Beauty Queen (3 page)

Clearly she was going to have to face the fact that she could not get a job in Austin ... unless she wanted to leap into the fire and call Dad.

Eeew.

Nothing against Dadshe knew that deep down, he loved her. And she loved her father somewhere deep down there, too. But he was and had always been a hard-ass, and she sure didnt like him very much. She usually kept him in the Men to Avoid category. But, she told herself, its just a phone call. It didnt mean shed owe him anything, an extremely important point, thank you, as she had no intention of living off anyone ever again. Especially a man, because in her reading of Protecting Our Inner Child While Searching for the External Woman, she had come to realize that all her life, shed been letting men take over and then answered to them, answering and answering until there was nothing left of Rebecca.

But that life was thankfully behind her now, she reminded herself as she watched a vendor roll his cart to the gate, open an umbrella, and hang a sign that said: Dogs, Quesadillas, Tacos.

She was a new woman, right? She could make her own way in this world and she didnt need a man ... well, technically, she needed Dad at the moment, but it was just for a moment, and Moira would say to quit dancing around the campfire and just do it. Okay. This was her, just doing it.

Rebecca got a cell phone from her purse, noticed in passing that more people were wandering into the park as the clock passed the noon hour. She punched the auto dial for the number at the family ranch.

Hello? Dad answered immediately on the first ring, and she had an unnerving image of him sitting and staring at the phone, waiting for it to ring.

Dad?

Rebecca! Did you get my message?

No .. . what message?

Where is your mother? I need to know where she is. I need to talk to her.

Oh geez, not again. This little on-again, off-again thing Mom and Dad had going on was really trying. First, theyd been separated for centuries. Then Mom found out Dad had cancer, and they reconciled. Things had been good until the shock of having cancer wore off and Dad became Dad again and Mom couldnt take it any better than she ever had before he got cancer. And of course they had a huge fight about Robin, just like the good old days of high school, at which point Mom had walked out for what she

swore was the last time. Only Dad always had to have the last word. I havent talked to her, Rebecca said.

What do you mean you havent talked to her? Seems like none of you girls ever talk to your mother anymore! he groused. If I didnt know better, Id think she was trying to avoid me.

News flash Mom is trying to avoid you. So Dad, how are you feeling?

Im fine! I wish everyone would quit asking! Wheres Grayson?

Hes still in school.

I really wish youd bring him down to see his grandpa, Dad grumbled. You know that boy needs some familiar ground. Maybe you dont see it, but its not like hes had an easy time of it with the divorce and changing schools and moving, he continued, always happy to dispense unsolicited advice. And he liked to remind her that he thought she was a less than perfect parent, too, what with moving and taking Grayson away from Dallas.

And he was way too dependent on that nanny, if you ask me. But its all water under the bridge now, he said with a heavy sigh, wrapping up todays free advice segment.

Dad, listen, I need to you ask you something.

Do you need money?

Dad! Rebecca cried indignantly. Of course not! I wouldnt call for money

Im not talking a lot. Just enough so Grayson wont want for anything

He doesnt!

You could have gotten a lot more if you would have listened to that high-dollar attorney. Anyway, I think you ought to come out here to the ranch and stay with me for a while.

That was so not going to happen. I cant come to Blue Cross right now. But you could really help me out in another way, she quickly continued, before he could begin the full litany of her faults when it came to his grandson. I need a favor, she said, wincing. But just a small one.

What kind of favor? he asked suspiciously.

Rebecca took a deep breath, blindly fixed her gaze on the bench across from her. You know people in Austin, right? she asked. Could you maybe just call a friend and see if they might have something I could do? I mean, as in a job? Just something that would help me get my foot in the door somewhere, thats all. If you could do that, Id take it from there. Im not after anything fancy, just a place to start.

Her request was met with a long moment of silence, then a terse, No.

Augh! He had to be the most exasperating man!

Now, before you get all upset, you know how I feel. If youre really determined to try and enter the workforce, I dont think you should do it until Grayson is in elementary school. And besides, I want you to make your way and stand on your own without my help.

