Nearest Thing to Heaven (Maverick Junction) (2 page)

T
y Rawlins banged around in his kitchen, feeling more than a little frayed along the edges. Things weren’t going well. He glanced at the clock, then did a double take. The thing was practically sideways on the wall. Twelve o’clock settled somewhere around the spot where two o’clock should be. One of the triplets must have whacked it with a sword during last night’s duel to the death.

Guess he’d have to hang it higher.

He should have let one of the hands finish up the horse feeding so he’d have enough time for the kid feeding. Somehow, time was something he never had enough of.

Okay, so he was a single parent. All across America, single moms managed to take care of the kids, the house, and hold down a job. If they could do it, he sure as hell ought to be able to.

And now he had to go to this damn dinner tonight. He dropped a spoon into the far-from-empty sink. It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy for Cash and Annie. He was. But it stirred up memories he didn’t want to visit. Memories of far happier times now gone. Forever.

A crash sounded from somewhere in the vicinity of the living room.

“Uh-oh. Daddy’s going to be mad.”

That would be Jonah, Ty thought. The conscience of the trio.

“It was your fault.”

Jesse, the finger-pointer.

He set the pan of over-cooked spaghetti on a hot pad and strode off to the front of the house to check out the latest damage. “What happened?”

Josh started to cry.

Books covered the floor. An orange rubber ball sat on the shelf—the former home of the books.

“I didn’t mean it, Daddy. Jonah told me to throw the ball to Josh, and I did. But it went up there.” Jesse pointed at the shelf.

“What have I said about throwing balls in the house?”

“That we’re not asposed to.” Jesse’s eyes remained glued to the floor now.

“That’s right. And why aren’t we supposed to?”

“’Cause things get broked,” said a sniffling Josh. “But nothing broked, Daddy. Look.” He hurried over to the books. “They’re okay.”

Ty took a deep breath and surveyed the mess. Nobody was hurt. No blood anywhere. And Josh was right. Nothing was broken. In the grand scheme of things, this was a minor bump. A mere blip on the uh-oh meter.

“All right, troops. Time to wash up for dinner. I’ll take care of this later. To the bathroom. Now. And use soap.”

“Can Trouble come with us?” Jonah asked hopefully.

“No.”

Three pairs of solemn eyes met his, wordlessly pleading clemency for the holy terror temporarily kenneled in the downstairs bath.

“Look, guys, Trouble needs to stay right where he is till dinner’s done.” Even as Ty spoke, the puppy’s whimpers grew louder. He grimaced when sharp little nails raked the door. “I don’t have time for any more messes tonight. We’ll get him trained, then he can have the run of the house.”

“’Kay.” Jonah started upstairs, and the others trudged behind him.

Feeling like an ogre, Ty bent and scooped up books. He should have made the boys clean up their own clutter. All the parenting books and magazines said so. But it was easier to do it himself. He still had to feed the kids, clean up the kitchen and any messes Trouble made, give the pup yard time, and shower and shave. He’d promised Cash he’d be at Bubba’s by seven.

He rolled his eyes skyward. It would take divine intervention for him to make it.

Feeling overwhelmed and more than a little guilty, Ty backed down the drive. Haley, the wife of one of his ranch hands, had offered to babysit tonight. She’d shown up early and saved his bacon. Maybe not divine intervention, but he’d take it.

While he’d gone upstairs to shower and change, she’d settled the boys—and the pup—in front of a movie and set off to clean up the dinner mess.

She had a birthday coming up in a couple of weeks. Maybe he could send her to one of those fancy spas in Austin. He’d have to ask Babs to recommend one.

Babs. His sister-in-law and Cash’s sister. What would he do without her? She’d been a steady rock when he’d lost Julia. These past four years she’d stepped in more times than he could count and pulled him out of a tough spot. The woman made motherhood and running a house seem like a walk in the park. She was his hero.

He wondered if she’d be at dinner tonight. Probably. And she’d undoubtedly tell him to find time to hit the barber tomorrow. He glanced in the rearview mirror as he pushed his hair off his brow.

