The Book Babes Boxed Set (Texas Ties/Texas Troubles/Texas Together)

by Jean Brashear

  So what the hell had happened?

  With a sigh, Ava headed for the door. Maybe a good workout would clear her mind and bring inspiration.

  Then she remembered Saxon Gaillard. Holy cow. She’d better do an extra mile on the treadmill.

  * * *

  Finished with the weights, Ava stepped on the treadmill, wiping sweat from her forehead with the hem of Tom’s Albert Einstein t-shirt. In the mirrored wall, she caught a glimpse of a young man new to the gym, oozing rude good health and a young man’s raging hormones.

  Then realized he was looking her over, too. He winked when their gazes met.

  For just one moment, she paused, letting the look linger as if she weren’t old enough to be that young man’s mother. Then she smiled, the smile only an older woman has the confidence to gesture. His eyebrows rose, his grin spreading.

  Ava laughed from pure pleasure and resumed her walk. Maybe there were sags, maybe wrinkles—but she still looked damn good, if she did say so herself.

  She wondered why she’d ever thought working out would be a drag. Young men or no, it was a terrific writing break, sending her back to the computer with juices flowing.

  Juices flowing. Bad pun, Ava.

  Grinning, she climbed on the treadmill and set it for half an hour, random inclines, pushing the speed up a notch from usual. Got to keep her figure check-it-out worthy.

  Ava chuckled at herself, then drew out the book she’d read to pass the time. People were always stopping her to say they couldn’t understand how she could do that, read on the moving treadmill. Hell, she read while she walked her daily two miles around the neighborhood. Cast iron stomach and steady eyes. Good genes, she guessed.

  “What’s got you so cheery today?”

  Ava glanced to the side, then to her watch. She was running late, if it was already Laken’s lunch hour. “Check out the abs over by the bench press.”

  “Gawd,” Laken drawled. “I think I’m in love.”

  Ava laughed. “Sorry, you’re too late. He likes my behind.”

  “You’re taken.”

  “I’m also old enough to be his mother, but who the hell cares?”

  “I’ll be back.” With that, Laken strode across the room, lithe body encased in bike shorts and a halter top above. Ah, to have the lean hips of one who’d never borne children.

  That tousled look promising secret pleasures didn’t hurt, either.

  Ava watched long enough to see the young man do one more lift, then set the weights down with a clang. He sat up, but his gaze kept dropping to Laken’s chest. Laughing, Ava opened up her book again, but before she started reading, she saw the young man glance over, his gaze remaining on her for a long moment before turning back to Laken.

  Great, Laken. Squeal on me. Can’t even have an old married lady’s fun.

  The story soon engrossed her, so she didn’t notice Laken until her friend entered her peripheral vision.

  “He thinks you’re hot.”

  Ava rolled her eyes. “Do I want to know what you said?”

  “I told him you’d break his heart.”

  Ava stumbled but quickly regained her balance. “What on earth did you do that for?”

  Laken just grinned. “He doesn’t care. Maybe he’s got a thing for cougars—who knows?”

  “Good grief, Laken. Tell me you didn’t really do that. He can’t be much older than Grayson, for heaven’s sake.” Her son was twenty-one. She snapped her book shut. “Tell me you’re kidding.”

  “What’s the big deal? You’re married, not dead.”

  “Tom and I do not cheat, period.”

  “All right, all right. I’m just kidding. I know how disgustingly faithful you two are. Sickening, even.”

  “There’s nothing sickening about being in love with your husband.”

  Laken’s voice dropped. “You don’t have to rub it in.”

  Hell. What was wrong with everyone? Was she the only one not going through some weird emotional jag? Ava made a mental note to call Luisa—surely she was still sane.

  “I’m going to read now, Laken. Isn’t your warm-up done?”

  “I’m not going anywhere. Maybe I’ll just do this elliptical until it’s time for my next meeting. Or maybe I’ll keep going until the meeting is over.”

  “Don’t play martyr—it doesn’t fit.”

  “You’re right. That’s Ellie’s role. What’s with our Ellie anyway?”

