Page 100 of Hard to Love
This wasn’t a family vacation. She felt as though she’d just pulled these three people out of a war zone. And in a way, she had. Her place was barely big enough for her, much less three other people. Alex’s was the same.
And her dad’s house no longer held much furniture after she’d outfitted Alex’s apartment.
Greer grabbed her phone and hit one of her favorites.
“Sweetwater B&B, where the beds are heavenly and the breakfast is sinful.”
“Raylene, it’s Greer. Would you happen to have any open rooms?”
“A rowdy bunch of Shriners checked out this morning, and I don’t have anyone else on the books for a couple of days.”
“Perfect, I’ll take three rooms.”
“Greer,” Raylene said in a low, cautious voice, “Delaney came by selling those raffle tickets at an ungodly hour. These rooms wouldn’t have something to do with that, would they?”
“Everything.”
“Thank the good Lord,” Raylene rushed out. “Tell me Alex is coming home.”
She didn’t know about that, but he would stay in Prophecy one night if she had to hogtie him to one of Raylene’s four-poster beds. “For now.”
“We’ll just make sure it’s forever then.”
Greer disconnected. Raylene was optimistic in a way Greer just couldn’t muster up the emotion for. Safety was most important. They’d sort out everything else later.
From the backseat, Maria José said tentatively, “My papá gave me some money before we left, I could pay for the rooms.”
“No.” Alex’s tone was gruff and weary. “I told him I’d take care of you.”
“But—”
“We’re not debating this.”
Greer put a hand over Alex’s and squeezed. A glance in the rearview mirror told her Maria José had been completely surprised by her dad’s demand and the whole thing was hitting her hard. In three seconds, she’d swallowed the same number of times, which meant she was battling back tears. “Maria José, your dad said something about you being Jefe Mejor.Is that true?”
“I guess,” she said. “I don’t care what people call me. I just paint what I paint.”
And if Greer could get her painting again as soon as possible, it would help the girl get back on even ground. “What would you think of painting the side of a barn for me?”
Alex started to say something, and Greer gripped his hand hard.Let her keep some pride. I know what I’m doing.
“Would I get to design it?”
“All I care about is that it includes the words Wild Card Artisan Village.”
Another quick check in the mirror showed a much calmer Maria José. “Then yes.”
When they pulled up to Raylene’s, she came rushing out, a batter-smeared apron layered over leopard-skin capris and a snug black tunic. She yanked open Alex’s door and all but dragged him out of the car. She wrapped him in one of her signature hugs while her earrings, shaped like those crazy cat clocks, swung their tails.
Greer got out, her bones feeling as though they would break if anyone dared to blow on them. But she draped on a smile and opened the backdoor.
Nicolás and Maria José scooted out, and Raylene’s eye went wide over Alex’s shoulder. Greer gave her a quick head shake. Message:Later. Let’s just get them inside for now.
Raylene squeezed Alex one last time and released him. “Well now, I’ve got a whole mess of Sexy as a Texas Ranger cookies. Just pulled them out of the oven. Why don’t y’all come on in and take a load off.” Like a border collie, she rounded behind their group and herded them toward the front door. She touched Greer’s elbow and pointed toward the two teenagers, indicating she’d take care of those two.
Greer closed her eyes briefly, the relief so strong, and smiled at Raylene.
Once they were in the foyer, Raylene said, “You know what? The Calamity Jane and Mae West rooms aren’t quite ready yet. Greer, why don’t you take Alex up to the Thelma and Louise room, and I’ll get these two set up with a snack so I can finish changing the linens?”
