Page 35 of Shine On Oklahoma

She lowered her head. “I’ve been worriedabout Jack. I haven’t heard from him in…a while.”

He didn’t say anything and she looked up athim. “I know you don’t like him, I just...he’s my dad, youknow.”

“I don’tdislike him,” he said. “Idon’t trust him, that’s for sure.”

“That’s probably for the best,” said a littlevoice from beyond the still open door. And then a wrinkled, smilingwoman with a giant flower-decked hat and crooked lipstick peeredaround Dax’s waist. “Hello, honey!”

“Miss Dolly! You came!”

Dax turned sideways, looking down as thesmall woman crowded past him, her hat barely fitting between himand the doorframe. Kendra had to bend down to hug her. She was aplump lady of maybe four feet ten. Her drawn-on eyebrows were alittle too high and she’d colored outside the lines with brightpink lipstick that matched the roses on her wide-brimmed hat.

“Dax, this is Miss Dolly. Miss Dolly, DaxRussell.”

“Pleasure to meet you, sir.” Dolly swept offher hat, held it to her chest and made a bow. “Wait, that’s notright,” she said. “Menbow. Women…curtsy!” She plunked thebig hat back on her head and sketched a wobbly curtsy.

“Pleasure’s all mine,” Dax said, and returnedher curtsy with a bow to play along. He was such a good sport.“Dolly. That’s an unusual name.”

“Nickname,” she said. “My actual name isClara Bethany.”

“Clara Bethany what?”

She waved a small hand. “You couldn’tpronounce it.” Then she looked him up and down, and wiggled hereyebrows. “Did Iinterruptanything?”

“No, Miss Dolly,” Kendra said. “Stop beingnaughty. We were just getting ready to head downstairs for somebreakfast before I get started decorating for Kiley’s shower. Youwant to join us?”

“But it’s already decorated, dear. That hotyoung bartender with the adorable little girl showed me.” Then shefrowned and looked way up at Dax. “I didn’t imagine that, didI?”

“No,” Dax said, “you didn’t.”

Kendra sent him a look. “What does she mean,the place is all decorated?”

“Me and the boys got up early and decked theplace to the rafters. Ned’s on top of the food. Sunny’s got thecake—”

“Cupcakes,” Kendra corrected.

“Rob’s gonna see to it that Kiley remainsclueless and gets here on time.”

“Rob’s not supposed to know about this,either.”

“He thinks it’s a lunch date with the two ofus. I told him I needed a wingman.”

“Ha!” Miss Dolly said, clapping him on theshoulder. “A big gorgeous hunk like you needs a wingman like I needbirth control!” Then she clapped a hand over her mouth and made hereyes big. “Was that inappropriate?”

Kendra just shook her head at Dolly, thenreturned her gaze to Dax. “You’re amazing. I just…thank you. Idon’t deserve you.”

“You seem like you’ve got a little too muchon your shoulders. I thought I could take a little off. Enjoy yourreunion with the enchanting Miss Dolly and have fun at yoursister’s shower. I’ve got your back. Okay?”

“Yes.Veryokay.”

“I could help with other things too, youknow. If you’d let me.” He looked into her eyes, and for the firsttime Kendra got the feeling he knew everything.

But he couldn’t. He couldn’t know. He wasstill being kind to her, he couldn’t possibly know.

He turned, and tucked Miss Dolly’s arm aroundhis on one side, Kendra’s on the other, and walked through thehall, and down the staircase. At the bottom, he pulled back the redvelvet curtain to reveal the dining room, and said, “Ta-da!”

Pink, purple, and white streamers were drapedaround the room from a high point in the center, giving it the feelof a castle spire. A mock disco globe spun from the center,throwing shapes within its glimmers, holographic teddy bears andunicorns.

“Emily saidyoupicked that out?” Daxsaid, one brow higher than the other.

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