Texas Tango: Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 2 (30 page)

She jerked Caroline’s hand up for inspection before Caroline had time to respond.

“Lovely,” she said and dropped Caroline’s hand as though it were contaminated with poison ivy. “Come on, Drake. I need a drink.” She stomped away before Drake answered.

Travis moved in to take the spot where Elsie Belle had been standing. “Still trying to pick up my wife, Gentry?”

Drake chuckled. “You’re a lucky SOB. Caroline’s a keeper.” He leaned over and brushed a light kiss on Caroline’s cheek.

“Drake! Are you coming?” Elsie Belle yelled across the lobby.

He responded with a wave and a chuckle. “You two have a nice evening. I’ve got to go rescue a damsel in distress. Let’s get together for dinner soon.” He walked back toward the ballroom. “I’m coming, Elsie Belle.”

“So,” Caroline said. “You told Elsie Belle we got married, didn’t you? You do realize it’ll be all over the ballroom in an hour.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said taking her hand. “Fifteen minutes, tops.”

They were both wrong.

Travis took her arm and led her back into the ballroom and toward the Montgomery tables.

“You want to dance or sit down?”

Caroline twisted sideways to get through the crowded dance floor. “Let’s grab a seat for now.”

When they reached the set of tables, most of the chairs were empty. KC pushed a chair out.

“Sit,” she commanded. “Keep me company while I drink myself under the table.”

Travis held the chair for Caroline as she sat. “Be right back,” he said. “Gonna grab us something cold to drink.”

As soon as he was gone, Caroline turned to KC “What’s going on with you? What’s with the drinking yourself under that table nonsense?”

“Pay me no attention.” Her gaze flickered toward Drake and Elsie Belle as they danced by. She drained her wine glass. “Bastard.”

Caroline followed KC’s gaze. “Drake Gentry? That’s who’s got you drowning your sorrows tonight?”

“Absolutely not,” KC answered. “Why would I care if he’s here with the biggest social skank in the county? Damn. I should have had Travis get me another drink.” She turned her back to the dance floor. Her gaze dropped onto Caroline’s hands. Her eyes opened wide as she grabbed Caroline’s left hand. “I thought this was a secret I was sworn to carry to my grave. What the hell are you doing wearing these?”

Caroline blew out a long breath. “It’s a long story.”

Travis set a couple of waters on the table and a fresh white wine for KC “You looked like you needed it.”

“What I need is a pair of boots to kick your asses. Why is she wearing those rings in public?”

“We got married. Haven’t you heard?”

Before KC could answer, a loud tapping came from the microphone on the stage.

“Can I have everybody’s attention?” A very Southern, very drunk female voice slurred through the speakers. “I have news.”

“Oh shit,” Travis muttered as he ran his fingers through his hair.

Caroline looked up at the stage and groaned. A wave of nausea rolled through her gut. She didn’t have a good feeling about this.

KC grinned and leaned back in her chair. “Finally. This year’s ball was getting a little dull. Leave it up to Elsie Belle Lambert to liven things up.”

“I said,” Elsie Belle hollered into the mic. “Listen up. I want to tell you all something.”

Drake jumped on the stage and tried to pull Elsie Belle away from the microphone, but she wasn’t leaving. She jerked her arm away, spilling her wine on his jacket.

“Oh, good Lord,” Jackie Montgomery said as she and Lane sat down. “That girl has had way too much to drink. Let’s hope she doesn’t decide to sing again this year.”

“Cats in heat sound better,” Lane said in agreement.

The crowd turned toward the developing show on the stage.

Elsie Belle lifted her wine glass high in the air. “I want to make an announcement. Lift your glasses to the newlywed couple. Travis Montgomery and Caroline Graham.”

There was a moment of silence and then a mumbling rumbled through the group.

“Y’all stand up,” Elsie Belle demanded.

Drake tried again to lead her off stage, but she wouldn’t leave the microphone.

