by Lexi Blake
She looked behind him. Sebastian was in the hallway that led to the men’s room. He was standing in the shadows. Even in her fuzzy brain, she knew what he was doing. He didn’t want the sheriff to know he was here. Luckily, he’d taken his glass with him or she would have had questions to answer. He wasn’t going to save her.
He looked at her from the shadows. That was where she would be if she chose him. She would be in the shadows, not someone’s beloved wife, but the dirty little secret of a powerful man.
She had the power now. She could see it on his face. He was practically begging her not to tell the sheriff. If the sheriff found him here, it would be a scandal.
“Did my mother send you? She hates me. She’s so jealous. You can screw yourself, Sheriff, because I’m not going anywhere with you. You can tell the whole town that sweet Joanne Alvarez has a tramp for a daughter. I’m sure she’ll love that.” She knew how to avoid a scandal with the sheriff. He’d been friends with her mom in high school. Just one little suggestion that her mother could be hurt and he was all about getting the hell out of Dodge.
He sighed and hauled her out of the booth. “You’re lucky I don’t want your momma to have to bail you out of jail.”
She gasped as he ducked down and had her in a fireman’s hold over his shoulder. He started for the door, stopping in front of the bar.
“And Cooder’s lucky, too. You tell him he better hide that still well. And you, I find out you’re serving minors again and I won’t care that this is unincorporated territory. I’ll send someone out to get her car in the morning.”
As he hauled her off she managed to look up. Sebastian was smiling her way.
At least one person in the world liked her.
Chapter Four
Payton Rush looked at Celeste and wished she could take some of the pain away. It was etched there in the fine lines of her eyes and the downturn of her mouth. Her vibrant sister had aged in the days since her son’s death.
“Do you think I should go upstairs? It’s been a long time,” she said nervously, her eyes trailing toward the stairs that led to the bedrooms.
She reached out and put a hand over Celeste’s. “It’s barely been fifteen minutes. Let Francine do her job. You dragged her over here on her day off. The least you can do is let the woman work in peace.”
It was said with a teasing slant. She would do just about anything to get her sister to smile again.
Sure enough, a hint of a grin lifted Celeste’s lips. “You think I’m being paranoid.”
“I think that baby is your miracle and he or she is going to be fine.”
Tears shone in Celeste’s eyes. “Is it wrong to hope for a boy?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s not wrong as long as you can still love that baby if she’s a girl.”
A smile of pure pleasure spread over Celeste’s face. “Oh, you know I would. A little girl. I miss little girl clothes. Lacey never wears pink anymore. Not that she’s let me pick clothes for her in a long time. It would be fun to dress up a baby girl in ribbons and frills.”
There was no doubt in Payton’s mind that whatever gender the baby turned out to be, he or she would be loved. So loved. “It will be fun. That baby is going to have the best grandmother in the world.”
Travis walked in, dressed for work in his neatly pressed shirt and slacks. No doubt Celeste had made certain everything was laid out for him. Tragedy wouldn’t stop the Allen girls from taking care of their duties. Responsibility, duty, family. Those things had been bred into their bones.
“Good morning, Payton.” Travis nodded her way and then turned to his wife. “Are you all right? You know you can take the day off. I can bring in help.”
Celeste dried her eyes with a tissue. “No. I’m fine. I have a ton of things to get done today.”
Payton understood the need. When everything was falling apart, she could count on her own two hands to work. Celeste would need to work, to make things as normal as possible.
Still, Travis frowned. “All right then. I’ll see you this evening.”
“Of course. And I put your lunch by your briefcase. Have a nice day,” Celeste said politely.
Sometimes Payton worried that her sister’s marriage was as empty as her own. Travis thanked her and walked out, the door closing quietly behind him.
“If having Brittany here is causing trouble, she can always come home.”
Celeste shook her head. “Not at all. We love having her here and she’s helping Ginny so much. I think Lacey likes having her around, too. They stayed up last night and watched some old movies. They even laughed a few times. It was so good to hear them laugh. We need family around us at times like this.”
