by Tina Leonard
He pointed back to the hallway, gesturing that Valentine should have turned left to find the powder room.
The room was silent, and after he heard Valentine close the powder room door, he peeked out from underneath Miss May.
Nina was gone.
“And once again, I am left thinking about her,” he muttered. “Darn that crazy little package of misfortune!”
A man could not keep a close enough eye on her.
He almost felt a need to stay right next to her at all times, to make certain he could keep his eyes and hands on her.
Just to keep her out of trouble, of course.
“What’s so important down there?” he muttered. If Valentine had come to get Nina, then he needed to be down there, too. Though he’d wanted to tag-team, Navarro knew that Crockett couldn’t be trusted with the details, nor to make decisions. In fact, no one could be trusted to make decisions where Nina was concerned—she and her sister were quite the duo of explosive drama, and only he knew it!
“Darn,” he said, pulling on his boots. “It isn’t easy being a man of mystery and a man of responsibility.” He dialed Crockett’s cell phone so he could tell him to come back up to swap places with him. “Best if those two spend as little time around each other as possible—specifically since Nina’s obviously got a twin bad boy fantasy thing disturbing her.”
“Hello,” Crockett said.
“I’ve decided you need to nap. I’ll handle the family caucus.”
“I’m good,” Crockett said. “You enjoy Miss May.”
“Get back up here before I have a coronary!”
“Not right now,” Crockett said. “I’m just getting to the good stuff.”
“What good stuff?”
“You know.”
“No, I don’t know,” Navarro said, sensing where the conversation was going. “Tell me you’re not cozying up to Nina.”
“Vice versa, in fact.”
He sounded way too happy about that. “Get up here,” Navarro demanded. “You don’t understand what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Can’t be all that bad,” Crockett said. “No woman is.”
Navarro ground his teeth. “No tag-team dating our girlfriend,” Navarro reminded him. “No dating her at all!”
“I dunno. She’s a free woman, isn’t she? You’re not interested in getting tied down. And you told me to keep an eye on her.” He paused for a second. “My eyes like what they see, actually.”
Navarro squinted. “Crockett, when next I see you, I’m going to put my boot up your jeans.”
“You may never see me again,” Crockett said. “Nina’s just about convinced me to move to Delaware.”
“That’s it,” Navarro said. “I’m coming down.”
Crockett laughed. “Cool off, hothead. It would be an inefficient use of time. I’m handling what you assigned me.”
“That was back when I thought efficiency was the better part of planning,” Navarro said. “Now I think I better not delegate Nina.”
“I think your goat’s being got, bro. I think you may like that little girl more than you’re letting on.”
“Is she standing right there listening to you? Because I’m pretty sure you’re wrong, and I wouldn’t want her disappointed. She only thinks she’s falling for my Man of Mystery routine.”
Crockett laughed so hard he had a coughing attack. “Gotta go,” he said between wheezes. “See ya.”
Navarro clicked off, annoyed. He spread the magazine back over his face, but for some reason, he’d lost the urge to nap.
Nina’s giggle floated up the stairs. Crockett was probably doing his thing, making her laugh at his antics. That was the problem with his twin; he had all the seriousness of a clown. Navarro hardly ever cracked a joke, and he couldn’t remember a punch line to save his soul.
Another giggle. “That’s it,” Navarro said. “Back doors were made for situations like this. I’m going riding, and I’m not coming back until everybody is in bed!”
TWHO HOURS LATER, Nina knew matters were far from being resolved. Valentine was uncomfortable, and Last was miserable. The two of them didn’t belong in the same room together. The doctor had long since left, after kindly chatting with Valentine and reassuring her. No one wanted to talk about what they were going to do about the baby, and the Man of Mystery was remaining elusive—despite her pretending to kiss his brother.
Jealousy was not in Navarro’s dictionary. He might be a great kisser, but if she fell for his appeal, her position would be as unfortunate as her sister’s.
Reality had to kick in sometime.