When the hell had it grown so long? Fact was, it simply didn’t matter—most days. But now, with the wedding coming up, he’d need to see to it. He couldn’t ruin Annie’s wedding photos with shaggy hair. And there’d be no hiding it beneath his Stetson. She’d made that more than clear. No hats during the ceremony. They could wear their boots, though.

He smiled. Annie was gonna fit in just fine.

He hadn’t gone two miles when the phone rang. His stomach dropped. Had something happened to one of the boys?

“Hello?”

“Hey, pal, it’s me, Brawley.”

Ty’s stomach settled back into place.

“I was wondering if you could do me a huge favor.”

“Maybe,” Ty said.

Brawley chuckled. “That’s what I like about you. Never one to leap off a tall building without looking first.”

“Saves a lot of bruises. What do you need?”

“I told Cash I’d pick up Annie’s cousin, drive her over to Bubba’s. I stopped to see Doc at the animal clinic and got hung up. I really need to shower the smell of wet dogs off me before dinner.”

“I think we’d all appreciate that,” Ty said.

“Yeah, no kidding. So do you think you could swing by and get her?”

“I can do that, sure. What’s her name? Stacy? Stephanie? Can’t remember.”

“Sophie. Sophie London.”

“Yeah, that’s right. She staying at Dottie’s with Annie?”

“Yep. But Annie’s snuggling with Cash at his place, which is why Sophie needs a ride.”

“Makes sense. Okay, will do. See you at Bubba’s.”

Ty hung up. Good thing he’d left on time. It wouldn’t take long to buzz by and pick her up. A few extra minutes tops—if Annie’s cousin was ready on time. If not—well, not his fault.

Sophie London. He’d met her at the Fourth of July bash Cash had thrown. Yeah, and he and his kids had no doubt made a lasting impression on her. Not a good one, either. Grimacing, he figured he still owed her for the outfit Jonah ruined with his cherry soda.

She’d looked like one of those fairies in the movies the boys watched with their grandmother. Like a sprite. She kind of reminded him of Tinker Bell. Only her hair was lighter, so pale blond it was almost white. And tiny. She couldn’t weigh much more than a bag of feed.

And wasn’t that a romantic thought.

Why did he care? He had no time for romance. No desire for romance. When Julia died, that part of his life died with her. He’d had his one true love…and lost her.

Besides, little rich girls didn’t do much for him, Annie being the exception. He doubted this Sophie would give anybody not listed on the Fortune 500 the time of day. Birds of a feather, right?

He pulled into Dottie’s driveway, cut the engine, and headed for the flight of outside stairs leading to Annie’s apartment. Dottie Willis stepped around the corner from the backyard. She wore gardening gloves, and dirt stains smeared the knees of her pink slacks.

“Hey, Dottie.” He stopped, one foot on the bottom stair, a hand on the railing.

“Ty. How are those boys doing?”

“Wearing me out,” he drawled.

“And you love it.”

He grinned. “I do.”

“Annie’s not here.”

“I know. I came by to pick up her cousin, the maid of honor. The wedding party’s getting together at Bubba’s. Brawley was supposed to take her, but he got held up at Doc’s.”

“Well, she’s up there getting ready now. She’s a sweetheart.”

Ty grunted.

Dottie eyed him suspiciously, then asked, “Want some cookies to take home?”

“No, ma’am. Don’t really have time right now. I don’t mean to be rude, and I sure hate to refuse your cookies, but I gotta go. I’m running late.”

“Nonsense. I’ll have them ready by the time you’re back downstairs.”

“Thanks. I’d appreciate that. I mean, the boys will.”

“Oh, I’ll add plenty for their daddy.”

“You’re a good woman, Dottie Willis.”

“Yes, I am.” With that, she headed indoors.

He bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Reaching the landing, he gave a quick knuckle-rap. The door swung open, and he simply stood and stared.

Dressed in skin-tight black pants, a top that bared a hint of smooth, flat stomach, and killer heels, Annie’s cousin sent him a shy smile.

