In a Texas Minute

by Bagwell, Stella

  Leaning back in her chair, Sierra placed a hand against her forehead and feigned a haughty pose. “Yes, I do deserve to be treated like a princess,” she joked.

  Christina didn’t laugh. “You do deserve to be treated like a princess and the sooner you realize that the better.”

  A puzzled expression crossed Sierra’s face. “Did you stop by here this morning to give me a lecture of some sort?”

  Glancing over her shoulder, Christina saw that the coffee was finished brewing. She rose to her feet and fetched cups from the cabinet. As she poured the brew, she said, “Not exactly. But I will admit that I’m a little worried about you, Sierra. First you go through that awful breakup with Chad—”

  “I’m glad about that. It saved me from discovering what a jerk he was later on.”

  “Okay. So maybe that was a blessing in disguise,” Christina agreed. “But the baby. Frankly, I’m worried about you, hon.”

  Sierra watched her older sister place the filled mugs and paper plates on the table. A look of concern marred her face and Sierra bristled at the idea that Christina had come swishing in here as though she knew best and it was her duty to make sure Sierra walked the right path.

  Mentally counting to ten, she shrugged a shoulder. “What’s there to be worried about? I’m taking care of a baby. That’s all.”

  Christina eased down into one of the chairs and reached for the bag of pastries. As she handed the apple fritter to Sierra, she said, “And how long do you plan on caring for him?”

  Sierra’s brows peaked at Christina’s pointed question. “Since I’ve only had him for a few days, it’s too early for me to make such a decision.”

  Christina pulled another pastry from the bag and took a quick bite. “And how do you think you’ll feel a week from now? Two weeks from now? As time goes on, don’t you think you’re going to become even more attached to him?”

  “Most normal persons would,” Sierra retorted.

  Ignoring the waspish tone in Sierra’s voice, Christina said, “That’s right. And as far as I can see, you’re normal. No, scratch that. You’re not normal. Your heart is bigger than your head. You’ve probably already fallen head over heels in love with the cute little guy.”

  Sierra crammed a piece of the fritter into her mouth. “So what if I have?” she asked between chews. “He needs someone to love him.”

  Tilting her face toward the ceiling, Christina shook her head. “Oh, my darling sister, don’t you see? Loving Bowie would be wonderful if you intended to keep him as your own. But we both know that’s impossible and—”

  “Why is it impossible?” Sierra interrupted.

  A tender look of regret filled Christina’s face as she reached over and tucked Sierra’s wayward hair back behind her shoulder. “Child services wants to place the baby in a home with two parents. And with Chad gone, I don’t see you getting married anytime soon.”

  Rising from the table, Sierra carried her coffee cup with her as she walked over to the door leading onto the back porch. With the top of the door being constructed of paned glass, it allowed a wide view of the shaded yard and the portion of the porch where she and Alex had sat on the cedar swing. And kissed.

  “You really know how to make a girl feel good, sis,” Sierra muttered. “This is just what I need in the morning to get me going for the day ahead.”

  “Oh, Sierra, don’t get mad at me. I don’t mean it in a demeaning way. You’re going to find your Prince Charming and when you do he’ll jump at the chance to make you his wife. But that isn’t going to happen just because you have Bowie. And without a husband, I can’t see child services allowing you to keep him for very long.”

  Sierra clamped her lips together. She wanted to tell Christina that she and Gloria weren’t the only Mendoza women who could attract a man. She wasn’t a doormat for men to walk on.

  Squaring her shoulders, she glanced over her shoulder at her well-meaning sister. “I guess Mom didn’t tell you. Alex told child services that we were getting married.”

  The pastry in Christina’s hand stopped midway to her mouth. “Alex? Alex Calloway? No! Mom didn’t say a thing about it,” she said in a quiet, shocked voice. “When did this happen? Why didn’t you say something about it last night?”

  Sierra knew she should explain the whole story to Christina, but it felt too good to let her sister think that she was loved by a hunky lawyer like Alex.

