Nearest Thing to Heaven (Maverick Junction)

by Austin, Lynnette

  Although Maggie didn’t look totally convinced, she turned to welcome her new customers, showing them pieces that worked perfectly for each. Sophie watched in awe. Maggie was as good a salesperson as she was a designer.

  At one point, she wandered close to Sophie and whispered, “You’re not off the hook. I intend to hear more about your boobs and Ty.”

  Sophie laughed.

  None of the women who’d come in left empty-handed.

  When the shop was theirs alone again, they decided on a pair of winter white slacks with a long-sleeve, lacy sweater in a rose-pink.

  Sophie studied her reflection in the mirror. The color combination was perfect with her hair. The pink brightened her skin. “I have just the jewelry to wear with this. A necklace and earrings made of rose quartz and green tourmaline.”

  Maggie nodded. “Good choice. Rose quartz, the love stone, heals the heart, and green tourmaline stimulates happiness. Exactly right on all counts.”

  Surprised, Sophie met Maggie’s eyes in the mirror.

  “You didn’t expect me to know that?”

  Sophie shrugged. “Most people don’t. I should have known you would. There’s a lot of fanciful mixed with the practicality in your designs.”

  “Nicely said. I like that. I also like jewelry. Even more when there’s some significance to it.” Her face sobered. “I believe in fate, too. You’re right where you need to be at this moment, Sophie. After spending what little time I have with you, I can see why Ty finds you fascinating.”

  “Oh, I don’t think he—”

  “Tell you what.” Maggie leaped up from the chair where she lounged again. “I’m ready for food. Let’s put up the closed sign and grab lunch at Ollie’s.”

  *

  Driving home to Maverick Junction after having stuffed herself with the special of the day, the most delicious taco salad she’d ever eaten, Sophie let out a happy squeal. If she hadn’t needed to keep both hands on the wheel, she’d have hugged herself. Today had been fun. More and more she was coming to realize the pull of this area, of these people, on Annelise.

  That certainly didn’t mean she’d ever give up her Chicago lifestyle to live here. No way.

  For Annelise, the place was perfect.

  For herself? She couldn’t see it. She needed more.

  Her phone rang, startling her.

  A silly grin still on her face, she pulled her cell from her purse. “Hello.”

  “When are you coming home?”

  She bit back the groan. Fought the urge to toss her phone out the window. Talk about putting a damper on a great day.

  “Sophie?” Nathan sounded angry. “I’ll come get you if I need to. You’ve been gone way too long.”

  “Nathan—”

  “It’s time you came home, Sophie. To me.”

  Threads of fear slithered through her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sophie pulled into the drive. Dead-tired, feet leaden, she moved to the other side of the car to retrieve her new outfit. Draping the plastic-wrapped bundle over her arm, she closed the door.

  Saturday night with Ty would be fun. She needed to concentrate on that and put Nathan out of her mind. A thousand or so frozen miles separated them. There was no way he’d fly to Texas, his threat to come get her an empty one. Besides, he didn’t know where to find her.

  She’d hung up on him without a word. Maybe that would serve to finally get her message across. All the placating, the trying to let him down easily, then the more direct conversations—none had worked.

  Well, she wouldn’t talk to him again. She’d check that damnable caller ID every time. If it was him, she would not answer.

  Halfway up the stairs, she noticed the UPS package on the landing. Her art supplies. Woo-hoo!

  Because she hadn’t intended to stay more than a few days, she’d only brought the bare minimum. Now that she’d decided to stay longer, had broken through her block and was actually working again, she needed a few more of her things along with some paper files she’d left at home.

  Thank God for Dee. One phone call and she’d boxed up what Sophie needed and dropped them in the mail.

  Stepping over the box, Sophie opened the apartment door, dumped her purse on the counter, and walked into the bedroom to hang up her new clothes. Back in the kitchen, she stopped at the fridge, grabbed an ice cold Coke, and popped the top. Without even closing the refrigerator door, she took a long refreshing drink.

  Fortified, she slipped back outside and picked up the package. She spotted her landlady in the small yard, clipping her few remaining roses. “Hey, Dottie.”

