"Seriously? Weren't you here last night?"
"I was, and I spent the evening with my family, my friend, and a bright young man who is knowledgeable on a vast range of subjects. I don't consider him to be a loudmouthed know-it-all. Beau has always been smart, talented, and kind."
"I'd like to see some of his artwork."
"I can show you some of his covers, later. Right now, I'm going to fix you some toast. Then I want you to go back to bed. Maybe you'll wake up on the right side, this time."
"I'm sorry; I know you think a lot of him. I guess to a certain extent, I am fighting this. I'm trying to convince myself not to get attached. We don't have anything in common except mutual friends and books."
"I understand that. But you'll never know until you go out and get to know him better. I don't want either of you to get hurt, and I told him that, too. Go out, have fun and see what happens. You might be surprised. Either way, you'll have a good time, I'm sure. You have some valid concerns, but I do want you to try to get a few hours' sleep. I've got things to keep me busy. When you get back up, we'll go do something fun."
Cora got up to make the toast, and Audrey poured another cup of coffee. After breakfast, she did go back to her room and rested for a few hours. She was in a much better frame of mind after getting some sleep.
"Come on in here, and I'll show you some of Beau's covers," Cora called out from the office when she heard her stirring.
Audrey walked into the office and saw Cora sitting at her computer. She looked over her friend's shoulder at some of the most brilliant cover art she'd ever seen.
"He did all these?" she asked.
"Every last one of them," Cora told her proudly.
"Impressive work," Audrey admitted.
"See, he does know a little bit about his work, just like he knows about being a cowboy."
"I still say the two just don't go together. He looks like a cover model, not a cowboy or a graphic artist."
"Stranger things have happened. He has two loves, the outdoors and art. He's always been a nice guy. I think you're trying to find reasons not to like him. I do agree that you're wise to be cautious, though. After all, you're only here for two weeks. I'd hate for either of you to get hurt, as I said before."
"Maybe," Audrey replied.
"Now, let's get out of here for a bit. Mom is picking up the kids, so we're free. What would you like to do?"
"How about lunch and a movie? I'd also like to see your friend, the one who came to visit you in New York, if we can."
"Tori? I'll call her. It may be her afternoon off. She works part-time now."
After making arrangements to meet Tori at the mall for lunch and a movie, the two friends got ready to go and drove to the appointed meeting place. They saw Tori waiting for them at the entrance to the mall when they arrived.
"Oh, Audrey, it's so good to see you. I was hoping we could get together while you were in town," Tori said as she hugged her.
"I was hoping for that too. We have to catch up over lunch."
The three friends chose the Mexican restaurant in the mall, and after getting settled, Audrey began, "Tell me all about the hubs and kids."
"Well, things are going well. Jonathan and I just built a house. Our son is four, and our daughter is two. I'm working part-time, and the rest of the time I'm a wife and mommy. Now, how about you? How's work? Are you still the single, New York City career gal?"
"Work is keeping me very busy these days. I really needed this break."
"Any new guys I don't know about?"
Audrey hesitated for just a second before saying, "No, not really. I met Cora's friend Beau last night, and he said something about getting together before I go back to New York, but you know nothing's going to happen there."
"Beau Birch, the most eligible bachelor in town? Many a girl would give her eye teeth for a date with him, but he hasn't been asking."
"Hmm, well, this girl isn't his type. I'm sure he was just being polite."
"I wouldn't be so sure. He's pretty picky."
Cora stepped in with, "We'll see what happens. They haven't even gone out yet."
Tori laughed. "You're right. You know I'm always trying to talk our Audrey into looking for Mr. Right, whoever he may be."
"When she finds him, she'll know," Cora said.
Audrey shifted uncomfortably in her seat. That was the problem. She did know. The only problem with that was the fact that the one who made her tummy tingle wasn't the one for her.