  “I didn’t say anything because, well, we haven’t set a date or anything. We—uh—we’ve just now realized how we feel about each other.” Maybe that wasn’t too much of a fib, Sierra thought. She and Alex had definitely felt something for each other last night when they’d kissed like there was no tomorrow.

  A smile sparkled across Christina’s face. “Boy, do I feel stupid. Here I was doing all this worrying about my sister and now I learn you do have a plan for yourself and the baby.”

  Sierra returned her sister’s smile with a wobbly one of her own. “Well, I’m trying, sis. But who’s to say it will all work out.” And that certainly was the truth, she thought.

  “None of us have any guarantees, Sierra. But I’ve got to say I think you’re on the right track with Alex. He’s the first man you’ve ever been with who didn’t need emotional therapy.”

  Sierra walked back to the table and sank onto a chair. She felt utterly drained and the day was just starting. “Gee, you make it sound like I picked my boyfriends from the mental hospital.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Christina scolded. “They were all just a little too needy. If you know what I mean.”

  “And you think Alex isn’t?” Sierra couldn’t help but ask.

  Christina’s smile turned a bit wicked. “Alex’s needs are those of a typical man.” She winked at Sierra and laughed suggestively. “But I’m sure you’ve already figured that out.”

  Sierra hadn’t figured anything out about Alex. She wasn’t even sure why he’d suddenly inserted himself into her life. Sure they were friends and had been for years. But last night he’d not been behaving like a friend. And heaven forbid, neither had she.

  Clearing her throat, Sierra pushed herself up from the chair. “Stay put and finish your coffee, sis. I think I hear Bowie. If he’s awake I’ll bring him back to the kitchen so that you can say hello.”

  Christina glanced at her wristwatch. “I was about to say I’ve got to leave. But I’ll stay long enough to kiss Bowie good morning. Derek needs to learn he’s not the only male around here to turn my head,” she joked.

  Glad that she’d managed to put an end to the subject of Alex, Sierra left the kitchen and hurried to collect the baby.

  Chapter Six

  Two days after Christina’s visit, Sierra, feeling house-bound, decided to go to the market for a few groceries for herself and to restock her supply of baby formula and diapers for Bowie.

  That afternoon she was carrying the things in from the car when she heard the phone begin to ring. Since she’d already carried Bowie into the house and placed him in a safe spot on the couch, she forgot about the last of her groceries and ran to pick up the phone.

  After a breathless hello, a familiar male voice sounded in her ear.

  “Where have you been? I’ve been calling for the past two hours!”

  If she’d thought his question had come from male passion, she would have scolded him. But since there was concern in his voice she wanted to soothe him.

  “I went to the market,” she explained. “Bowie was running low on a few things. Especially formula.”

  “The boy must eat like a horse.”

  Pride surged through her as she glanced at Bowie. The baby was kicking and waving his legs and arms with obvious enthusiasm. Apparently it felt good to him to be out of the confines of the car seat. “He’s growing,” she said to Alex. “He needs plenty of nourishment.”

  “I’m glad you brought that up, Sierra. Since we need our nourishment, too, how about going out to dinner tonight?”

  Sierra suddenly gripped t
he phone. “With you?”

  He made a sound of disgust. “No, I’m calling to ask you to have dinner with John Gutierrez.”

  She frowned. “Who’s he?”

  Alex groaned. “Damn it, Sierra, how should I know! I just made up the name. I’m asking you to go out with me—for dinner.”

  Sierra felt herself begin to tremble both inside and out. “You mean, like a date?”

  “I don’t care what you call it,” he said impatiently. “It’ll be the two of us eating together. No big deal.”

  Maybe not to him, Sierra thought. But to her it was a giant deal. She’d been out with Alex before and had even shared a meal with him, but only as a friend. This would be different and they both knew it. Especially after that hot kiss he’d given her the last time they’d been together and then the horrible fight that had followed it.

  “I don’t want to leave Bowie with—anyone.”

  “I’m not asking you to. He can come along, too. If he starts bawling too loudly we can always get up from the table and take him outside. Like you see all those other harried parents doing.”

