Page 54 of Country Music Cowboy
“I got it.” Sawyer stooped.
But their father and Emmy Lou had been heading back, so their father beat him to it.
“Damn.” Their father’s voice was a rusty creak.
“Daddy.” Emmy Lou’s tone was stern.
But their father wasn’t listening. He was staring at the photo, eyes wide, mouth parted, carefully smoothing a bend at the top corner.
“Daddy?” Emmy Lou repeated.
Travis wasn’t sure he’d ever seen his father look that way before. The smile was new, that was for sure.
Mr. Schmitt pulled a pair of readers from his pocket. “That the one?” he asked as he looked at their father. “I’d say that’s the one.” Mr. Schmitt chuckled. “You two singing.”
But Daddy didn’t respond right away. “Been a long, long time,” Daddy’s voice rasped, patting Mr. Schmitt’s shoulder.
“Don’t I know it.” Mr. Schmitt nodded. “I wasn’t sure but I figured you’d remember Ruby.”
Ruby.Their father had been sweet on a girl named Ruby. A singer. He risked a glance at his sisters. Likely they were just as focused as he was—making all sorts of mental notes of things they’d overanalyze and talk about later.
His father’s smile didn’t dim, but his voice cracked when he said, “I remember.”
Travis knew he wasn’t the only one staring at their father.Everyonewas.
“Dad.” Krystal pointed at her own throat. “Please.”
That was the first time their father seemed to remember where he was and who he was with. He nodded.
“You can keep it, if you like,” Mr. Schmitt said. “I framed the other one and hung it on the wall of fame over yonder.” He cleared his throat. “Whatever happened to her? I remember her momma getting into an accident but, after that, I lost track of her.”
Hank shrugged. “Me too,” he murmured, holding up a hand to stop any further chastising.
“Damn shame.” Mr. Schmitt shook his head. “She had talent. Real talent.”
Their father nodded, taking a final look at the photo before handing it back to Mr. Schmitt. Mr. Schmitt seemed just as surprised as the rest of them. The way he’d lit up over the photo, Travis had assumed he’d never let it go.
But his father’s smile was gone and he sat, looking worn out all of a sudden.
Travis managed not to snatch the packet of pics from Mr. Schmitt as the old man carefully returned the photos to the manila envelope. Instead, he sat, tapping his fingers against his thighs, until Loretta placed a hand on his knee.
She was smiling ear to ear and shaking her head.Beautiful.
He sighed, stopped tapping his fingers, and—on a whim—caught her hand in his. For a brief moment, their fingers explored, his thumb traced the inside of her palm, and a slight shudder raced along her arm. But then she wriggled her hand lose, excused herself, and headed for the jukebox.
And, yes, even dying of curiosity over the photos, his gaze followed her. He liked watching her. The swish of her hair. The flutter of her red and white skirt hanging just above the top of her plain brown leather cowboy boots. The sway of her hips. Those hips. He knew all too well how soft her skin was—how she moaned when he’d lifted her hips just enough to make her fall apart. His fingers bit into his thighs.
He wasn’t the only one noticing Loretta, either. One cocksure Ricky Rodeo was sizing her up from his stool at the bar. If he kept staring at Loretta’s ass like that, he and Ricky were going to have a serious disagreement. Luckily, Loretta was headed back their way before Travis made an ass of himself by going all territorial on her.
She’d probably be more pissed at him for feeling protective of her than she’d be over the wannabe cowboy checking out her ass. He tore his gaze from hers before she caught him watching her. And that’s when he noticed Sawyer.
His bodyguard was normally intimidating. Right now? He looked downright threatening. And even though Sawyer had been around for a couple of years, he was still more of a stranger than not.
All Travis knew was what he’d learned the first month Sawyer had become a member of the King’s Guard security team. One, Sawyer was uptight. Two, he was fanatical about working out—Travis regularly regretted asking Sawyer to train with him. And three, Sawyer had an intel military background. So now, when it was obvious that something was weighing on Sawyer, Travis had no way of knowing what or who or why.
Emmy Lou was up, coming around the table. “I’m stealing some of these.” She grabbed one of the pickle baskets, then leaned forward. “You should ask her to dance. It’s less obvious than you staring at her like that.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek and carried the pickles back around the table.
Why the hell not?He’d rather dance with Loretta than get caught up in some long-over teen romance of his father’s or why the hell Sawyer looked ready to throw a few punches.Yep. Much rather be dancing.