The girls finished their lunch and chose a movie. They laughed throughout, and when the afternoon matinee was over, Tori hugged both of them and told them she needed to pick up the kids from the sitter's and get home.
"If I don't get to see you before you leave, please have a safe flight home and stay in touch," Tori told her as she unlocked her car door.
"I will. Give Jonathan and the little ones a hug from me."
"Bye, Tori, we'll get together again soon," Cora said.
When they got home, Dale had picked up both of the children and had already fed them.
"You're home early," Cora said as she planted a kiss on his cheek.
"I didn't have a late appointment, so I got out of there for a change. I knew your mom had the kids, so I stopped by to get them. Did you have a nice afternoon?"
"We did. We met Tori for lunch and then went to a matinee. What do you want for dinner?" Cora asked.
"I've ordered pizzas. I hope that's all right with both of you."
"Sounds good to me; I don't have to cook."
"I love pizza, so it's good with me, too. Thanks, Dale," Audrey said.
The three of them enjoyed the pizza and played board games with the little ones after dinner.
"I'm sorry this vacation isn't very glamorous for you," Cora said after they'd put the kids to bed. "I mean, pizza and playing board games with two little ones isn't exactly the kind of exotic trip a single thirty-two-year-old takes," Cora said apologetically.
"Nonsense, I'm enjoying every minute of this. If I had wanted glamour, I'd have stayed in New York or gone to the beach or to Vegas. I chose to visit you."
Cora hugged her friend, and they all decided it was time to turn in for the night.
The next day, Cora got a text from Beau asking for Audrey's cell phone number. She sent it to him and went on with her work until time to pick up her little boy at school. Audrey had been relaxing most of the day.
"I'm going to check my other email account to see if there are any replies to my ad before I go get my little man. Do you want to come along or stay here when I pick him up?" Cora asked.
"I'll stay here, if you don't mind. I'm really enjoying a day of doing nothing. I've sunbathed, and I've read for pleasure, now I'm going to grab a quick shower, then I can help you with dinner."
"Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you. We're going to the Bartons' for dinner."
"That sounds great. I'll just get cleaned up while you're gone."
Cora opened the inbox in her second email account and was surprised by the number of applications already there.
When she and little Dale returned home later, she found Beth Anne and Audrey snuggling on the couch watching cartoons.
"Look at all these résumés," she said as she showed the stack to Audrey. She had actually printed them off so she could mark things of interest on each of them.
"Wow, do you want me to help you go through those in the morning?"
"Oh, would you? That'd be great. I'll set up some interviews, and maybe you can sit in on them."
"I'd be glad to."
"There I go, making you work again."
"Nonsense, I like helping you."
Dinner with Dale's folks was a pleasant affair, as usual. His sister and her family were also there, and Audrey was thrilled to catch up with them.
Chapter 5
On Friday morning, the girls went through the stack of applications and chose three to interview. Cora called them and set up the interviews for Monday m
orning.
Audrey's phone rang just as they were finishing up.
"Hello, this is Audrey," she said.
"Beau, here, wondering if you'd go out to dinner with me, tonight."
"Sure, I guess that will be okay. Let me ask Cora, first, to see if she has any plans for us." She turned to Cora and told her it was Beau. When Cora said she'd made no plans, Audrey returned to the call.
"Pick me up around sevenish?" she asked.
"That should work for me. I'll see you then. I thought we'd go to a local club, have dinner and drinks, and maybe do some dancing. They'll have a band on stage later."
"I'll be ready, cowboy."
She turned to Cora. "What did I just do?"
"I think you just agreed to go out with the cowboy. Did he say where he was taking you?"
"A club, dinner, drinks, and dancing," she replied. "What should I wear?"
"I think that new skirt you bought in Austin will be fine. It's casual. The boho top you got with it will be fine too. You may want to borrow my cowboy boots."
"What?"
"If you're going to a Texas dance club, you should wear cowboy boots."
"You've got to be kidding."
"No, not at all," Cora said with a giggle.
