“Selena something.” Hayley bopped back and forth on her chair. “She was on that kids’ show with the big dinosaur.”
“And now she’s old enough to be singing songs like this?”
Hayley nodded. “I don’t even know if she’s twenty yet, but she’s selling it, that’s for sure.”
Kyla closed her eyes for a moment, letting the beat vibrate through her body. Oh, to be twenty again. To have no idea what was in store, to have all that angst without the experience to back it up. To make millions of teens rock their bodies to your beat. What a trip that had to be.
The thumping cranked up in speed, lyrics urging lose yourself tonight, and Kyla suddenly wanted to do just that. She’d been living under a rock for a year now, hurt and sad and broken, but dammit, she needed to start living again.
So she wasn’t twenty. So she had real freakin’ angst to drive her tears when they sprang up. She was young, she was vibrant, and she wanted to be out on that dance floor feeling like she was twenty again, with a whole world of options before her.
To hell with Decker. To hell with his silicone Barbie. She didn’t need him. She didn’t need any man. She had her best friends, a cranking beat, and no reason not to lose herself tonight.
“Y’know what, ladies? I think I do feel a dance coming on after all.” Kyla picked up one of the three paper cups and motioned for Jess and Hayley to take the other two.
“Atta girl,” Hayley smiled. “Bottoms up!” All three of them squeezed the paper cups and let the Jell-O slide down their throats.
“Oh, yum. I forgot how good those were.” Kyla bounced her eyebrows. “Shall we dance?”
Jess slid gracefully off her barstool and took Kyla’s arm. “Absolutely, darlin’. Let’s go make Decker forget he ever met Sorority Susie over there.”
As they reached the edge of the dance floor, Kyla couldn’t help but glance Decker’s way as she stepped onto the polished wood, but he had eyes on the blonde. She took a deep breath and pasted a fake smile on her face. She’d have fun tonight, dammit. She was old enough and burned enough not to let her heart out to play, anyway. It was probably good that he had a girlfriend. Now she wouldn’t have to waste stupid time mooning over him like a star-crossed sixteen-year-old.
Just one more look, she promised herself, and then she’d stop this insanity. She glanced over one more time, but this time, his eyes weren’t on Marcy at all. They were on her, and she could feel their heat right down to her toes.
* * *
“Everybody behaving?” Cole slid onto the barstool next to Decker’s.
Decker took a swig of his beer. “Not sure yet. Haven’t been here long.”
Cole took a long look around the club. “Well, I see Theresa and Cheryl aren’t leaving much to the imagination. Cheryl’s had a miraculous recovery, hasn’t she?” The two women were stuffed into clothes that were way too tight, accented by what looked like pounds of silver jewelry. Their fake cowboy hats were the frosting on the cake. Ridiculous.
Cheryl had been trying to catch Decker’s eye for half an hour now, but he was keeping his carefully averted lest she misinterpret any gaze he sent her way. He’d seen her head toward him a few minutes ago, but he’d detoured to the men’s room. Hopefully she’d get the hint without him having to be blunt, but so far, it wasn’t looking likely.
“Guess I don’t owe you a drink. Nobody heals from a real sprain that fast.”
“Jimmy and Pete don’t seem to mind.” Cole lifted his chin toward the ranch hands sitting at the other end of the bar. Jimmy and Pete clinked glasses, downed their shots, and slid off their stools in tandem, heading for Cheryl and Theresa.
“I’d practically pay them at this point, just to keep those two women busy. It’d be nice not to worry about having to get them back to the ranch tonight.”
“Well, it looks like they’ve got a free ride.” Cole nodded his thanks to the bartender as he put his beer on a square napkin. “Ma said Tom and Maureen opted to stay back in their cabin tonight. Guess that means we’re only in charge of the city gals.”
Decker fought the jump in his stomach as he kept his voice level. “Guess so.”
“Where are they, anyway?”
“They scored a table back there.” Decker tipped his beer toward the back wall.
Cole squinted in the darkness. “They’re very … sparkly tonight.”
Decker turned away. “Haven’t noticed.”
“Is that so?”
“Yup.”
