Lip Service

by Susan Mallery

  Sunlight filtered in behind her, putting her in shadow. She was tall and curvy and beautiful. The blouse was buttoned up to her neck, which made him want to unfasten it, then pull it off and…

  Not why he was here, he reminded himself.

  “Mitch. What’s going on?”

  “I have to tell you something.”

  She grabbed the edge of her desk. “It’s not Erin, is it.”

  He moved to her side. “No. She’s fine. This is something else.” She needed to know and she wouldn’t be happy. How likely was she to shoot the messenger? In her mind, he probably deserved it. Worse, would she be hurt? He knew Jed wanted Skye to marry T.J. Where did she stand on the subject? He would much rather she was pissed at him than upset she’d lost a boyfriend.

  “I went to see Garth,” he told her. “I wanted to…do something.”

  “Fight him?”

  “I could take him.”

  “I’m sure you could and, while that’s really sweet, this isn’t your war.”

  “It became mine when he involved me.”

  Her mouth twisted. “You involved yourself.”

  “I know. But not the point right now. I went to see him and—”

  Well, damn. Saying this was harder than he thought. Would she even believe him?

  “T. J. Boone was there. They’re in it together.”

  She went pale. “He’s working with Garth.”

  “He was. Now he’s complaining about something. His reputation being ruined and people laughing at him. Your doing, I hope?”

  She sat on the corner of the desk. “Yes, mine. At least it was my idea. Lexi made most of the phone calls. We’re saying terrible things about him. He could sue us.”

  “Only if he’s willing to go to court to prove they aren’t true. Did you really come up with the idea of a rash?”

  “That was Lexi. I said to tell people he stole my dog. This is Texas. A man doesn’t do that here.” She squeezed her eyes tight, then opened then. “I can’t believe he’s working for Garth. To do what? Make trouble?”

  “Probably. T.J. mentioned he hadn’t been paid enough.”

  She groaned. “He did it for money? He screwed with us for money? Izzy is going to be so pissed.”

  “Why Izzy?”

  “It’s a long story, but the bottom line is she slept with him.”

  “Why would Izzy have sex with a guy you’re dating?”

  “Because she was trying to make a point. She said that T.J. wasn’t really interested in me. That he was pretending because of Jed. She thought Jed had made him the offer.” She stood and walked to the window, standing with her back to him.

  “She was right about his motive, but wrong about who was footing the bill,” Skye murmured, as if she were talking to herself and not him. “Not my father, who was fooled by T.J., too. My half brother. T.J. didn’t want to go out with me at all. He wasn’t interested.”

  Mitch didn’t know what to do. This was guy hell—should he move close and offer comfort or keep away? Worse, why was Skye upset? Was she just pissed or had she given her heart to that two-bit, cheating, suit-wearing—

  “I wasn’t even sure I liked him,” Skye continued. “He was very charming, but there was no chemistry. Izzy was right. Why would a guy like that be interested in someone like me?”

  That got him moving. He walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

  “Have you looked in the mirror lately?” he asked. “Why wouldn’t he be interested? You’re beautiful. You’re smart, you’re funny, you’re a great mom and you have a body designed to get men to sell their souls. I know. I’ve made a couple of down payments.”

  She hunched her shoulders. “You’re just being nice.”

  “When am I ever nice?”

  “Now would be an example. I fought with my sister because of a guy I wasn’t even sure I liked. I was difficult and judgmental and mean because of him. And all this time, he was working for Garth.”

  Her shoulders shook slightly.

  He turned her and pulled her close. “You fell for a smooth line. It happens.”

  “Not to me. I’m so stupid.”

  She was rigid in his arms but he didn’t let go. “How could you know?” he asked.

  “I should have guessed. If I wasn’t trying so hard to be some guy magnet, which I’m not, I wouldn’t have been such an idiot.” She stunned him by socking him in the arm and glaring at him. “This is all your fault.”

  He took a step back. “What? How?”