  “You were up early.”

  “I was.” Leaning on the railing, Sophie told her about her trip to Maggie’s.

  “Something special going on that you need a new outfit? Can an old lady hope it has something to do with Ty?”

  She felt the blush, cursed her fair skin. Deciding to skirt the issue, she said, “I got the most beautiful pair of slacks, Dottie, and a top in your favorite color.”

  “Pink?” The woman clapped her hands.

  “Is there any other?” Sophie laughed. “I’ll bring them down later to show you. Maggie’s things are so absolutely incredible. I don’t know how she does it.”

  “It’s a gift. And speaking of gifts, I see you got a package today.”

  She shook her head. “Unfortunately, it’s not a gift. It’s a few art supplies I forgot to bring with me.”

  “Really?” Dottie looked skeptical. “With all those hearts drawn on the bottom of the package?”

  “What?”

  “I wasn’t snooping,” Dottie insisted. “The UPS guy tried to drop it off at my door. I told him he could just carry it right on up to your place. Why should you have to? That’s his job. That’s when I saw the hearts.”

  Sophie’s brow furrowed as she knelt down and picked up the box. “That doesn’t make sense. Dee’s return address is on here. It has to be—” She turned the box over and saw the initials NR in the corner along with several bloodred hearts.

  Dee wouldn’t have done that. It had to be Nathan’s work. When? How?

  She should have talked to Dee about him. About her concerns. But she hadn’t. She’d kept it to herself. Bile rose in her throat.

  Seeing the concern on her landlady’s face, Sophie pasted on a smile. “It’s okay. Another friend did it, fooling around.”

  “You sure? You look awfully pale.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Fine. Then you can answer my earlier question.”

  “What was that?”

  “Is the boy taking you out?”

  “The boy?”

  “Ty. Did you buy the new outfit for him? Are the two of you stepping out?”

  She had to laugh. “Stepping out? I don’t know about that, but he is taking me to dinner. I think.”

  “You think?”

  “He’s picking me up Saturday evening. He didn’t say where we were going or what we’d be doing, but I’m assuming dinner will be included.”

  “Well, now, praise the Lord. I was afraid he’d never leap that hurdle.”

  “It’s only an evening out,” Sophie warned.

  “Understood.” Clippers in hand, Dottie stood up, hands on her hips. “Gotta take that first step before you can walk, though, don’t you?”

  “I suppose so.” Sophie looked out over the area. “Think I’ll draw a few more scenes this afternoon. The garden looks different every day.”

  Dottie’s eyes twinkled. “You’re very good at changing the subject.”

  Sophie laughed. “Speaking of changing the subject, I’m going to do it again. What’s the vine climbing on your rock wall?”

  “A trumpet vine. If you’re here this coming summer, you’ll want to paint its flowers.” Catching her expression, Dottie said, “I know, I know. You plan to return to Chicago. But, well, you never can tell what might happen.”

  Deciding to ignore the woman’s blatant matchmaking attempts, Sophie said
, “It’s possible I’ll be down next summer to visit Annelise and Cash.”

  “You might.”

  “You spend a lot of time out here, don’t you?”

  “I do. My husband helped me lay it out. Since I lost him, it’s my way of staying connected. There are times I swear he’s here with me.” Dottie sighed and ruthlessly pulled a few weeds that had dared poke up their heads in her garden. “Gardening in Texas hill country can be difficult. The raised beds help, and I’ve put in mostly drought-resistant plants. Still…”

  She looked around her. “This garden is a task of love. Both joy and heartbreak. But, then, isn’t all of life?”

  That caught Sophie up short. Joy and heartbreak. Did they balance each other?

  “How long were you married, Dottie?”

  “Forty wonderful years. Although, in truth, I still think of myself as married. Harry and I raised two incredible kids in this house. A lot of loving went on here.” She sighed. “It was good to watch Annie and Cash discover each other while she lived upstairs.”

  Sophie murmured her assent.

  “I’m enjoying watching you and Ty dance around each other, too.”

  “Dottie—”

  “Fine.” The older woman held up a hand. “I won’t say another word about it.”

