Sweet Texas Charm

by Robyn Neeley

  Becca grinned. In no time, Tangie would have all the male patrons eating out of the palm of her hand. She squeezed Betty Lou’s shoulder. “What do you need me to make?”

  Tangie interjected her own answer before Betty Lou could respond. “Whip up your infamous guacamole. Wait until you taste it, Betty Lou. It’s amazing. Way better than anything we make at the Guac Olé plant. Your customers will be begging for more.”

  Becca shot Tangie a look. While it was true she’d been experimenting with new ways to make the dip, she wasn’t sure she was ready to put it out there for all of Sweet Ridge to taste. What if people hated it?

  “Oh, I don’t know. Why don’t I make something else? Maybe a warm artichoke and spinach spread, or there’s this great Rachael Ray recipe for sauerkraut dip that is sensational.”

  Tangie shook her head and came over, placing her hands on Becca’s shoulders. “What better time than now to have people sample the new shareholder’s dip? If they like it, you can shove that in Mr. Tall, Dark, and Charming’s face.” She paused, laughing. “Or dump it all over him, if you prefer.”

  “Very funny, and I’m not a shareholder yet.” She couldn’t help but glance in the direction where Grayson had been standing. If he had his way, she would never be one.

  A couple came up to the table, and Tangie offered them the mini–corn dogs and sweet potato fries still left.

  “It’s only three weeks away.” Tangie waved a fry in Becca’s direction. “Why not ease into it? Start making it known that you are committed to Guac Olé’s bottom line.”

  Her friend did have an excellent point. She was committed to the future of the company, and this was the perfect opportunity to have tasters weigh in on her dip. If they liked it, maybe she could talk to Grayson and his brothers about possibly offering a different type of Guac Olé product made with fresh fruit.

  “Okay, let’s do it.” She really had nothing to worry about. The recipe she’d created was amazing, and anyone who liked guacamole was going to love it.

  “I’ll keep a look out for Mr. You Know Who.” Tangie winked at Becca. “If his bronze body comes within ten feet, he’ll get my boot to his groin.” She gave a kick and chuckled. “In the direction of Rhode Island.”

  “Please do.” Becca laughed off that lovely image of Grayson soaring across the states while she followed Betty Lou inside to the diner’s kitchen.

  “What do you need for your recipe, hon?”

  “Avocados, lime juice, strawberries …” She began ticking off the list, sharing her secret ingredient at the very end.

  “Really?” Betty Lou raised an eyebrow.

  “Yep.” She pulled on the blue-and-white-checkered apron Betty offered, tying the back. “It’s what gives it that special kick that makes it stand apart from other guacamole recipes. Trust me.”

  Betty Lou flew through her kitchen, and in no time, she had all the ingredients placed on the kitchen island.

  Becca began to peel the avocados while Betty Lou went to work, making her famous cheesy garlic Texas toast. “I really miss working here,” Becca said, smiling over at her friend and former boss.

  “You can always come back.” The old woman chuckled, adjusting her glasses. “Although I imagine Guac Olé is keeping you busy these days.”

  “You might say that.” She didn’t bother masking her sarcasm as she sliced into her avocado. Unfortunately, the old woman had a soft spot when it came to the Cooper men. She, like everyone else in this town, thought Jack had been playing Cupid and so far had done a splendid job matching his boys.

  Becca set her knife down. If anyone could tell it to her straight, it was her former boss and mentor. “Betty Lou, can I ask you a question?”

  “What is it, hon?”

  “So, say Jack was matchmaking …” She added quickly, “I don’t think that was the case in this situation, but let’s say he was. I can understand someone like Macy Young for Gavin, and from what I hear Charlotte is quite savvy and a perfect match for Gage …” She paused and let out a sigh. “Why me?”

  Betty Lou came over and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Why not you?”

  “I’m serious. I mean, Grayson and I can’t be more different. He’s rich and educated and drives a fancy car. So I have some money now. It doesn’t change the fact that we’re not standing on the same side of the tracks.”

  Betty Lou held up her hand. “Stop right there, Rebecca Lynne Nash. Just because you don’t have a fancy education does not mean that man is better than you. Grayson would be lucky to have you in his life.” She opened her oven and slid in her Texas toast. “Although he’s the only Cooper who rarely steps foot in the diner these days. I’m holding out hope you’ll change that.”

  She shook her head. “Don’t hold your breath. I don’t think he’ll come near me again in a public place that serves food if there’s a chance he could be wearing it. Too risky.”

