Blame It on the Cowboy

by Delores Fossen

  Reese wanted to ask him if it mattered, but obviously it did. Maybe Logan could forgive a single lapse. Maybe that’s what was putting those worry lines on his forehead.

  “Did I ever tell you that I fucking hate clowns?” he added. “I have since I was a kid.”

  In the grand scheme of things, that seemed minor, but maybe it was a phobia. If so, that would add a little more salt to an already salted wound. His trusted assistant and his longtime girlfriend together, and now that Greg had just resigned, Logan might never get the answers that he clearly needed.

  “Here,” he said, handing her an envelope.

  She sat down next to him. “Is it Greg’s resignation?” Though she couldn’t imagine why Logan would want her to see it.

  “No. It’s the report from a PI I hired. He was able to get into your juvie records.”

  Her heart flip-flopped. Then fell straight to the floor. Not a good place for a heart to be. Reese’s first response was to lash out, to tell Logan he had no right, but then she noticed that the envelope was still sealed.

  “I asked the PI to get that before,” he added. “Well, before. And no, the PI didn’t tell me what was inside. If you want to tell me at some point, then fine. If not, it’ll stay your secret.”

  That was generous, considering that Logan was a cautious man. Also considering that he had to know there was something inside that could possibly hurt his reputation simply because he was associating with her.

  “Does this have something to do with what happened in the dressing room?” Reese came out and asked.

  “Yes.”

  So, he was letting his emotions play into this. Reese wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or tell him that, in this case, it wasn’t a good idea. Nor was it a good idea for her to continue to put her head in the sand on this. She needed to come clean with Logan.

  And then find a way to get out of his life.

  Reese stood to start talking, but Logan stood, too. “Come on. Let’s put in an appearance at this reception.”

  “You’re sure you’re up to this?”

  “No.” He was heading to the door but stopped as if seeing her for the first time. “You look amazing by the way. You didn’t choose the red dress.”

  She shook her head, put the envelope on the kitchenette counter. “This is the ‘blend in with the crowd’ black one.” Not dowdy exactly, but definitely not flashy, either.

  He managed a smile and kissed her again. This one was very much like the others that’d started the firestorm in the dressing room. “Thank you for doing this,” he added.

  Considering the extreme swing of emotions she’d just had, Reese was surprised she was able to get her feet moving. Logan helped with that. He took her hand and led her down the stairs to the front of the building where he’d parked.

  “My advice…” he said as he drove toward the civic center. “Avoid Helene as much as possible.”

  That had been her plan, but Reese thought of something. “Does she know that Greg told you?”

  Logan shook his head. “Like I said, Greg didn’t hang around to answer any questions. But I figure he’s probably let her know. And she probably told him to lie low to give her a chance to put a spin on the gossip. No one overheard Greg’s confession, but it will get around.”

  Yes, it would. And while it seemed selfish to think it, at least this meaty gossip could maybe finally put to rest the rumors that she was pregnant with Logan’s baby. Of course, it would also give Logan something else to get over because he now knew the betrayal had come from someone he trusted.

  The parking lot at the civic center was packed, and Logan wound up parking on the street. No one was milling around the building, which meant everyone was already likely inside.

  “One drink, a few handshakes,” he said, “and we can leave.”

  Reese wasn’t sure if Logan was talking to her or if he’d said that just to steady his nerves. Her own nerves certainly needed some steadying.

  As they approached the building, the double doors opened, and Reese saw Jimena step out. A surprise. She hadn’t known her friend was coming. Or that Jimena had bought the cooch front dress.

  “I came for moral support,” Jimena said. “You’re going to need it.”

  That didn’t help Reese’s already churning stomach. Hand in hand Logan and she approached the doors. And considering that Reese could see dozens of people inside, she noticed right away that something was missing.

  Chatter.

  No one was talking, and everyone had their attention focused on the stage area. At least they did until Logan and she walked in. Almost immediately, the whispers went through the crowd like a wave, and the wave didn’t take long to make it to the front.

  And that’s when Reese noticed the person on the stage. Not their hostess, Helene. But rather a clown with a microphone.

  If this had been an ordinary situation, Reese would have thought he was part of the entertainment, especially since the clown was onstage with a three-piece band. She wouldn’t have given a second’s thought to whoever it was behind that makeup, big floppy shoes and the squishy red nose.

  However, this situation wasn’t ordinary, and she was afraid the clown was Greg.

  It was.

  Reese got confirmation when the clown spoke, and thanks to the microphone, everyone in the room had no trouble hearing every word.

  “I’m here to help mend some fences.” Greg raised his glass to Logan.

  Until then, everyone had been volleying glances between Logan and the clown, but the volleying stopped, and everyone’s gaze now settled on Logan.

  “Logan,” Greg continued. “When you hear what I have to say, I’m sure you’ll be proposing to Helene—tonight. And this time, she’ll get the chance to say yes.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  SHIT ON A STICK.

  So much for the quick in and out that Logan wanted.

  There was zip that Greg or anyone else could say to make him propose to Helene, and the only yes Logan wanted to hear was Reese answering his plea to get the heck out of here. Logan considered just turning around and walking out with Reese, but Greg apparently had something else to say.