Stand on my you just offered me money! she angrily pointed out.

For Grayson.. Now look, Ive said this until Im blue in the face, but Ill keep saying it until it sinks in with you girls! Im dying! Who knows how long I have? Im not gonna be here for much longer and I wont be able to make calls for you then, will I?

Youre not dying. Dad! Youre in remission, remem-ber?

You want to work? he went on, ignoring her, but what else was new? Then you need to figure out how to do it. But Im gonna remind you once more that you got a pretty good settlement, enough for you to sit back and relax and take care of Grayson instead of leaving him in some fucking day care where the Lord knows what goes on!

She could really despise her father at times, like now, as a matter of fact, and considered just hanging up on him, but dammit, she was too polite!

Thats the one thing I regret the most, you know, not being there for you girls.

This really isnt about you, Dad, she snapped. God, Im just asking for a leg up! Its not like Im going to start some company and be away all the time. Im just looking for something to do. For me.

Bec, honey. He spoke as if she were taxing him. You dont have a degree or any sort of work experience. Why dont you just take a class or something?

Jesus, what was it with the classes all of a sudden? Never mind his condescension made her want to bang her head against a tree over and over until everything went black. Come on, Dad, cant you just call someone this once? Its not like I am always after you for something, is it? In fact, I never ask you for anything because I make it a point not to!

You know, youve really changed since that divorce. You can get a tone I dont particularly like!

Im sorry if you think I have a tone, she said, not sorry in the least, but at least acknowledge that I am trying to improve myself and help me out!

I am helping you out! Im helping you out by making you learn to find your own way! Youve had a hard row here, theres no denying it, but the answer is not to fall back on me.

Why, oh why, had she ever talked herself into calling him?

Now come on, tell me when youre coming out to the ranch. Youre just a stones throw now.

How does a cold day in hell sound? Were really busy now. Oh, look at the time. I really need to run.

Listenstop worrying about this job thing! Good things are going to happen for you. When the time and place are right, good things will happen.

She wanted to ask him if a little leprechaun was going to appear or something, but just said, Okay, Dad. Ill talk to you soon. She clicked off before he could offer any other pearls of wisdom for her to choke on, and tossed her cell phone into her bag in disgust.

She folded her arms tightly across her middle, glanced around, and noticed that the park was now teeming with people. She watched the line at the taco-quesadilla vendor for a moment and decided that it was a glorious spring day, and a quesadilla could go a long way toward cheering her up.

At the taco stand, she bought a plain cheese quesadilla and picked up some napkins. But when she turned around, she saw that her bench had been taken by a couple. In fact, all the benches that lined either side of the walk were filled, save one. Rebecca snagged it, put her purse beside her, as well as the wrapped quesadilla, and pulled out the paper to review the want ads. But when she reached for the quesadilla to unwrap it, the thought occurred to her that it might be spicy hot; she hadnt thought to ask. She couldnt eat spicy hot without something to wash it down with, and wished shed thought to buy a bottle of water.

Rebecca eyed the vendors cart; he wasnt very far away and the line had dwindled to one guy. She could leave her paper and quesadilla to mark her spot, run over and get a drink, and run back before anyone could take it. Rebecca neatly folded the paper, put it down, the quesadilla plainly on top of it, then picked up her purse and hurried to the vendors cart, where she bought a bottle of water.

When she had shoved her change back into her purse, she turned back to her spot but stopped mid-stride, absolutely stunned. A very nice-looking, well-dressed man was sitting on her bench, reading her paper and holding her quesadilla.

Rebecca gaped at him; her mind could not even absorb such appalling behavior. How could anyone be so... so cheap? What an inconsiderate, cheap-ass thief! The que-sadillas were only a dollar, for Chrissakes!

Honestly, this had to be the last straw! Shed had about enough for one day and her blood began to boilthis was exactly the sort of behavior she was learning to overcome. Here was someone who was walking all over her, taking her for granted, using her things to get what he wanted. The old Rebecca would have walked on, indignant. The new Rebecca, however, was not going to take this lying down. She was not a doormat! She did not provide que-sadillas and newspapers to the citizens of Austin at large! Her feet were moving before she realized it.

