

  Steve slumped in his chair. They were all overworked and cranky and ready for the work to be finished. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  His friend waved a hand and took a seat. “Don’t worry about it. Most people don’t realize the amount of responsibility you’ve had to shoulder, and this latest mess hasn’t helped any.” He puckered his lips in a way that made his moustache look like a furry caterpillar. “I may have a solution. Otis offered to find men to patrol the area.”

  He mulled over the idea. “Sounds good. Why don’t you put Otis to work finding volunteers, and I’ll set the schedule.” As if he needed something else to do.

  Ernie rose to leave, but Steve stopped him. “Before you go, do you know the name of a good detective?”

  “Yeah, a guy by the name of Mike Brady. Why do you ask?”

  “Otis said Andy and Dani have been seen together—”

  “Wait a second. You don’t really believe they had anything to do with this?” Ernie’s voice escalated and his bushy brows shot so high they sent wrinkles all the way up his bald head.

  He clamped his lips together, not knowing what to believe. “I don’t know. But apparently they’ve been seen downtown at odd hours.”

  “Andy lives upstairs from this office, remember?” Ernie leaned both hands on the desk, his gaze unfaltering. “With Dani seeing him . . .”

  His heart sank like a cannonball in water. So it was true. Dani had flown straight from him to Andy, and he had no one to blame but himself. He raked a hand through his hair, frustration pushing words from his lips. “I have no choice in the matter. If I don’t investigate this further, the people will string me up from the nearest tree. Everyone who just heard Otis’ comment will assume I’m being soft on her because of . . .”