Getting Lucky (A Nugget Romance Book 5)

by Stacy Finz

  She didn’t exactly know how to take that. Most men, including Lucky, went gaga for Raylene.

  “Let me ask you something,” he said. “Is she a reliable source?”

  Tawny flinched at the unexpected question, wondering what the reporter was getting at. “What do you mean?”

  Noah sucked in a breath. “I don’t think it comes as any surprise to you that I’m interviewing half the town for this story about Lucky. Owen, that barber guy, seems straight up. But sometimes I get the idea that he pretends to know more than he does. Donna Thurston, the woman who owns the Bun Boy, has a definite flair for exaggeration. Clay McCreedy, who seems like he’d be a credible interview, won’t give me the time of day. I’ve heard through the grapevine that his wife has had bad experiences with the press—something about a missing child. Nothing I’m interested in for the purpose of Lucky’s story, unless it has something to do with him, which I’m pretty sure it doesn’t.”

  He sat on the bench and started to take off his boots. “So far, you seem to be the most reliable of the people I’ve talked to. Cecilia is wonderful, but she’s the guy’s mother. And Raylene . . . yeah, I don’t know how to read her.”

  “I can’t help you there,” Tawny said. When it came to Raylene, Tawny had a hard time being objective.

  “That’s the thing,” Noah said. “I think you can. I get the feeling you don’t like her. Not because of anything you’ve said or done. It could just be that I’m picking up a rivalry between you two over Lucky. I don’t know what it is, but my reporter Spidey-sense says you don’t like her and that there may be a good reason for it.”

  He slipped into her boots and struggled to pull them all the way on.

  “You must have a high arch,” she said.

  “You’re not going to play, are you?”

  “No,” was all she said.

  “Did Lucky force himself on Raylene when they were teenagers?”

  Tawny jerked back. Apparently the cat was out of the bag. She was woefully inexperienced with dealing with the press or anything having to do with a celebrity athlete. Left up to Tawny, she would tell Noah the truth and believe that the truth would prevail. However, Pete’s voice floated into the back of her head, telling her how naïve that probably was.

  Talk about the rape allegations and game over, he’d said.

  “You need to talk to Lucky or Pete about that.” Hearing herself say it, she knew the statement made Lucky sound guilty.

  “Did he ever force himself on you? Because he wouldn’t be the first athlete to think no meant yes.”

  “Never!” she said because she couldn’t control herself. “Any relations Lucky and I have had”—a mere two—“have been completely consensual.”

  “But Raylene could’ve had a different experience, right?”

  She pinched her eyes closed out of frustration, knowing that she was about to fall into his trap. “All I’m willing to say is that you shouldn’t trust anything Ray Rosser says. The man is suspected of murder, for goodness’ sake.”

  “He’s not my source on this,” Noah said.

  She looked closely at him. Was he saying that Raylene was the source? Because that didn’t make any sense. Why would she try to make her boyfriend look like a rapist? What would that say about her being with a guy like that? “Well, then who is your source?”

  “Raylene,” he said. “I don’t hesitate to tell you that because everything she’s said has been on the record. At first she only intimated it and then did a complete retraction. But she’s been regularly texting and calling me, and each time her allegations get more unwavering.”

  “Excuse my ignorance, but what does on the record mean?” Tawny was in way over her head. She needed to stop talking and politely ask the reporter to leave. But she couldn’t help herself.

  “It simply means that everything she’s said I can attribute to her.”

  “So she’s accusing Lucky of raping her?”

  He nodded his head. “Yep. And I can’t lionize the guy in a story—telling the world how he’s donating his stem cells to his daughter, how he bought his mother a house, and is the greatest sports hero since Derek Jeter—for the world’s premiere sports magazine, and ignore these allegations. I’m not that kind of reporter.”

  “Did you ask Raylene why she would continue to see a man who supposedly raped her?”

  “I don’t believe she’s seeing him anymore.”

  “What?” She needed to call Lucky, but she was like a child drawn to the flame.

  “I wanted to come to you before I approached Lucky.”

