United State of Love (28 page)

This was not achieving anything, sitting here moping. Anna's silence was shouting loud and clear. Tex's feeling of despair and helplessness had gradually morphed into anger and frustration over the week. Even his brothers were giving him a wide berth at the moment. Letting him get it out of his system, no doubt. If only it were that easy. He shouldn't have allowed himself to become so involved. Hadn't Jamie said at the start that Anna was complicated? Hadn't Jamie also said that the best way to get over her was to find a replacement? Perhaps that's what he needed: a no strings attached, uncomplicated, one-night stand. Maybe more than one even.

His mind almost instantly turned to Carrie, an old flame from his teenage days, part of their group that hung around high school together. Over the years the group had met up periodically with their girlfriends and boyfriends, who had later turned into their spouses, and then with their babies and children, all of whom were now grown up themselves. It was a nice, uncomplicated group of friends. Carrie had married Henry and, as it turned out, they had recently divorced. On hearing Tex was back in Brenham and alone, Carrie had wasted no time in calling by earlier in the week, making it perfectly clear that a night out, leading to a night in, a night in bed with Tex, which would involve very little sleeping, was something she was up for. And why not? He needed to get Anna out of his system and perhaps Jamie was right. Sex with someone else would be the answer. Who better than an old flame who was actually more his usual type – long brunette hair, tall and slim. Still very attractive for her age.

Yes, Carrie would do nicely.

In anticipation, Carrie had left her number scribbled on a piece of paper in the cottage. A quick call. Great. She was free tomorrow evening. He'd pick her up at seven and go into Brenham for a meal. Wine, dine, bed. Excellent.

Anna knew it would have saved time to just phone Jamie and Yvonne, but she decided that it would be harder for them to fob her off if she was there in person. She could even stage a sit-in in protest until they told her where Tex was. Anna was hoping to appeal to Yvonne, woman to woman. Jamie would be more likely to look out for Tex and not give too much away.

‘Anna!’ exclaimed Yvonne as she opened the door. She smiled. ‘Come on in.’

Anna followed her down the hall to the kitchen, wondering whether Yvonne had been half expecting her. She had sounded more pleased than surprised when greeting her.

‘Coffee? Now, is this a social visit or something to do with work? Did you want Jamie? He's about somewhere.’

‘No, not especially,’ said Anna, sitting down at the breakfast bar. ‘It's Tex I'm after actually.’ Ignoring Yvonne’s raised eyebrows, Anna continued. ‘Look, there's been a mix-up. I really need to find him. He's not in Arundel or Guildford and I don't know where else to try. No one at the restaurants will tell me anything, other than he is away for a few days. They don't know where or for how long.’

‘Have you tried ringing him?’

‘I don't have the right number. My contact list is messed up.’ Another raising of the eyebrows. Anna didn't have the time to explain about Luke's meddling, nor that she would have found out sooner had she bothered to ring back the unknown caller who had messaged her with a
Who is this?
No doubt whatever number Luke had changed Tex's to belonged to 'unknown caller'. At that moment Jamie came into the room.

‘Oh, Anna.’ He smiled. ‘You want your job back? Only I could really do with you. The clients are missing you.’

‘She's after Tex,’ explained Yvonne. Anna didn't miss the look that passed between husband and wife.

‘Right,’ replied Jamie nonchalantly. ‘Not your job then? Okay. Well, Tex, he's not here.’

‘Do you know where he is?’ asked Anna. She tried to keep the note of impatience out of her voice. ‘Or can you just give me his number?’

‘I can, but it won't do any good.’ Jamie let out a sigh. ‘Look, Anna, I'll be honest with you. Tex thought a lot of you. A heck of a lot. Didn't he, Yvonne?’

Yvonne nodded. ‘He adored you. Never seen him like that over anyone before.’

Jamie continued, as Anna, feeling guilty, fixed her gaze on her cup. ‘He's pretty cut up by everything. All this business with Mark and not divorcing him. One minute you're with Tex, the next with Mark. Or at least, that's how it appears.’

‘It's not like that, honestly. I know it sounds corny but it's all been a big mix-up. Please Jamie.’ She'd get down on her knees and beg if she had to. ‘That's why I need to see him, or at least speak to him so I can explain.’ She looked from Jamie to Yvonne and back again. ‘I love him.’