“To Travis and his new bride, right?” The red wine in her glass sloshed over the rim. “Let’s all drink.” She drank the rest of her wine and then put the stemmed crystal on the stage and stomped on it. “I’m not Jewish,” she said with an intoxicated giggle, “but I’ve always wanted to do that.” She stumbled back. Drake caught her before she fell and led her off the stage.

“Well, leave it to Elsie Belle to make a scene,” Jackie said.

People were beginning to come by the table to congratulate Travis and Caroline. Caroline’s cheeks were quivering from holding her smile. Travis seemed to be taking it all in stride, laughing and slapping backs, taking all the wishes of good luck and a long marriage with a grin.

The band began to tune up, ready to start the next set. The lead singer stepped up to the microphone, avoiding the broken glass.

“I’m not sure we can top the intermission show, but we’ll try.”

Laughs and chuckles rolled through the crowd.

“Travis,” the man said. “It’s been a while since we’ve had the pleasure of hearing you sing. Why don’t you come up and do a song for us?”

Caroline’s head whipped toward him. She knew he could sing, but she had no idea that others knew too.

There were some whistles and words of encouragement shouted toward him. Even through his tan, the flush to his cheeks was apparent.

“Do you mind?” he asked Caroline.

“Gosh, no. I’d love to hear you.”

As he headed toward the stage, Jackie leaned over. “It’s been years since he sang in public. He’ll only sing when he’s happy. I think I have you to thank.” She squeezed Caroline’s hand.

After a brief consultation with the band members, Travis strapped a guitar around his neck. Caroline noticed the crowd moving toward the stage, not to dance but to listen.

“Well, as Buddy said, it’s been a while since I’ve done this. I might be a little rusty, so y’all bear with me.”

He strummed the guitar strings. Caroline’s heart jumped and raced, nervous for him, wanting him to do well.

“Here’s one by Chris Young I think you’ll all know. It’s called ‘Getting Her Home’
.
” He moved his fingers on the strings and music poured out. He leaned forward and his deep bass voice carried the melody across the room. Chills ran up and down her arms. She wrapped them around her waist to hold herself steady in her chair. She’d thought his voice sexy before, but now? Each note was a sensual touch.

When he got to the line in the song about a black dress hitting the floor, he looked at Caroline and exchanged the word black for green.

A rush of heat ran north and south through her body. Her face was hot while the area between the thighs swelled with warmth and need.

The crowd obviously got his little joke as smiles and chuckles and quite a few elbow jabs moved through the room. If Caroline hadn’t been so enthralled by his singing, she might have hidden her face, but she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

The room broke into loud applause as he strummed the last cord. He shook his head at calls for more, handing the borrowed guitar back to its owner.

“Thank you very much,” he said and leapt from the stage.

More than a couple of minutes passed before he made it back to the table. Somewhere between the stage and table, he’d picked up Noah and Amy, both of whom couldn’t stop talking about Elsie Belle’s drunken rant and Travis’s song.

“Travis,” Noah said. “That was awesome.”

“Yes, Mr. Montgomery. It was.” Amy was apparently still struggling with calling him Travis.

“Thanks, gang. What do you say we head for home?”

“It’s early,” Noah complained. “Do we have to go?”

Caroline and Travis exchanged glances, silently acknowledging that Noah had clicked with Amy and the teens of the area.

“Tell you what,” Travis said. “Let’s put the top down on the Rolls and ride over to Tilly’s for a late dessert.”

Tilly’s was the area’s teen hangout, famous for burgers and ice-cream sundaes. In short,
the
place to be seen, especially in a cool car.

Amy’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?” She looked at Noah. “That’d be so wicked.”

“Really?” When she nodded, Noah shrugged. “Let’s go.”

“Let’s go tell the gang. We’ll meet you at the front door, okay?” Amy grabbed Noah’s hand and dragged him back across the room to where the younger crowd was hanging out.

