Nearest Thing to Heaven (Maverick Junction)

by Austin, Lynnette

  The porch light reflected off his gleaming pickup. Randy, one of his ranch hands, had given the truck a good wash and cleanup today. One look at those white slacks and Ty thanked God he’d thought to do it. No cookie crumbs or spilled anything to spoil them.

  Dottie peeked out the kitchen window, and he waved to her. Unabashed, she waved back, a wide grin on her grandmotherly face.

  Before Ty opened Sophie’s door, he noticed her scoping out the yard, her eyes moving slowly over it. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes. Of course.”

  He watched that tiny pink tongue trace her bottom lip. She was nervous. Because of him or something else?

  “You’d tell me if it wasn’t, wouldn’t you?”

  She smiled. “Sure.”

  Studying her, he helped her in, then closed her door. When he walked around the hood and slid behind the wheel, the same feeling he’d had the last time they’d been shut up alone together in the truck hit him. The feeling they were the only two people in the world.

  He liked it.

  He wouldn’t call it comfortable. No. Her scent filled the cab, wrapped around him and tied his stomach into knots. But they were good knots.

  Knots he knew how to loosen—if she was willing.

  *

  The drive to Luigi’s didn’t take nearly long enough. Whatever nerves he’d had flew out the window as the miles passed. He’d forgotten how good it felt to be on a grown-ups-only outing with a beautiful woman.

  When they drove into Twin Springs, Sophie lowered her window and leaned out. “Oh, Ty. This is like a little Christmas fairy land.”

  “Yeah, I thought you might like it. They go all out for the holidays.”

  The town looked like Santa’s Toyland and Midsummer Night’s Dream rolled into one. White lights twinkled and shone from every tree, outlined the quaint-looking little shops, and encircled the elaborate streetlights.

  She turned to him. “Do you think we’ll have any time to shop?”

  “Absolutely. They stay open till midnight through the month of December.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry for them, but happy for me.”

  Ty laughed. “I wouldn’t feel too sorry for them. This month puts them in the black, believe me. It’s a destination for lots of Austinites.”

  Christmas carols played over outdoor speakers, and Sophie sang along with them.

  When he parked and walked around to open the door for her, he found himself with an armful of delicious woman as she threw her arms around him.

  “Thank you.”

  “The evening’s just started,” he reminded her.

  “I know. But already it’s wonderful. Exactly right.”

  “Then, you’re welcome.” Taking her hand, so tiny and soft in his, he led her down the street to Luigi’s.

  They stepped inside to the smell of warm bread, garlic, and tomato sauce. Here, too, white lights sparked magic. A Christmas tree stood tall and proud in the foyer. Gold brocade ribbon trailed over doorways and in centerpieces, giving the restaurant a slightly formal air.

  Once they’d been shown to their table, Ty ordered a bottle of wine. After the waiter uncorked it and left, he raised his glass. “To a memorable night with an even more memorable lady.”

  Sophie smiled. “I’ll see you and raise you.” She held up her own glass. “To a special night with an unforgettable gentleman.”

  He winced. “I’m a cowboy, Sophie. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  “There’s a lot to be said for cowboys, Ty. Personally, I find them fascinating.” She sipped her drink.

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yeah. But don’t let it go to your head.”

  He chuckled and opened his menu.

  When the waiter returned, Sophie said, “I’d love to try that calzone you’ve been raving about, but I have to go with the lasagna.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll share.”

  And he did. Leaning across the table, he fed her a forkful of his meatball calzone, watched as those luscious lips closed around it. Instantly, he became uncomfortably aroused. The woman played havoc with his system.

  As they ate and talked and laughed, he realized a big part of her draw was that she was so unaware of herself. There was no coyness, no sense of self-importance. For the first time, he recognized the resemblance between her and Annie. Not physically, no. They looked nothing alike. But their ethics. Their attitude toward life. Both had a solid foundation.

  Annie. Tall, dark, and willowy with those ice-blue eyes. So self-confident and hardworking. So practical despite all her money.

