Chapter Nine

Emily walked past the red brick facade of Mumford’s Bar-B-Q and inhaled the delicious scent of Keith’s mastery. The man was a talented pit master, and the brisket that came out his smoker was some of the best she’d ever had. She pulled open the heavy black wooden door and stepped inside, glancing around the busy room. When she spied Nessa settled at a table in the corner, she waved. “Hey there.”

“Hey yourself.”

She slid onto the bench of the picnic table and set her phone down. “Did you have the usual rush at the salon today?”

“Seemed we had twice the customers and all they wanted to do was gossip about you and Rick.” She pushed over a glass of sweet tea and raised an eyebrow. “No one was very happy when I didn’t offer any juicy tidbits, and by the time the day was done, I felt like I’d been picked over by a bunch of buzzards.”

“No one likes being denied the intimate details of someone else’s relationship—especially the women in this town.”

“So are you saying there might be a relationship?”

Biting her straw, Emily hitched her shoulder. “Well…”

Vanessa leaned forward. “Really?”

Emily nodded and knew if she wanted her friend’s counsel, she was going to have to give her the full story. Would Nessa be hurt that she’d never confided in her? Maybe, but what could she do to change the past? “There’s some things that I’ve never shared with you…” When Nessa covered her hand, she let out a breath. “There’s more to mine and Rick’s story.”

“I know.”

“Wait…you know?”

“Let’s just say I always had real strong suspicions.”

Before she could launch into a full interrogation, Reba, their waitress, delivered their brisket plates.

Setting down a stack of napkins, she gave both women a smile. “Need anything else?”

“No, it looks great,” Emily said. “How’s your rabbit doing?”

“Mr. Peepers is back on the mend, thanks to you. I’ve put a double latch on his hutch and moved my books up to the next shelf so he can’t get at them.”

“Sounds like a good solution, since rabbits and paperbacks don’t mix.”

“Any updates on you and Rick?”

“No,” she sputtered as she moved her plate closer. “We’re not…”

“Then why did he get into a fight with Nash in your backyard?”

“Because he’s a—”

“Man trying to stake his claim,” Reba finished. “My husband was out at the ranch the other day and saw the kiss you two shared, and I want you to know that I’m Team EMICK all the way.”

“Team what?” Vanessa asked with a snort.

“You heard me. Susie over at the Wash and Fold made it up, and it’s what the people who are bettin’ on the two of you ending up at the altar are calling themselves.”

“And what team name has the other side adopted?” Emily asked.

“Nothing, which proves they lack foresight and imagination and are going to lose a big wad of cash,” Reba said with satisfaction.

Vanessa poured sauce over her brisket and then licked her finger. “You’d think with all the great reality show options people would have something better to do with their time than speculate on other people’s business.”

“I, for one, can do both and plan on taking my husband out for a big night when I win,” Reba said before leaving to tend to another table.

Vanessa put her pickles on Emily’s plate and then folded her hands. “Maybe a good scandal will break out and folks will lose interest.”

“I’d love nothing more,” Emily said.

“So…how close did you and my cousin get back in high school?”

She looked from side to side to make sure no one was within hearing distance and leaned in. “We got as close as two people could, and you’re the first person I’ve ever told.”

“I guessed as much.”

Emily scrunched her brows together and then played with her straw. “Were we that obvious?”

“No, but you two did spend a lot of time riding out to Hog Lake, and I didn’t think it was because you needed to see the spring flowers in bloom.”

“We gave into the thing burning between us and lost our innocence to each other.”

“Was it an awful experience?” Vanessa asked quietly.

“No, why would you ask that?”

“Because of the way things ended. One minute y’all were dating, and the next you weren’t speaking.”

Emily took a sip of her tea and then looked up. “We had a pregnancy scare and both panicked.”

Nessa’s face fell. “Oh, Em, I wish I could’ve been there for you.”

Squeezing her friend’s hand, she nodded. “I didn’t dare share the news, because Rick was eighteen and I was underage. I didn’t know up from down and didn’t want to put either of us in a worse position.”

“Makes sense,” Vanessa said as she moved the salt shaker around. “So is that why y’all have avoided one another for all these years?”

“After we got over the initial shock of the pregnancy thing, Rick announced that he had big dreams to pursue and couldn’t be tied down by the likes of me. He made it clear in no uncertain terms that we never needed to speak again, and I took him at his word.”

“Why’d he have to be so cold and cut off all communication?” Vanessa asked.

“My guess is that if he didn’t, one or both of us would wander back into the other’s life. He wanted and needed a clean break so he could go and chase his dreams. Looking back, I realize he did the best, just maybe the wrong way.”