“Leaving?” Jackie asked, a twinkle in her eye. “Do you want us to take Noah and Amy home?”

“Thanks, Mom, but we’ve got it.”

Caroline pushed her chair back and stood. “I’m ready.” Jackie and Lane stood when she did. “It was an, um, interesting night.”

Jackie laughed and pulled Caroline into an embrace. “That’s one way to look at it.” She passed Caroline off to Lane for a hug as she reached for Travis. “Y’all be careful getting home.”

“Mom,” he said with a shake of his head. “I’m not sixteen.”

Jackie kissed his cheek. “You’re still my baby.”

Travis reached for Caroline’s hand. “We’ll talk to you later.”

“Bye,” Caroline said over her shoulder as Travis led her away.

Too many people to count wanted to congratulate them and wish them well as they crossed the room to leave.

“Now what?” she asked.

“I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see your green dress hit the floor.”

She laughed, but her insides melted at his words. Yes. These next four months were going to be hell. How could she leave here with her emotions intact? Men could have great sex without emotional ties. Women struggled with that.

She’d just have to be more like a man.

Friends with benefits
, she mentally chanted.
Friends with benefits.

The ride to Tilly’s with the top down on the Shadow wrecked her updo hairstyle. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed it, making the style appear more rat’s nest than a fancy creation, but the thick, rich, creamy milkshake made her dishabille worth it. Besides, she wasn’t sure she was ready to head back to Travis’s place. Somehow having sex and sleeping with him in secret was fun and exciting and seemed just a tad bit naughty. Now that everyone believed them to be married, and thus sleeping together as part of the marital relationship, she felt an immense sense of pressure, as though things had changed drastically without warning. Was wife sex different from date sex?

Logically, she realized none of her thoughts made sense, but inside she was on an emotional rollercoaster.

After depositing Amy safely at home, they drove back to Halo M ranch with Noah talking non-stop about the other teens he’d met at the dance. How cool Sam was. How Robin and Steve’s dancing made everybody laugh. How Nita’s date was a dud and she kept trying to ditch him. With each comment, Caroline would laugh or shake her head or give some response to give the indication she was listening, but she wasn’t. She couldn’t think of anything but Travis’s bed and how different everything would be tonight.

Travis eased the Rolls into the garage and shut down the engine.

“You’d better get some sleep,” he said over his shoulder to Noah. “Five a.m. will come early.”

“Tomorrow is Sunday,” Noah said in a protest.

“I know, but ranch work is seven days a week.” He opened his door and exited the car. After hurrying around the hood, he helped Caroline out her door and shoved the seatback forward to give Noah room to get out. “See you in the morning,” he said to Noah.

“This sucks,” Noah said, a snarl working up on his lips.

Travis shrugged. “Sure does. Remember, you have the option to go home. Pat and Leslie would be more than happy to come get you.”

“See you in the morning,” Noah said as he stomped across the garage and into the house. The door banged shut behind him.

Caroline shook her head. “I am really worried about him, Travis. It’s not much longer until I leave and he’ll have to go back to Arkansas. Maybe letting him stay was not the right decision. I mean, it might make it harder on him later.”

They began walking toward the door, Travis’s hand resting at the small of her back. She loved the feel of his broad hand there, warming that spot…as well as the rest of her, if she wanted to be honest.

“There’s nothing wrong with him that hard work and maturity won’t cure. He’s a teenage boy. We were all surly and rude at that age. Trust me.” The hand on her back slipped around to her waist and he pulled her close. He nuzzled her neck and pressed kisses to that sensitive area behind her ear. “Walking through the garage door,” he sang in a deep voice. “Waitin’ for your green dress to hit the floor.”

Chills wracked her body. She shivered. Maybe wife sex wouldn’t be so bad.

An hour later, a sweaty, sated Caroline lay on her back, her breath and heart racing. Oh man, wife sex turned out to be toe-curling, hair-on-fire orgasmic.

Chapter Seventeen