Welcome Back to Rambling, TX

by June Faver

  Irene

  Reggie read over her response, heaving a sigh before printing it out and placing it in the Dear Irene folder. It’s done. Right or wrong, the letter has been answered.

  She had thought it sweet when she read Mr. Nice Guy’s first letter, but now she felt a bit disappointed that he’d turned out to be such a wimp. His coworker was probably better off without him. Poor girl. Maybe it hadn’t gone too far. Better to know early on that he wasn’t a keeper.

  A keeper. What do I know about keepers?

  Reggie reflected on her notoriously bad taste in men. First, Kenny…a prime example of a man who couldn’t commit. A man who ran away at the first sign of trouble…such as the arrival of a baby girl.

  And now she was desperately in love with Frank Bell. A handsome urbane man of the world who couldn’t possibly be interested in more than a fling with a naive small-town woman…a mother with a trainload of baggage.

  Reggie gnawed her lower lip. Yes, better for Mr. Nice Guy to ease off his relationship and not even pretend he is interested in anything serious. Huffing out a sigh, she pushed back from her desk, thinking she shouldn’t hole up in her office. That would give her staff the idea she was hiding, ashamed of her affair with her boss…which she had been…but not anymore.

  * * *

  Frank opened the latest copy of the Rambling Gazette. He turned the pages until he found the feature he had been anxious about. The Dear Irene column. A wide grin spread across his face when he recognized the sender, Mr. Nice Guy.

  Hello, Dear Irene. That was fast.

  His smile faded when he read Reggie’s response to his letter from Mr. Nice Guy. He swallowed hard and read it again.

  Confused about my feelings? I’m not confused. I—I—

  Frank sat down on one of his great-aunt’s delicate-looking Queen Anne chairs. One with lacy things pinned to the arms and the headrest. He stared at the screen until the words blurred before his eyes… Perhaps you should step back and consider the depth of your emotional attachment. It might be kinder to end the relationship before anyone gets seriously hurt.

  Frowning, he let the paper fall to the floor. He felt much as he had in high school. Rejected.

  Frank huffed out a breath. That was ridiculous. Reggie had no idea it was he who had sent the letter. She wasn’t rejecting him. Not personally. She was rejecting Mr. Nice Guy.

  But that’s me.

  He sat for some time, staring into space as he reviewed everything that had occurred between the two of them since he had returned to Rambling, Texas. He relived his ardent courtship and the ultimate thawing of the girl he had crushed on since they were both teens. His pursuit had culminated in a long, passionate weekend with Reggie in his bed.

  A tightness gathered in his chest as he recalled waking up with her in his arms. It had felt so right. But now he was torn by indecision. He knew he couldn’t just keep treading water with Reggie. Most of all, he didn’t want to hurt her. He would have to either move the relationship forward or step back.

  Now, she was telling him to step back.

  * * *

  Reggie counted out the cash for the till, arranging all the bills face up before tucking them in the correct slots. Opening the store on a Saturday morning to give her dad a break had been a frequent activity when she had been a mere reporter for the Rambling Gazette. Now that she had been appointed to the position of editor, she hadn’t had time to tend the customers of Stafford’s Mercantile. But since he had done double duty taking care of Shannon while she was in New York with Frank, she felt she owed him a little time off.

  Huffing out a sigh, she considered her situation. More like an oncoming disaster. How could she prevent Kenny from injecting himself back into her life? It had taken so long to get over him. When she had realized he wasn’t coming back, she had been crushed. It was inconceivable that a man could walk out on his wife and beautiful baby girl. Thankfully, her dad had been there to pick up the pieces.

  She closed the cash register drawer with a satisfying metallic clang. She doubted that giving her dad a Saturday off now and then could ever repay him, but at least it was a small way to let him know she appreciated his support.

  The metal cowbell over the door clanked against the glass. First customer of the day. “Good morning,” Reggie sang out as she turned, a bright smile on her face.

  “Ain’t you the pretty one?” It was Kenny Landers. He stood grinning at her. His broad-shouldered, six-foot-five-inch frame took up all of the doorway.

  The smile froze on her lips. A tightness gathered in her chest, forming a constricting band that kept her from drawing a full breath. She blinked several times, considered what she would say to him, but finally heaved an uncomfortable sigh. “It’s you.”

  Kenny winked at her, a smirk spreading across his face as he approached her. “That’s right, baby girl. I’m here.” He stood on the other side of the counter, staring down at her with that same fond expression in his eyes that she had first fallen in love with. He reached across to cup her cheek in one hand. His palm was rough, but the gesture was tender. “Damn! You’re just as beautiful as ever.”

  Reggie swallowed hard, stepping away from his touch. “What are you doing here, Kenny?”

  He appeared to be hurt by her words. “I just wanted to see you. I’ve missed you something fierce.”

  “Really?” She tried to keep the sarcastic edge out of her voice.

  “Yeah, really. I just want to talk to you.”

  “I thought we had said everything we needed to say a couple of years ago.”

  He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Aww, baby. Don’t be like that. I came back to Rambling because we belong together. You know I can’t get you out of my head.”