“Riiight.” Cole chuckled.
Decker lifted his bottle and took a long draw. “We’re just babysitting tonight, Cole. Just babysitting.”
Cole looked behind Decker’s shoulder and grimaced. “Don’t look now, but someone’s still on the prowl.”
The scent of Marcy’s perfume assaulted Decker before he ever saw her. She slithered in on a cloud of something insanely expensive that he’d always hated, even when he hadn’t loathed the woman who wore it.
Before he could steel himself, Marcy was threading her arm through his and pressing her well-endowed chest to his biceps. “Decker! I didn’t know you’d be here tonight!”
He pulled his arm free as subtly as possible, but she still stood close. “I’ve been here every Friday night all summer, Marcy.” As I’m quite sure your little girl-posse told you.
“Oh, that’s right! It’s so sweet of you to keep an eye on your guests like this. Which ones are they?”
Decker looked sidelong at her. “What do you want, Marcy?”
She put her hand to her chest. “I’m not sure what you mean, Decker. I’m just trying to be friendly. I saw you over here and thought I should come say hello.”
“Well, you’ve said it. Thank you. Have a great night.” He lifted his beer bottle to his lips, frowning at how her eyes followed it the entire way.
She put her hand on his forearm again and looked up into his eyes. “Decker, do you think we could talk for a couple of minutes? Maybe outside?”
He put down his beer on the bar and sighed. “Marcy, I have absolutely nothing left to say to you. We’ve done all the talking we need to, and more.”
“But Decker. Just a couple of minutes. Come outside. I have something I really need to talk to you about.”
Over Marcy’s shoulder, Decker could see Cole trying hard not to grin as he lifted his own bottle and swiveled to watch the dance floor. “Sorry, Marcy. I’m on duty. Can’t leave the guests, or the boss’ll dock my pay.”
She cuffed his arm playfully. “Please, Decker?” She used a look she’d probably spent hours perfecting in the mirror. It was sort of a pathetic puppy-dog thing that he’d previously found borderline cute. Now he just found it insanely annoying and childish.
He looked down at her and turned to Cole. From past experience, he knew Marcy was like a dog with a bone. If she felt like something needed to get said tonight, she’d damn well make sure it got said, whether he liked it or not. And if he didn’t go outside with her, she’d say it right in front of the whole bar. He might as well get it over with so he could enjoy the rest of the night. This was the last time, though. He needed to make damn sure she was getting the hint that no way, no how were they ever getting back together.
“Cole, you’re in charge for five minutes. I’ll be right back.” He slid off the barstool and motioned Marcy toward the door. “Five minutes.”
He wished he hadn’t seen the secret smile playing at the corner of her lips as they headed for the doorway, but he couldn’t miss it. She thought she’d scored a point by dragging him free of the bar. What she didn’t know, but was about to find out, was how completely, totally, utterly over her he was.
* * *
Decker crossed his arms and leaned back against the outside wall of the club, just to the left of the doorway. He made a show of looking at his watch, then pointed to it. “Okay, Marcy. You asked for five minutes, you got it. Say whatever it is you have to say and be done with it.”
“Gosh, Decker, do you have to be
so harsh?” Marcy put her hand on his arm again, and again did the ridiculous puppy-dog look thing. He marveled briefly that he’d ever found it, or her, alluring.
He shrugged off her hand and motioned for her to talk. “Say what you need to say, Marcy. I’m not going to keep playing this game with you.”
She sighed in frustration. “Fine. Decker, here’s the thing. We were really good together. Really good. Don’t you remember that? I don’t understand why you’re not willing to give us a second chance. I know I made some mistakes.” At his raised eyebrow, she let out a breath. “Some big ones. I know. I was young and stupid and made some bad decisions. I’ve said I’m sorry about all that, and I really meant it.”
“It was six months ago, Marcy. How much older and wiser could you possibly be by now?”
“Decker, I still love you.” She fiddled with her nail polish for a moment before lifting her eyes again. “Is there someone else, Deck? Is that why you’re not ready to take me back?”
