That Wild Texas Swing Read online

  She rubbed her hand over her face, then checked her reflection in the mirror before opening the door of the salon. Some swelling around the eyes, but unless someone looked closely, not that noticeable.

  She was surprised business was so brisk on the Tuesday after the holiday weekend, but never underestimate the power of women seeking gossip. The speed with which Evansville discovered that Killian had been bitten shocked her, and she’d lived here all her life. What did surprise her, and made her stomach twist, was that they didn’t know she’d broken up with him. Maybe he hadn’t told anyone.

  “He’s fine,” she said over and over. “It was a dry bite.” She’d investigated that online last night when she couldn’t sleep, how about a third of all bites had no venom, usually when the snake was surprised. She was a little confused by that, since the snake had been rattling at her before it bit him. She was sure it would have had venom. She’d almost wanted to call the hospital this morning to make sure nothing had changed overnight, but she wasn’t with him anymore. He wasn’t her responsibility.

  Even that thought choked her.

  The ladies who asked about his bite were disappointed that she didn’t have more information, or better, pictures. So they turned their curiosity to her weekend, and how she’d kept Killian in bed instead of letting him go to church.

  Brianna was working the receptionist desk, and Liz didn’t want her to hear the conversation, so she attempted to steer it toward Brianna’s quinceañera, hoping that would at least alert the women to the fact that a fourteen-year-old girl was among them.

  A few customers took the hint, and dialed back the curiosity. But others pressed, wanting to know what she and Killian had been doing while the rest of them were at church. This…this was why she’d had to end things with him. Even though she’d been the focus of gossip many times in the past, this was the first time people had approached her directly. She didn’t know why they thought they deserved to know, except that Killian was mayor.

  “I didn’t even know Killian went to church,” Liz exploded when the salon was quiet for an instant, between customers. She sent Brianna to the Coyote to pick up lunch for all of them. “He mentioned it, for a minute, but then, well, he didn’t mention it again. Why am I taking so much heat for this when it was his decision?”

  “Because you’re the wicked woman who corrupted him with her girly parts,” Bev said. “And they’ve always seen him with a good girl like Allison.”

  “I’m not that bad.”

  “You kept him from going to church. And you’ve never made a secret of taking men into your bed. Different men,” Mrs. Wachowski contributed.

  Liz turned to her. “So what? Killian knows who I am, I know who I am. We’re the only people in this relationship. We’re the only ones who have to care.”

  The only ones who had been in a relationship, she had to remind herself. She’d walked away. The thought gave her a kick in the center of her chest. She’d made the choice. Why did she hurt? She’d spent the morning between customers trying not to look in the direction of his apartment, wondering if he was already home, resting. So close, but so far away.

  Brianna walked in then, carrying two white bags with Styrofoam containers. She set them on the reception desk. Brianna was pale, her gaze averted, her mouth drawn. Liz’s protective instincts flared.

  “What happened?”

  Brianna shook her head. “No, nothing. It’s fine.”

  Liz approached the reception desk as Brianna unpacked the lunches. “Brianna. Something happened.”

  “It’s no big deal, really.” She smiled bravely, but tears glistened in her eyes.

  “Did someone say something to you?” Liz could only imagine one of those busybodies waylaying her sister to get more dirt. She was halfway to the door, ready to bust some heads, when Brianna caught her arm.

  “Liz. It’s nothing. I just saw a boy I like with another girl. That’s it. I know I shouldn’t be upset, I shouldn’t expect more, but I can’t help it.”

  “Of course you should be upset and expect more,” Liz retorted, putting her arm around her sister. “You deserve the best. You’re awesome and you deserve someone who treats you that way.”

  “Then why don’t you?” Jessica asked quietly.

  *****

  Liz didn’t sleep well that night, either, despite how busy she’d been at the salon. Every fiber of her wanted to call Killian to see how he was doing, but no. Best to make a clean cut.

