Larkspur Road (16 page)

No. That wasn’t happening. It was only one kiss, one little kiss. Well, she thought, memory flooding back, maybe not so little. And maybe not just one.

But none of it meant anything.

We were swept up in the moment and now we’re back to point zero,
she told herself as she crossed the lot.

Travis had found out her email from Lissie and sent her the information she needed from Grady’s school district himself. But he’d added only the briefest of notes.

“Here you go. Will get you the textbooks. Thanks.”

So romantic.

And for all she knew, he’d probably just drop his son off on Monday and drive away. Go someplace where he could kill time until the tutoring session was over.

It will be better that way,
she assured herself as she pulled open the heavy double doors and a roar of noisy merriment—along with the smells of beer and chili burgers—swept over her.

If she
did
see Travis tonight she’d just pretend that kissing business never happened.

No problem.

And there was always the possibility he wouldn’t even show up.

As comforting as that thought seemed on the surface, deep in her heart, she doubted that would happen. It was his brother-in-law’s birthday, after all, and the Tanners were all about family and celebrating every milestone together. Lissie had told her that Jake was competing in a major bull-riding event at a rodeo in Tulsa tonight, with a huge liquor endorsement deal riding on it if he stayed on the meanest bull on the circuit for eight seconds, so he wouldn’t be making it to Tommy’s party.

But Travis? Travis would be here.

She’d known that as she dressed tonight. As she brushed her hair and let it flow long and loose in smooth curls that tumbled past her shoulders. As she slipped into her favorite topaz silk sweater and black pants and stuck her feet into sexy black stilettos.

After dressing, she’d hunted through her jewelry box for the small diamond studs her parents had given her when she graduated from college. While scooping them up she’d accidentally knocked her engagement ring from Peter onto the floor.

The ring was a marquise-cut diamond, big, bold, and flashy—so very Peter. At the time of their engagement he’d been flush; that was before his business wheelings and dealings went sour and his little real estate kingdom came tumbling down around his ears. Mia had offered to give the ring back to him right after the divorce—right
before
she discovered that he’d cleaned out their joint savings account. He’d breezily insisted she keep it—and she’d never been sure if that was due to pride or arrogance. Peter Clancy had more than his share of both.

Looking at the ring as she snagged it and set it back inside her jewelry box, she’d suddenly had the surreal feeling that her marriage to Peter had existed not only in another lifetime but almost in another dimension. Peter Clancy had no more bearing on her life now than a road marker on a nearly forgotten trail.

But Travis, of all people, was back in it. Marginally, perhaps, but still…

Those kisses were anything but marginal,
a voice inside reminded her. She felt herself growing warm at the memory.

But she wasn’t going to think about Travis. If he didn’t want to talk to her or deal with the mistake they’d both made the other night, that was fine with her.

There were plenty of men in this town who might want to dance with her tonight. And she would dance when she
felt like it. She’d laugh and have fun. She’d drink a beer and have a good time.

Even if it killed her.

Edging her way through the throng of cowboys and the women in short sparkly tops and tight jeans who were flirting with them, she passed chattering tourists wearing stiff new cowboy hats and boots they’d purchased at Ponderosa Earl’s. People were lined up three deep before the crowded bar.

Then she spotted the huge Happy Birthday signs and banners strung up all along the back half of the restaurant and began inching her way in that direction as the jukebox blared a Carrie Underwood tune and couples swayed close together on the dance floor.

One of those couples, Mia noticed with a slight jolt, was Deanna and Zeke. Their arms were locked around each other and they were grinning goofily into each other’s eyes like a couple of lovestruck teenagers.

Unfortunately, at that exact moment, Deanna happened to glance over and her gaze fell on Mia. She immediately turned back to Zeke, stood on tiptoe to give him a big sloppy kiss, and then inched even closer against him—about as close as she could get with her cute little baby bump. She rested her head on his shoulder and smiled a beatific smile straight at Mia.

Give me a break,
Mia thought, but something twisted painfully inside her.

She was glad for Zeke—he seemed genuinely happy. But the sight of him and his smugly pregnant wife made her feel strangely empty inside. Not jealous—not of Deanna. But sad. Mia envied what the two of them had found together, envied all they were about to share—babies and birthday parties, noisy game nights and vacations. A laughing, busy, happy home, with a family to grow and nurture.