  They chatted another couple minutes, then Sophie went inside, package in hand. She was almost afraid to open it. She needed to give Dee a call. If Nathan had indeed seen the package, she’d been wrong. He knew exactly where she was. He had her address.

  Taco salad churning in her stomach, she raced to the bathroom.

  *

  Later, a cup of chamomile tea in hand, Sophie curled up in the overstuffed chair and dialed Dee. When her Chicago across-the-hall neighbor answered, her voice was sleep-heavy.

  “Did I wake you?”

  “Just catching a catnap. No biggie. It’s so cold here, the only place I can keep warm is under the covers.”

  Sophie blew out a deep breath.

  “Is something wrong?” Dee asked.

  “My package came today. Thanks so much for putting it together and sending it. I really appreciate it.”

  “No problem. And I do mean that. I didn’t even have to battle the elements to mail it. Nathan came by as I was heading downstairs, package in hand. He said he was checking your apartment for you.” She hesitated. “I told him I’d already done that. Didn’t you ask me to?”

  Sophie’s stomach plummeted. “Yes. I did.”

  “Then why was Nathan—”

  “I don’t know. Did he have a key?”

  “You gave him one.”

  “Huh-uh. I didn’t.”

  Silence hung heavy, and Sophie’s stomach threatened to rebel again. Had he been inside? Going through drawers? Touching her things? Oh, God.

  “He said he was headed to the post office and would be glad to drop off your package. I shouldn’t have given it to him, should I?”

  “I’d like to say it’s no big deal, but he’s really starting to worry me.” Sophie rubbed at her eyes.

  “What’s he doing?”

  Quickly, Sophie filled her in on the e-mails. The phone calls. The increasingly menacing tone.

  “I mean, he’s no Jack the Ripper,” she said. Still, her heart raced, and she fought to steady her voice. “Thing is, besides everything else, Nathan is a tightwad. No way will he spend the money to fly here. I’m overreacting.”

  “No, you’re not,” Dee said. “I’m really sorry, and you can bet I’ll be a whole lot more cautious from here on out.”

  “My fault. I should have said something to you sooner. But, listen, if he comes by again, would you call me?”

  “You bet I will.”

  Dee’s promise ringing in her ear, Sophie hung up. Nathan sure as heck wasn’t going to hop a plane to Texas, and he would never hurt her.

  The reassurances fell flat. She wished Ty was here. Wished they were curled up together on the big brown sofa, his strong arms cradling her. Wished she could confide in him. But she couldn’t add to his worries. He already had so much to deal with.

  Still, with him, she felt safe. Believed all would be right. The urge to call him escalated.

  No.

  Sticking her phone in her pocket, she hurried over to the door and threw the lock. The sun had gone down. A tree limb brushed against the kitchen window; the old house creaked, its weary bones settling. Turning off the overhead kitchen light, she stared out into the night. Dark in small-town Texas was so much darker than in Chicago.

  Chapter Eighteen

  It was dinner for God’s sake. They’d grab a bite to eat, talk a little bit, then he’d take her home. Period. Nothing fancy. Nothing that even vaguely hinted at more. It wasn’t like they’d set up a tryst in some flea-bitten motel for a quick roll in the hay…or some magical, romantic night on the town.

  So why was he as nervous as a pig at barbecue time?

  Because he’d kissed her.

  Why in the hell had he kissed her?

  He tossed the last bale of hay from the back of his work pickup and stripped off his leather gloves, slapped them on the leg of his worn denims.

  He had to get himself under control. He wasn’t some horny teenager.

  Nope. What he was, was a horny thirty-two-year-old.

  And if there was any difference between the two, it escaped him at the moment.

  A cloud of dust warned him of incoming. The kids were home. Haley’d driven into town to pick up supplies for the bunkhouse and had offered to take the boys with her. He owed her for that. It had given him time to finish up here.

  As the car pulled up in front of the bunkhouse, he strolled out to meet them. “Need some help?”

  “Boy, do I. The back of this SUV is packed tight.” She opened the doors and started unloading boys. “Human cargo first.”