He’d thought he remembered what she looked like. His memory had failed. Provided only a shadowy reflection. Lost the essence of her.

Not a fairy. The woman was a sorceress. An incredibly beautiful sorceress. She stole his ability to speak along with his thoughts.

And made him feel like a damn fool.

He swiped off his cowboy hat and held it in front of him. “Sophie.” He gave her a quick nod. “Not sure you remember me. Ty Rawlins. We met at—”

“Cash’s barbecue,” she said. “I remember. How are you?”

She held out a hand, and he took it in his. As soft as a newborn baby’s backside, he thought. He cleared his throat. Best not to think of backsides when hers was showcased by those pants.

“Brawley called. Seems he’s tied up and running a little late, so he asked if I’d give you a ride to Bubba’s tonight.”

“Oh. Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Ty rubbed his forehead. Was that disappointment in her voice? Why not? Brawley Odell was one good-looking SOB.

Anyway, what difference did it make to him if one of Annie’s friends got involved with Brawley? No skin off his nose. Thing was Brawley’d been going through women at a pretty good clip lately. He’d hate to see Sophie hurt.

And none of that was really any of his business, was it?

He slapped his hat back on. “You about ready?”

“Give me a minute.” Sophie disappeared into the bedroom.

Ty shook his head. He knew what a minute meant to a woman getting ready to go out. Walking over to the window, he was surprised to hear her behind him.

Hmmm
. A minute actually meant a minute.

“Just needed to grab my purse.” She held it up, stepped outside behind him, and closed the door. “Annelise forgot to give me a key.” She bit her lip. “Do you think it’s okay to leave the door unlocked?”

“It’ll be fine. This is Maverick Junction, not Chicago.”

“You can say that again.”

Seeing the expression on her face, he laughed. “You’re not impressed?”

She hesitated. “I don’t know that I’d say that. It’s just—well, very different.”

“Yeah, guess it is.”

Dottie met them at the bottom of the stairs with a foil-wrapped package. “Here you go, Ty. Fresh chocolate-chip. Enough for you and the boys to make yourselves sick. Don’t forget to give them a nice big glass of cold milk to go along with them.”

“No, ma’am. I won’t.”

Walking to the truck, Ty said, “Dottie makes the best cookies this side of the Mississippi. Hell, maybe on both sides of it.”

“I know. She gave me some, too. And I have to admit, I scarfed most of them down while I was getting ready for dinner.”

He ran his eyes down her length. Model-thin, she didn’t look like a cookie eater. He’d have taken her for a lettuce nibbler, period. Maybe she was exaggerating…or maybe she’d been gifted with one heck of a metabolism.

“Guess I won’t have to share with you, then, huh?”

Laying a hand on that incredibly flat stomach, she laughed. “No. Thank you.”

He opened the door of his truck, helped her up, then walked around the front and slid in.

Closing his door, he cocooned the two of them inside the truck’s cab, very aware of her.

Sophie.

Damn, she smelled every bit as good as she looked. Something stirred in him, kind of like the popping and snapping of the ice on the river after a long, cold winter.

T
he proverbial fish out of water, Sophie thought as they passed through the outskirts of town and headed toward Main Street. Country-western music played over the sound system.

Lashes lowered, she sneaked a peek at Ty. Dressed in black jeans and a crisp white shirt, he’d rolled up the sleeves, showing off strong, tanned arms. She loved men’s hands, and Ty’s, resting easily on the steering wheel, made her think wicked thoughts. Best not go there. This guy had erected a wall around himself that was almost visible with a sign that read
Do Not Touch
. And with good reason, she supposed, considering what Annelise had told her.

The cowboy obviously loved his truck. Jet black with lots of chrome, the thing was massive. She’d spotted a toy truck on the back seat and a lightweight jacket. Other than that, not a speck of dust, no litter, no discarded coffee cups.

He didn’t seem to want to make small talk, so she simply relaxed into the leather seat and watched the alien landscape zip past.