‘Oh, for God's sake, Jamie, give Anna his number or I will,’ said Yvonne.

‘Like I said, it won't do any good having his number,’ said Jamie. ‘He's not leaving his phone switched on. He's trying to have some time away from it all. He just checks in with work every couple of days and that's it.’

‘Where is he then?’ Christ, Jamie wasn't making this easy for her.

Jamie grinned. ‘Can't you guess?’

The relief that swept over Anna as Jamie finally revealed Tex's whereabouts was almost overwhelming. It was obvious really, if she had thought about it. Of course Tex would go to Moonshadow Meadows. Creek Corner to be exact. His retreat.

‘Here's the satnav,’ said Jamie, handing the small black screen to Anna. ‘I've put Tex's address in there, so you should have no trouble. Now, you've printed the plane ticket, haven't you, and your hire car form? Travel authorisation for entry into the States?’

Anna waved the e-tickets at Jamie. ‘Yes. Thank you so much.’ She had used Jamie's laptop to book her tickets for the following day. All she had to do now was go home and pack a few things. The taxi for the morning was all booked too.

‘You're more than welcome,’ smiled Yvonne, giving Anna a hug. ‘I really hope you and Tex sort things out. We both do. Jamie was only being a bit difficult under Tex's instructions.’

‘I know. I understand.’

‘Don't forget, you can have your job back once you and Tex have sorted yourselves out,’ said Jamie.

Drive for point-two miles and arrive at destination, announced the borrowed satnav. Anna gave a wry laugh. She couldn’t exactly get lost on this one way track to Moonshadow Meadows. Within a couple of minutes Anna pulled up outside the gates of the ranch.

It had been a long journey and she was exhausted. On reflection, perhaps she should have booked a motel. Given herself chance to freshen up. She looked down at herself. Trousers crumpled. Stain on her t-shirt from the juice she’d spilt on the flight. Glancing at her reflection in the rear-view mirror made her mind up. She looked dreadful. She needed to look her best. She turned the hire car around on the track and headed back towards Brenham town. She’d book in to a motel she remembered seeing, near that Italian restaurant Tex had taken her to. She wanted to make herself presentable. No wait, make that irresistible.

Something made him do a double take of the sedan that had just crossed the lights in front of him. Hell, what was he thinking? Just because the driver was blonde it didn’t mean it was her. Why would she be driving through town? The lights turned to green and Tex swung his brother’s pick-up round the corner, heading back towards the ranch. He must stop this. Thinking about her was becoming a habit. One that he needed to get out of.

He purposefully turned his thoughts to that evening and Carrie. Yes, that was better. He'd been into town and bought himself a new shirt and trousers, together with a pair of shoes. He wanted to wear something new. Something that he couldn't associate with anything or, rather, anyone. That way he would stay focused tonight. He was a bit out of practice wooing and romancing a female. The fact that it was Carrie shouldn't make it any less of an occasion. She would at least want to feel like they had gone through the motions of a romantic evening. Even Carrie, despite the obvious green light she'd given him, would want to feel like he was making an effort and that it wasn't just for sex. Although, to all intents and purposes, that's exactly what it was.

He just needed to go home now and put some clean sheets on the bed, shower, dress, put the wine in the fridge for later, and that would give him enough time to have a quick drink with Al at Finnigan’s bar in Brenham, before picking up Carrie. The table was all booked at the Colloseum Italian restaurant on South Market Street. Perfect.

Sitting outside the gates of the ranch once again, Anna felt rather more glamorous than she had earlier that afternoon. Even though it was early evening, it was still extremely hot. She had opted for the lightweight floaty dress she had worn for her first proper date with Tex.

Okay, this was it. She opened the gate and drove through onto the track, remembering to close it behind her. She could drive straight to Creek Cottage without having to go past the main ranch house. There was a little turning on the left a bit of the way up that Tex always took. As she turned the slight bend in the track and Creek Cottage came into view, she saw a quad bike parked out the front. Her heart gave a little flutter.

She parked outside and, as she stepped out into the hot evening, she paused at the bottom of the steps leading up to the porch. Surely he had heard her car. She’d just have to knock.

No answer.

She knocked again and tried the handle. The door opened and she took a couple of steps in, calling out his name.

Nothing. Totally empty.