“Yes, and I’m glad she’s helping. I just want you to think about yourself, too.” They hadn’t been taught to think that way, but lately Payton had been pondering that very idea. Maybe she could be more than just a wife and mother. Maybe she could have something for herself.
Whatever Celeste might have said was forgotten as Francine Hoffman walked in. Celeste stood and walked to meet the nurse. “How is she?”
Francine smiled. She had one of those glowing smiles that lit up a room. Francine was petite, with raven black curls and dark eyes. Payton didn’t let the nurse’s slight stature fool her, though. She’d seen her easily handle a room full of puffed up doctors when she thought a patient wasn’t being treated properly. There was no one in the world Payton would trust more with Ginny’s health than Francine.
“She’s doing fine, Celeste,” Francine said with a gentle smile. “Her back pain is left over from the accident. I’ll leave you with the name of a very good massage therapist. A couple of sessions should really help her.”
“And it won’t hurt the baby?” Celeste asked.
“Not at all. Prenatal massage can be very beneficial,” Francine reassured her.
“Thank you. I’ll go see if she needs anything.” Celeste patted Francine’s shoulder before jogging up the stairs.
Francine set her bag down on the countertop and took a long breath.
Payton sent Francine an apologetic smile. Her sister had been frantic when Ginny said her lower back was hurting. She’d called Payton, certain Ginny was losing the baby. Payton hadn’t known what else to do. She’d called the most competent person she’d known and asked if they should take Ginny to the hospital. “I’m sorry she was so stubborn about getting you out here on your day off. We could have gone to the emergency room. She’s just really worried about the baby.”
“Don’t take her to the ER unless you have to. She’ll end up waiting forever. I’m happy to help, Payton. More than happy.” She glanced at the coffeepot. “But I did have to leave my place without my morning caffeine. Do you mind?”
Payton turned and grabbed a mug, happy to be able to offer her something. “Not at all. Do you need cream, sugar?”
While Payton poured the coffee, Francine sat down at the kitchen table. “No, thanks. I’m a coffee purist.”
Payton handed her the mug and shook her head. “I will never understand that. I like coffee but I will admit it’s more like I have a little coffee with my cream and sugar.”
Francine’s eyes lit with mirth. “That’s because you’re so sweet.”
Something about the way she said it made Payton blush. She sat down across from Francine. “I don’t know about that.”
“Everyone knows Payton Rush is the sweetest lady in town,” Francine said with a wink.
“I think that’s a rumor my mother-in-law started.”
Francine laughed. “Well, you are a definite plus to your husband’s campaign. I got a call from the always chipper Marylee yesterday.”
She wasn’t aware her mother-in-law was close with Francine. For some reason, she didn’t like the idea. She rather liked having her friend all to herself. Her friendship with Francine might be the only thing she had that didn’t serve any purpose other than her own pleasure. She blushed again at the thought of the word pleasure. Wha
t was wrong with her? “What did she want?”
Francine took a long drink from her coffee mug, her eyes closing in obvious satisfaction. “Celeste has great coffee. Seriously. As for Marylee, she wanted to talk about the Founders’ Day celebration.”
“Really? But that’s set for the end of summer.” Why would they be talking about it now? She needed to focus on her sister. She couldn’t think about a festival at this time.
“I don’t know, but she seemed very insistent. She’s having some kind of a meeting at the Bluebonnet Cafe on Monday. She wants me to run a first aid clinic in case there are any injuries. It’s nothing I haven’t done before.”
She really didn’t like that Marylee was asking Francine. Marylee was a woman of habit. She went to the same people again and again when she needed something. If she was changing things up it meant something had gone wrong. “Doesn’t Nurse Taylor usually do that?”