When he pulled into the dirt parking lot of Bubba’s Roadhouse, she seriously regretted her clothing choice. The black ankle-length pants paired with a cropped mint-green top and mile-high heels had felt right when she’d pulled them from her suitcase. Now she realized she should have gone with her jeans, but dinner out had seemed to call for something a little dressier. That idea flew out the window as she took a good hard look at the—what? Bar? Restaurant? What exactly was a roadhouse, anyway?

The place looked like one good Texas breeze would reduce it to kindling. Dust swirled around them when they parked in the lot nearly filled with pickups and Jeeps. Didn’t anyone here drive an honest-to-goodness car?

She picked her way across the lot, unhappier at her shoe choice with each step. She hadn’t realized she’d need to cross the Gobi Desert to earn her dinner. Sheesh!

Neon lights glared from the windows and advertised Lone Star beer, Dos Equis, and good food. A couple of hanging flower baskets added a spot of color to the porch and faded wood siding.

Ty at her side, she hesitated inside the doorway and drank in the atmosphere. She’d never seen anything quite like Bubba’s. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, the bar—all made of rough-hewn wood. And the bar stools. Could they be real cowhide? She wrinkled her nose. Those darn cows seemed to be everywhere in Texas. And on the far wall, the Texas flag.

The place was packed and noisy. Voices rose and fell, silverware clinked, and the jukebox belted out a country song about cheating hearts.

Ty leaned close, his breath warm against her ear. “Welcome to Bubba’s. Place is a little busier than I thought it’d be. My guess is with Thanksgiving only two days away, everybody’s in town buying all those last-minute groceries for the big spread and decided to stop in for a meal rather than go home and cook. Figure they’ll be doing enough of that later this week.”

She nodded, although, having lived in a city all her life, she couldn’t quite relate to that idea. She was used to running down to the corner deli and buying what she wanted, whenever she wanted. When she’d lived in Boston, she and her parents had spent the holidays with Annelise’s family. And to her shame she’d never really thought about the work that went into the preparations for the feast. She’d simply enjoyed it, her family, the celebration.

Conversation swelled around them. A harried-looking blonde scooted between tables, dropping off meals and pulling bottles of ketchup and barbecue sauce from her deep apron pockets.

Another waitress, also dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, delivered two pitchers of beer to a large table by the door.

“Hey! Sophie! Ty! We’re over here,” Annelise called from the far corner of the room.

Several tables had been pulled together to accommodate the large group. Since there were only three empty chairs, she assumed they, along with Brawley, were the last to arrive. The smell of grilled steak and barbecued pork hung in the air.

Ty placed his hand on her lower back. Heat! His touch dredged up too-long-dormant feelings. Feelings totally inappropriate. Feelings she smacked down. The two of them wove their way across the room, his hand remaining at her back. He spoke to a few people as they passed, smiled at others. Sophie politely nodded as she walked by.

She felt Ty’s eyes on her. But when she lifted hers to meet his, he looked away, his face closed, his smile gone. Had she done or said something to upset him?

Mentally, she chastised herself. She didn’t know Ty Rawlins, so how could she presume to make assumptions about his feelings? Maybe that moody expression was his trademark.

If so, who could blame him? His life sure as heck hadn’t turned out the way he’d imagined.

Annelise’s gaze flitted from Sophie to Ty, then back to Sophie, a question in her eyes. Sophie answered with a slight shrug.

“I thought Brawley was picking up Sophie, Ty.”

“He got hung up at Doc Gibson’s, Annie. No big deal. Said to tell you he’d be here.”

“Okay. Thanks for playing substitute chauffeur.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, then tapped a water glass with her spoon. “Everybody, my cousin, Sophie London. Sophie, I know you met most of these derelicts before—”

Boos and hisses rained down on her.

“Oh, did I say derelicts?” Her forehead creased in a mock frown. “I meant dear
ones
, of course.” She grinned.

That was met by a round of cheers and raised glasses.

“They’re in their beer, Sophie. What can I say?”