Her heart dropped. She had been so geared up to see him and now that feeling transformed into major disappointment.

Perhaps Jamie had it wrong. Tex wasn’t here at all. She had tried to call his mobile but it had just gone straight to voicemail. She had been so sure he would come back to the ranch.

‘He’s gone into town.’

Anna jumped at the voice behind her. Spinning round, she was relieved to see Tex’s brother standing in the doorway.

‘Oh, Mikey. You startled me.’

‘Hey there, Anna. You okay? I didn’t know you were coming.’ He smiled at her in that familiar Garcia way.

‘Nor did I until yesterday,’ she smiled back at him. ‘Do you know where he is?’

‘Not exactly, only that he’s gone into Brenham.’ He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. ‘Said something about meeting an old friend.’

‘You wouldn’t happen to know where he might go?’

‘Probably Finnigan’s. Come on, I’ll take you there.’

Tex looked across the table at Carrie as she chatted easily to him about their mutual friends. Bringing him up to speed with what everyone was doing, where they were working or living, who had divorced, and so on. Carrie was a very beautiful woman and she was wearing a particularly low-cut dress, Tex was appreciative of the way it showed off her full cleavage to the maximum and how it fitted round her slender waist and hugged her hips like a second skin. The slightly rounded hips swung from side to side like a pendulum as she sashayed across the restaurant to the restroom. No sign of a panty line, just a smooth, well-toned butt, thought Tex. Slender legs and high heels.

‘I don't think I'll have a dessert. Not good for the figure,’ she said as she sat back in her seat, running her hand seductively down the side of her breast and waist, pushing her chest out and smiling at him from under her eyelashes. ‘Mmmm? What are you thinking?’

Tex realised she was waiting for him to say something. Hell, he couldn't say what he was thinking – how Anna always had a dessert, said it was her favourite part of a meal. He smiled slowly, buying a bit of time, before coming up with, ‘I think your figure is very good as it is.’

Carrie tittered. ‘You could always ask for a closer inspection if you’re not sure.’

‘I may just do that,’ replied Tex, unsure whom he was trying to convince more. ‘Let's get a drink at Finnigan’s before we go back.’

‘We could just go straight to mine, it is closer.’

‘It's still early. We've got all night.’ Tex realised he was stalling. Why was he was putting the inevitable off? What was up with him? He really needed to stop thinking about Anna. He stood up and exhaled, as if exorcising the thought of her from his mind. Then smiling, he pulled Carrie's chair out for her and as she stood, whispered in her ear, ‘Mine will be better, I have some wine waiting for us after we call by Finnigan’s for a late drink.’

The bar was busier than Anna remembered. She scanned the room but couldn’t see Tex.

Mikey passed her drink. ‘Iced lemonade. You sure you don’t wanna beer?’ He then nudged her arm. ‘Hey, look there’s Tex… oh shit.’

Anna followed Mikey’s gaze to the table by the jukebox, her eyes coming to rest on Tex. Oh shit, indeed. Her heart flipped. Several times. She could feel the rush of adrenalin surge to the tips of her fingers. He was sitting opposite Al but next to him was a woman, and Tex had his arm casually draped round the back of her chair, his fingers resting lightly on her shoulder.

Al looked up, smiled at seeing his brother, then noticing Anna, she could see him offer the same expletive that Mikey just had. Tex looked round, his eyes locking onto Anna. Every sense in Anna's body told her to turn and run. The urge to flee was overwhelming.

Hurriedly and clumsily, Anna dumped her glass on the bar, sloshing some lemonade out as she did so, before making a dash for the door. It felt as if a black mass was surrounding her, closing her in, drawing her into a dark hole of emptiness. She needed some fresh air.

Outside, Anna took big gulps of warm night air. Resting her hands on her knees, she leant forwards slightly. Gradually her breathing slowed. Standing up, she tried to think clearly. Normally, it would be at this point she jumped in her car and headed off home, beaten into surrender. Not questioning. Never knowing what if. Could she face going home, never seeing Tex again, never telling him how she felt?

Taking a final deep breath, Anna pushed open the door to the bar. All heads turned towards her but she didn't look at anyone, only at Tex. He was standing talking earnestly to the woman at his table. They stopped talking and both looked at Anna. Then the woman picked up her bag and, accompanied by Mikey, walked towards the door. She smiled as she approached Anna.