  “Don’t leave, Logan,” Greg called out, his voice very loud with the microphone. “This is a public apology to both Helene and you.” Greg looked at the people in the crowd who were hanging on every word. “You see, I’m the one who had an inappropriate relationship with Helene.”

  That started some whispers through the crowd, and Logan heard a couple of X-rated comments about what had possibly gone on during clown sex. The red, bulbous nose came up.

  Logan glanced around and spotted Helene. Like him, she was trying to inch her way to the side of the room and out of sight. That wasn’t going to happen, though, unless she headed out of the county. With the volleyed glances going on among Greg, Logan and her, the partygoers looked as if they were watching a three-way tennis match.

  “It wasn’t Helene’s fault,” Greg went on. “I seduced her, and I caught her at a down moment. She’d just lost a sale on a sideboard. She really wanted that sideboard,” he added as if it would help. Ditto for the part about seducing her.

  Maybe that’s why he’d worn the clown suit, so that maybe people would forget he wasn’t exactly the sort of man who could seduce a former beauty queen.

  “Greg, please,” Helene said, shaking her head. There were tears in her eyes, and even though Logan didn’t want to, he felt a little sorry for her.

  For a second or two, anyway.

  Then he remembered where that red nose had been when Logan walked in on them.

  “Anyway, Helene has paid and paid hard for what I did,” Greg went on. “Logan, too. And I’m truly sorry for all the trouble I caused both of you. You’re obviously meant to be together. Logan used
to tell me that all the time, that Helene was the perfect woman for him.”

  Because Logan still had his arm around Reese, he felt her muscles tighten, and he wished he could tell her that the last part wasn’t true. But he couldn’t. Because he had indeed said that not just to Greg but to everyone in his family.

  “I’m leaving town,” Greg went on. “No, it’s necessary,” he added, though no one had objected. “Once I’m gone, Logan and Helene can find their way back to each other without me around to stir up bad memories.”

  Greg sniffed as if crying. It was hard to tell because he had fake tear streaks on his cheeks, but his shoulders were slumped when he walked away, his floppy shoes squeaking as he exited the stage. He disappeared out the back door.

  No one else moved or said anything. It was as if everyone held their breaths and then released them at the same time. The band started moving, too, and they jumped right into playing a soothing classical tune that didn’t go with the tension in the room. Several people rushed to Helene. Riley, Claire, Cassie and Lucky rushed to Logan.

  “You knew?” Lucky asked him right off.

  Logan nodded. He’d explain more later, but for now he looked at Reese to see how she was handling this.

  “I think that went well, don’t you?” Reese asked.

  Of course, that made Logan smile, but he knew her attempt at a joke wasn’t from humor as much as it was from nerves. Worse, some people were now glaring at Reese as if she were somehow responsible for Logan not rushing to console Helene. He’d rather eat the clown nose—and that was after he knew where it’d been—than console his ex.

  “Want me to do something stupid to get everyone’s attention?” Lucky asked.

  It was a generous offer, but considering Lucky and Cassie were finalizing custody of Mia and Mackenzie, it was best if the antics stayed clown-related. Of course, Helene was doing her own antics, too, and more and more people were heading her way to offer hugs and no doubt kind words. Logan got his share of them as well, and not that he was keeping count, but he was getting more than she was.

  “Please,” Jimena said in an “I’ve got this” tone. “Wardrobe malfunction,” Jimena yelled after she shoved the skinny strap of her dress off her shoulder.

  The dress hadn’t covered up much before, and now her left breast was exposed. She had a nipple ring and a Lick Me Here tattoo complete with a tattooed arrow that pointed right toward her nipple.

  Jimena got more attention than Logan or Helene. In fact, even the band stopped to see her tattooed tit.

  “Wardrobe malfunction,” Jimena said again.

  Jimena paused a couple more seconds before she fixed the dangling boob and dress strap. There were still plenty of dangling tongues, though, and Logan realized that even with Greg’s clown appearance, that the gossip about Greg and Helene would be tempered some with the breast reveal.

  “Thank you,” Logan told her.

  “Anytime.” Jimena winked at him and Reese. “If that doesn’t work, I’ll drop something and bend over to pick it up.”

  “No!” Reese said so quickly that she choked on her own breath. “Jimena only goes commando,” she added in a whisper to Logan.

  Well, that would definitely be the talk of the town. But Logan didn’t think it would be necessary. However, he could use that drink right about now, and he led Reese through the crowd toward the bar at the back. Apparently, Reese needed a drink as well, because she downed the glass of champagne she’d gotten at the bar. Jimena downed two, plus the one she’d already been holding.

  Logan wanted to do the same thing. Actually, he wanted a shot of something much stronger, but he sipped the champagne and got to work. His brothers and their partners did, as well. Cassie and Lucky went in one direction. Riley and Claire in another.

  Logan greeted all the people he should greet. Bert and some of the town’s other business owners. He had to listen to an update on Maggie’s uterus. Then more about Walter Meekins’s latest gout flare-up. Other ailments included a wart with an infected hair in it and hemorrhoids.