Something she hadn’t ever managed to achieve, she reflected wistfully. And who knew if she ever would….

A couple of older ranch hands in Wranglers and checkered
shirts headed toward the pool table, blocking her view of Deanna’s smug smile. She wove her way toward the back of the bar, dodging waitresses wearing short red skirts and skimpy black sequined tops who bopped between tables with trays of food.

“Mia!” Lissie’s voice reached her above the din of music and talk and laughter. She was waving her arm back and forth near a cluster of long tables a few yards from the dartboard. Tommy was seated beside her, holding a beer, deep in conversation with Rafe, Sophie, and Lissie’s cousin Decker and his wife, Leigh. A score of other friends chattered at surrounding tables, along with Tommy’s parents and his sister Susie with her husband, Jack. But she saw that Lissie had saved her a seat beside her own.

“Well, don’t you look all sexy and amazing.” Lissie flashed her a welcoming grin.

“You’re pretty spiffy yourself.” Lissie was radiant in a low-cut pink silk top and dressy black capri pants.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Shoving back his chair, Tommy ambled over, wrapping her in a bear hug that nearly cracked her ribs.

“Happy birthday, you.” She squeezed him back.

“How’s your aunt doing?” Sophie asked, pushing one of the baskets of barbecued chicken wings along the table toward her. She followed this with a huge family-sized bowl of the Double Cross’s special Whooper Dooper salad as Mia slipped into her seat.

“Don’t ask. She wouldn’t let me in when I got to the cabin. Talked to me through the door.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I wish I was. All she kept saying was that she didn’t want my charity.”

A thoughtful expression came over Sophie’s face. “My grandmother says Winny was always…different. But not even opening the door when you drove all the way out to her cabin? It’s hard to understand, isn’t it?”

“I’m not giving up. I’m going back tomorrow to check on her and give it another shot. But I did leave supper and your beautiful pie on her porch. I just hope she had the sense to go get them after I left.”

“How about a beer, Mia?” Rafe interrupted. “Or would you like wine like my wife?”

“Beer sounds good, thanks.” Mia used tongs to heap salad on her plate and snagged a couple of chicken wings.

As Rafe ordered her a cold one, Sophie eyed the big plate of salad. “Um, you might want to leave some room. We have nachos and guacamole coming any minute now. Pizza and steak burgers and fries to follow.”

“Too bad you guys don’t know how to order enough food for a crowd,” Mia said with a laugh.

“Oh, that’s nothing. Wait until you see the birthday cake Sophie baked.” Lissie nibbled at a chicken wing and delicately licked sauce off her fingers. “Big enough for everyone in this entire place to have a slice. Devil’s food with sour cream fudge frosting. Tommy’s favorite.”

“Oh, God. I need to save some room,” Mia muttered. But the knot inside her was relaxing. Now that she was here, she was glad she’d come. It felt good to be with her friends as Johnny Cash crooned from the jukebox and a group at the bar started singing along. As all around her people she loved talked and joked and laughed. She almost forgot about how awkward it would be when Travis arrived…if Travis arrived….

“Uh-oh, don’t look now, but here comes lover boy,” Lissie said suddenly. “Looks like he still has the hots for you.”

Mia froze as for one insane moment she thought Lissie was talking about Travis. But of course it wasn’t Travis. She just had Travis on the brain. Lissie didn’t have a clue what had happened the other night between them—not unless Travis had told her, which was highly unlikely. Travis no doubt wished he could click an undo button just as much as she did.

Flicking a glance behind her, she saw that the man wending his way through the crowd straight toward her was Boyd Hatcher, a burly, red-haired wrangler who worked at the Lazy Q Ranch. She’d known him since grade school and had always felt a little sorry for him because his older brother, Lane, had been killed playing on the railroad tracks when Boyd was eleven, and Boyd had worshipped his big brother.

She’d always tried to be nice to him because of that loss, but the last time she’d come to the Double Cross, with Rafe and Sophie, he’d made a pest of himself. He’d obviously been drinking and had cut in while she was dancing with Coop Miller. Then he kept coming over, trying to buy her a drink and repeatedly bugging her to dance with him until she finally did, once, and then left.