  “You need to talk to him . . . Raylene is a liar.” She wanted to tell him about what a self-centered, mean girl Raylene had been growing up. How she would do anything to save her own hide, but stopped herself.

  “She says he forced her the night before he left town. That her father caught him and threatened to press charges, but she begged him not to.”

  “That’s not what happened,” Tawny said.

  “So you know about that night?”

  “Yes. But you should talk to Lucky or Pete.”

  “Just talk to me on background,” he said.

  “What’s that?”

  “It means you help me make sense of her allegations and I don’t attribute any of it to you in the story.”

  She didn’t know if she could trust him. At the same time, though, she didn’t want Lucky, the best man she knew, to be ruined because of a crazy, selfish woman. And she desperately didn’t want Raylene’s bogus allegations to come back to Katie or to hurt Cecilia. “You swear?”

  “I swear.”

  “If in fact she’s no longer with Lucky, I don’t know why.” Except that Lucky had told Tawny that they were no longer together and she hadn’t believed him. But if they had indeed broken up, why had Lucky met with Raylene the night he’d been with Tawny?

  “What I can tell you is that he didn’t rape her ten years ago—or ever,” Tawny continued. “Raylene and Lucky were sexually active since her freshman year. Everyone in high school knew it. And I suspect that Raylene was sexually active with other boys besides Lucky, but obviously I can’t say for sure. That night, however, Ray caught them in the act, went ballistic, and accused Lucky of . . . god-awful things. Ray is known to be mean, racist, classist, and abusive. Not to mention that he shoots people he thinks are responsible for stealing his cattle. No judge, no jury, just boom.” Tawny wanted Noah to understand exactly what kind of man Ray Rosser was. “In Ray’s mind, no way would his darling daughter have consensual sex with the Mexican housekeeper’s son. I suspect that Raylene was so scared of Ray that she went along with whatever he said to save herself.

  “Why she’s telling you this now, I have no idea,” Tawny continued. “I will tell you that she’s vindictive, incredibly self-absorbed, and like her dad, mean as a snake.”

  “And perhaps a woman scorned,” Noah said.

  “I don’t know,” she said. “A few days ago Lucky told me they were no longer together—that her ex was back in town. But you said you’d met her the other night with Lucky, so I assumed they were back on. It’s like that with them—breakup and makeup.”

  “I can’t ignore her allegations, but after what you’ve told me I’m apt to be more skeptical.”

  “It would be a terrible injustice to Lucky to write about it. He’s never been one of those types of guys who think they are entitled to whatever they want. He and his mom worked hard for everything they earned, and Cecilia raised him to respect women.”

  “I’ll be honest with you,” Noah said. “After Raylene’s allegations, I’d wondered if maybe Lucky had done something similar to you and that’s why you waited until Katie needed a transplant to tell him about his daughter.”

  “Now that you know the story, I can tell you the truth. I didn’t tell him about Katie because I was afraid he’d come rushing back and Ray would make trouble for him. I didn’t want my daughter to have that as a legacy.”

  “Are you in love with
Lucky?”

  Tawny blinked. “Why would you ask me that?”

  “A woman who loves a man would go to a lot of trouble to protect him.”

  “I could never love a man who could force a woman into doing something she didn’t want to do.”

  Noah smiled. “You didn’t really answer the question, but I get your gist. Thanks for being so candid with me. And, Tawny, this conversation goes no further.”

  “What do you want me to do?” Jake came up behind Cecilia as she was chopping onions, and put his arms around her.

  “Why don’t you set up the bar?” She wiped her eyes with her forearms.

  “I helped make the pies,” Katie called from the kitchen table, where she folded cloth napkins.

  “Well, then I’ll be sure to have an extra piece,” Jake said, and looked at his watch, wondering what was taking his daughters so long. Only three could make it for dinner, but the other two were coming for the weekend.

  And he was anxious. He wanted his girls to like Cecilia and for Cecilia to like his girls.

  Cecilia looked out the window. “The weather is good. They’ll be here soon, Jake. Stop worrying.” The woman could read his mind.