  “It’s tough seeing them leave the nest—especially the first one.”

  “You did fine.”

  “I had Tom.”

  “She’s got Wyatt. If I had that hunk in my bed, I’d be pushing kids out of the nest as soon as they were weaned.”

  Ava shot her a glare. “Laken, you wouldn’t—”

  “Moi?” Laken was all innocence.

  Once Ava would have assumed her friend was teasing, but the keen edge of desperation that trailed Laken like a shadow made her less certain. Wyatt wouldn’t be the first married man for Laken.

  But this was Wyatt. Ellie’s Wyatt.

  “I’m not kidding, Laken. You leave Wyatt alone.”

  Laken jammed the stop button on her machine, bunching fists at her waist. “Stop sounding pious, Ava. You’re not my mother.”

  “And Wyatt’s not your husband. He belongs to Ellie.”

  The sight that greeted Ava couldn’t have shocked her more if Laken had stripped naked and run out in the street.

  Laken had tears in her eyes.

  “Don’t you think I know that? What kind of friend do you think I am? I would never hurt Ellie.” Swiping the tears from her lashes, Laken glared. “I know you think I have no principles, Ava, but you’re wrong.”

  More relieved than she could admit, Ava backed down the tension. She reached out to soothe her friend, but Laken jerked away. “I know you have principles, Laken. I believe you wouldn’t hurt Ellie on purpose.”

  “You just think I have no self-control.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to.”

  Stomach clenching, Ava drew in a deep breath. “Listen, I’m sorry. It’s just that with Ellie’s outburst last night, then Sylvie this morning—I guess I count on Ellie as much as the rest of you to be the same, to be in love with her husband, to…” She trailed off. She’d always thought of herself as the strongest of the group, but the notion of Ellie’s defection from the ranks of the happily married…

  “Shakes you, doesn’t it? Even the thought. Means it would be up to you and Tom to hold the standard for perfect marriages.”

  Laken’s words struck too close to home. Ava would think about that later. She changed the subject.

  “Sylvie wants Saxon to teach Ellie.”

  It wasn’t often Laken was shocked, but her jaw literally dropped. “That’s insane. Ellie will quit before the first lesson.” She laughed. “Oh, that’s rich. Has Saxon the Barbarian ever even taught anyone?”

  Ava had to laugh, too. “I had the same reaction.”

  “What can Syl be thinking of?” Laken glanced over, sobering. “What’s wrong with her and Gabe?”

  “She’s not talking. But she sounds serious. This isn’t just one of their spats.”

  “A quick trip to Paris will cure her…or he’ll surprise her with some exquisite painting.”

  “I don’t think so, this time.”

  “Has everyone lost their minds?”

  Ava glanced at her friend in silent appreciation of their mutual conclusion. “My question exactly. First you and the personals ad—”

  “I said don’t start with me, Ava,” Laken growled with no bite to it.

  “Tell me what you really told him.”

  “Who?”

  Ava glanced over. The young god’s abs were amazing. “You know who.”

  Laken glanced the same direction and waved.

  “Stop it, damn it.”

  Laken laughed. “I told him your husband smiled—a lot.”

  Ava grinned. This
was better. “And what did he say?”

  Laken shut off her machine and dismounted, casting a saucy grin as she moved away. “He said you needed to try a newer model. I told him to watch for his opportunity—but in the meantime, give me a call.”

  “Laken!” Ava shook her head. “It doesn’t matter,” she muttered. “I’m a happily married woman.” She refused to look back across the gym. Instead, she opened up her book and kept walking.

  Tom would laugh at the story. He’d see the humor in it, the ridiculousness of a young man their son’s age ogling her. Tom knew she was absolutely faithful to him, as he was to her. Laken simply couldn’t understand what she’d never had. Ellie and Ava were the only two in the group who truly understood how marriage worked. She and Tom were easy with each other. Things had been good for a long time. It hadn’t always been easy, it had taken a lot of effort, but at the end of the day, you had your best friend and your lover rolled into the same person.