“Let’s go to bed, Valentine,” Nina said softly, patting her sister’s hand.
“Great idea.”
Nina nodded. “Gentlemen, my sister and I are going to call it a night.” She stood, forcing a smile for everyone. Of all the brothers, she had to say she was most disappointed in Navarro. Gone was the camaraderie they’d shared earlier in the day. Though she didn’t deny the situation was awkward, she missed the easygoing banter they’d explored.
It was almost as if he’d turned into a different person once he’d returned to Malfunction Junction. And now he’d been gone for nearly two hours.
She was finding it very easy to be peeved with him.
She noticed Last hanging back in the family room so he wouldn’t have to say good-night to them.
“Here,” Crockett said. “I’ll walk you to the other house.”
“We’ll be fine,” Nina said. “We actually don’t mind walking alone. It’ll give us time to wind down.”
He handed her the keys and a flashlight. “Can I at least follow you?”
She shook her head. “We’ll be fine. Watch from the window.”
The brothers watched them from the porch. “You did fine,” she said to Valentine, squeezing her hand as they walked.
“I barely said a word. I was too nervous.” Valentine looked at her. “I shouldn’t have come. It didn’t solve anything.”
“It’s too soon to solve anything. Everything’s difficult.” They walked onto the main road.
Valentine started to cry. “I wish I weren’t in this position.”
“I wish we weren’t, either, but we are, and it’s all going to be fine. I, for one, cannot wait to hold the baby.”
“I think that cowboy would be falling for you if I wasn’t in the way,” Valentine said. “I’ve messed up your chance to have a man love you.”
“Nonsense,” Nina said, walking faster. “Navarro’s not The One, anyway. I have a funny feeling that happiness is not dating a Jefferson male. Although he does kiss very well.”
“THE JIG IS UP,” Crockett told his twin as he walked into the barn later that night. “I found you. May I rate you an F for Hospitality to Guests In Difficult Times?”
Navarro grunted. “Put a sock in it, Crockett. Everything happened too fast. Decisions were flying and actions that required consideration were stampeding. I needed a time-out.”
“You knew they were tricky girls,” Crockett pointed out.
“I didn’t realize they could play the game at white-hot speed. Why didn’t I believe myself when I said that carefully thinking through our actions was important?”
“And yet, what would going slower have gotten you? I don’t know, man,” Crockett said, biting into another cupcake. “I still say we came out with more info about Valentine’s plans than we had going in.”
Navarro looked at his brother. “You have frosting on your chin.”
Crockett wiped off the frosting. “I like Valentine,” he said with a shrug. “She’s a bit tough, but she’s had to be. Mostly she just thinks about her baby.”
Navarro groaned. “This isn’t going to be easy, is it?”
“Nope.”
“I can’t even see the finish line now.”
“We didn’t see it when we started. It’s just farther away than we’d hoped it would be by now.”
“What are we going to do about Last?”
“Not a damn thing,” Crockett said. “We let him solve his own problems. He got himself into this. Perhaps we shouldn’t go rushing in to save the day.” He shrugged. “The day can’t be saved, anyway. We’re having a baby.”
“Darn that charmed bed,” Navarro said. And darn Nina for making me want to sleep in it with her!
“Stay out of it,” Crockett told him. “I don’t believe in charms, good luck or otherwise, but we don’t need to test fate.”
“I don’t think I’ll be invited into Nina’s bed even if I figure out how to rescue it.” He’d be lucky if he ever got Nina out on a date. “I should get some sleep. I have a lot to do tomorrow.”
“What’s our plan now?”
Navarro shook his head. “To put this horse up.” He patted the animal’s neck. “After that, there’s no telling.”
“What about Nina?”
“She went off mad. What can a man do with an angry female?”
Crockett laughed. “Not a damn thing except stay out of the way.”
“Thanks for the help. You’re a regular ray of sunshine.”
“Yep.” Crockett took the horse’s reins and began walking toward the stall. “Strange thing, being related by a baby.”