“And we’re only getting started, darlin’,” Cash assured her.

Annelise laughed and started around the table, reintroducing everyone and giving her a quick one-line bio on each. Sophie’s mind reeled. Would she ever get them all straight?

Cash’s sister, Babs, and her husband, Matt—who was Ty’s brother-in-law. Mel Ryker, the blond Adonis who owned the local newspaper, the
Maverick Junction Daily
. Maggie Sullivan, who’d created Annelise’s fantasy gown for the fund-raiser and now her sure-to-be-even-more-incredible wedding gown. Pauline and Quentin Hardeman, Cash’s parents.

When Annelise finished, Sophie laughed. “Sure hope there’s no quiz on all that.”

Ty pulled out a chair for her, then, despite the fact there was an empty seat directly across from her, took one farther down the table. She blinked. Well, that certainly sent a message, didn’t it?

Brawley came in just then, gave Annelise a quick kiss directly on the lips, and fell into the chair by Sophie. He picked up her hand and dropped a kiss on the back.

“Sorry about that. Don’t usually stand up ladies as pretty as you. Did Ty explain?”

“Yes, he did.” Sophie drew her hand away. “No problem. I got to ride in his big black truck.”

Brawley laughed as he leaned across Babs and bumped knuckles with Ty. “Thanks.”

Their waitress appeared.

“Hey, Mitzy. How’s it going?” Ty asked.

“Can’t complain. What can I get you tonight?”

Sophie ordered a white zin while Brawley and Ty ordered Lone Star beer. Everyone else asked for a refill, and Cash ordered some appetizers for the group.

Sophie laid her napkin in her lap and studied the people gathered to help Annelise celebrate her upcoming wedding. How was it possible, she wondered, that so much gorgeous had been dumped in one spot? Had the ugly stick broken before it reached Maverick Junction, or were all Texans this good looking?

She glanced at Brawley across from her. At Cash. Her gaze drifted to Maggie. A cloud of fabulous red hair set off the designer’s stunning beauty, and Sophie had to admit that it would be easy to hate anyone that beautiful—if given the slightest chance. But Maggie didn’t offer one. She laughed loudly and often and was as down-to-earth as they come. Her square-necked gold top had to be one of her own creations. She’d paired it with earrings that dangled to her shoulders, and Sophie felt less out of place in her own outfit.

And Annelise. Sophie studied her cousin. She fit right in here, which defied logic. The heiress to the largest oil company in the country was totally at home in this country hangout, drinking beer and eating peanuts.

Sophie noticed how often she and Cash touched, brushed lips, held each other’s gaze.

The conversation rolled around Sophie and sucked her in. Before long, she found herself ribbing and being ribbed right along with all the others.

It didn’t take a genius to see what had captivated her cousin. To understand why Annelise was willing to walk away from her Boston family home to live here in the backwater with her cowboy.

Sophie sipped her wine and reminded herself that everyone had a niche. This sure as heck wasn’t hers.

They made short work of the onion rings and the jalapeño poppers. Then they polished off a mountain of nachos.

“Annelise said you design greeting cards, Sophie,” Babs said. “I think that’s fascinating.”

“It’s fun. I like to draw. To paint.” Sophie smiled. “I studied both art and business in college. One thing just kind of flowed into another, and I started playing around with sayings to match my sketches.”

“You work for somebody? Kind of on contract?” Matt, Babs’s husband, asked.

Sophie shook her head. “No. That doesn’t really work for me.”

“Our Sophie’s a free spirit,” Annelise said. “She has her own company. Sets her own hours, her own direction.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” she said defensively.

“I didn’t say there was. I’m proud of you.”

“What’s your company’s name?” Ty asked.

“Stardust Productions.”

“I like that. It would be great for a clothing line,” Maggie said. “Fanciful. Dreamy.”

“Speaking of dreamy, here’s our food.” Cash rubbed his hands together in anticipation as Mitzy set their meals in front of them.

“Anything else y’all need?”

“If there is,” Cash said, “I can’t imagine what it would be.”