  Frowning as she walked to the car, Ava thought of Sylvie again.

  What could her friend be thinking?

  Meanwhile, she’d better check in with Luisa. If she called her at the university, she wouldn’t have to talk to the Dragon Lady first.

  * * *

  “Yes, Mama—what?” Luisa rubbed her temple as she spoke into the phone.

  A knock on the doorframe interrupted her mother’s rant. “Dr. Martinez?”

  “Yes? No, not you, Mama. Just a minute.” Luisa glanced up, gesturing Sofia Sanchez to come inside. “What? No, Mama. Just let me call you right back.”

  “It can wait.” The younger woman shook her head and backed away.

  Luisa covered the receiver. “This will only take a moment.” Looking down at her desk, she focused again on her mother.

  “Carlito didn’t show up at work again, Luisa. Always, you do not listen to me.”

  Luisa closed her eyes, uttering a silent prayer for strength. “What time did he leave the house?”

  “The usual time. But he never made it to the job.”

  Where was he? Her other two had been through their rough spots, but her youngest seemed hell-bent on racing down the path to ruin as fast as he could go.

  “I’m going to call the police,” Consuela Albiar said.

  “No, Mama—no!” Drawing a deep breath to ease the sharpness in her tone, Luisa wished she hadn’t encouraged Sofia to stay. Her reputation would suffer if Sofia spoke of this. The eminent sociology professor could not control her own child.

  “Are you going to search the streets for him?” her mother demanded. “If you were home, this would not happen.”

  Luisa bit her tongue, refusing to remark that her mother was home, and he’d still done it. It was old ground for them. According to her mother, the divorce, not recognized by her church, had been all Luisa’s fault. If she’d been a better wife, her children would still have a father at home to guide them.

  Sure, Mama. Ramon could teach the boys to beat women and children, too.

  Sighing, she looked up apologetically at her younger colleague, who was edging toward the door. Holding up one finger for her to wait, Luisa spoke again into the phone. “Mama, as soon as my office hours are over, I’ll go look for him. He’ll be back. He’s probably just at the park.” I hope.

  “He’s probably dying of a drug overdose right now, and it will be all your fault, Luisa.”

  “Mama, stop it. He’s not on drugs.” Not yet, anyway. “I have to go. Someone’s here to see me.”

  “You should be here, Maria Luisa.”

  The phone clicked in her ear. Luisa hung up the instrument, staring at her desk blotter and summoning strength.

  “I’m sorry. I can leave now.”

  Oh, yes. Leave and ruin me with the department. Luisa knew that her younger, very ambitious colleague liked her, but whether she’d hold her tongue was another matter. She had to see if she could make this sound as harmless as she hoped it was.

  She lifted her head high. This was hardly the toughest assignment of her life. She’d been on her own for ten years now, scrapping for everything she’d gotten.

  Smiling, she faced the beautiful newly-minted assistant professor before her. “No, it’s really nothing. My mother.” She waved her hand negligently. “She tends toward the dramatic. My youngest son has played hooky from work for the first time.” I wish. “She’s convinced the druglords have carried him away. I suspect he’s at the neighborhood pool hall. He’s fifteen and tired of being my baby.” Luisa kept her tone light and dismissive.

  Sofia Sanchez smiled back. “My youngest brother is giving my parents fits right now, too.”

  “Boys.” Luisa shook her head. “And then they turn into men.”

  “You don’t like men?”

  “I like them fine—in their place.”

  “Which is?”

  “In bed and then gone when I’m finished with them.” Luisa wished she could actually remember the last time that had happened. But this lovely young woman before her would never understand that, and posturing was how the game was played. Never let them see you sweat.

  Sofia laughed. “You’re very…liberated for an older Latina.” Her tone turned admiring. “I can see why you’re so well-respected.”

  “Why is that?” Older Latina, my ass.

  “You’re tough. You’re a good teacher, but you don’t take any shit off the men around here.”

  If you only knew how much I’d taken—so that girls like you could waltz in, easy as pie. But Luisa settled for a shrug. “I’ve had my battles.”