  Thankfully the salon wasn’t too busy on Wednesday, but that worried her, too. Were people really blaming her for Killian’s behavior? For him getting bitten? She was actually surprised no one knew they’d broken up yet.

  She volunteered to get a late lunch, part of her hoping that Killian and David lingered at the Coyote, part of her terrified they’d still be there.

  Heart pounding, she pushed open the door and was aware of people turning to look. That wasn’t all that unusual, though, and she was used to ignoring it. She couldn’t resist a glance at Killian’s regular table, and the cocktail of regret and relief that washed over her almost made her stagger. Afraid that tears would spring to the surface at any moment, she made a point of not looking around, and headed to the counter, where she saw the to-go bag waiting at the bar.

  Her gaze drifted, and her stomach dropped.

  Her father was also at the bar, nose to nose with Angie Simon, his arm across the back of Angie’s chair, and he was smiling deeply into her eyes.

  The memory of how he’d smiled at her mother, just a couple of days ago, a smile that made her mother blush, surfaced, and with it, temper. She wanted to shove the man off the chair, away from the woman. Childish, she knew, but she didn’t understand how he could come back into their lives and act like such a great guy, then cheat on their mother in public.

  Her rational mind knew her parents weren’t together, and it was unlikely they’d get back together. She didn’t want them back together in any case. He’d just hurt her mother again.

  So why was she so pissed? Because her father had proved to be the asshole she suspected all along? Because she had let her sisters get their hopes up and they’d be heartbroken.

  Just then, Angie met her gaze, and the smile on her pretty face faded as she prodded Rafael in the shoulder and nodded in Liz’s direction.

  Rafael pivoted, eyebrows lifted, and his own smile vanished, even as he started to rise off the barstool, his hand outstretched.

  “Liz.”

  She took a step back. “I don’t want to hear it. But you’re telling the girls.” Then realization struck. Was that what had upset Brianna yesterday? Had she seen her father and Angie here together?

  “I will. I’m sorry I didn’t make it clear that I wasn’t here to get back with your mother.”

  “She knows that, right?” Liz swallowed, remembering her mother’s bright face when her father had left the other night. Maybe she didn’t know.

  “Liz. I did some terrible things, said some terrible things, left your mother holding the bag. I don’t deserve her. And Angie, well, we got to talking, and we both have made mistakes. A lot of mistakes. We’ve hurt people, we’ve done things we never should have done. We know each other’s secrets, know that we are equal.”

  That they deserved each other, was what she heard. God, hadn’t that what she’d been worried about with Killian? He was so good, and she’d been so bad. Did her father and Angie have it right?

  She grabbed up the lunch bag and pivoted toward the door.

  She was down the sidewalk, her mind spinning with what she saw, what it meant, if she was more like her father when she wanted to be, before she felt a gentle hand on her arm. She swung around and Angie released her, taking a step back, her delicate features distressed.

  “Liz. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I hope this doesn’t come between you and me.”

  Liz hated that her first thought was that Angie wanted to keep her job. “You didn’t hurt me. I didn’t have any expectations fr
om him. My sisters and my mother are another story.”

  “He’s not a bad man. He wants to make things right after the mistakes he’s made. He wants to make life easy for you girls after his absence made it so hard. But he’s not planning on returning to the life he left. He’s not the same man.”

  She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear this, didn’t want to hear her father’s dreams and wishes spouted by the woman he was sleeping with.

  The pregnant woman he was sleeping with. “Why him?”

  “What?”

  “Why him? He’s—” Old, out of shape, slovenly. She didn’t say any of those things, but Angie apparently understood what she meant.

  “He is kind, one of the kindest men I’ve ever known.”

  That surprised Liz, who had only seen his kindness as a way to buy his way back into the lives of his daughters.

  “Cassidy built a public area out at the man camp, you know. A place for the oilfield workers to barbecue, to socialize. And I’ve been lonely, so I’d go out there. I mean, I was cautious after what happened the last time I let myself get too close to one of the men.” She smoothed her hand over her rounded belly. “I was careful, but he was so gentle, as if he knew just what I needed. We just became closer, and closer. I knew he was your father, but honestly, I didn’t know how to tell you, how to talk to you about this. I value your friendship too much, Liz. I don’t want this to come between us.”