“She’s out of town that week,” Francine replied. “Marylee’s probably asking me because I’m cheap. I’m not just cheap. I’m free. And it’s not a difficult job. If there’s a real issue that requires surgery, we’ll call an ambulance. I can handle anything else. Don’t look so worried. I’ve been doing this for a couple of years.”
She wasn’t worried about Francine’s skill. Francine had been a registered nurse for twenty years. She’d accepted a job at Storm General after she’d graduated from college, bringing her big city flair out to the country. She was so serious about her job. When they’d struck up a friendship a few years before, Payton had been surprised someone so fun and energetic had never gotten married.
Maybe Francine had known something Payton didn’t.
“I wasn’t worried about that. I was just surprised. My mother-in-law never likes change. She used the same bakery until Mrs. Mitchell died. Only then did she switch to Marisol’s place for her cupcakes, and she required a three-hour meeting to go over what she needed.” Marylee’s contacts ran deep, but she did not suffer change well.
“So I’m in for a long lecture.”
“Very likely. It’s okay, though. She’ll end whatever meeting you have with a list of the key points she’s just gone over. She’s big on lists.” Payton had practically been handed a guidebook to the care and feeding of Sebastian Rush when she’d married the man. Unfortunately, her mother-in-law had left out key information. She’d given Payton a list of all of Sebastian’s favorite foods and the clothing brands he preferred, but no one had informed her that the man needed to cheat at least twice a day.
Not that she cared. It wasn’t as though she was a sensual creature. It was better Sebastian found that elsewhere.
“Well, that’s good to know. Are you going to be there?” Francine asked. “The whole thing will be infinitely more enjoyable if you’re there.”
An odd warmth took up inside her. “Of course. I’m afraid my mother-in-law often informs me of my schedule at the last minute.”
Marylee expected Payton to be available at the drop of a hat. It had been her place throughout her marriage. She was available to Sebastian, available to the campaign, to the children, to everyone.
Francine’s soft voice cut through her thoughts. “On another topic, did I thank you for the teddy bears?”
Payton blushed again. She’d wondered if Francine had known about her little errand. She hadn’t said anything, had tried to make the donation anonymous. She’d bought the hospital five hundred little teddy bears for the kids who came through. “I was more than happy to do it.”
“Everyone puts money into research and that’s wonderful, but sometimes the little things are important, too. Kids are scared when they come in. Having something to hold on to can be very soothing.”
“It was your idea. You talked about it at breakfast one day and I looked into it. I just helped it along. I got a very good deal on those bears.”
Francine reached across the table, putting her hand over Payton’s. “Stop. You don’t give yourself enough credit. I want you to say it. ‘I did a good thing and I’m very proud.’”
There was that blush again. She needed to stop that. “Fine. I did a good thing and I’m very proud. And thank you for pointing out the need. If you have anything else the hospital needs, please let me know. Storm is my home. I want it to be the best place it can possibly be. I love these people.”
She’d spent her life here, watched the children grow, mourned when there was loss. Storm was home no matter how far she managed to roam.
Francine sat back and Payton felt the loss of warm skin over her own. “You’re very good to this town. On another note, don’t hesitate to call me if Celeste needs someone to calm her down. I’m more than happy to take a look at Ginny. But you should know she’s a strong girl. She’s healthy and so is the baby. Everything is going to be fine, but you won’t convince Celeste of that.”
“No. She just lost her son. Somewhere deep inside she’s sure there’s another tragedy around the corner.” It was still hard for her to believe her nephew was gone. His loss was an ache in her soul and probably always would be. She’d stopped her own son when he came home the night before. Jeffry was almost grown, but she’d wrapped her arms around him and he suffered through. He’d even kissed her cheek before he’d gone up to bed. It was good to remember that every moment she had with him and Brittany was precious.
“So when she’s upset, I will come out here and I will check Ginny’s blood pressure and take her temperature and give Celeste the smallest amount of peace. You call me day or night and I’ll be here. We’ll get her through this, Payton.”