  “But you’ve won them all. Like this new project—the joint effort with the law school to provide legal services for the minority community.”

  Ah. That was why she was here. She wanted in. “You’re interested in participating?”

  The younger woman’s long dark hair swung about her shoulders, her eyes glowing. Tall and slender, she had the striking good looks that would have fit a flamenco dancer. “Oh, yes. I hear Tom Sinclair is your liaison. He’s a legend.”

  Luisa smiled to herself. Tom was indeed a legend, but this girl made him sound ancient. Sofia had never met the firebrand married to Luisa’s friend, that was certain. Time had mellowed Tom little. “He’s certainly had an effect on the legal standings of minorities, not only in this state but across the country.”

  “I’m dying to meet him. That is, if you still have need of help.”

  “Do you have the time in your schedule?” New faculty always got the worst class times.

  “I’ll make time.”

  “Is this just so you can meet the great Tom Sinclair?”

  Sofia looked affronted. “Of course not. I believe in what you’re doing. I want to be on the front lines.”

  “The glory days of protest marches are long over, Sofia.”

  “Dr. Martinez, Latinos are still discriminated against every day in Texas. I want to right those wrongs. I want to make a difference.”

  “The world does not change quickly.” Dios, I sound ancient. “And the front lines aren’t glamorous. What makes for change is years and years of steady work, keeping the faith, proving ourselves again and again.”

  The light of glory was blinding her younger colleague. Sofia would adore Tom, whose own fervor seldom abated. Sofia’s eyes brimmed with disappointment.

  Luisa gave up. This younger colleague, the child of solidly middle-class, thoroughly Anglicized parents had no idea about discrimination. But she’d find out—if she stuck. Luisa nodded her head. “But new blood is always welcome. I’d be happy to add you to the project. We’ll be meeting for the first time next month.”

  “Will he be there?”

  “Who?” Of course Sofia meant the great Tom. Luisa could hardly wait to tease His Venerableness. She nodded. “Yes, he’s scheduled to join us.”

  “Great. I’ll look forward to it—and thanks, Dr. Martinez. I mean it.” With a wave, Sofia strode out, long legs sure and steady with the stride of someone who’d never felt inferior in h
er life.

  Luisa sighed and looked at the clock. “Have children, Sofia. Try a husband,” she muttered. “You’ll learn humility quickly.”

  The phone rang. Luisa tensed, then picked it up. “Yes, Mama?”

  Ava’s laugh startled her. “One of those days, I see.”

  Relief swept over her in waves. “Oh, thank the stars it’s you, Ava.”

  “Hey, I should have called you earlier. It’s the first enthusiastic reception I’ve had. What’s up?”

  “Carlito skipped work.”

  Ava chuckled. “You knew it couldn’t last. He’s been too good.”

  “Mama’s certain he’s dying from a drug overdose right now.”

  “Luisa, there is a certain place reserved for you in heaven, paid for in advance just for putting up with your mother.”

  Ava made it all sound funny at this moment. Luisa chuckled. “She does get my goat, doesn’t she?”

  “It’s what she does. It’s her life. What would she do if she didn’t have you to utter dire warnings to? She plays on your guilt like you were a fiddle. Why do you let her?”

  “She’s my mother.”

  “Catholic guilt. You forget. I went to Catholic school, too. It never leaves you.”

  “You’ve made an admirable recovery.”

  “My mother doesn’t live with me. She’s gone holy roller, besides.”

  Luisa was truly shocked. “Are you serious?”

  “Does anything my mother does surprise you?”

  She had to laugh. The only person she knew who was as colorful as Ava was Ava’s mother. “Will it last?”

  “About as long as she did in the ashram.”

  This call was just what she needed. “It’s good to talk to you. Maybe Carlito isn’t headed for the slammer just yet.”

  “Want some of Tom’s cop friends to throw him in the tank for a lesson?”

  “Tom has cop friends?”

  “Hey, even lawyers who fight the system have cop friends. Speaking of which, he’s really looking forward to your project. Life’s gotten a little too predictable for him lately.”