Honky Tonk Hearts Volume 2

by The Wild Rose Press Authors

  Honor wished she had all the answers. She’d thought she could have a fling with Chase and leave town with a satisfied smile and a lasting memory. One night spent in his arms proved she’d been mistaken. The only thing she’d walk away with would be a broken heart. Staying away from him seemed like the smart thing to do.

  The damage’s already done, so why not enjoy? She ignored the taunting voice that had more to do with hormones than common sense.

  “I don’t need a phone.”

  “Everyone needs a phone.” The frown turned into a scowl. “I have to drop everything and drive to town just to talk to you.” He flopped onto the daybed and stared at her. “And I worry.”

  Pulling out a chair at the table, she sat down and sipped her tea. “Why on Earth would you worry?”

  He picked at a loose thread on the quilt. “You haven’t found any more—surprises?”

  She closed her eyes and breathed through her nose. “Marge has a big mouth,” she snapped. “It was road kill, a silly prank.”

  “There’s more to it than that.”

  Dread shivered down her spine. “Explain.”

  “I didn’t want to tell you, but I can’t keep an eye on you when you make up lame excuses not to see me.” His voice rose. “I’m losing sleep, stressing over what might happen next.”

  Honor gritted her teeth. “What are you talking about?”

  “There was a dead prairie dog on your doorstep the morning after Jenna’s wedding…and a message.”

  She couldn’t breath. Her throat constricted, and bright lights danced in front of her eyes. Chase rushed across the room and pushed her head between her knees. After an eternity, her lungs filled with air. Slowly she raised her head.

  His skin had taken on a sickly hue beneath his tan. His nostrils flared. “I knew telling you was a bad idea.”

  “What did the message say?”

  He was quiet for a long moment. “Go away.”

  Not the death threat she’d feared from his tight-lipped frown, but bad enough. She slumped in the chair. “Sounds like good advice. Maybe I’ll take it.”

  “How can you joke about this?”

  “I’m not joking. Andee’s in and out of the café constantly, just itching to get back to work. The woman doesn’t know the meaning of the word relax.”

  Crossing his arms over his chest, he frowned down at her. “So?”

  “So, I was only here to help out.” She swallowed against the lump lodged in her throat. “There’s nothing else keeping me in Redemption.”

  He stiffened and walked across the room. Lifting the blind, he stared out at the dark night. “You intended to stay longer.”

  His whole body radiated tension. The broad shoulders beneath a chambray shirt practically quivered with it. She wanted to stroke the rigidity from his spine, ease the missing smile back into place.

  And then what?

  “Plans change.”

  He spun to face her. “So, that’s it?”

  She bit down on her lip to stop the trembling. “You said you didn’t want to hurt me.”

  His face softened. Crossing to her side, he knelt next to her and took her hands. “Is that what you’re afraid of?”

  The warmth of his grip seeped into her cold flesh. “Don’t you think I have reason?”

  He pulled her up out of the chair and wrapped her in his arms. “Maybe, but I don’t want to give up what we have.” His breath ruffled her hair. “Will you hold off leaving town, at least for a while? Please.”

  A pearl snap on his shirt dug into her cheek; she burrowed closer despite the pain. Saying yes would only delay the inevitable…but she couldn’t say no.

  “I won’t pack my bags tonight, but I’m not going to sleep with you, either.”

  He cupped her face in his hands and dropped a quick kiss on her upturned lips before stepping back. “That’s fine. Maybe we both need time to think things through.”

  “About the phone—”

  “Keep it, please, and lock your door.” The smile he gave her was a pale imitation of his usual sexy grin. “You wouldn’t want me to lose any more sleep, would you?”

  She let out a breath. “I’ll keep it for now.”

  “If anything happens, use it. Call me, or the sheriff, or both. I programmed my house and cell numbers into speed dial.”

  The thought of another dead animal made her stomach churn. “Let’s hope whoever put those poor creatures at my door gave up when they didn’t get a reaction. It was probably kids expecting the new lady to run screaming through the streets like a distressed damsel in a bad horror flick.”

