Page 25 of Tempest

“Imagine if we had two.” He laughed.

As they turned into the direction of Fabar’s, Ivy noticed her arch nemesis, Wendy Ann, walk into the store ahead of them. “Damn.”

Ryan stopped and looked around. “What is it?”

“My least favorite person just went into the drugstore. Maybe we won’t cross paths, but if we do, prepare yourself. You’re about to see two women insult one another while smiling.”

“Is this something that happens often?”

She patted his chest. “No. But Wendy Ann and I have never cared for one another, and we’re too polite to just say it and move on. So we pretend as best we can. It never works, but we keep trying.” Squaring her shoulders, she let out a breath and strode toward Fabar’s. If they were lucky, they wouldn’t run into her and the whole thing could be avoided.

Inside, Ivy swung the basket in her hand as she studied the makeup. “I can’t decide which kind I want.”

A loud, whiny voice filled the air, and Ivy knew they’d been spotted. As she turned, Wendy Ann approached in all of her faded Texas beauty queen glory. Time had not been kind, and Ivy pretended not to be shocked.

“Is that little Ivy Bellows? As I live and breathe, I can hardly believe my eyes.”

Straightening her back, she plastered a big fake smile on her face. “Hey, Wendy Ann.” As the woman got closer, Ivy noticed Wendy Ann’s high-school beauty had taken on a hard edge. Her makeup was too bright and there was a bit too much of it. The hard, hungry look she wore spoke of desperation and made her think that the boy from Waco hadn’t worked out.

“I heard you were back in town,” Wendy Ann said. “Sorry to hear about your daddy passing. I know he was never around, but I imagine it’s still hard. The way he left you and your mama was shameful, and the way he moved on without a second glance was just awful.”

Ivy felt Ryan stiffen behind her as he wrapped his arm around her waist. His reaction suggested that he’d never seen a snake express sympathy. “Thank you.”

“Are you going to introduce me to the big handsome man wrapped around you? It’s hard to believe anyone as good-looking as him would be interested in little Ivy Bellows.”

Before Ivy could say anything, Ryan started talking.

“I’m Ivy’s boyfriend, Ryan Cordell. I can see that you forgot your manners at home, so I’m going to let your little speech go. I suggest you find them before you decide to talk to Ivy again.”

Wendy Ann blinked and sucked in a deep breath of air. Ivy knew no one ever called her out on her bad behavior. Most people just avoided her because it simply wasn’t worth the effort. “We’re going to finish our shopping,” Ivy said. “See you later, Wendy Ann.”

Ivy shoved a mascara into her basket, took Ryan’s hand, and dragged him away from the woman who was about to spit venom at them. “Come on, honey. We need to get some condoms.” Sometimes the best retaliation was being happy and showing someone that your life was damn good. Having sex with Ryan said that louder than anything else. It was also something Wendy Ann would understand. They walked away and Ivy murmured, “I hope they stock your size.”

Ryan leaned down and kissed her head. “I take it that’s not how people talk to each other here in Dripping Springs.”

“No, honey, it’s not. But I like your approach.” She pulled a box off the shelf and studied the label. “Is Magnum the biggest size?”

Ryan took the box out of her hand and pulled out the Magnum XL. “This is the one.”

Ivy looked up at him and smiled. “Really?”

“Honey, look at my hands and feet. The correlation isn’t a myth.”

“Here she comes,” Ivy whispered.

Ryan took three more boxes off the shelf, put them in the basket, and then took it out of Ivy’s hand. “Let the games begin.”

Wendy Ann stopped in front of them and gave them both an evil glare. “I have more manners than either one of you. To suggest that I don’t says more about you than it does me.”

Ryan nodded. “If that’s true, you’ll understand us not hanging around.” He swung the basket back and forth as the four condom boxes skidded from one side to the other. “We have plans this afternoon that we want to get started on right away.” Looping his arm around Ivy’s shoulder, he steered them toward the front.

“You have just made me the happiest woman in the world,” Ivy said.

“Honey, you have no idea how happy I’m about to make you.”

Laughing, she wrapped her arm around his waist. “You know that we’re not using those boxes today…right?”

“I know, but eventually we will.”

“I’m glad you came to Dripping Springs.”

He winked and placed the condoms and mascara on the counter. “Me too.”

As they walked out and headed home, Ivy laughed. “I don’t think smooching you in front of Weber’s Fabrics and buying a bunch of condoms is what Mama meant when she told me to behave.”

“Probably not, but I guess it lets the town know what your plans are during your visit home,” he replied with satisfaction.

Glancing up, she noticed how pleased he was with himself. If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought that Ryan had meant to let everyone know why he was here. Brushing her hair off her neck, she dismissed the thought…or should she?

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