Audrey rolled her eyes and followed Cora to her bedroom to take a look at the boots. She tried them on, and they were a perfect fit. "Are you sure about this?" she asked.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Texas, do as the Texans do."
"I can't believe I am agreeing to this. Just promise me, no pictures."
The rest of the day was spent visiting with Cora's mother, who'd stopped by to see Audrey.
"I wish I could see Cassie, too," Audrey said as they chatted.
"I know, but I doubt if they'll make it up here this time around. They've been on vacation with the kids and will be back at work next week. She so enjoyed it when you were in San Antonio for the book event and spent time with her. She talked about it for a long time afterward."
"I enjoyed that too. I couldn't go to San Antonio and not see Cassie. I just feel like Cora's family is part of my family after all these years."
"We feel the same way about you, dear," Mrs. Watson said as she patted Audrey's hand.
Cora laughed. "The Carters always made me feel welcome when I was in New York, too. They knew I was a long way from home, and when they had Audrey over for dinner, they always included me."
Mrs. Watson looked at the clock on the microwave and said, "I hate to rush off, but it's getting late and I should get going. Your dad and I are going to Dallas in the morning for a few days, and I need to go home and pack. You girls enjoy the rest of Audrey's stay."
"We will. You and Dad have fun in Dallas." Cora walked her mother to the door.
"I've got to scoot to get ready," Audrey said when Cora returned. "I'm so glad your mom stopped by, though."
"She wouldn't let you come to town without spending at least a little time with you. You know that. Now, go get ready. You have a date tonight, woman."
Audrey ran to the bedroom, gathered her things and went to the bathroom to shower and do her makeup and hair. When she had finished, she hurried back to the bedroom and got dressed. Finally, she pulled on Cora's cowboy boots and walked to the mirror.
Well, I guess I'll pass for a Texas gal tonight, she thought as she twirled in front of the glass.
She joined Cora in the kitchen, where she was preparing dinner for her family. "Do I pass inspection?" she asked.
Cora turned around to get a good look at her. She smiled and said, "You look amazing."
Dale walked in just then. He asked Audrey, "What's this, the New Yorker in cowboy boots?"
"I'm borrowing them from Cora for the night," Audrey explained. "Do they look dorky?"
"You look fine. What's the occasion?"
"Dinner and dancing with the cowboy," she replied.
Dale glanced over at Cora before answering, "Have a great time."
Beau arrived a few minutes early. Dressed in tight, freshly pressed jeans and a sport shirt, he looked great to Audrey. Telling herself to calm down, she said sweetly to him, "I'm ready to go when you are."
"You look fantastic, right down to the boots, which I'm assuming are Cora's," he teased.
"I sure wouldn't buy a pair," she said with a giggle.
"Spoken by a true New Yorker, but we'll turn you into a Texan yet."
They told Cora and Dale goodbye, and Beau escorted her to his truck, shiny and red.
"I'll bet you've never been picked up for a date in a pickup truck, have you?" he asked as he helped her inside.
"No, I can't say that I have," she agreed as she buckled the seat belt.
The conversation flowed smoothly on the ride to the club. They talked about publishing, which seemed to be a safe subject, for the time being. She told him she'd seen some of his work.
"What did you think?" he asked.
"You do good work. I can see why Cora wants to keep you around."
"Her business is really taking off. I hope I can keep up with the demand," he said in a worried tone.
"Just do the best you can do."
When they arrived at the club, he helped her out of the truck, and when his arms circled around her waist to lift her out of the cab, she shivered. I'm in so much trouble here, she thought as she smiled up at him and saw him smiling back at her.
When they entered the club, Audrey could see immediately that Cora had been right about the boots. In the dimly lit room, she saw several women with boots and skirts or boots and jeans. Most of the tables were taken, but Beau scanned the room and spotted one in the back. He took her hand and led her to it, and after a few minutes, a harried young waitress stopped by with menus.