  Just like they were a married couple with a baby, Sierra thought. The idea caused a wistful sigh to pass her lips.

  “All right,” she said. “Where are we going? So I’ll know what to wear.”

  A grin laced his voice. “I thought we’d go to Red. Like I said, nobody does food better than the Mendozas. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  At ten minutes to seven, Sierra was ready and waiting for Alex. As she paced nervously around the living room, she caught her reflection in a mirror hanging on a wall behind the couch.

  She’d spent an eternity picking out a skirt and then finding a top that looked decent enough to wear with it. Sierra had never been a clotheshorse like Gloria. And since Sierra’s job had never required her to purchase expensive pieces, nearly all of her things were casual.

  Tonight she’d decided to wear a gored, red floral skirt. On the left side, the hem angled downward into a sexy point against her calf. Her blouse was a white gauzy material that draped across her breasts and tied at the side of the waist. As for her hair, she’d decided to pin it all up in a curly mass atop her head and leave a few tendrils to hang at her ears and the back of her neck. At least with her hair up, she did look like a grown woman, she decided. Whether that was a sensual grown woman, Sierra could only hope.

  Alex arrived promptly at seven and after helping Sierra get Bowie buckled safely in his own little seat, he drove the short distance to downtown Red Rock and parked in the massive lot behind the Mendoza restaurant.

  Red was located in a converted hacienda that had once been owned by an influential Spanish family rumored to be related to Santa Ana. Thankfully Jose and Maria had been lucky enough to buy the place at an affordable price before anyone realized it was a historical treasure. The structure had been built with two stories, but her parents had chosen to only use the bottom floor for the restaurant. Part of the top floor had been renovated for office use and the remainder was simply used as storage.

  There was a beautiful courtyard inside the square of the building, which featured an old fountain that supplied diners with the soft, musical notes of trickling water. Colored umbrellas shaded pine tables and chairs, which were arranged at odd angles among several tall, Mexican fan trees. Bougainvillea grew at every turn and bloomed vividly in fuchsia, purple and gold.

  Sierra had to admit that the courtyard was her favorite dining area at Red, but she figured since they had little Bowie with them, it would be safer to keep him inside. The air had grown very hot and humid this evening and she didn’t want the baby getting congested.

  Alex insisted on carrying Bowie as they walked around the building to the front entrance. Inside the restaurant, a hostess dressed in a long black skirt and a white gypsy-style blouse greeted Sierra by name, then turned to Alex.

  “Right this way, Mr. Calloway,” the young woman said with a gesture for them to follow her. “We already have your table ready.”

  Impressed, Sierra glanced up at Alex. “You made reservations?”

  His green eyes twinkled down at her. “Of course. I’m a lawyer. I’m always prepared.”

  They followed the hostess through the main dining area to one of the smaller rooms, which held only a handful of pine tables and chairs. Like the rest of restaurant, it was decorated in typical hacienda style with plenty of southwestern colored blankets and antiques dating as far back as 1845 when President Polk announced Texas the twenty-eighth state of the Union. Paintings depicting the battles between Texans and Mexicans to free the republic from Santa Ana’s rule hung along the dark wooden walls here and in the main dining area. No matter how many times Sierra walked through the door of Red, she was reminded how hard her parents had worked to embellish this place with an atmosphere that all Texans, especially those from Red Rock, would enjoy.

  The hostess found a special seat to place Bowie’s carrier in and after Alex had secured the baby, he helped Sierra into her chair. As he took the seat angled to her right elbow, a waiter hovered to take their orders for drinks.

  At the last minute, Sierra decided to be a little reckless and order a margarita. Since she wasn’t much of a social drinker, it only took a small amount of alcohol to go straight to her head. But with Alex already making her head spin, what did a little extra drunkenness hurt? she thought wryly.

  “I always forget what a fabulous place this is,” Alex commented as the waiter disappeared from the room. His gaze roamed appreciatively around the dimly lit walls then came to rest on her face. “But I never forget your sweet face,” he added softly.