  “You came back and confused me. One minute you’re the guy I remember, the guy I was in love with, the next you’re a total asshole. You hurt me and kicked my heart to the gutter.”

  He held up both hands in front of him. “What does that have to do with T.J.?”

  “Nothing, but it’s still your fault.” She started to cry.

  He grabbed her and shook her, then he bent down and kissed her.

  Her lips were soft and yielding. Then she pushed away.

  “This is my office. I’m not having sex here.”

  “We’re just kissing. No one said anything about sex.”

  “So you don’t want me anymore? Was Garth paying you, too?”

  He swore. “Skye, I swear.”

  “What?” she demanded, looking defiant and beautiful.

  “You make me crazy.”

  “How do you think I feel?”

  “Like you need medication?”

  “Not funny.” But the corner of her mouth twitched. “I could take you.”

  “On what planet.”

  “Zorgon.”

  Then she was wrapping her arms around him and kissing him as if she would never stop. She leaned into him, pushing her tongue into his mouth. He responded with a surge of passion that left them both gasping. They each pulled back and looked at each other.

  “Better?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “Good. Now, what can I do to help?” he asked. He was willing to do anything to help, although his first vote was for sex.

  “I don’t know. Can I get back to you?”

  “Sure. I should probably let you get to work.”

  “Okay.”

  He started to leave, then turned around. “I’m sorry about T.J.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  “I’m trying to be polite.”

  “I’ll give you points for effort. I’m surprised, and I feel stupid, but I’m not hurt. We weren’t involved.”

  Are we?

  But he didn’t ask. Mostly because he realized he didn’t want to hear her say no.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  SKYE MET Lexi and Dana for lunch at Bronco Billy’s. She waited until they’d ordered to share the news.

  “T.J. was working for Garth.”

  Dana paused in the middle of pouring sweetener into her iced tea. Lexi sagged back in her chair.

  “Are you kidding?” Dana asked, then waved. “Don’t answer that. Stupid question. T.J. working for Garth. Of course.”

  “It makes sense,” Lexi said. “He waltzes into your life and Izzy’s and totally messes up things. He gets between you and causes trouble.”

  Skye sipped her diet soda. “He didn’t cause trouble on his own. We let him. I have to give him credit—he was really good. He pitted us against each other and all he had to do was sit back and watch the show.”

  Lexi leaned toward her. “Are you okay?”

  “If you’re asking if I’m hurt, I’m not. If you want to know if I feel like an idiot, absolutely. I can’t even remember how the fight with Izzy started. She was defending me and telling him off and he came on to her and…” It was a blur. “She was telling me there was something wrong, she just didn’t know what. I wouldn’t listen. Her gut was right but all I could hear was that some guy wanted her over me and I was tired of being the dateless sister.”

  “Izzy will understand,” Dana told her. “She’s good that way.”

  “I know.” Izzy would torture her for
a few minutes, then let it go. Skye would be left wallowing in guilt on her own.

  “I was so quick to jump to conclusions,” Skye murmured.

  “You were looking for a distraction and T.J. provided a good one,” Lexi said.

  “What do you mean, a distraction?”

  Dana and Lexi looked at each other. The glance was quick, but Skye recognized it. It meant they’d been talking about her, that they’d figured everything out.

  “What?” she demanded.

  “You haven’t been yourself since Mitch came back,” Dana said. “I totally get why. It’s a big deal. T.J. got lucky with the timing. If he’d shown up a month earlier, you would have caught on to him much sooner.”

  Skye didn’t bother pointing out she hadn’t caught on to him at all. Izzy had.

  Was it as simple as Dana said? Had T.J. been nothing but a distraction? Skye knew she didn’t care about the guy—they’d only gone out a few times. It was more what he represented.

  “Score another one for Garth,” Lexi said. “He’s managed to come between us.”

  “I’ve sent Izzy a text message asking her to call me when she gets a chance,” Skye told them. “I hope she doesn’t wait too long. I want her to know. I just hope she wasn’t too involved with T.J. This could hurt her.” Which wasn’t anything Skye wanted.