  “Probably.” His voice held little conviction. “You’re sure you don’t want me to stay?”

  He touched her cheek, his calloused finger rough against her skin, sending a shiver through her. Her voice broke. “I can’t. I need more time.”

  His hand fell to his side. “I’ll leave, but I’m not giving up. Not by a long shot.”

  ****

  “I can’t believe you told her I’d do it!”

  Andee jiggled the stroller with her foot and raised her voice to be heard over Jackson’s cries. “You don’t tell Rita Longtree no.”

  Honor slapped French toast onto a plate, shook powdered sugar over it, and set it on the counter beside a Denver omelet and a tall stack of buckwheat pancakes. “Order up!”

  Brittany flew through the door, her spiky black hair looking wilder than usual. This morning her nose ring was a ruby stud, and tiny skulls dangled from her earlobes.

  “Table six?”

  “Yep, how’s it going out there?”

  “I think the worst of the morning rush is over.” Grabbing the plates, she headed out of the kitchen.

  Honor studied the next order. “Why not?”

  Her friend stared at her. “Why not, what?”

  Breaking three eggs into a bowl, she beat them with a whisk and let out an exasperated sigh. “Why doesn’t anyone tell Rita Longtree no?”

  “Because she’s the mayor’s wife, and, well, she won’t let you say no. You’ll see what I mean when you talk to her tomorrow afternoon.”

  “You said the anniversary party is in three weeks. I wasn’t planning on staying in town that long.”

  “We talked about this before.” She lifted her son from the stroller and shushed him, patting his back. His sobs petered out, turning into stray hiccups. “I thought you were going to give Redemption a chance. This is the perfect opportunity to get a catering business off the ground. With Rita Longtree’s endorsement, you’ll be set.”

  “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Andee, I really do.” She bit her lip and slid scrambled eggs onto a plate, added sausage and hash browns, and yelled for Brittany. “But—”

  “But what?” Her friend scowled, her fine brows drawing together across her forehead. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Chase and I, well. . .” She stuttered to a halt as the teenaged girl whipped into the room, grabbed the plate full of eggs, and left. “Let’s just say I’m sure to get hurt if I stick around.”

  Andee’s voice softened. “You haven’t fallen for Chase Paladin, have you?”

  She squeezed her eyes shut. “Maybe a little.”

  “I can see why. The man oozes sex appeal, and he’s funny and charming—” She broke off. “Why are you so sure he’ll hurt you?”

  “Because he isn’t serious about anything or anyone.”

  She laid the now sleeping baby back in the stroller. “That’s not true. He cares deeply about his ranch and his family. As for women—”

  “Love ’em and leave ’em. Ask Missy Cahill. I bet she’d give you an earful.” Honor lifted six fluffy pancakes from the grill, dropped them onto two plates, and added pats of butter. “Order up.”

  “The man is obviously crazy about you. In the last week, he’s been in and out of the café more often than Elwood. I think you should give him a chance. Maybe he’ll surprise you.”

  Brittany hurried in with a
load of dirty plates, deposited them in the sink, and picked up the waiting order. She glanced curiously from one woman to the other. “What are you two talking about?”

  “Chase Paladin,” Andee said.

  “He’s got it bad for you, Honey.” She backed toward the doorway, her dark eyes sparkling. “I’d go for it if I were you. The man’s seriously hot, even if he is kind of old.”

  Andee crossed the kitchen and gave her tense shoulders a squeeze. “You have three weeks until the anniversary party. By then Chase will be so in love, he’ll beg you to stay.”

  She let out a trembling sigh. “Or he’ll personally help me pack my bags.”

  Laughing, Andee headed toward the sink and the pile of waiting dishes. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. Bet I’m right.”

  Honor wouldn’t take the bet. She had too much riding on the outcome.

  Chapter Eight

  “Need a ride?”

  Honor paused on the sidewalk in front of the big, adobe style building that housed City Hall, raised her sunglasses, and stared at Chase through the open window of his pickup. “Haven’t I heard that line before?”