“It happens all the time.”
“Yes, but with Valentine there’ll be no wedding. No Christmas dinners. And it feels so wrong to have relatives who don’t like us. I say our new plan should be to woo Valentine.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Not exactly,” Crockett said carefully. “Last can’t handle this deal. You saw him. He looked like he had spiders in his pants the whole time Valentine was here. In fact, he’s been weirded out ever since he learned he’s going to be a father.”
“He probably knows Mason’s gonna bust a cap when he comes home and finds out Last didn’t recite the condom poem Mason drummed into our heads way back when we still thought rubbers were something to be used for schoolwork and rolling up newspapers.”
“Sure. Mason will freak, no question. Best we get the problem cleaned up before our oldest brother returns,” Crockett said. “As much as it can be cleaned up, anyway. That means the baby belongs here, too.”
“I hear what you’re saying.” Nina had made it clear she was headed back to Delaware. “I did hear Valentine tell Nina that she needed to buzz off about the baby plans. Valentine’s getting all maternal and protective now that something’s growing inside her.”
“Sure she is. Valentine’s not a lost cause,” Crockett said. “We need to convince her that Union Junction is the place for her and her baby. Not some salon of questionable repute. Or Delaware.”
“What about her request for funds? Don’t suppose it’ll ever pop back up again?”
“Maybe she’d rather have a family and a clean, safe home for her baby than sue us,” Crockett pointed out. “Maybe she’d rather have a father figure.”
“Whoa.” Navarro watched his brother remove the saddle from the horse. “Father figure?”
“Most women count two parents as an essential hope for their child. We are the only family who thinks we’re just fine without the maternal component. But then again, we’ve always had Mimi, and she gave us the female counterpoint we needed.”
“Mimi,” Navarro muttered. “Now there’s an example of love gone wrong. Mason pushed her into another man’s arms.”
“What the hell?” Crockett said. “Earth to Navarro, fast, please.”
“Crap. I’m at risk of becoming Mason,” Navarro said. “Is it possible to become Mason, when you’ve tried so hard not to?”
“I don’t know, bro. Have you been overlooking your best friend for umpteen years? Did the little girl in pigtails who stole your hunting guns turn into the county’s best-looking woman when you had your head up a cow’s behind?” Crockett stared at him.
Navarro took a deep breath. “I’ve only known her for a day, but I’m still afraid I screwed everything up.”
“Well, you did,” Crockett agreed cheerfully. “Royally. And may I point out that you did it in a record twelve hours. That may be a Jefferson cake-taker. But, look at it this way. It was only twelve hours. It’s impossible to lose your sanity over a woman in that short amount of time.”
“Not if you factor in the love-at-first-sight expediator.”
“Expediator?” Crockett guffawed. “Is that Webster’s or Oxford?”
“No dictionary at all. I’m serious! I believe in love at first sight. I mean,” Navarro hedged, “I’m not saying I’m in love or anything.” He took a deep breath. “But I’m willing to admit there’s a possibility I don’t know everything.”
“You know enough to make up words,” Crockett said with a grin. “You always sucked at Scrabble.”
“I am saying I’d like that little peach in my fruit basket.” Navarro forked some hay into the bin. “I don’t want to romance Valentine. The importance of Valentine cannot be understated, since she’s bearing Jefferson offspring. But I have an itch for Nina I swear I can’t scratch.”
Crockett sighed. “She’ll go back to Delaware and break your heart. It’s a very bad idea, Navarro. I’d buy myself a back-scratcher if I was you and do the job yourself.”
Navarro gave him a black look. “You romance Valentine. Nina’s already confused enough about who she was kissing for me to go romancing her sister. All I need is for Nina to think I play from both sides of the street.”
“Um, no.” Crockett shook his head. “She wouldn’t think that.”
“I don’t want to talk about it any more. She’s funny. She’s cute. She’s round and soft. She’s sexy. She’s smart—librarians like her just don’t grow on trees around here,” Navarro said. He sat on a bench.