"What can I get y'all to drink?" she asked.
Beau looked across the table at Audrey and asked, "Beer?"
"That'll be fine," she replied as Cora's words rang in her ears, "when in Texas, do as the Texans do."
He placed the order for two brews and proceeded to tell her that the wings were especially good.
"I've never had hot wings before," she admitted. "Just how hot are they?"
He laughed. "Out here, pretty damn hot, but you can order them with mild sauce. Of course, we Texans think mild is for sissies."
"I'll admit to being a sissy," she said with a smile.
"I'll take care of you," he replied with a wink.
When the waitress returned with the beer, he told her, "We've decided what we'll have."
"Ready when you are," the girl said as she poised her pencil and waited for him to continue.
"The lady will have a small order of wings with mild sauce and Texas fries. Give me the same, only with the house sauce."
"Easy enough," she said with a smile in Audrey's direction. "Not from Texas?"
Audrey giggled. "Gee, how could you tell?"
"Just a wild guess," the waitress said. "It's okay, honey, we're an acquired taste."
"Wow, you guys really are a breed all your own," she teased when the girl had gone.
"We'll grow on you pretty fast. Haven't you seen the bumper stickers that say, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as quickly as I could?"
"No, I can't say that I have," she answered. "Are you pulling my leg, cowboy?"
"Not at all," he replied. "Take a look at all the cars from now on. I'll bet you'll spot a couple of them."
"Okay, I'll do that," she said with a soft laugh. She was enjoying the light banter with him. His way of being a bit mouthy was growing on her.
She glanced around the room, taking in the couples seated at most of the tables. They all looked cozy and happy. Some were whispering, some were holding hands, and she even caught a glimpse of one man leaning across the table to kiss his date.
"Are you all set to do some dancing with me later on?" he asked.
"That depends on what you call dancing. If you want me to do that line-dancing thing, I'm afraid I'm at a loss."
> "I could teach you, but if you prefer, we'll stick to the slow ones."
"I think that might be best for my first time in a Texas dance club. I would hate to embarrass you in front of your cowboy pals."
"Oh, sweetheart, you could never embarrass me," he said as his hand reached up to gently caress her cheek. "I'd be proud to be seen with you any day of the week."
The waitress brought their order, and Audrey started out with one of the fat fries on her plate. She picked up the ketchup bottle and poured a generous amount on the plate next to the potatoes and immediately dipped the first one into the thick, red liquid. She took a bite and closed her eyes. "Heaven. Do you know how long it's been since I've had fries and ketchup?"
"No, how long, darlin'?"
"Too long," she replied.
"Now try a wing. I want to see the expression on your face when you take your first bite. Remember this is the mild sauce."
Puzzled, she obeyed by picking up the messy piece of meat and sinking her teeth into it. Immediately, she dropped the tasty morsel and reached for her beer. After taking a long swig of the golden liquid, she fanned her face with her hand. "That's mild?" she asked.
"Uh-huh," he said while shaking his head. "Now take another bite." When she hesitated, he urged her with, "Go on. Trust me."
Gingerly, she picked up the sauce slathered chicken wing once more and took a tiny bite. As her taste buds adjusted to the flavor, she sighed. "Oh, wow, that's really good."
"I told you to trust me, didn't I?" he asked.
He began to eat his own food. She watched as he took a bite and never once winced or took a drink. "How'd you do that? I mean, yours is hotter than mine."
"You're forgetting, I grew up here, been eating this stuff all my life."
They finished the meal, and Audrey picked up one of the moist towelettes the waitress had left on the table for them to clean their hands. "I guess I'm going to need this."
"Definitely," he said as he followed suit.
He ordered another beer for each of them, and they began to chat again.
"When do you go back east?" he asked.
"A week from Sunday," she replied. "I'm really going to miss Cora and her little family. I've become quite smitten with her little cherubs."
Her Texas Dom (Dominant Men Book 4) Page 5