  Lucky came through the door, carrying three bottles of wine and a bouquet of flowers. “Noah’s behind me.”

  “You invited the reporter?” Jake said.

  Lucky hitched his shoulders. “He didn’t have anywhere else to go and thought it would be good color for his story.”

  “I think it was generous of you to invite him,” Cecilia chimed in. “Where’s Tawny?”

  “She’s not here yet?” Lucky looked at Katie, who’d stayed the night to help Cecilia with the preparations, leaving Jake to stay at his cabin.

  “I forgot, Grandma. She called while you were in the shower. She’s trying to finish Mr. McCreedy’s boots, but will be here soon. She’s bringing a salad and wine.”

  “Thank you, Katie.”

  Lucky kissed his daughter and asked what he could do to pitch in.

  Jake laughed. “Men are relegated to setting up the bar.”

  “I’ll set up the bar,” Lucky said.

  “One of you, then, should build a fire. I want it to be nice when Jake’s girls get here.” Cecilia slid her diced onions into a sizzling frying pan.

  A few minutes later Noah showed up and was put on glass duty, which consisted of him inspecting each piece of stemware for spots. Cecilia was pulling out all the stops. Jake had just gotten the fire going when he heard a car pull in. Up on his feet, he opened the front door.

  “What took you so long?” he said, going outside to wrap all three girls in a bear hug.

  “There was a lot of traffic,” his eldest, Sarah, said.

  “Come in and meet everyone.”

  The girls grabbed some packages out of the trunk. It looked like they too had brought wine, a box of chocolates, and flowers. Jake’s heart warmed with pride.

  Tara, Jake’s sixteen-year-old, whispered in his ear, “What are we supposed to call her?”

  “Cecilia,” he said, and winked. “You’ll like her. You’ll like everyone.”

  “Is the rodeo dude coming?” Janny asked.

  “Yep. And his nine-year-old daughter, Katie, and Katie’s mother, Tawny. There’s also a reporter from Sports Illustrated.”

  “Get out,” Janny said. “How come?”

  “He’s doing an article on Lucky.”

  They seemed duly impressed. When they got to the front door, Cecilia was waiting with her arms open.

  “Welcome.” She hugged each of Jake’s daughters. “You had such a long drive.”

  “Thank you for having us,” Sarah said.

  “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Jake talks about you so much.” Cecilia pulled Lucky into the circle. “This is my son, Lucky. And my granddaughter, Katie. That’s Noah.” He waved from the bar. “And Tawny should be here soon. Come in, get warm by the fire, and Lucky will make you a drink. Katie, you take Tara into the kitchen and show her what kind of soft drinks we have.”

  “What would you like us to do with these?” Sarah held up the bag of wine and candy.

  Cecilia told Katie and Tara to take it to the kitchen. Janny asked for a vase and said she’d arrange the flowers. And again Jake couldn’t have been prouder.

  “I’ll call Tawny,” Lucky said. “See what’s holding her up.”

  Not for the first time, Jake wondered if there was something going on between those two. It was as if Raylene had fallen off the planet, which Jake knew would make Cecilia happy. Although rumor had it that Tawny was seeing the new Lumber Baron chef.

  Lucky didn’t have to call because Tawny showed up a few minutes later, lugging a giant wooden bowl from her Jeep.

  “Need some help?” Jake asked.

  “There’s wine and soda and cider still in the car,” she said. “And cranberry sauce. It’s the kind in a can, though.”

  Jake didn’t say anything but knew Cecilia wouldn’t use it. He brought it in anyway, along with the rest of the stuff. Lucky came into the kitchen and greeted Tawny with a big smile on his face. Yep, something was definitely going on between those two.

  “What took you so long?” Lucky asked her.

  “I wanted to deliver Clay’s boots. One less thing to do before Monday.”

  Jake knew she was nervous about the transplant. He couldn’t blame her. “Come meet my daughters.”

  He introduced his daughters to Tawny and left them to get acquainted with each other. Katie seemed to have adopted Tara. Noah, who claimed to have put himself through college working as a bartender, took over making the drinks. Jake suspected he just wanted something to keep him busy, being the outsider.