The table quieted as everyone concentrated on some of the best food Sophie had ever eaten. Amazed, she looked down at her now empty plate.

“I can’t believe I ate all that.”

“It’s the Texas air,” Brawley said. “Makes you hungry.”

“Right.” She chuckled.

A song about honeybees came on the Wurlitzer, and Brawley reached for her hand.

“Come on. Dance with me.”

“Now?”

“Sure, why not? Work off some of that grub we just ate.”

She tipped her head. “Why not?”

Cash and Annelise joined them on the small dance floor, then his parents and Mel and Maggie. Babs and Matt smiled at each other while they danced, and she ran a hand over her husband’s shaved head. Out of the corner of her eye, Sophie glimpsed Ty at the table alone. Chair balanced on its rear legs, he tipped back his bottle and took a long, slow drink. He looked relaxed, yet somehow a tad on edge. Mitzy walked past and leaned down to say something to him. When he grinned, Sophie caught sight of two of the deepest dimples she’d ever seen.

Brawley dipped her in his version of the Texas two-step and she laughed.

The dance ended and everyone started back to their seats. Annelise caught up with her. “Let’s take a girls’ break.”

“Okay.”

She followed as her cousin led them back to the little-girls’ room…or in Bubba’s case, the heifers’ room.

“I’m not sure I like being a heifer,” Sophie muttered as she caught the door before it closed.

“You’re in Texas, darlin’,” Annelise mock-drawled.

“Yes, I am.”

“So, what do you think of him?” Annelise asked the moment the door shut behind them. “Isn’t he to-die-for handsome?”

“Who? Brawley?”

“Yes, Brawley. I watched the two of you on the dance floor. Nice picture. You move well together.” She sighed.

“Don’t start, Annelise. I’m not in the market.”

“I know.” But the twinkle in her eyes said otherwise.

“I’m serious,” Sophie insisted.

“This is where Cash and I had our first dance. Right here at Bubba’s. The second night I was in town. Technically, this is your second night in town—if you count the evening you spent at the ranch for the barbecue.”

She groaned. “Actually, we left late in the afternoon—before it turned evening.”

“You’re nit-picking.”

“And you’re matchmaking. That’s why you asked Brawley to pick me up tonight, isn’t it? Did the change of plans upset you?”

“I want you to be happy, Sophie.”

“News flash, cousin. I
am
happy.” The toe of her black stiletto traced a pattern in the seen-better-days linoleum.

“Look me in the eyes and tell me that.”

“Annelise.” Sophie put a hand on either side of her cousin’s face, met her eyes. “You’re getting married in a few days. That’s right for you, and I’m thrilled you’ve found someone to love, someone who loves you.”

She hesitated. “Not everyone needs that, though. Not everyone wants that. I’m happy with my life.”

“But Brawley—”

“Is certifiably gorgeous. Women must fall at his feet. But there’s nothing between us. Dancing with him was like dancing with my brother.”

“You don’t have a brother.”

“And you’re splitting hairs, Annelise. I’m sorry, but there wasn’t a single volt of electricity when we touched, when he held me. Nothing. Sad, huh?”

“Darn it! I’d really hoped there’d be something there.”

“Sorry. Besides, if I’m not mistaken, Maggie’s got a thing for Brawley, and I don’t poach.”

“
Used
to have. In high school they were an item, but that’s over and done with a long time ago.”

“I wouldn’t put my money on that. I think those fires are still smoldering.” Since she was here, she used the facilities, washed up, and tucked her hair behind her ears. “It was nice of Ty to go out of his way to drive me tonight.”

Standing side by side, Annelise studied Sophie’s reflection in the mirror. “What do you think of him?”

“Ty?” She rolled her eyes. “Where do I begin?” She fanned herself.

“So he didn’t make you think of your non-existent brother.”

“Are you kidding?”

Annelise smiled.

“Oh, no.” Sophie shook her head. “You’re forgetting something. He’s the father of three little boys. It’s enough to make a grown woman cry.”