  Keeping a tight rein on her emotions, she tried to regard him dispassionately. “You left two years ago…left me with a baby, and you never looked back. What kind of man does that?”

  He shrugged. “So I made a mistake. I came home to make things right.”

  “Home? You don’t live here anymore.” She felt her lower lip tremble. No! I won’t let him see me cry. Straightening her spine ever so slightly, she sucked in a deep breath.

  Kenny surveyed her thoughtfully. “I thought we had a thing going on. I thought you loved me.” He laid his great ham of a hand on his chest where his heart should have been.

  “I did, but I was young and very naive. I’m over you now.”

  A smile twerked the corner of his mouth. “Are you?”

  She eyed him speculatively. “Yes, I really am.” For the first time, she realized it was true. “Now, if you want to buy something, that’s great. Otherwise, you need to go on your way. There is nothing between us anymore.”

  His face turned an ugly dark red as his gaze narrowed. A muscle in his jaw tensed, then relaxed.

  A tingle of fear spiraled around Reggie’s spine. She suddenly realized how totally alone she was with a man who had a reputation for brutality. She managed to control her expression, suppressing her fright and presenting a facade of pure confidence.

  With seemingly great effort, he managed to rein in his anger and back away. “We’ll just have to see about that.” He turned and stomped out of the store, setting the cowbell clanking so hard against the glass she was afraid it would shatter.

  She stared after him as he climbed into an old beater of a truck and revved the engine. He backed out of the parking lot without looking and raced off.

  It surprised her to realize she was clinging to the edge of the counter, unable to draw a breath. A wave of fear washed over her. She had heard rumors of how mean Kenny had been in high school, but that was years ago. She had thought it was just because he was so aggressive on the football field, but now—seeing all that rage directed at her left her trembling all over.

  She needed to call Frank. She needed his arms around her. She
needed to hear his soothing voice tell her things would be all right.

  Slowly, she released her grip on the edge of the counter and forced herself to draw a deep breath. No, this is my problem.

  She thought surely she could deal with her ex without dragging Frank into it. They were divorced. She had the papers to prove it.

  * * *

  Frank took a last look around the house. He made sure everything was turned off and locked up tight.

  Standing on the front porch, he surveyed his domain…or at least this cozy little part of it. He heaved a sigh, realizing this lovely setting just was not the real Franklin Bell, international playboy…man of the hour…power player.

  A lineup of images ran through his brain, the faces of the many beautiful women he had dated. Emphasis on dated and not married. No, he was the complete bachelor package. Love ’em and leave ’em. Yeah, that was his style. He never made any promises. He always made it clear he wasn’t the marrying type.

  Resolutely stepping off the porch, he strode to his BMW, tossed his bag in the back seat, and slid behind the wheel. The retinue of his past flings receded, only to be replaced with images of Reggie’s beautiful face. The large, dark eyes accused him. Are you running out on me?

  “No,” he muttered aloud. “I’m just—” He shrugged. “Trying to do what you wanted…giving you some space.” Stepping back…

  Heaving a deep sigh, he turned the key in the ignition, enjoying the roar of the powerful motor coming alive. He turned around in the driveway and headed down the lane leading from the house. As he paused to turn onto the highway, he glanced in the rearview mirror. The tree-lined drive with the lovely old Victorian was an image that would live on in his heart. A picture of things that might have been, if only he had been a different man.

  * * *

  Frank hadn’t called her on Saturday, and on Sunday she was feeling itchy. She carried the phone around, jammed in a pocket, just so she could get to it easily without having to grope for it. She didn’t even turn it off when she went to church, but it was on vibrate, and she would have grabbed it immediately if it had even twitched.

  Not a problem. She figured he was too busy to call and was sure they would be in contact come Monday morning. The image of his face, with its lazy and very sexy grin, swam through her brain.

  Oh, no! I’m lusting in church. Surely I’m going to hell.

  Hurriedly, she smoothed out the wrinkles in the church bulletin she had grasped in her hand. The pastor droned on about something she wasn’t processing. The tone of his voice had lulled the man in the pew directly in front of her to a sound sleep with his chin on his chest and rhythmic heavy breathing.

  The pastor announced another hymn, so she stuffed the bulletin in her pocket and reached for the hymnal. Flipping through the pages, she found the correct page. As the choir stood, she hummed along and managed to make it through the chorus.

  When the service was over, she went to the nursery to retrieve her daughter before joining her father at the front of the church.

  “There are my girls.” Henry greeted her with a wave and a smile. He reached for Shannon and hefted her into his arms.

  Reggie nodded and shook the pastor’s hand before trailing her father to the car. She watched him secure Shannon in her car seat before she climbed in on the passenger side.

  “What’s wrong?” Henry glanced at Reggie.

  She shook her head. “What makes you think something is wrong?”

  He snorted. “Many years living in close proximity with my daughter.” He turned to gaze at her critically. “Come on and tell your dear old dad what’s going on. Has your new boyfriend done something to upset you?”

  “N—no. Nothing like that.” She shrugged. “He’s been wonderful.” Just a little invisible lately.