Last walked into the barn, his dog at his side. “Where have you guys been?”
“Hanging around,” Navarro said. “How are you holding up?”
“I think I’m better now,” Last said. “I only saw Valentine that one night and I was afraid to face her again.”
Navarro looked at him. “You never knew her at all? Even I’ve seen Valentine hanging around the rodeos.”
“Be honest. We’ve all seen her at the front desk of the Never Lonely Cut-n-Gurls salon,” Crockett said. “Let’s quit lying to each other. We’ve all been in there for a trim. We may love Delilah across the street, and our loyalty may be to her salon, but we’ve all been inside the competition for a look-see. Some of us have even gotten more than that.”
“I never went in,” Last said. “When I go To Lonely Hearts Station, I visit and drink tea with Delilah and Jerry.”
“Then how did it happen?” Crockett asked. “You can skip the most sordid of the details.”
“He can’t skip too many,” Navarro said. “Because I had to put the bed back together. I know he’s not as innocent as he looks.”
“There was no bed.” Last shook his head. “I was at Barmaid’s Creek. Somehow I ended up there after the rodeo party Marvella threw at her place.”
Crockett and Navarro stared at each other.
“Are you certain?” Navarro asked.
“I’m pretty sure the only time I was conscious that night after I was drinking was when I was in the creek,” Last said. “I was pickled.”
“His jeans were wet when he got home,” Crockett said. “I thought he’d been swimming in the heart-shaped hot tub, which, as yet, I have not experienced.”
“I think the taxi came for me at the creek,” Last said. “I’m sure there’s records at the taxi office. The town is not that big.”
Navarro’s face went stonelike. “I’ve been had,” he said.
“What do you mean?” Crockett demanded.
“That little story-time-tellin’ librarian with a penchant for avoiding twenty questions knows more than she’s telling.”
AT A SOUND BEHIND THEM, Valentine turned. “What’s that coming up the road?” she asked. “It looks like a man on a horse.”
“I was just thinking the same thing.” Nina sl
owed her pace to peer at it. “It is a man on a horse, riding fast. Can you believe how fast he’s going? I would never ride that fast on a horse. In fact, I don’t even like horses. Contrary beasts.”
She moved as tight to the shoulder of the road as she could and stopped so she wouldn’t spook the horse. To her surprise, the horse pulled up and Navarro grinned down at her.
The Navarro she remembered from this morning, with sparkling eyes and gnarly attitude.
“Forget something?” Nina asked.
“Nope.”
“What’s the matter, Lassie? Tree in the road? Timmie take a spill? Speak, Lassie,” she said, annoyed that Navarro looked so good and so manly astride his black horse.
He actually chuckled at her. “Think you left too soon.”
“Really? You mean, the party’s about to get better?”
“Maybe.”
She shook her head. “We’re tired, Navarro. This has all been very stressful on my sister. We want to go to bed.”
“Give us a chance,” he said. “We don’t do well around women. But we can find some manners, even me. And I’ll probably improve as I get the hang of it.” He tipped his hat to Valentine. “Miss Valentine.”
Nina blinked. “Valentine wants a comfy bed and a hot shower.”
“I do?” Valentine asked.
“Yes. Not too hot, of course, just right.”
“Then let me visit you later. After you’ve had some time to unwind.”
“Why?”
His shrug was confident. “To talk about baby booties and cribs and stuff.”
“Suppose Valentine doesn’t want to talk about that?”
“Then we just get to know each other better over a game of Ping-Pong. A back-and-forth game between two combatants.” He laughed after he said it, and Nina narrowed her eyes.
“You’re too slippery,” she said. “I have a funny feeling you’re not giving the full story on a lot of stuff.”
He winked. “I’m harmless.”
“No, you’re not.”
“You like him,” Valentine said in a low voice. “He’s sexy.”
Nina peered up at Navarro. “Sexy doesn’t do me any good if there isn’t honesty to go with it,” she said to Valentine.