  “But you’re okay?” Lexi asked.

  “Yes. On the surface, he seemed like the perfect guy. I’m more upset I was fooled.”

  “How did you find out?” Dana asked.

  Skye told them about Mitch going to confront Garth.

  Lexi sighed. “He’s always been like that. A guy who gets things done. You have to respect that.”

  “You still in love with him?”

  Dana’s blunt question nearly made Skye choke on her drink. “Excuse me?”

  “Should I talk louder?”

  “No.” Skye glanced around to see who was sitting close. Fortunately, they were early and the place was fairly empty. “I’m not in love with Mitch.”

  “You sure? It sounds like there’s something going on.”

  “Don’t push,” Lexi said.

  “Why not? The only reason she was involved with T.J. at all was because of Mitch.”

  “Don’t forget that Jed wanted her to marry him. That would have had some weight.”

  “You think Skye is going to do that twice?”

  Skye slapped her hands down on the table. “Hello. I’m sitting right here.”

  They looked at her and shrugged. “Feel free to step in at anytime,” Lexi told her.

  “I have nothing to say on the subject of Mitch.”

  “Which is part of the problem,” Dana told her.

  Their lunches arrived. Lexi had ordered a salad, and both Skye and Dana dug into burgers. Skye was feeling the need for red meat and fries.

  “Mitch and I are friends. That’s all.” Friends who fought and made up and had hot sex in strange places.

  “You’re not friends,” Dana said. “I don’t know what you are, but it’s more than that.”

  “You’re still in love with him,” Lexi said as she stabbed a piece of grilled chicken. “I don’t think you ever stopped loving him, even when you were married to Ray, but that’s just me.”

  Skye stared at her. “I’m not in love with him.”

  “Oh, please,” Dana said, then frowned at Lexi’s salad. “Your healthy eating is starting to get on my nerves.”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  “I know that, but jeez, don’t you think you’re taking it too far? I agree with giving up drinking and all that, but I saw organic yogurt and tofu in your refrigerator the other day. Tofu? I’m starting to wonder how much longer we can be friends.”

  Skye couldn’t believe it. They made an announcement like that then bickered about tofu?

  “I am not in love with Mitch,” she announced loudly.

  Lexi looked at her. “Okay. If you say so.”

  “I’m not. I was, years ago. But we’re both different people. We have a history. It will always be complicated, but I’m not in love with him.”

  She couldn’t be. People change. They’d changed. “If I met him today, I’m not sure I’d even like him.”

  “Oh, you’d like him,” Dana told her. “He’s very likable.”

  “He can be a jerk,” Lexi pointed out. “But he’s dealing with a lot. His heart is in the right place.”

  “And other stuff.” Dana grinned. “Or so I’ve heard.”

  “Who did you hear that from?” Skye demanded. “Is Mitch sleeping with someone else?”

  “Ooh.” Lexi looked delighted. “So you are having sex with Mitch.”

  Skye felt herself flush. “I really hate you.”

  “No, you don’t. You love me and we’ll stop teasing you now.”

  “He’s not sleeping with anyone else,” Dana said. “He’s all yours.”

  “You make me insane. Both of you.”

  Lexi and Dana grinned at each other. “We know,” Lexi said. “It’s a gift.”

  SKYE GOT HOME a few minutes before the bus arrived with Erin. Her daughter burst into the house and began talking about her day.

  “I got an A on my book report,” she said as she put down her backpack. “My teacher says over the summer I need to read books that are about more than horses.” Erin wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know why.”

  “She wants you to broaden your horizons.”

  Skye cut up an apple and put it on a plate, then added some cheese and crackers. They sat across from each other at the table.

  “What else happened today?” she asked her daughter.

  “We have to bring in somebody to school our last week before summer vacation. Like show-and-tell only about work. Mandy’s dad owns a McDonald’s and he’s going to talk about that.”