“So…all that broken heartedness after prom wasn’t because of Deacon claiming he did the deed?”

“No. It was the end to my relationship with Rick.” She popped a pickle in her mouth and hitched her shoulder. “The whole debacle broke me into a million pieces, and truth be told, those old rumors provided a nice cover for the real story. Do you think Rick knew about what Deacon was saying?”

“Not at all,” Vanessa said plainly.

Emily picked at the bread that sat on the corner of her plate. “I suspected as much, but wasn’t sure how it was possible.”

“The rumors didn’t start until early June and by then he was hiding out on the ranch and counting the minutes until he could leave for San Diego. I spoke with him last week and found out he never had a clue how bad it got for you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. And in looking back, I see that’s it completely possible since he wasn’t mixing with anyone in town. People never would’ve gossiped in front of him and his brothers.”

“Guess it makes sense since things didn’t get really bad until the end of summer.” Balling up the little crumbs of bread, she felt her mind skitter from one fact to the other. Not able to make sense of the new information, she let out a breath. “It’s gonna take me a minute to square myself with the idea that Rick’s lack of defense wasn’t intentional.”

“I’ve held it against him for years along with all our friends. There’s a whole group of people that think he did you a dirty by not jumping to your defense, and they treat him accordingly.”

“The truth of what happened between us is our private business and I don’t think I want to dig it up again by telling people he didn’t know.” Twisting her hands together, she felt her stomach knot up at the idea of discussing it in anyway.

“Rick doesn’t care one bit what people think, so I’m inclined to agree with you. All that matters is that you two make peace with it and move forward.”

“I think…I might be ready for that.”

Vanessa smiled and clapped her hands.

“Stop, it may not work.”

“True, but giving it a shot is the smart thing to do.”

“One minute I think that’s true, and the next I don’t. Rick was a force to be reckoned with when we were kids, but now…he’s a bit overwhelming. He’s taken on the world on his own terms and is still alive to tell the tale, so he’s not only humbled but more formidable than ever.”

“Which just means he’s about ready to handle the likes of you. You’ve never been interested in a man you can run roughshod over, so my cousin could very well be your perfect match after all.”

“Maybe,” she said before focusing on her supper. Thoughts of what it would take to create a successful relationship bounced around in her brain, and she didn’t know if the adults she and Rick had grown into were capable.

Guess they were going to find out, though. One way or another.

…

Rick leaned against his truck and watched the high school football coach pull into the pump behind him and tipped his chin in greeting. Giving the guy a discreet once-over, he tried to picture him and Emily together and couldn’t quite manage it. “Heath, how’s it going?”

“We’re winning more than losing, so I can’t complain.”

“I’ll have to catch a game here pretty soon and see your boys in action.”

“It’ll definitely be worth your time. I’ve got a couple of juniors who are being scouted by the Aggies and three seniors who are going there next year on a full ride.”

“Congratulations, that’s a fine achievement.”

“Thanks, but it’s the boys who put in the work. All I did was give them an environment to make the most of what they’ve been blessed with.”

Hearing the pump click off, he switched the nozzle to his second tank. “Maybe I’ll get a group together and come to the homecoming game. It might be fun to see all the old faces from high school.”

“You can do that almost any Saturday at the Broken Spoke.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

Heath’s expression shifted from friendly to guarded. “Heard you and Emily took a spin on the dance floor last week.”

Rick straightened and pushed himself away from his truck. Was the guy going to get confrontational? “Say your piece, man.”

“Don’t screw it up.”

Rick look around and then cleared his throat. “Wasn’t planning on it.”

“I think you might be the one she’s been waiting for.”

“Wait…what are you talking about?” Confusion rattled his brain.

“Em held a big part of herself back during our short relationship, and when I started hearing all the talk last week, the pieces started falling into place. I think you’ve been the keeper of her heart and neither of you realized it.”

He ran his hand over his jaw and let the words settle, knowing Em had been the owner of that muscle beating in his chest for more years than he could count. Was it possible that the same was true for her? “I’m certainly the one she’d like to harm most days, but whether that can be turned into something else is yet to be seen.”

“At least she’s got strong feelings for you. All I ever managed to inspire was mild interest.”

Nodding, he looked across the parking lot and thought about how they’d expressed those strong feeling on Saturday. He bit back a smile as memories of how Em had come apart under his mouth in writhing mess of moans assaulted him. Which definitely wasn’t appropriate material to be thinking about at the Gas and Go. Clearing his throat, he gave Heath a nod. “God willing we’ll figure out a way to do something positive with the thing that’s long burned between us.”