The sweetest tears threatened to pierce her eyes. She held it in, but it was so good to have someone to count on. Travis was lost in his own grief. It was obvious they weren’t connecting. She didn’t blame him, but knowing her sister’s well-being was left entirely to her was a frightening thing. Sebastian wouldn’t care. He barely spoke to her family anyway. Marylee was wrapped up in Sebastian’s reelection bid. Jeffry was too young and Brittany had to worry about Ginny. She was alone in caring for Celeste. Except maybe she wasn’t. Maybe she had Francine.
“Thank you. You can’t know what that means to me.”
“Anything for you, my friend. Like I said, day or night. You need me and I’m here.” Francine grabbed her hand and squeezed, the physical connection so sweet it almost made Payton tear up again. No one touched her anymore. She and Sebastian hadn’t been intimate for years, not that she’d ever enjoyed it.
What would it have been like if Sebastian had been softer, gentler, more tender?
She forced her mind away from that dangerous territory and regretfully let go of her friend’s hand. She had responsibilities and they didn’t include indulging her odd fantasies. She was a grown woman, not a kid experimenting. She’d made her choice years before when she’d opted to please her parents and marry Sebastian. She knew her path. “Now I think Celeste has a coffee cake around here somewhere. What do you say?”
Francine put a hand over her heart. “You’re speaking my language, Payton Rush.”
With a much lighter heart, she got up and went in search of that coffee cake.
* * * *
Dakota woke up to the sound of chattering.
“Do you think she’ll get grounded?”
“Dude, she’s like twenty. She has her own place. I doubt Mrs. Alvarez can ground her.”
“I’m just surprised the sheriff didn’t put her in the drunk tank. That’s where she belongs.”
“Nah, my sister gets away with everything. That’s the way life is.” She knew exactly whose voice that was. Her sister. This had to be a nightmare.
Damn it. The night before rushed in. Jacob’s funeral, the wake, finding out her dad was gone. The bar, the liquor, him.
She sat straight up and realized she was in her old room at her parents’ house. Her home. That stupid apartment wasn’t home. It was lonely and bland. Of course, now this place was lonely, too. No one here loved her since Marcus and her dad had left. Her lack of
welcome was emphasized by her sister’s current discussion.
“I don’t know what she was thinking, Lacey. Dakota rarely thinks about anyone but herself.” Mallory’s voice was accompanied by the clanging of pots and pans. She was likely making breakfast.
Dakota glanced at the clock. Nope. It was lunchtime. She ran a hand over her head, brushing back her hair. She was surprised her head wasn’t aching. Her stomach was fine, too.
Because Sebastian wouldn’t let you get sick. Because unlike the sheriff, he was actually looking out for you.
Was she really thinking about it? Was she thinking about having an affair with a married man?
“Well, I guess it shouldn’t really surprise anyone,” her sister’s best friend, Lacey Salt, said. “I know when my mom heard about it she just shook her head.”
How had everyone heard about it? She shouldn’t be surprised. Any one of the neighbors here could have seen the sheriff hauling her out of his car and dumping her on her mom’s doorstep. Her mom had probably talked about it over morning coffee. Within seconds the phone lines would have been buzzing with the news that poor Dakota Alvarez was in trouble again.
“She’s got a bad reputation,” came another voice. She was fairly certain that was Luis Moreno, her sister’s boyfriend. Oh, he was one to talk. His sister was pregnant and unmarried. At least Dakota had the sense to protect herself.
And how did she have a bad reputation?
“You know there was a rumor a couple of years back that she did the entire front line after they won regionals,” cracked another male voice.
Her stomach turned but not from a hangover. That was Jeffry Rush. Sebastian’s son. Again with the hypocrisy.
“Don’t bring that up. It’s not true,” Mallory said with a hard tone.
At least one person believed her. She’d been dating the quarterback and he’d been a complete jerk. She’d broken up with him that night and the next day he’d spread that horrible rumor about her. People still believed it. One more reason to get out of this damn town.