Decker uncrossed his arms and walked away from her, then turned around and put his hands on his hips. “Marcy, I’m not sure why this is so hard for you to get through your head, but this isn’t about someone else. It’s about there never really being a me and you. We never belonged together in the first place, and time doesn’t change that. I’m sorry I’m not performing to the script you have in your head, but really? Did you really just think you’d waltz back into town and find me waiting here for you?”
Marcy’s eyes filled with practiced tears, and he knew she was hoping he’d tenderly wipe them away. She took a step closer. “Decker, I made a lot of mistakes. I did. I know we had a whirlwind relationship, but I loved you. I really did. I still do.”
“Marcy, we both know that’s not completely true.” She started to argue, but he put his hand up to silence her. “Be honest with yourself, Marcy. When you ran off to New York City, why did you do it? Was it because you were head-over-heels for that guy? Or did you think maybe, just maybe, he’d be your ticket to the life you really want?”
“That’s a terrible thing to say.”
Decker sighed. “You know it’s the truth. We both do.”
Marcy took another step and reached up to touch his cheek, but he backed his head away and pushed her hand down gently. “Decker. You make me sound like a money-grubbing monster.”
She paused for a long moment. “Is this about Emily? Do you have some half-baked notion in your head that you’re not allowed to be happy … because of what happened to Emily?”
Chapter 15
Decker stepped close to Marcy, red-hot anger flooding his insides. “What the hell did you say?”
Marcy backed up a small step. In a tiny voice, she said, “You heard me.”
“What in hell do you know about Emily?”
“I know she died. I know you got blamed, but Decker, it wasn’t your fault.”
“You. Know. Nothing.” Decker spun away from her before he could act on his anger.
“I know you were taking care of her that day. And I know your father blamed you for what happened.”
“Then I guess you know everything you need to.” Decker faced the brick wall, not wanting to even look at Marcy. How dare she?
“I just want to understand, Decker. I know it must have been so hard. But it’s in the past. Maybe it’s time to leave it there. I know it must be painful—”
He turned back toward her in a deathly-slow spiral. “You think you know everything? Well, I’ll tell you some things I bet you don’t know, Marcy. Do you know I saw her sneak into the barn? Knew she was pissed at me because I wouldn’t let her go riding? Had a feeling she’d do something to act out? Do you know all that?” Marcy shook her head miserably.
“Do you know, Marcy, that when she lit out on that half-crazed horse there was no way to catch her? No way in hell? And do you know that by the time he’d stopped dead at the edge of the pond and sent her headlong into it, probably only two minutes had passed? And by the time I got to her, she was already dead?
“Have you ever given your little sister mouth-to-mouth as she turned blue in your arms? Have you, Marcy?”
Marcy’s eyes brimmed over and tears ran down her perfectly made-up cheeks. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Decker. I’m so sorry.”
“You have no idea. No idea what you’re talking about here. Don’t tell me to leave it behind. Don’t you dare presume you have a clue how I feel.” He stopped for a second, breathing hard. In a quieter voice, he continued, slower now. “Did you know that my little sister, aged ten forever, is buried up in the apple orchard behind the house? And she’s buried there because her big brother, who was supposed to be responsible for her, couldn’t save her?”
He pointed his index finger at Marcy, just inches from her nose. “Did you know all that, Marcy?”
“God, Decker, I’m sorry! I never should have said anything. I’m so sorry.” Her voice was cracking now.
“You’re damn right you shouldn’t have said anything. You. Know. Nothing.”
“Maybe you’re right,” she whispered. “Maybe I really am a monster.”
Decker shook his head, trying to regain his composure. It wasn’t Marcy’s fault any more than it was anyone else’s. Emily had died because of him, no one else. He sighed, raking his hand through his hair. “You’re not a monster. But you’re also not in love with me. The sooner you admit it, the easier it will be. I’m not the man of your dreams, Marcy.” I’m not the man of anyone’s dreams. He tried to gentle his voice, wanting to choose just the right words to put her off his scent forever. “You’re going to find your true love. You are. But it’s not me.”
Marcy smiled sadly, then seemed to get a second wind as she squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. “I think you’re just too hurt to see clearly still. Being back here has been hard, I’m sure. But I can help you.”