  “Seems like it. Where you headed?”

  “The Longtree estate. I have an appointment with Rita.”

  “Lucky you. Hop in, and I’ll give you a lift.”

  Pulling open the door, she stepped up into the cab and dropped her notebook onto her lap. “Thanks.” Her gaze strayed to his smoothly shaven jaw, the golden hair brushing his neck below his hat, the bright green eyes glinting with humor. Her heart sped up.

  “I thought you were borrowing Andee’s car when you needed to go somewhere.”

  “Jackson has a check-up with the pediatrician in Amarillo this afternoon.”

  “You could have called me.”

  “Believe it or not, I’m perfectly capable of walking a mile.”

  He slid a look in her direction, his glance wandering the length of her legs beneath a short pink skirt. “I don’t doubt it.” Dragging his gaze away, he turned left on Piney Wood Lane. “Why are you meeting with our esteemed mayor’s wife?”

  “To discuss catering their fortieth anniversary party.” She picked at a loose thread on her skirt. “Andee told her I’d do it.”

  “My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.”

  Turning right through open wrought iron gates onto a smoothly paved driveway, they climbed a slight rise. A huge antebellum monstrosity came into view with wings sprouting in every direction from the original structure. Tennis courts stretched out from a three car garage, and in the side yards were a putting green, a Grecian gazebo surrounded by a grape arbor, and a giant kidney shaped swimming pool. A flock of pink flamingo yard ornaments decorated the lawn. Chase stopped in front of the broad front porch.

  Closing her mouth, she turned to face him. “Wow. Fortune 500 meets trailer park tacky.”

  “That describes Rita to a T. The Longtrees don’t do anything on a small scale. Want me to wait for you?”

  “I have no idea how long our meeting will last. Anyway, I don’t mind the walk home. It may be a hundred degrees out, but there’s a breeze.”

  “What’s it going to take to get you to see me again?” He picked up her hand, turned it over, and rubbed his thumb across her palm. “A simple date is all I’m asking.”

  Her heart thumped painfully in her chest. Finally she nodded. “What did you have in mind?”

  His eyebrows shot up beneath the brim of his hat. “You’re agreeing?”

  “Saying no isn’t getting me anywhere.”

  A slow smile crept across his face, stealing her breath.

  “How about tomorrow? Wait, tomorrow I have an out of town buyer coming to look at a horse.” He frowned and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Wednesday is out, too.” His eyes brightened. “I’ll take you to the Lonesome Steer on Thursday. It’s karaoke night.”

  She drew in a long breath and let it out slowly. “Sounds like fun.”

  The look in his eyes added fuel to the slow burn inside her. Was she making a mistake? Probably. Chase had made it crystal clear he wasn’t looking for a commitment. Still...

  “Oh, Honey, I guarantee you’ll have the time of your life.”

  ****

  Chase braked at the stop sign opposite the Lone Star Market and leaned out the window. “You in charge of the grocery shopping now?”

  Carrying a brown paper bag, Joey Cahill loped across the street. “We were out of bread and milk, so Ma sent me. Whatcha doing?”

  “I have a date.”

  The boy’s eyes lit up. “Missy said she was going out tonight.”

  “Not with me.” At his crestfallen expression, he softened his tone. “I told you our breakup was final.”

  Joey drew a line through the dust with the toe of his sneaker. “I suppose you’re seeing Honor.”

  “You suppose right. Want me to give you a ride home first?”

  “Nah. See you, Chase.” Shifting the bag in his arms, he took off down the street.

  Chase watched him for a moment through the rearview mirror, and then headed toward the café. Anticipation simmered as he parked and ran up the back staircase. He’d been looking forward to this evening to the point of distraction, feeling like a boy on his first date with the best looking girl in town.

  Wiping damp palms down the sides of his jeans, he knocked on the door.

  Honor opened it—and took his breath away. She wore dark blue jeans and some sort of soft, turquoise colored top with skinny straps, and her hair fell in a cascade of curls down her back. Color bloomed in her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled.