He’d called her several times for a date in the weeks that followed. After turning him down the first few times, Mia had started screening her calls.

Her stomach dropped as she saw the intent smile on his rough-hewn face.

“Tommy, get up. Quick. Dance with Mia. Right now,” Lissie whispered urgently.

But Mia shook her head as Tommy started to rise from his chair. “It’s okay. One dance with the guy won’t kill me.”

Hadn’t she promised herself she’d dance tonight? Boyd had nearly reached their table and she didn’t want to make a scene. Not at Tommy’s party.

“It’s no big deal,” she told both of them. “I’ll be back in time to hog the nachos.”

“And if you’re not?” Lissie demanded.

“Then send the cavalry to cut in.” She laughed just as Boyd clapped a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey, Mia. Long time no see.”

She slanted a glance up at the man looming over her. With a quiver of unease she realized that he looked more than a little drunk. There was a bleary light in his close-set gray eyes.

Great, just great.

“They’re playing our song.” He winked at her. “How about it?”

Conway Twitty’s cover of “I Only Have Eyes for You” wafted from the jukebox.

That’s our song?
Mia thought.
I don’t think so.

But it was only one dance, she reminded herself, and if she turned him down now it would be awkward for both of them, what with the entire table of guests looking on.

“Sure,” she said lightly and stood up.

Dancing with a slightly inebriated Boyd Hatcher was about as much fun as cleaning an outhouse, she realized very quickly as he stumbled yet again and his booted foot stomped on her toes.

“Ouch.”

He swore as she winced. “Crap. Sorry about that. My big stupid feet. I’m kind of clumsy when I’m distracted. You distract me somethin’ awful, Mia, so it’s actually your fault.” His smile was sloppy, almost leering. “I think you’re about the prettiest woman in this whole entire town.”

“Will you think I’m pretty on crutches?” she asked with a forced smile, wondering when the damned song was going to end.

“Ha-ha! The lady’s funny as well as beautiful. I like me a woman with a sense of humor. Not to mention a great pair of knockers.” He gazed down at her chest with an appreciative grin spreading across his face like pancake syrup on a plate.

Classy,
she thought. Boyd had never been offensive before. It had to be the liquor. But Mia had had enough.

“I need to head back to the party now.”

Her tone left no doubt she was done. The song had come to an end anyway and a George Strait tune now blasted through the Double Cross as she started to pull away.

But Hatcher had other ideas and grabbed her arm, yanking her back.

“Oh, c’mon. One more little dance. What’s your hurry?”

“I’m with friends. It’s a party. People are waiting for me.” She tried to pull away, but he tightened his grasp. “Boyd. Let me go.”

He grinned and pulled her up against him. All around them couples were dancing; people at tables and booths were singing along. Between the music, the conversations, and the singing, the din was deafening.

Mia planted her feet, refusing to dance, straining against his grip. “Let me
go
, Boyd,” she repeated, her amber eyes turning icy.

“Hey, c’mon. You don’t fool me. I know your type, Mia Quinn.” He winked at her, then bent his head close to hers as she struggled to break free. The smell of beer and Old Spice filled her nostrils.

“You always were a hot little number. Even in high school when Travis Tanner was doing you. You’re just playing hard to get.”

Anger darkened her eyes. He had one thick hand at her waist, and the other gripped her arm like a vise. He wasn’t listening to her—either because he was too drunk or he didn’t care.

“Someone should have taught you that no means no.” She glared straight into his eyes as his hand began to slide downward from her waist, his fingers skimming over her bottom. “One more time. Let go of me, right now.”

“Or what?” He laughed and nuzzled at her neck.

But his laughter choked off abruptly, turning to a yelp of pain as she rammed her knee into his balls with every ounce of her strength.

“Fuck!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. He let her go, staggering back, his face scrunching in pain as everyone in the Double Cross stopped talking and turned to stare. From a distance she thought she heard Tommy shout something as she stepped away from Boyd. Then she saw that Tommy was on his feet and Rafe had already sprung out of his chair.