  And Sophie? He could barely keep his fingers out of her pale blond hair and found himself falling into those big brown eyes of hers. She was a devoted believer in fairies and their magic. Yet despite that, she, too, could be practical and hardworking.

  Both cousins loved life.

  Annie had decided to make hers in Maverick Junction, while Sophie would head back to Chicago soon. He’d originally thought that a good thing. Now, he wondered.

  Talk turned to his ranch, then to her greeting card business.

  “Why did you decide to start Stardust Productions, Sophie? Seems like a big job to take on.”

  “Money,” she said.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Money. I needed a way to earn a living. I love to paint, so it seemed a good fit.”

  “It can be hard to get start-up money for a risky business venture like that, can’t it? But then you probably didn’t need outside money, did you?”

  “I sure did. I really hunted around before I finally found a bank willing to take a chance on me.” She tilted her head and looked across at him. “Ty, I don’t have any money.”

  Confused, he said, “That’s okay. I asked you out. I’ve got it covered.”

  She smiled and shook her head. “No. I mean, I’m not wealthy. I have a couple thousand dollars in savings and run my checkbook week to week.”

  Surprised, he sat back in his chair. “Seriously?”

  That enticing tongue of hers flicked out to wet her lips. “Most people think, you know, that because I’m Annelise’s cousin, well…”

  So, Ms. Sophie London wasn’t an heiress. He reached across the table and caught the hands she was clasping and unclasping. “You think that matters to me?”

  “It might. It does to some people.”

  “It doesn’t to me.” His eyes met hers unwaveringly. “It doesn’t,” he said more quietly, but this time he instilled steely determination into the words.

  At the same time, his conscience taunted him. Jerk. The money itself doesn’t matter a fig. But you’ve been judging her, and you know it. Thinking of her as a little rich girl, blah, blah, blah. You’ve made some bad calls, bud.

  He’d noted an almost haunted look at times. What bothered her? Kept her awake at night? Had her searching the yard tonight for the boogeyman.

  He and his demons were on a first-name basis. She’d denied having any. She wasn’t being honest, and that bothered him. A whole bunch. How could he protect her if he didn’t know what to fight?

  Ty wished his inner voice would shut up and go to sleep. Maybe she’d watched a scary movie just before he picked her up.

  He didn’t believe that, either. Nor did he believe he’d get his answer tonight.

  “Do you want dessert now, or would you rather wait and get something at one of the little shops?”

  Sophie patted her tummy. “I think some tea and dessert later would be best.”

  By the time he’d paid and they stepped outside, the night air had turned downright cool. He wrapped an arm around her as they wandered from shop to shop, glad for the excuse to pull her close, to feel her body against his.

  It had been years since he’d been out with a beautiful woman. Babs had been hounding him that it was time. Right now, with Sophie tucked close, he had to agree. It felt damn good.

  He even enjoyed nosing around in a few of the stores.

  “Boy, I might have forgotten the start of th
e holidays with all the wedding excitement, but the retail world sure hasn’t,” Sophie said.

  “Look at this!” She held up a wreath, its decorations red hot peppers. “I love it!”

  “That’s Christmas Texas-style, Tink.”

  After meandering through the displays, she chose some ornaments—a black Harley for Annie, a gaudy pink flamingo wearing a boa for Dottie, and three fishing ones for the boys. She’d even found an ornament that looked a lot like Trouble.

  “Nothing for you?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “No, but I need you to go next door.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I have one more to buy, and I want it to be a surprise.”

  He gave her a peck on the tip of her nose. “I’ll be in the coffee shop. Take your time.” Nearly back to Maverick Junction, Ty spotted the sign for Blackwater Road. Acting on impulse, without giving himself time to second-guess his decision, he pulled off onto the side road.

  As they bumped along the narrow dirt lane, Sophie looked at him, brows quirked. “This isn’t the road home.”

  “Nope. A little side trip. You mind?”