  “Lord, you look beautiful.”

  She eyed him up and down. “You clean up pretty nice yourself. That shirt matches your eyes.”

  “Jenna bought it for me for my birthday.” Taking her hand, he pulled her forward and dropped a quick kiss on her upturned lips. “Ready to go?”

  She nodded, flipped on the porch light, and followed him down the stairs. Holding the pickup door open, he gave her a boost, his hand sliding across her hip.

  “I’d say you’re quite the gentleman if I didn’t know you were only trying to cop a feel.”

  Grinning, he shut the door and leaned on the open window. “Nothing gets by you.”

  Her lips twitched. “You aren’t exactly subtle.”

  Hurrying around to the driver’s side, he climbed in and started the engine. They headed east, the evening breeze whipping curls around her face. “Want to roll up the window and turn on the air conditioning?”

  “Nope, I prefer the fresh air.”

  “Your hair looks so different with all those curls. I didn’t want the wind to mess it up.”

  “This took some effort, but it’s indestructible.”

  Warmth settled around his heart. Knowing she’d made an effort for him was like finding an unexpected gift on Christmas morning. He reached across the seat and squeezed her hand. “How’d the meeting go with Mrs. Longtree?”

  Her voice was cautious. “Okay, I guess. She told me exactly what she wanted, and I said yes ma’am.”

  He laughed out loud. “Then I’m sure you got along just fine. She’ll recommend you to her friends, and you’ll have more catering jobs than you can manage in short order.”

  Pulling her hand away, she leaned into the corner of the seat. “I don’t think I’ll be around much longer. The California coast will be a lot cooler than Texas come July.”

  So, this was it. They’d see each other for a couple more weeks, and then go their separate ways before the relationship turned sticky. It was the perfect solution, one he would have given a prize steer for in the past. His stomach knotted just thinking about it. When his gaze met hers, he read stubborn determination in her eyes.

  The knot in his gut tightened. “Nothing wrong with a little heat.”

  “It can drain the life out of a person if you let it.”

  “True, but it doesn’t have to.” He turned into the crowded p
arking lot in front of the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk. “Honey—”

  She touched his lips with her finger. “Tonight, I just want to have fun.”

  He captured her hand and kissed the palm. Part of him wanted to pursue the conversation, but a lifetime of running from women when emotions surged too close to the surface won out. “You got it.”

  The honky tonk was packed. Winding their way through the occupied tables, they approached the bar. Gus watched their progress, lips curving beneath his handlebar moustache. Taking a frosty mug from the cooler, he poured a draft beer and plunked it down in front of Chase. “Good to see you again, Honey. What can I get you?”

  “I’ll have a short vodka cranberry.”

  He nodded and poured the drink, dark eyes sparkling with amusement. “You must have settled your differences with Chase if you agreed to a date.”

  “Let’s call it a work in progress.”

  His grin broadened. “Keeping him on his toes. Good for you.”

  The bartender moved away to serve another customer, and Chase curved an arm around her waist. “Gus approves of you.”

  “The man has good instincts—and a good heart.” She sipped her drink. “Should we find a table?”

  “I see one up near the stage.” Leaving bills on the bar to pay for the drinks, he threaded his way through dancing couples. A Keith Urban tune played on the old fashioned juke box, and in the far corner the sharp smack of pool balls could be heard over the hum of conversation. He pulled out a chair, and Honor sank onto it.

  “This place has a friendly atmosphere. I like it.”

  “I thought you would, though I wouldn’t mind something a little more private. Thursdays usually aren’t this busy.”

  She fiddled with her straw and looked down at the table. “Do you bring dates here often?”

  He hesitated, his insides clenching, and took a swallow of his beer. He didn’t want to piss her off, but he couldn’t lie. “I suppose I do.”

  She looked up, her eyes a clear, piercing blue. “I figured you did.” When he opened his mouth to speak, she touched the back of his hand. “It doesn’t bother me.” Her soft laugh was self-conscious. “Not much, anyway.”