“I don’t need any help. I don’t want any help.” Especially from you.
“But you do. That’s what you can’t see. You need someone to love you and help you see that what happened wasn’t your fault. You didn’t have to leave. Everything you need is right here.”
“Marcy, stop it.” Shit. This conversation had gone completely wrong in so many ways.
“You haven’t forgotten this, have you?” Marcy stepped closer and tilted her head, reaching up a hand to pull him closer.
* * *
“Kyla, honey, pretend you have no bones.”
“What?” Kyla looked at Jess, confused. She’d just seen Decker steer Barbie out of the bar, and despite her best intentions not to give a hoot, her stomach had just taken another dive. Where were they going? Was he leaving for the night? Were they just heading out for a quickie? Damn, damn, double damn. Why couldn’t she convince herself not to care?
Jess pointed at Kyla’s legs. “You’re dancing like you have two-by-fours attached to your knees, sweetie. Loosen up a bit. You look like you’re in pain.”
“Maybe I am in pain.”
Hayley leaned in. “Well, if she just saw what I just saw, she probably is.”
“What’d I miss?” Jess turned around. “Oh, no. Where’s Decker?”
“Just left with Malibu Barbie.”
“He couldn’t have.”
Kyla nodded, more miserably than she intended to. “He did.” She looked at the empty barstool next to Cole and sighed. “How about another drink, ladies? That might help me get rid of the two-by-fours, as Jess so delicately put it.”
One margarita later, Hayley rolled her eyes to the left, indicating the bar. “Don’t look now, but he’s back.”
Kyla fiddled with her straw. “Alone?”
“I don’t see her.”
“Well, maybe she got what she came for and now she’s off to party somewhere more sophisticated?”
Jess laid her hand on Kyla’s arm. “Now, we don’t know anything about it. Let’s not leap to conclusions.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Hayley grumbled. “Just because she looks like Alexis Nighti
ngale doesn’t mean she is the same breed.”
With an exaggerated motion, Kyla put her fingers to her lips. “That name shall not be spoken in my presence forevermore.”
Jess and Hayley looked at each other and shared a giggle. “Forevermore?” Hayley asked.
“Right. Like never-ever-ever. She is dead to me.” Kyla made a sweeping motion and inadvertently knocked over an empty glass. Oh boy. Time to switch to water.
“Uh-oh. Methinks Cinderella has had enough to drink. Jess, let’s get her out on the dance floor. Looks like her two-by-fours have melted.”
“I’m not dancing anymore.”
Jess pulled Kyla up by the arm. “Oh, yes, you are. C’mon. Just channel your Zumba moves while you’re out there. That’ll loosen you up.”
“Zumba moves are hardly appropriate for a cowboy bar.”
Hayley laughed. “I love how she pronounces her words so perfectly after two drinks.”
They reached the dance floor and sidled through the bodies to a clear spot toward the middle. Jess put her hands on Kyla’s hips. “Okay, move with me now. That’s it. A little swivel, a little shake. You got it. Now, put your arms up. That’s right. You’re a sex goddess. Feel it.”
Kyla laughed as Jess swiveled her hips. “Are you talking dirty to me?”
“You’re hardly my type, sweetie. But I’ll dance with you. Now, come on. Shake it like you mean it!”
* * *
“Um, Deck?” Decker saw Cole’s jaw drop open as he eyed Kyla and Jess. His own mouth went dry as he watched Jess’s hands swiveling Kyla’s hips left and right in a sexy sway. “Wow.”
Decker swallowed hard. “I think wow might be an understatement.” He took a long swallow of his drink, willing away the conversation he’d just had with Marcy. He couldn’t believe she’d gone so far as to try to kiss him. The woman was completely unbalanced.
What he wanted to do right now was head back to the ranch and saddle up Chance for a midnight ride to nowhere, but he was on duty. Ninety percent of the cowboys in town tonight were perfectly harmless, but the other ten percent could spell trouble as the evening wore on and testosterone mixed with beer and whiskey. He couldn’t leave the guests here at the mercy of drunken idiots.
Accidental Cowgirl Page 12