  Like a swarm of locusts, they descended on him, full of hugs and stories of their trip to town. He hugged back, tousled hair, and listened. Then, moving to the rear of the vehicle, he grabbed small loads for each of the boys.

  “There you go. Take those inside and put them on the table.” He and Haley together made short work of the rest of it while the boys, bags delivered, tore off for the bunkhouse.

  “Did you pick up dinner for you and the kids tonight?” he asked.

  “Sure did. You’re treating us to pizza and ice cream from Sadler’s.” She held up two more bags.

  “Good for me. Here, why don’t you give me those?” Ty asked. “I’ll stick them in the fridge for you.”

  “Sounds good. I’m going to grab a quick shower before I come over.”

  “Yeah.” Ty looked down at himself. “I figure I’d best do the same thing.” He whistled, and the boys came tearing out of the bunkhouse, each with a cookie in hand.

  “Look what Cook gave us,” Jesse said.

  “He give you one for me?”

  “No, Daddy. But you can have some of mine.” Jonah held his out.

  “That’s okay, bud.” Ty slung an arm around him. “I already had one,” he lied. “Enjoy yours.”

  “’Kay, Daddy.”

  Together the four of them walked across the yard, and Ty herded his brood into the house.

  Forty minutes later, the kids had taken over the living room. Action figures scattered the length of it, and a full intergalactic battle was under way.

  Upstairs, a towel wrapped around his waist, Ty finished shaving. That task complete, he walked into the bedroom to study the sparse contents of his closet. A suit was out. Period. He supposed, though, he owed Sophie something other than a pair of worn-out jeans. Being a city girl from Chicago, she’d expect a tad more than that.

  Heck, he should probably expect more than that from himself.

  That in mind, he started to reach for his chinos, then stopped. Hell with it. He was who he was. He’d wear his Sunday jeans and a gray button-down shirt Babs had bought for his last birthday. That would have to do.

  Downstairs, he heard Haley
come in, heard the boys scramble to greet her. He took a deep breath. Tonight would either be fun or the biggest disaster ever.

  *

  When Sophie answered the door, Ty stood dumbfounded. He couldn’t find words. But he didn’t have any doubt why he’d asked her out. Or why he’d kissed her.

  Tink was breathtaking.

  Finding his tongue, he said, “Darlin’, you look good enough to be dinner.”

  She dipped in a mock curtsy. “Why, thank you, sir.” Then her eyes traveled the length of him. “You look pretty darn good yourself. That gray shirt with those smoky eyes of yours? Mmmm.”

  Heat rushed up his neck, and she laughed, a tinkling little sound. She cocked her head. “Do you want to come in?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “If you’re ready, we should probably go. I made reservations. I hope you don’t mind. We hadn’t actually talked about where you wanted to go tonight.”

  “Anywhere is fine. Bubba’s, Sally’s and Oliver’s are the sum total of my dining experiences since I’ve been in Texas.”

  “Well, that pretty much makes up the triumvirate of restaurants in the area.” He swallowed. “Let me just say again that you look great, Sophie. That pink…Wow. Every man who sees you is gonna envy me.”

  A smile brightened her face. “Thank you, Ty.” She rubbed a hand over the sweater’s sleeve. “Maggie picked this for me.”

  “Remind me to thank her. It’s perfect.”

  “That’s what she said.” She grabbed a purse the size of a small elephant from the counter. “So where are we going?”

  “We’re heading toward Austin. There’s a great little Italian restaurant about halfway there. Cucina de Luigi.” He stopped on the stairs. “I thought you might be tired of steaks and barbecue. You like Italian, don’t you?”

  “Are you kidding? I can’t think of anything better. How’s Luigi’s lasagna?”

  “The best. And their meatball calzones.” He kissed his fingertips.

  Sophie dropped a hand to her stomach. “Glad I went light on lunch because I fully intend to pig out tonight.”

  “Overindulgence can be a very good thing.”

  “I think so, and I’m looking forward to it. Hope you are, too.”

  The double entendre hit home. Reminding himself to breathe, he sucked in a lungful of air. He sure hoped he survived the evening.