  Feeling totally out of her depth, Sierra clasped her hands together on her lap and tried not to appear as nervous as she felt. “You’ve gone through a long line of women in your time, Alex Calloway. How do you keep my face separate from theirs?”

  Amusement crinkled the corners of his eyes. “It’s hard. But I manage.” He made a motion with his hand at their surroundings. “I know you’ve told me that you love to eat in the courtyard, but with little Bowie, I wasn’t sure about getting a table out there.”

  Sierra was totally surprised by his thoughtfulness. “You were right. It’s too hot and muggy to have him out tonight.” Propping her chin on the heel of her palm, she looked at him. “I thought you didn’t know anything about caring for babies?”

  Resting his forearms on the tabletop, he leaned toward her and gave her a wicked wink. “I don’t. I’m just letting my common sense show. We lawyers have that, too.”

  Her hand dropped away from her face as she laughed softly. “What on earth has Pauline been putting in your coffee? A lawyer with common sense? You’d be ruined.”

  “You’re being downright cruel tonight, Sierra,” he teased just as the waiter appeared with their drinks.

  The young man served Sierra a tall, frozen margarita and Alex a glass of red wine. As he was leaving, Maria walked in and headed straight to their table.

  “Mom. I didn’t realize you were here at the restaurant tonight. I thought you and Dad were home resting,” Sierra said with a bit of surprise.

  Maria made a comical face. “Dear daughter, your parents don’t need to be in a geriatric home yet. We do still have some life left in us.”

  “Here, here,” Alex said with enthusiasm as he lifted his wineglass toward Sierra’s mother. “You look beautiful and vibrant tonight, Mrs. Mendoza.”

  Clearly flattered by Alex’s compliment, Maria smiled at him and for a moment Sierra expected to see her mother pat her hair and bat her eyelashes.

  “And it’s good to see you, too, Alex,” Maria said. “Have you been doing well?”

  Alex glanced furtively at Sierra, before he turned his gaze back on Maria. “Very well. Thank you for asking.”

  Maria moved around the table until she was standing over Bowie’s high chair. Her expression softened with tenderness as she gazed down at the sleeping baby. “Jose and I are very grateful to you for helping our Sier
ra keep Bowie,” she said to Alex. “At first we were a bit worried about her decision, but now we can see how happy the baby makes her.”

  “Yes,” Alex replied. “And I think we’d both agree that Sierra deserves a little happiness.”

  Maria looked up just as Alex reached over and lifted the back of Sierra’s hand to his lips.

  Dear Lord, what was he trying to do? Sierra wondered as she watched her mother’s eyes narrow into shrewd, calculating slits.

  “Uh, if you two don’t mind, I’d like to take Bowie upstairs. Jose and I are having a little snack and we’d like the chance to have the baby with us for a few minutes. Is that all right with you, Sierra?”

  What could she say? Sierra wondered. It would sound silly to object, even though Sierra knew with a measure of certainty that her mother hadn’t just casually come downstairs to take Bowie off her hands.

  “Of course, Mom. His diaper bag is sitting beneath the high chair. You might want to take it with you. Just in case he wakes and acts hungry.”

  “Oh, babies are my specialty,” she happily crooned as she lifted Bowie and his carrier into her arms. “I know exactly how to take care of them. After all, I had three of my own. And now Gloria is expecting and you have Bowie. Maybe Christina will be next and the house will be full of babies.” She tilted her chin to a smug angle. “You know, Rosita isn’t the only one around here who can have grandchildren.”

  Maria waltzed out the door with Bowie and the diaper bag. Sierra turned an amazed look on Alex. “I’m worried, Alex. Mom’s taken a hundred-and-eighty-degree turn. She’s been warning me not to get too attached to Bowie. Now she’s behaving like he’s her grandchild! And don’t think for one minute that she showed up here at our table just by coincidence. Someone told her we were here and for some reason she decided to take our boy off our hands.”

  Our boy. The sound of that made Alex smile inside, though he couldn’t explain why. The notion of him having a son of his own was scary as hell. Raising a child was serious business. If you didn’t do it right, you’d leave scars. He ought to know; he had plenty of them himself.