My Southern Bride (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 4) (19 page)

He could call her and ask her to dinner. But could he admit how he felt? "What if she doesn't feel the same way?"

"That's the risk you have to take. That's the risk all lovers have to take." Charlie reached over and took his hand. "But believe me, it's worth it."

She shot him a smile that lit up the room. "I have some news to share with you."

"What's up?"

"You're going to be an uncle."

"I am?" His gaze shot to her belly, but she didn't seem to have any additional padding.

"In about six months."

For the first time in days, joy filled him. "Does Davis know?"

Charlie laughed. "Of course he does. He's thrilled, but he's been babying me like I'm an invalid."

"What about Bobby Gray?"

"I haven't told him yet. I thought we might have him and Kelli over for dinner while you're here and I could make the announcement then."

At least Monty Joe wasn't the last to know. He smiled.

Charlie looked at him speculatively. "You know what would make that night even better?"

"A room full of books?"

"I've got that part covered." Charlie pushed back her hair. "That night will be better if Lori is here by your side. Go to her and bring her home, Monty Joe."

"I'll do my best." And he would. He'd tell Lori how he felt. Surely it couldn't be that difficult. Not for a man who'd spent his life on a ranch. Now, ranching, that was hard. "Piece a' cake, Sis."

Chapter 30

In all her years as a flight attendant, Lori had never been run so ragged as on the day of the golf tournament.

Weather in Dallas could be iffy, but thankfully it had finally cooperated. The temperature was in the low seventies, a few clouds dotted the sky, and the chance of rain was only ten percent.

The event was well attended, with a large enough crowd to guarantee the literacy organization would meet or exceed its financial goal.

But rather than watching the action, Lori had spent her time putting out fires. Most had been small ones, but someone had to take care of the details, and that someone was her.

Between ice runs and malfunctioning headsets, Lori had received two voice messages and a text from Monty Joe. The text had asked her to call. She hadn't wanted to revert to old Lori behavior, but she'd had no choice. She hadn't had even a minute to answer him. She was up to her elbows in professional golfers.

Her heart squeezed, thinking about him and the Nelson Ranch. The more time she spent away from him, the more she ached, even though she knew she didn't deserve someone like him. But business before heartbreak.

Monty Joe would have to wait until after the tournament fundraiser was over. She sent him a quick text, "Busy now. Catch up later?"

As she punched the send button, one of the workers approached. "You're needed in the media tent."

* * *

After talking with his sister, Monty Joe did something he didn't usually do. He soul searched. It helped that he could double-task, since Davis had asked Monty Joe to replace some of the fence posts surrounding the Murphy Ranch.

Replacing fence posts was a year-round activity, especially for a larger ranch. He and Davis used barbed wire with wooden posts, and looking for rotten posts was a regular chore. Replacing posts wasn't exactly hard, but it was honest work that gave Monty Joe time and space to think.

He didn't like to admit, even to himself, exactly how hardheaded he'd been—and how reluctant he'd been—about changing his opinion. Despite wanting to find the right kind of woman, he'd fallen hard for Lori.

It wasn't that she wasn't the right kind of woman—at least now—but it had taken a lot to knock his old image of her from his head. There was no perfect woman—there was only the perfect woman for you.

Lori fit the bill and then some.

Charlie was right. He had it bad.

He'd been too swift to come to a conclusion about Lori. And he'd been wrong.

He attached the last strand of barbed wire to the final replacement post, pleased with the result of his efforts, both physical and mental.

According to Charlie, now that he knew exactly how he felt, he needed to tell Lori, even though the very idea made his stomach plummet. It should be easy, and it would be easy—if only he knew how Lori felt about him. She was just starting a new job, one she apparently was thrilled over. If he asked her to come back to the ranch, would she even consider it?

But he was getting ahead of himself. The first step was to talk with Lori.

Telling a woman how you felt could be totally frustrating, particularly when the woman wouldn't speak to you. Instead, she'd sent a text putting him off. Lori sure wasn't being cooperative.

He liked her contrariness and, if she did agree to a relationship with him, he'd enjoy learning exactly how feisty she could be. But he wasn't sure she was at all interested in him or a relationship.

Having completed the fence work, Monty Joe headed over to the barn to see if Davis had any other chores that needed doing. Monty Joe's phone vibrated. He'd received another text.

Maybe Lori had reconsidered.

He pulled the phone out and read the header. It was from Carolyn, Lori's boss. That was surprising. What could she want? The text read, "Tournament today. Want to get together for coffee sometime?"