  “Would you walk away if I asked you to?” Liz asked, knowing it was mean, but her filter was off as her brain tried to wrap around what Angie was telling her.

  Angie flinched at the question. “Would you ask that?”

  Liz drew a deep breath. “I need to get the lunches back to the shop.”

  “Are you going to fire me?” Angie called after her, and this time Liz flinched, hoping that wasn’t the only reason Angie want to make peace.

  She continued down the sidewalk without a word.

  Brianna was waiting for her at the door of the salon, her eyes wide, and Liz knew. She knew what had upset Brianna yesterday, and it wasn’t a boy.

  “Why are you talking to her?” Brianna demanded, looking past her to Angie.

  “She’s my accountant,” Liz replied, keeping her tone even, directing her gaze at Mrs. Wachowski and the others, including customers who had come in during her absence.

  “Liz.” Frustrated tears brimmed in Brianna’s eyes.

  “Later,” Liz said, low, and moved past her sister into the shop.

  Neither she nor her sister had much of an appetite which made Liz sad, because she’d ordered her favorite comfort meal of fried chicken. She used the excuse of having clients as a reason to pass off her dinner, as an excuse to avoid Brianna.

  But between customers, Brianna cornered her. Liz relented because she knew the girl would never relax until they discussed this, and let Brianna lead her to the office at the back of the shop.

  “Why were you talking to her?”

  “I think you know why. There was no boy at the Coyote yesterday eating lunch with another girl, was there?”

  Brianna looked flummoxed. She’d forgotten the lie she’d told.

  “You saw Angie with Papa yesterday, didn’t you?”

  Brianna exploded then. “Yes! She was all over him. They didn’t even see me, they were so wrapped up in each other. How can she do that to us, to Mom?”

  “She’s not doing it to us or Mom. Papa never promised we’d be a family again, and frankly, I don’t want that. He and Angie have a relationship that is none of our business.”

  “Of course it’s our business. He’s our father.”

  Liz shushed her sister, whose voice was starting to carry.

  “He’s going to hurt Mama all over again,” Brianna said. “And Gracie, she was just starting to trust him. You were just starting to trust him.”

  Liz didn’t correct her sister. “I told him he needed to talk with you, Gracie and Mama. I don’t want her to find out the way we did. I don’t think she wants him back, but I can’t be sure. He said he would.”

  “Why aren’t you more upset?”

  “I am upset, but I don’t care that he’s involved with someone else. I never wanted him back in the house. I’m just upset he’s hurting you.”

  Upset, but not surprised.

  “I just don’t want Mom to be lonely,” Brianna said. “You and Gracie are leaving, and I don’t want her to be lonely when it’s just me.”

  Liz reached her arm around her sister and pulled her close. Her poor sweet sensitive sister. “Don’t worry, Brianna. I’m not going anywhere.”

  *****

  Just when Liz thought the day couldn’t get worse—with Brianna moping and her own thoughts swirling—the bell over the door rang. She looked up to see Maggie walk through, her mouth set in a thin line. Liz was pretty sure she wasn’t here for a manicure, though she was tempted to check the appointment book.

  “Maggie. We’ll be with you in a minute,” she said as she worked on Teresa Morgan’s hair. Teresa wasn’t her favorite customer, but she was loyal, with a standing appointment every Wednesday morning since she’d returned to town, moving her family into her mother’s house.

  “So you haven’t been by to visit my brother.”

  She said it loud enough for everyone in the shop to hear, from Mrs. Wachowski’s customer, Mrs. Brennan, Jessica’s client Tanya Garrett, to Bev’s teenager Marissa, getting a manicure.

  Liz didn’t want to have this conversation in public, but she could hardly walk away mid-style.

  “I’ve been busy.”