  Clearly, the people of Spring Hill knew how to make good party conversation.

  Of course, none of the men actually looked Logan in the eye when they spoke to him, and that wasn’t because of the clown-Helene thing. It was because all male eyes went to Jimena, perhaps hoping for another wardrobe malfunction.

  Reese fared somewhat better with the eyeballing and conversation. She got three requests for the recipe for her lemon thingies, though Elgin Tate, who had been a horn-dog since he’d first sprouted chest hair twenty years earlier, had asked without adding the lemon part.

  “I just gotta have that thingy of yours,” Elgin had said.

  Elgin smiled until he happened to glance at Logan, and then the man scurried off. Logan rarely had to use words to threaten to bust a guy in the nuts.

  “Well, of course, I know you’ll reconcile with Logan,” he heard someone say. Tiffany Halverson, Helene’s old college friend.

  Somehow, even over the other chatter in the room, that made its way to Logan’s ears. To Reese’s, as well. And Logan soon realized why.

  Helene and Tiffany were inching their way over to them. Logan figured that was by design. Heck, they’d probably rehearsed every word of the conversation, too.

  “Logan’s the love of your life,” Tiffany declared, and she then acted surprised to see him when her gaze landed on him.

  “You’re sure about that love of your life thing?” Jimena asked. “Because I heard you fucked a clown.”

  Neither Helene nor Tiffany spared her a glance. Or Reese. Talking to Reese and/or her friend probably wasn’t in the script. Yet. But Logan figured Helene and/or her friend had some zingers planned for Reese.

  Tiffany did answer Jimena’s question, though. “Absolutely, Logan is the love of Helene’s life. I look at all of this as just a hiccup, and my prayer is that ten years from now, when Logan and Helene are playing with their children, that this will be just a distant memory. Helene and Logan have both been so hurt by what happened.”

  This was the first time Logan had ever heard the mention of children, and he had no doubts, none, that Helene had put her up to saying it. Maybe it was the first time he actually saw the woman he’d thought he loved enough to marry. For once he was glad he’d walked in on her with that clown.

  “You’re smiling,” Helene said, but she didn’t look especially happy about that. Maybe because he was smiling at Reese. And Reese was smiling back as if they were sharing some kind of secret.

  And that didn’t please Helene one bit. Logan heard the hitch in her throat and saw just a glimmer of the hurt, and maybe the jealousy, simmering behind those cool blue eyes. However, she concealed it as quickly as it came with a smile of her own.

  “Tiffany, I don’t believe you’ve met Logan’s date,” Helene said. She made the introductions. Polite ones, too, though he was certain that Tiffany already knew who Reese was. “Reese, I’m so glad you could come, and the dress is perfect. Logan helped her pick it out,” she added to Tiffany.

  No doubt something else Tiffany knew, but the woman smiled as politely as Helene did. “How did you two meet?” Tiffany asked Reese. It was possible Helene had somehow found that out, but Logan had no intentions of confirming it. But Jimena did.

  “In a bar,” Jimena provided. At least she didn’t add anything about the bucket-list one-night stand. Not at first, anyway. “Reese picked him up because he was hot and because she thought she was dying. Logan was a bucket-list thing, but now Reese has to undo all of that.”

  “Oh,” Helene said.

  And then she smiled a little smile probably because she quickly put everything together and thought she’d come up with what had actually happened. That Logan had been nursing a broken heart and that’s the only reason he’d landed in bed with Reese.

  That d
idn’t explain what’d gone on in the mall dressing room. Or all the kisses they’d shared since. It also didn’t explain why he had every intention of having sex with Reese again.

  Tonight.

  Logan glanced around to see if they were the center of attention. They were. Even the band had softened the music, and Logan was betting every word, every expression, was being cataloged and examined so it could be gossiped about later. The trick was not to give them anything more to talk about.

  Because if this conversation got out of hand, he might have to ask Jimena to pick something up off the floor, after all.

  “So, what do you do?” Tiffany asked Reese.

  Again, it would have been a question Helene fed to her friend. Tiffany didn’t live in Spring Hill, but Helene had probably filled her in on everything she knew, including the plan Helene had no doubt concocted on how to get back in Logan’s good graces. And his bed.

  “I’m a cook at the Fork and Spoon Café,” Reese answered.

  “She’s being modest,” Helene piped up. “From what I’ve heard Reese was top in her class at culinary school.”

  Logan glanced at Reese to see if that was true, but apparently she was still being modest because she shrugged. But Logan didn’t shrug. To the best of his knowledge, no one was gossiping about Reese’s placement in culinary school. They were only discussing her possible tattoos and the equally possible pregnancy.

  So, how had Helene known?

  Hell. She’d probably had Reese investigated, and it was hard for Logan to blast her for that since he’d done the same thing. But Helene was almost certainly doing this so she could find some dirt on Reese. Dirt that would send her running.

  Perhaps like the dirt in that sealed envelope he’d given her earlier.

  Logan wished now that he’d at least gotten a glimpse of the information so he would know how to fight this shit that Helene was no doubt about to sling at her. When he’d been with Helene, he’d seen her make plenty of ball-busting deals, but it was another thing to be on the other side of that.