  “I guess that depends on where we’re going and what we’re going to do when we get there.”

  Oh, boy. Heat flared in his belly. He had plenty he’d like to do, but he didn’t figure full disclosure was required or expected.

  “It’s a beautiful night. Look at that moon.” He peered up at it through the windshield. “A perfect crescent. And those stars. Beside me, I’ve got a pretty lady.” He reached across, ran a hand along the top of her leg. “I thought it might be nice to stretch the evening out a little longer.”

  “The sky is magnificent. Chicago never truly gets dark. Because of the city lights, we never see all these stars. You forget, you know?”

  “Can’t say as I do, Tink. I’ve lived here in this open land all my life. But a sky like tonight’s? That’s a vista I never tire of.”

  As he arrowed the truck into a turnabout and threw it in park, Sophie sat, hands in her lap, looking around them. “This looks an awful lot like, um, a place you’d take a, um, date to go parking.”

  “Got it in one.” He stretched an arm along the back of the seat and ran a strand of that silky, moon-kissed hair between his fingers.

  She laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Nope. It occurred to me I’d like to spend a little more time with you, and it’s damned hard to find any privacy. My place, we’ve got the boys. ’Nough said about that. Your place isn’t much better. Ms. Dottie’s downstairs, and I’d really like to have you all to myself for a bit longer. That okay?”

  “More than.” Her voice had taken on a breathy tone that curled the toes inside his Tony Lamas.

  He played with the pink and green crystals dangling from her ear. The other, he noticed, sported the same earring plus a small silver dangle. It didn’t surprise him. Tink didn’t seem to like coloring inside the lines. She did everything her own way.

  “You want to play a little kissy-face?” he whispered.

  “I thought you’d never ask,” she whispered back.

  Leaning toward her, he dropped a kiss just beneath her ear, then another, and another. “We can pretend we’re teenagers,” he murmured. “How’s that sound?”

  “Lovely. Teenagers without all the teen angst.”

  “There you go. And no parents to chew us out for not making curfew.”

  He set his hat on the dashboard, turned on the radio, and slid his seat back. Then he turned to her and undid her seat belt. As he pulled her toward him, he gave thanks he’d ordered the truck with a bench rather than bucket seats.

  “Oh, Sophie. I’ve been wanting to do this all night.” His lips met hers with a hunger so intense, it blew his mind. She melted into him, her tongue flicking out, teasing, taking.

  His hands moved up under that pretty little sweater she was wearing, ran over her soft, heated skin. He trailed kisses along her neck, her quiet sounds igniting further fires in his belly. He’d been right. The woman was a sorceress.

  Her hands found their way under his shirt, traced along the edge of his belt, and he groaned. Then she trailed them along his back.

  He couldn’t get close enough. His hands wandered higher still, played along the edge of her bra. Reaching around her, he unsnapped the scrap of lace that stood in the way of total ecstasy. He had to touch her, taste more of her. Her hair smelled of flowers, of nighttime secrets.

  Moonlight filtered softly through the now thoroughly fogged up windows. Ty could no longer tell which sounds were his, which were hers.

  He ached for her.

  But when his fingers moved to the button of her slacks, she laid a hand over his.

  “Ty, we need to stop.” Her voice sounded husky and sexy as hell. “This isn’t a good idea.”

  “What’s wrong, Sophie? I know I’m rusty at this, but unless I’ve made a major mistake in reading you, you want this as badly as I do.”

  “You haven’t misread me. I do want you.”

  Heat shot through him.

  “But I can’t do this.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Both, actually.”

  Breath ragged, he struggled for air. “Why?”

  “Because you and I both know this isn’t going anywhere, and I’m really not into one-night stands.”

  “A one-night stand?” He pulled away. Sophie leaned against the window, all mussed and sexy looking, her lips swollen from his kisses.

  “Okay. Maybe a four-or five-night stand.” She smiled sadly. “This, well, it’s not exactly the best time for me. And you? You’re not ready for more.”