  “Too busy to check on your boyfriend’s snakebite?”

  “It isn’t serious,” Liz said, then a thought occurred. She would have heard otherwise, wouldn’t she? She turned to Maggie. “Is it?”

  Maggie’s frown deepened. “You haven’t even talked to him?”

  How was it that he hadn’t told anyone they’d broken up? Not even his sister? Did he…did he understand they’d broken up? With horror, she wondered if he’d been too doped up to know what she’d done.

  “You left the hospital that night and didn’t come back.” Maggie passed the reception desk and leaned an elbow on an empty chair. “What the hell is going on? I stood up for you and you bailed on him?”

  “We broke up.” Not precisely true. She’d ended it, barely giving him a chance to respond before she fled.

  The room went silent. She realized her family knew the truth, but she hadn’t told Jessica, Bev or Mrs. Wachowski.

  “You broke up with him?” Mrs. Wachowski demanded. “I don’t understand you at all.”

  Liz pivoted. “What? No one wanted me with him, remember? Everyone was pissed at me for corrupting him, and now you’re mad at me for breaking up with him?”

  “He was good for you,” Bev said. “You were happier.”

  “I wasn’t unhappy before.”

  “You were unsettled,” Bev said. “Why did you break up with him?”

  “Yeah,” Maggie demanded, folding her arms. “Why?”

  She should have known she’d have to explain herself. Best to do that and not have to deal with speculation. “I never intended it to be more than just…fun.”

  “Maybe you should have clued him on it,” Maggie snapped. “He’s all in. He’s in love with you.”

  Guilt tightened the knot in Liz’s stomach as the room drew a collective breath. “He knew.” She repeated it again, louder, so everyone could hear. But had he, really? He hadn’t been in a relationship like theirs before. God, she could have handled everything so much better. People were right to be pissed at her. Everything they said to her, said about her, she deserved.

  She’d broken the mayor’s heart. No one gave a damn that she’d broken her own as well.

  *****

  Liz wanted to go home, escape to her room and cry. She didn’t cry much, as a rule, but the events of the past few days—the weekend with Killian and the resulting gossip, breaking up with him, finding out about her dad and An
gie and dealing with her sister’s disappointment—all were swamping her and she just wanted to be alone with her own thoughts.

  But when she pulled up in front of the house, her father’s car was already there. Liz and Brianna exchanged a look, then hurried up the drive.

  Rafael was at the kitchen table, his hands folded in front of him, shoulders hunched, face grim. Sophia stood by the sink, her arms wrapped around herself, her face streaked with tears. Liz’s heart lurched in her chest. God. Her mother hadn’t known that Rafael hadn’t intended to come back home. This wasn’t good.

  Automatically, she went to her mother’s side and curved her arm around her waist before she faced her father. “What’s going on?”

  “I think you know.” Her father’s voice was a growl. “Though honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t come home before now to let your mother know.”

  His accusation took her aback. She was willing to take the heat for things she did, but not this.

  “How is this my fault?” she fired at him. “You’re the one who tried to have it all.”

  “I didn’t.” He spread his hands, stained and rough from his work in the oilfields, on the table. The table he’d bought when he and Sophia were first married. “I already told you, I never thought your mother would want me back in her life. I never thought I had a future here in this house.”

  “Did you want one? Did you talk to me?” Sophia demanded. “Or did you just turn into Angie Simon’s open arms?”

  “Don’t bring her into this,” Rafael said, his voice tight.

  “I didn’t. You did.”

  “Mom,” Liz said softly. “He’s right. This isn’t Angie’s fault. This is between him and us. He should have told us, but we should have asked questions.”

  Rafael looked into Sophia’s eyes. “I never thought I had a chance with you, not after what I did to you, what I put you through, leaving you to manage the girls on your own.” He pushed to his feet, ready to make his escape. “I came to tell you what I should have told you weeks ago. I hope you all can forgive me.”

  “Are you happy?” Sophia asked when he put his hand on the door.