The man glanced up as she sauntered toward him with a sly smile on her lips. He looked surprised, and smiled a little uncertainly as he put the quesadilla down. When Rebecca stopped directly before him, his smile broadened. It was, she noticed, a very nice smile on a very handsome face, which just made him all the more reprehensible.

Hey, she said, smiling softly, knowing full well the effect her smile had on most men.

Hey, he replied, snatching the bait and coming to his feet. He was tall, well over six feet, and broad-shouldered. He put his hands on his waist, grinning, waiting for her to say something.

Rebecca turned the charm up a notch and smiled shyly, looking up at him through her lashes. I just noticed you sitting there, she said, moving a little closer so that she was just inches from him, and I was wondering . .. She let her voice trail off, gave him another deceptively shy smile.

The man cocked a brow and with an appreciative smile, took her in, top to bottom. Well, wonder away. In fact, would you like to take a seat and wonder?

Rebecca giggled lustily.

He quickly moved the quesadilla and paper, making a spot for her.

She sat. She smiled. Thought it was a pity that he was really Brad Pitt handsome as he carefully sat next to her, his gray eyes shining.

Im Matt, by the way.

Hi, Matt, she said, and crossed her legs, baring her knee and leaning forward just enough that he could get a glimpse of her cleavage, if he dared.

Oh, he dared, all right. With a quick, furtive glance, he asked, You were wondering?

Yes. I was wondering, she said, lower still, so that he had to lean in to hear her, if youre always so... She paused coyly.

He grinned. If I am always so ... what?

Cheap, she whispered.

It had the desired affect; his brows suddenly dipped in confusion. Excuse me?

CHEAP, she said articulately, her srnile gone. You know, the type to screw your shoes on because youre too tight to spend a whole dollar on a quesadilla?

He suddenly sat back, pushed a hand through his thick, sandy brown hair. Im sorry; I think youve confused me with someone else.

Rockefeller, perhaps?

His frown deepened. Look, lady, I dont know what your problem is

Other than the fact that you stole my paper and my que-sadilla?

What? he exclaimed, his voice admirably full of indignation for such a cheap ass. I did not!

Yes, you did! she insisted. I went to get a bottle of water

Yeah, I know. I saw you, he said, relaxing enough to give her a lopsided smile. Actually, I couldnt take my eyes off you.

Oh right, like she was going to fall for that! Or my quesadilla, apparently.

No, just you. Because you left your quesadilla over there, he said, pointing down the walk.

That drew her up short; Rebecca blinked, looked to where he pointedthere on the very next bench down, was her neatly folded paper and her untouched quesadilla, just as she had left them. She quickly looked over her shoulder to the quesadilla guy, and realized, with a very sick feeling, that he had moved his cart between the time she bought her lunch and returned to buy her water. He had moved just enough to confuse her, which meant... Oh. Dear. Gaaaaawd.

Mortified, thats what she was, absolutely paralyzed with mortification. She glanced at Matt from the corner of her eye, saw the smirk on his lips. My sincerest apologies.

He laughed, casually draped an arm across the back of the bench. You know, Ive had women do some crazy things to get my attention, but I cant say Ive ever had one be quite so inventive just to meet me.

This was absolutely horrifying. I assure you, I wasnt trying to meet you I made a mistake.

Oh, yeah? he asked, lifting that brow again.

Absolutely not! Like-shed have to do something that stupid to meet someone like him? It was preposterous.

Then why were you checking me out? he asked, obviously enjoying himself, the pompous ass.

Checking you ... thats absurd! she said indignantly. She did not check men out. She was off men; she rarely even noticed them, and when she did, she certainly did not check them out.

So are you denying that when you were on the phone, you werent checking me out? Because from where I was sitting, you couldnt take your eyes off me

Please! I was on the phone! I wasnt looking at anything!