“Last I heard, the odds were running in favor of you two ending up with one another, so y’all better not let the town down.”

“Guess we have no choice then and have got to work it out if only to prove to the fine people of Victoria that we’re capable.”

Heath finished gassing up his truck and then tipped his hat. “Good luck, Rick.”

“Thanks, man.” He turned back to the pump and watched the numbers roll and thought about what the coach had said, knowing he wouldn’t rest until he’d given the thing between them everything he had.

Lifting his gaze away from his truck, he saw Emily run out of Mumford’s with her blond hair flying. Two seconds later, Nessa followed, and he watched them head toward their cars. What the hell had happened to make the women hotfoot it out of the restaurant?

Cutting across the parking lot, he intercepted Emily as she skidded to a stop in front of her truck. “You okay, Em?”

“Move, Rick. I don’t have time to explain.”

“What’s got your boots on fire?”

Digging her keys out, she let out a frustrated groan. “You’re slowing me down. I got a call from Gracie. A neighbor reported a disturbance. I think my house was broken into.”

Taking her hand, he tilted his head toward his truck. “I’ll drive.”

“Why?”

“Because anything that happens to you is happening to me.” Adrenaline coursed through his body, switching his mind immediately to combat mode.

“That’s ludicrous.”

“You want to stand here and fight or get over to your house and see what’s going on?”

“I don’t have to—”

“Em, don’t fucking test me on this. I’ll haul your ass into my truck kicking and screaming if I have to.”

Her eyes blazed as she lifted her chin. “I’d like to see you try.”

Feeling every emotion from lust to anger to frustration, he gave her a feral smile, bent down, and threw her over his shoulder. “Make sure your car is locked. We’ll come back and get it after we get things sorted.”

He spun on his heel, firmed his grip on her ass, and listened to her call him several creative names as he strode back to his truck. “People who bet against us think this is a sign they chose the winning side. But they’re going to be proven wrong, since we’ll be fucking blissful at some point.”

“That’ll only happen when I see you buried six feet under!”

“If that’s how you want to spend our honeymoon, then it’s fine with me.”

He flung open the passenger door and dropped her in, noticing his hands were shaking. Something that never occurred in combat. The far-off sounds of rotor blades filled his ears, and the acrid scent of a spent frag filled his nose. Blinking several times, he pulled himself back into the here and now. “Em…”

She pushed her hair out of her face and grabbed a fistful of his shirt. “Look at me.”

Not able to do as she asked, for fear she’d see how far down the rabbit hole he’d gone, he tightened his hold on the door. Two cool hands framed his face, and he sucked in a breath as her touch grounded him further. Lifting his eyes slowly, he was grateful to see compassion and not judgment fill her beautiful eyes. His heartbeat slowed down, and he wrapped his arms around her tightly. “I won’t fucking survive if you so much as get a scratch.”

“Well, if that’s true, then you have several mean bulls to lecture, along with a handful of nasty goats, several uncooperative cats, and a guinea pig prone to biting.”

Feeling his anxiety and agitation flame out, he nodded. “Something I’ll happily do right after we see what’s going on at your house.” He tipped their heads together and ran his finger over her arm slowly. “Any chance you’re not going to make me explain why I’m freaking the fuck out?”

“Nope.”

“Didn’t think so.”

Emily pressed her hand to his heart and grinned. “I’ll make sure to give you a couple of shots of tequila before I make you share, so it shouldn’t be all that painful.”

“Any chance of some sexual favors being added to that offer?”

She let out a snort and pushed him away. “You really are doing better, if thoughts like that are possible.”

“Darlin’, with you around, they’re all but guaranteed.”

“Let’s get out of here and see what’s happening at the house.”

Sliding the seat belt out, he buckled her in and then ran around and climbed in. “Did Gracie have any details about the call?”

“No, but she did say that Willy was on the scene.”

Rick pulled out of the gas station and headed toward Emily’s neighborhood, wondering who in the hell had it out for his girl. Maybe Nash hadn’t totally been full of shit the other night when he’d said that someone was running along Emily’s fence line. Was that why he’d been camped out in front of Em’s house for hours? Did he have a reason to expect trouble?

Too many unknown factors to come up with a working theory, that was for damn sure. But that was going to change very soon, and he planned on calling his brother Weston to aid and abet. Seemed having a sibling that was a Texas Ranger would work in his favor after all since they had access to all kinds of resources.

And the minute he found out who was messing with Em, there wouldn’t be an ounce of mercy shown, because shit like that didn’t stand.