Page 36 of Takes Two to Tango

She snapped her mouth shut, but Brent could see the anger in her eyes. It crackled and burned, but she managed to mind her smart mouth. Of course, Roywasbeing ridiculous. Any other officer and they'd all laugh and talk about old times. Not Roy. For all his outward harmlessness, he nursed a grudge against Brent held over from a dispute they'd had about the cost of the sunporch Brent had constructed for Roy's mother. The older policeman was a notorious cheapskate, not to mention paranoid about being swindled.

Roy pulled a pad from his back pocket and started scratching out a ticket.

"Are we going to jail?" Henry said, curling an arm around his mother's legs. He looked alarmed. No, scared.

Brent forgot about cold feet and the fact Henry had disobeyed. He didn't think twice. He pulled Henry to him and held him at eye level. "Of course not, Hank. Just a citation. We were being silly and forgot to read the sign over there." Brent pointed to the sign warning visitors to stay out of the fountain. "No problem. I promise."

Henry looked at Roy then his mother. "Mom?"

Rayne stopped shooting daggers at the obtuse policeman long enough to look at her son. Her face softened. "We're not going to jail, pumpkin."

Brent felt Henry relax in his arms. Then the child did something uncharacteristic, at least for as long as Brent had known him. Henry curled his arms around Brent's neck and laid his head on his shoulder. The absolute trust and small token of affection settled a delicious warmth around Brent's heart. Henry was big for seven, but just a kid. And he was scared. And something about the child's breath on his neck and sweaty grubby hands locked around him caused something wild and wonderful to move within Brent.

Then Henry whispered something in his ear that seared Brent to his soul. "I wish you were my dad."

CHAPTER TEN

RAYNE SIPPED THE OVERLY sweet chardonnay and watched Oak Stand's Junior League women in action. The scent of gardenia wafted among the women-a gift from the flickering candles strategically placed around Brandi Patterson McCormick's newly constructed Acadian house. It was standard Texas upscale with wood floors, white walls dotted with black-and-white photographs of smiling kids, life message doodads, expensive drapes, and modern farmhouse furniture. It could have been cloned from every other house on the block. Even the Audi hatchback sitting in the garage and the pepper jelly cream cheese on the local artisan’s expensive platter sitting by Rayne’s elbow felt basic.

"What do you think of the wine, Rayne Rose?" Stacy inquired, filling her glass. "My husband brought this back from a vineyard in California. He went to a conference out there last year. Said it was gorgeous."

"Mmm," Rayne said taking a sip. "Very good. And, yes, California wine country is beautiful."

Women swirled and talked, propped on wide chair arms and sitting on custom ottomans. A huge television took up the spaceabove the fireplace and was set to the Disney Channel. Three little girls, mouths slack, giant bows affixed, stared as a preteen wearing too much makeup danced and sang. The women stepped around the little girls as they moved around the room talking about test scores, smocked clothing, and fundraisers.

Meg appeared at her elbow, wearing thigh-high black boots and a bemused expression. "So we're among the real housewives of Oak Stand, eh?"

Stacy grinned, oblivious to Meg's sarcasm. "Well, we don't usually sleep with each other's husbands."

"At least not often," Brandi quipped, sliding alongside her friend. The woman gave a secret smile that made Rayne feel a bit nauseous. "Like the wine? I went to a conference out in California and picked up a case. Stacy's husband went, too. Good, isn't it?"

Brandi was like a cat with a crippled mouse. It was plainly obvious to everyone but Stacy that the woman had an inappropriate relationship with Alex Harper. Rayne would feel sorry for Stacy but the girl had been an absolute bitch in high school. Hard to feel any sympathy for a girl who'd thrown playground balls at her head then laughed when Rayne had nearly been decapitated.

Meg made a face, drawing Brandi's attention.

"Oh, so you're Rayne's assistant?"

Meg nodded, meeting Brandi's assessing stare head-on.

"Nice boots. What are they? Vintage?" Brandi said in a voice that didn't sound exactly complimentary. Her tone implied Meg had dug them from some dusty bin in a Goodwill store.

"You have a good eye," Meg said, with a twitch of her lips and a gleam in her blue eyes."Original Masiero Lorenzo. A bitch to take off, but so worth it. You should see my patent leather Doc Martens lace-up combat boots. They're so fire … and useful for kicking ass." Brandi's response was interrupted bythe arrival of Nellie Darby and Kate Mendez, two others Rayne had attended Oak Stand High with, though they'd been a year ahead. Kate looked as intensely beautiful as she always had, and Nellie looked better than Rayne ever remembered her looking. Marriage and motherhood obviously agreed with her.

“Hello, everyone” Nellie gave them all a warm smile curving her lips. She grasped Rayne's hands. "Sorry I'm late. Had to wait on Jack to pick up Mae. It's so good to see you."

Rayne had always liked Nellie. As a girl, she had been pragmatic and plain to the point of dowdy, but no longer. Her light brown hair held caramel highlights, her clothes spoke of style and elegance, and she radiated the confidence of a woman who knew who she was and where she belonged.

"Good to see you, too." Rayne squeezed her hands before acknowledging Kate, the girl who'd been tangled up with Brent the night she'd hurled the poem she'd worked so hard on, the poem that exposed her love. There had been many a night the year after she'd left Oak Stand that she'd lain awake and imagined a variety of ways to humiliate and torture Kate Newman. It still felt odd playing nice with a girl she'd hated for a long time. "Hello, Kate."

Kate gave her a genuine smile which surprised Rayne. Years ago, Kate hadn't bothered with her at all, hadn't seemed to even realize Rayne existed. "How's it going, Rayne Rose? Though I guess I know. I just got your cookbook as a wedding gift, though it’ll probably collect dust."

Nellie gave a sigh. “I’m trying to teach Kate how to cook for her new husband.”

“Why?” Kate asked with a wrinkled nose that was somehow adorable. “He knows how to cook. Part of the reason I married him. I won’t starve.”

But Kate smiled, looking quite smitten at talking about her husband. What do you know? Ol’ Katie Newman, backseat legend and rabble rouser, looked like the newlywed she was.

“I’m Meg, the assistant.” Meg offered a hand, making Rayne feel guilty about forgetting she was standing next to her.

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