Page 93 of Heaven, Texas (Chicago Stars 2)

And very much alone.

The fight blew up like a summer storm: quick, unexpected, turbulent. As the two couples flew back to Telarosa from San Antonio, Gracie considered what she should do about Bobby Tom’s rude behavior toward his mother at the restaurant. By the time Natalie and Anton had left and they were finally alone, she had decided to hold her tongue. She knew how much Bobby Tom loved Suzy, and now that he’d had some time to cool off, she was certain he would be ready to make amends.

It didn’t take him long, however, to relieve her of that notion. As he entered the living room, he threw his hat down on the couch.

“Call my mother in the morning and tell her we won’t be coming for dinner on Tuesday night.”

Gracie followed him as he stalked into his office. “She’ll be disappointed. She said she was making a special meal for you.”

“She’s going to have to eat it alone.” He sprawled down behind his desk. Ignoring the ringing of the phone, he picked up the stack of mail Gracie had organized for him, making it clear that he was dismissing her.

“I know you’re upset, but don’t you think you should try to be a little more understanding about this?”

His nostrils flared with outrage. “You didn’t believe that crap of Sawyer’s about how he just happened to run into her at the restaurant, did you?”

“What difference does it make? They’re both adults.”

“What difference does it make?” He jumped up from the desk and whipped around the side to face her. “They’re seeing each other, that’s what!”

The answering machine clicked on and someone named Charlie began leaving a message about a boat he knew Bobby Tom was going to want to buy from him.

“You don’t know that for a fact,” she pointed out. “Instead of flying off the handle like this, why don’t you just talk to her about what happened? If they’re dating, she has her reasons. Talk to her, Bobby Tom. She’s seemed so sad lately. I have a feeling she needs your support right now.”

He jabbed his index finger toward her. “Stop right there! She’ll never get my support on this. Not ever. When she started keeping company with Way Sawyer, she betrayed everybody in this town.”

Gracie couldn’t suppress her indignation. “She’s your mother! She should come ahead of the town in your loyalty.”

“You don’t understand anything.” He began pacing across the carpet. “I can’t believe what a fool I made of myself. I didn’t give those rumors a minute’s thought. It never occurred to me she’d stab everybody in the back like this.”

“Stop talking about Mr. Sawyer as if he’s a serial killer. I happen to think he’s a nice man. He didn’t have to stop that day I was parked on the side of the highway, and I like the way he tried to protect your mother today. He knew how you’d feel about seeing them together, and he did his best to shield her.”

“Are you actually defending him? A man who’s going to single-handedly destroy this town?”

“Maybe if everyone in Telarosa didn’t treat him so badly, he wouldn’t want to leave.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Are you sure it’s Mr. Sawyer who’s bothering you? You were close to your father. Are you certain you wouldn’t feel this way no matter who your mother had begun to see?”

“That’s enough! I don’t care to hear another word out of you. Just shut up about this, you hear?”

Everything inside her went still. “Don’t talk to me like that.”

He lowered his voice, speaking quietly and with absolute conviction. “I’ll talk to you any way I want.”

Gracie was furious. She’d promised herself she’d love him with all her heart, but handing over her soul hadn’t been part of the deal. She deliberately turned her back on him and walked away.

He followed her into the living room. “Just where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going to bed.” She snatched up her purse from the coffee table.

“Fine. I’ll be in with you when I’m ready.”

She nearly choked. “Do you really think I want to sleep with you right now?” She headed toward the back door and her apartment.

“Don’t you dare walk out of here!”

“This is going to be hard for you to understand, Bobby Tom, so listen very carefully.” She stopped walking. “Despite what everybody’s been telling you from the moment you were born, you’re not always irresistible.”

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