  As awkward as it could’ve been, everyone seemed to be getting along and enjoying themselves.

  “They’re beautiful girls, Jake.” Cecilia came up alongside him. “And so polite.”

  “Their mothers did a good job,” he said. “I’m proud of the women they’ve become.”

  “I’m sorry Erika and Jillian couldn’t make it for dinner.”

  “You’ll meet them this weekend.”

  “How is it that you didn’t have one boy?” Cecilia gazed across the room at Lucky, who was talking to Tara and Katie.

  “Beats the hell out of me. But I wouldn’t trade one of them.” He wrapped his arm around her.

  “Lucky said he’ll take them riding tomorrow. Katie is over the moon.”

  “You think Tawny will be okay with Katie getting on the back of a horse before Monday?”

  “Lucky will take her on the horse with him. It’ll be fine.”

  “How you holding up?” Jake asked, knowing that between getting the news that Lucky was a match for Katie’s transplant and preparing for this dinner, Cecilia hadn’t had a moment to breathe.

  “I’m happy to have all of us together.” She kissed Jake, surprising the stuffing out of him. Behind closed doors, Cecilia was a passionate woman. In public, she tended to be more reserved. But the kiss pleased him enormously.

  He nuzzled her ear and whispered, “Marry me.”

  She swatted him away, but this time he noticed that she didn’t out and out say no. There was hope yet. He just had to break through the woman’s resolve.

  Cecilia and Tawny worked companionably in the kitchen to put appetizers out. Jake was heartened to see that the two women had formed a nice camaraderie. He caught them laughing with his daughters in the kitchen.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Janny has been telling us her dating travails,” Cecilia said.

  “That’s my cue to leave.” The last thing Jake wanted to hear were stories about his daughter’s crazy love life. Last time she’d brought home a guy, Jake had wanted to shoot him for lazing on the deck while Janny waited on him hand and foot. Thank the good Lord, she’d dumped him over the summer.

  In the living room, Lucky and Noah planted themselves on the couch. It seemed like a safe enough place for Jake too. So he plopp
ed down beside them.

  “If you’re not training, how are you preparing for the finals?” Noah asked Lucky.

  “I’m watching a lot of video. As soon as they take me off the meds, I’ll be fine. The procedure itself is done outpatient, so I’ll have the beginning of December to train.”

  Noah nodded. “You planning on watching video this weekend? If so, I’d like to join you.”

  “Sure. That’s not a problem. Tomorrow I’m taking the ladies riding, though.”

  “Do you have an extra horse for me?” Noah asked.

  Lucky gave him a cool perusal. “You ride?”

  “Not great. But I can hold on.”

  “How ’bout you, Jake? You want to come?” Lucky asked.

  “I’ve got to work tomorrow.” And no way in hell was he climbing onto the back of a horse.

  Noah turned to Jake. “That drug bust must’ve been something for a town this size.”

  “I won’t say that we don’t occasionally have our problems. But the scope of this was large even by big-city standards.”

  “And the cattle rustling?” Noah grinned when he said it. Jake got it. The term cattle rustling seemed so Lonesome Dove. But even now it was a big problem in California. So much so that the state had passed laws with stricter penalties for people convicted of stealing livestock.

  “Looks like we nipped that in the bud when we took out the drug ring.”

  “They were for sure connected, huh?”

  “Looks like,” Jake said, not wanting to go into the details. It was still a pending investigation.

  “Where does that leave Ray Rosser?” Noah asked.

  “It’ll depend on whether the evidence points to self-defense.”

  “That’ll be kind of tough, since he was trespassing on my property, looking for a fight,” Lucky said.

  “You don’t like him much, do you?” Noah asked.

  “That’s an understatement.” Lucky got up. “I want to see if they need help in the kitchen.”

  Once Lucky left the room, Noah said, “No love lost between those two, huh?”

  “Nope,” Jake said.

  “Were you around ten years ago when Ray Rosser leveled the sexual assault accusation against Lucky?” Noah watched Jake closely.