So that explained why Lori couldn't talk, since she had organized it. But why did Carolyn want to get together? He had a bad feeling about this. It probably meant she wanted something from him, or at least from the Nelson Ranch. But it was for charity, so he'd go along with it.

Especially if it meant he'd get to see Lori as part of the bargain. He texted back, "I could meet you at your office in the morning."

"Ten sound good?"

"See you then."

Chapter 31

Monty Joe emerged from the shower and checked his cell phone for the third time that morning. Nothing from Lori. Maybe something was wrong with his phone. He turned it off, then back on again. Still no message from her.

Was she avoiding him?

Should he tell her he was coming to her office and he wanted to see her? Would she find a way to continue avoiding him if he did?

His forehead wrinkled. His best course of action was to surprise her. That way she wouldn't be able to tell him to stay away—not that she would say that, but in case she might. And if he arrived for his appointment with Carolyn a little early, then there was nothing to stop him from talking with Lori first.

Decision made, he toweled off and quickly dressed. He chose the soft black t-shirt Lori had seemed to like the night they'd kissed by the fire. That night she'd come to him, now he would go to her.

Just over an hour later, he exited the elevator leading to the Texas Literacy Association's office. He glanced at the time on his phone. He had a full hour before his appointment with Carolyn. Would anyone be at the office this early?

Only way to find out was to go in. His hands had grown moist from the stress, and he wiped them down his jeans. He tried the door, and it opened.

When he stepped inside, an unattended reception desk lay directly in front of him. Above it was a painting of a western scene set in Texas Hill Country. He stood there a moment, unsure how to proceed.

When no one came to greet him, he called out, "Hello?"

Nothing. The only sound he heard was a gurgle from a water bottle somewhere behind the reception area, but the aroma of fresh coffee wafted toward him. Maybe the receptionist was in a break room.

With the coffee smell calling to him, he rounded the corner in search of someone or a cup of java.

He soon found the source of the aroma, but before he could step into the small kitchen, he heard his name called.

"Monty Joe. What are you doing here?"

He faced the direction of Lori's voice and, inside what he'd thought was a closet, he saw a desk, behind which sat the woman in question.

He grinned. The sight of her lit up his insides. "Good morning."

Lori rose and came to the doorway. "You're a sight for sore eyes."

Soft light from the overhead circled her like a halo, and blond hair blanketed her shoulders. His gaze hovered on her lips. He couldn't take his eyes off them, and he had to fight to stay focused, rather than allowing himself to get lost in the memory of how sweet she tasted.

"I've missed you," he said, trying to say something close to what he came to say, without quite going all the way immediately.

"You have?" Her voice, soft and whispery, waivered.

His gut rippled with tenderness.

"I was up most of the night with the tournament, and was just about to call you back. I didn't know you were in town."

"I only got here yesterday."

She frowned, and he yearned to stroke the lines away from her face, but he kept his distance. The distance she'd set between them. "What brings you here?"

"I have an appointment with Carolyn."

Her expression dimmed. "I see."

"She asked to meet for coffee. I presume she wants something from the Nelson holdings."

For several seconds Lori didn't reply. Then she nodded, as if coming to some internal agreement. "You might be right. She definitely wants something."

"What might that be?"

Lori looked down. "You."

"Me? You've got to be kidding."

Lori glanced back at him, her hair blocking her expression. "That surprises you?"

"I mean this in the nicest way, but she's not my type."

"You have a lot in common."

"You and I have more in common."

"I doubt it."

"We've got the snowstorm and Newton."

Lori's gaze met his, and in her eyes he saw one of the bleakest expressions he'd ever seen. "You never liked me, Monty Joe. Not even when you were stuck with me."

He opened his mouth to argue, but couldn't. It was partly true. But once he'd come to know her, everything had changed. "I do like you, Lori. Being stuck with you was one of the best things that ever happened to me."

Lori shook her head. "I think what you're feeling is Stockholm syndrome. You were like a captive, totally at my mercy. You
think
you like me, but you really don't."

He took two paces toward her, ready to show her exactly how much he liked her, but she stepped back and returned to her chair behind her desk, as if trying to keep as much space between them as she could.

He settled in the chair in front of her desk. "Are you saying you don't like
me
?"

"No. But I care enough about you to want you to get the kind of woman you deserve."

"So, you're saying you
do
like me."

"I didn't say that."

"That's what you meant."

Lori started to shake her head, but then nodded yes.

"Do you want to know what I think about Carolyn?"

"Yes, please."