  “Then what is it?”

  “Could we just go home? I’m really tired.”

  Henry reached across to ruffle her hair, just as he had done when she was a little girl. It was a strangely comforting gesture.

  “Sure. Let’s get to the house.” He started the engine and pulled out into the stream of cars leaving the church parking lot. “But I’m not going to let up until you tell me what’s upsetting you.”

  “It’s Kenny. He came to the store yesterday.”

  “Oh, Lord!” Henry struck the steering wheel with the heel of his hand. “What does that waste of skin want with you?”

  Reggie bit her lower lip. “I—I don’t know. He acted as though we weren’t divorced. He was talking crazy.”

  Henry made an animal-like sound. “I would tell you what I really think of your worthless ex if there wasn’t an impressionable child in the back seat.”

  In spite of her angst, Reggie had to smile at that. “Hold it in, Dad.”

  “I expect a full report when we get to the house.”

  She sat a little straighter, accepting that her father would be her confidant, like it or not. Maybe it would be better to share… Maybe it would be better to leave her concerns about Frank out of the equation.

  Chapter 14

  Frank tried to relax. He stood at the huge window inside his condo staring down at Central Park. He had a first-class ticket to Monte Carlo but somehow dreaded climbing on the plane the next morning.

  He was alone and lonely. Two different emotions swirled through his chest. He missed Reggie, but he knew she wanted him to step back from their sometimes-unsettling relationship. He realized he had been pushing her hard, and it was difficult to back off. He had been unable to blurt out his true feelings, but in truth, Reggie had never even said she liked him, let alone made any declarations of love. Maybe she’d just needed a fling?

  With every fiber of his being, he wanted to be with her, but she had to want him too. She had to be willing to stand with him, no matter what.

  He shook his head and turned away from the magnificent view he’d not been seeing. Too bad. Reggie was the first woman he’d thought he could be with on a long-term basis. Even worse, he had fallen for her child as well. Without Reggie and Shannon, his life felt hollow.

  Maybe it was karma smacking him on the head. He had walked away from quite a few beautiful women. Perhaps it was only fair that the one he really wanted had just kicked him to the curb.

  He raked his fingers through his longish hair. No, it wasn’t fair. He was in love with Reggie. He couldn’t recall a time when he hadn’t been in love with her. Maybe she had bewitched him when he’d first smacked into her back in school? Maybe?

  “There is no such thing as love at first sight.” His voice sounded too loud in the condo, echoing back at him off all the hard surfaces. His words sounded false, even to his own ears.

  Throwing himself down on the leather sectional, he considered his alternatives. In truth, he was in a foul mood. He was certainly not up to Monte Carlo. And even if his phone was jammed with contact information for dozens of beautiful women on both continents, the prospect of spending time with any of them was not enticing.

  He thought about checking out the action at some of New York City’s hottest clubs but rejected that idea. Instead, he canceled his flight to Monte Carlo, deciding to stay in his leased condo filled with leased furniture and leased artwork. He could lick his wounds until he felt he could face the world again.

  Frank opened the sparkling mirrored doors set into the wall. Hidden inside was his very well-stocked liquor cabinet. He selected a cut-crystal glass and poured a prodigious amount of good Irish whiskey into it, reasoning that he would either feel better or feel nothing. Either one was preferable to his current state of misery.

  * * *

  Reggie sat in her mother’s recliner, Shannon asleep in her arms. She was staring at the television, but not seeing the images on the screen nor hearing the voices.

  Her dad was engrossed in the game, but images of Kenny’s smirking face played nonstop t
hrough her brain. She felt paralyzed with fear. The return of her ex-husband was the last thing she had ever considered. She had no illusions that he was still in love with her…if he had ever been in love with her. Sadly, she was pretty sure he had no particular feelings for his daughter.

  It occurred to her that Kenny had first started drawing away from her when she had accidentally become pregnant.

  Reggie placed a soft kiss in Shannon’s hair. “Well, he just doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

  “What’s that?” Henry asked.

  “Nothing, Dad. I’m going to put Shannon in her bed.” Struggling to her feet, she cradled her precious cargo in her arms. She tiptoed down the hallway to her daughter’s room and silently turned the knob. Miraculously, she was able to jostle Shannon onto her bed without waking her. She snuggled the quilt around the child.

  “Oh, baby,” she whispered. “Don’t you worry. I’m going to protect you, no matter what it takes.”

  She left the door ajar and changed into her gown and robe in her bedroom across the hall. Taking the time to cleanse her face and brush her teeth, she knew she was putting off the inevitable heart-to-heart talk her father was anticipating.

  When she returned to the living room, her dad was watching the news. He raised an eyebrow and turned off the television with the remote.

  Reggie plopped into the recliner and folded her hands in her lap. “Let’s get this over with, okay?”

  Henry exhaled a deep breath. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  She made a scoffing sound. “Oh, come on, Dad. You’re going to lecture me about marrying Kenny in the first place. I know you weren’t thrilled when you walked me down the aisle, but I thought I was in love.”