  Reluctantly, he drew her sweater down to cover her and kissed her cheek. “I won’t take more than you want to give, Sophie.”

  “I think maybe you already have.”

  He spread his hands. “I don’t know what to tell you. You know the way things are with me. I’ve been right up-front from day one. The boys—”

  “I know. The boys come first. And they should. But I don’t want to do this and then walk away feeling less.”

  “Less? I make you feel less?” Hurt? Anger? He couldn’t identify the feelings that rushed through him.

  “I…That’s probably not the right word choice. My emotions, my feelings, are all over the place. I think it’s time to take me home.” She tossed him a heartbreaking smile. “I’ll let you walk me to the door without any fuss, and we can say our good-byes tonight.”

  Not good nights, but good-byes? That hurt. More than he’d imagined. “What are you saying?”

  “I—”

  “Sophie.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Why are you doing this? We had a wonderful night. At least I did.”

  “I did, too.”

  “There’s no need for us to end. Not tonight. Not like this.” Panic rushed through Ty. Panic he didn’t understand. “I enjoy being with you. We don’t have to do this.” He waved a hand between them. “We don’t have to have sex. I enjoy spending time with you. The boys enjoy spending time with you.”

  “I know. And I enjoy being with all of you, but…I have to watch out for myself, Ty. I’m sorry.”

  In the moonlight he could have sworn he saw tears in those incredible brown eyes. Shit!

  “Look, Tink, I’m going to step outside. Take a minute to get myself together. You can do the same. Then, if that’s what you want, I’ll drive you home.”

  When they reached her apartment, he didn’t walk her to her door. The instant he parked the truck in the driveway, she flew out and rushed up the stairs without a word.

  In the moonlight, he stood at the bottom of them, waiting till a light came on in her kitchen. He waited there a full five minutes praying he’d hear her door open again, that she’d come back down to him.

  She didn’t.

  Sliding behind the wheel, he wondered how things had gone so wrong. Blackwater Road. He shouldn’t have pulled off there, should have taken her straight
home. Sent her off to her bed with a hot kiss to dream about.

  Instead, he’d screwed things up royally. Wasn’t that a kick in the ass? He hadn’t touched a woman since Julia. Now, he’d met someone who’d brought him back to life, and he’d driven her away. Had he said his skills were rusty? Corroded was more like it.

  Neon lights glowed in the window of Bubba’s Roadhouse as he drew close, and the open sign was still lit. Nowhere near ready to go home yet, he swung into the parking lot.

  From the number of vehicles, the Saturday night crowd was lingering over drinks and music. Too bad. Spotting a couple cars he recognized, he swore ripely. He definitely wasn’t in the mood for company and had hoped he could just go in and brood over a beer or two.

  The engine still running, he fought with himself. He really ought to go home and let Haley escape. He didn’t want to, though. He loved his boys. He really did. But every once in a while, the weight of it all got to be almost more than he could handle.

  And then there was Sophie.

  He turned off his black monster and, heading inside, pocketed the key. A few people spoke when he entered. He nodded at them but said nothing as he headed for the bar.

  “Hey, Ty. You’re out late.” Bubba shouted to be heard over the other patrons’ chatter and laughter. The jukebox belted out an upbeat song, adding another layer to the din.

  “Yeah, I am. Draw me a draft, would you, pal?”

  “Sure thing. Everything okay?”

  “Never better.” The words sounded bitter to his ears. “Add a basket of chips and salsa to that, would you?”

  “You got it.”

  Ty propped his feet on the bar’s boot rail. That had been one heck of a make-out session. That tight little body of Sophie’s could make a grown man cry. And her kisses? Hot as jalapeño poppers. But just like when he’d actually been a teen, the girl had put on the brakes and left him aching.

  The damnedest thing about it was that she’d been right. Neither of them was ready to commit. A rueful smile curled his lips. He couldn’t even offer her his class ring. Nothing was that simple anymore. Bottom line? He could wish things had turned out differently, but he couldn’t blame her in the least.