  “Who were you thinking of bringing?” Skye asked, hoping it wasn’t Jed.

  “Mitch,” Erin said, watching her. “He could talk about being a SEAL and his leg and stuff.”

  Mitch would shine in the classroom, she thought. “I think that’s a good idea.”

  “You’re not mad at him?”

  Skye sighed. “No. Not anymore.”

  Erin nodded, then bit into an apple slice. “He made you cry.”

  “Sometimes people who know each other for a long time have fights. But we get over them and are friends again.”

  “So I can ask Mitch?”

  “Yes.”

  Erin chatted more about her day, how she’d eaten lunch with her friends and that maybe, just maybe, she would read a book that wasn’t about horses.

  Skye listened and talked, but she couldn’t stop thinking about her conversation with Lexi and Dana and their assumption that she was still in love with Mitch.

  It wasn’t true, she told herself. She might not be able to totally define her feelings but they weren’t love. They were complicated and rooted in the past. In time she would sort them out. Not that it really mattered one way or the other.

  But as she listened to her daughter, she couldn’t help wondering what it would have been like if she’d stood up to Jed and refused to marry Ray. If she hadn’t slept with him and gotten pregnant. Where would she and Mitch be now?

  MITCH STOOD outside the closed door. He didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to talk to a group of people he didn’t know anything about. Joss waited patiently beside him.

  “Let me answer the question,” the other man said. “Yes, you have to.”

  “Technically, I don’t,” Mitch muttered.

  Joss shook his head. “You’re consistent. I’ll give you that. Talk to me about the energy exercises I’ve given you.”

  Something else Mitch didn’t want to do. He’d mocked and resisted and finally he’d given in and done them. Every morning he rubbed his hands together like a cartoon villain to start the flow of energy. He moved his hands up and down his body, including where his leg had been, matching his breathing to the motions. He held pressure points
and cleared his mind and dammit all to hell, it had helped. His phantom pain was nearly gone. If he skipped a couple of days, it started to return.

  “Because organic beef and free-range chickens aren’t enough,” he grumbled. “You’ve got me chanting and hugging trees.”

  “No one is asking you to chant. Now are you going in or are you going to continue to waste my time?”

  He really wanted to waste Joss’s time but knew that wasn’t the right choice. He straightened, raised his chin and pushed open the door.

  Inside were a bunch of people sitting in chairs pulled into a circle. The men ranged in age from maybe eighteen to sixty-something. At first glance they seemed to have nothing in common. Then Mitch noticed a hook here, a wheelchair there. They were a support group for amputees.

  Joss had been pushing the group for a while now. He’d offered Mitch the choice of times and places, but not the option of not attending. Mitch had picked an all-male session with mostly vets. At least they would have that to talk about.

  “This is Mitch,” Joss said, walking into the circle and greeting several of the guys. “He’s new.”

  An old guy in a wheelchair laughed. “Let me guess. He doesn’t want to be here.” The man patted his two stumps. “I don’t want to be here, either. But every week I show up.”

  “Burt here is the leader of the group,” Joss told Mitch. “He’ll take care of you.”

  Mitch wanted to bolt. Instead he took a seat, knowing this was where he had to be. Joss slipped from the room.

  “I’ll start,” Burt said when the door had shut. “I’m Burt. I got stupid when I was twenty and lost both my legs when I played chicken with a train and lost. I still dream I can walk. Just the other night, I was walking on the beach with Raquel Welsh. Now most of you young pups don’t even know who she is, but trust me, she was something. A lady worth walking for.”

  Burt grinned. “Right now I’m in a good place. If I could get you gimps to let go of your anger, I’d be in a better place. But that’s why we’re here. I’m going to drag you kicking and screaming back into the world.” His smile broadened. “Some of you I have to drag because you can’t walk, but that’s a different story. Who wants to talk?”

  A man in his thirties raised his arm. The utility prosthesis glinted in the light.