  “I heard about your blowup at the Silver Spurs.” Betty patted Becca’s back. “Maybe Jack thought Grayson needed a hometown Texas girl to help loosen him up.”

  “He is tightly wound.” She smirked, rather enjoying that, thanks to her, he’d never wear the expensive tie that probably cost what most folks spent on their monthly car payment.

  “Jack was a smart man. I’m sure he has his reasons for giving you the shares.”

  “Maybe.” Becca wasn’t quite convinced. “Grayson asked me if I had something to hold against his dad. Like Jack would have some big secret that I somehow found out about.”

  She expected Betty Lou to react but was surprised to see the old woman staring at her blankly. “You don’t think I blackmailed Jack, do you?”

  “Of course not.” The old woman busied herself wiping off the counter in silence, then started on another batch of her buttermilk onion rings.

  A few minutes later, Becca grabbed a spoon and waved it in Betty Lou’s direction. “Okay, the guacamole is done. Tell me what you think. Be honest.” She dipped the spoon in the pretty green and red mixture and handed it over, holding her breath for the verdict.

  The old woman took a bite and her eyes rolled back. “This is absolutely amazing. It’s so sweet, yet tangy and fresh.” She lowered her eyelids. “You’re right about using that last ingredient.”

  “Thank you.” Finally! Her first real validation by someone who knew her way around a kitchen and had been mixing ingredients for most of her life. “I’ve been experimenting after hours.” She grabbed a stack of small plastic bowls and lined them along two trays, filling each bowl with dip. “I’ll take these out.”

  “Wonderful. There should be enough tortilla chips out there, but let me know if you need more. I’ll bring out the Texas toast and onion rings as soon as they’re done.” Betty Lou gave her a warm squeeze. “Thanks again. You and Tangie are real lifesavers.”

  “Anytime, and if you need me tomorrow I can come by, too.” Her mom’s social calendar was pretty full on Sundays between church in the morning and activities in the afternoon, including a painting class that her mom seemed to really be enjoying. So Becca could help Betty Lou tomorrow during the day and head over to her mom’s for dinner.

  The two trays in hand, she crossed the empty dining room and pushed open the door with her back. The sight in front of her caused her to stop dead in her tracks.

  Grayson was standing at the food table talking to Tangie, her friend laughing at something he’d said. Obviously her friend hadn’t followed through with her knee-to-his-groin threat.

  “Shouldn’t he be halfway across the country by now?” Becca deadpanned her question, aiming it directly at Tangie.

  “Becca, Grayson was just telling me how much he appreciates the work we do.”

  “He was, was he?” she asked, locking eyes with his. Her knees began to shake at the realization of just how electric blue his were. She straightened her legs, trying to regain her composure. “Nice to see you, Grayson.”

  “Evening, Becca. Although—” He grinned and took a couple of
steps back.

  She looked down at the trays in her hands. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to give you a green facial tonight.” She paused, adding, “Unless you say something to deserve it.”

  Tangie grabbed a bowl full of blue tortilla chips, offering them to Grayson. “Wait until you taste what Becca made. You are going to die. It’s that amazing.”

  He took a tortilla chip and stepped toward Becca. “May I?”

  She shrugged her shoulder, pretending that Grayson Cooper trying her dip meant absolutely nothing. “Knock yourself out.”

  He dipped his chip in, scooping up the guacamole. “It’s chunky. Definitely not our dip.”

  As he took a bite, Becca went around the table and set the two trays down, releasing her shaky hands. She bent down to regain her composure, pretending to get something out of her purse.

  “So, what do you think, Grayson?” Tangie asked.

  “Not bad.”

  Not bad. He did not just say that. So he was an arrogant asshole with no taste buds. Becca popped up and straightened. “Don’t you have a redhead to get back to?” she asked, pointing in the direction of the stage. “I wouldn’t want to keep you from your date.”

  “Why, Ms. Nash, that’s very kind of you.” He flashed his dimples, and Becca’s knees began to shake again. Damn those sexy indents.

  “Grayson, there you are.”

  Becca turned and stared at the woman on the other side of the table. It was the redhead he’d been talking to earlier. To say she was beautiful was an understatement. Why hadn’t Jack picked her for Grayson?

  “Hey, Charlotte.” He smirked. “Becca, this is my sister-in-law, Charlotte Cooper. Charlotte, this is Becca Nash.” He leaned in and whispered, “Not sure under the circumstances I’d call her my date. Gage probably wouldn’t like it.”

  Becca looked away, trying to ignore his musky cologne now swarming around her.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Becca.” Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Oh, my goodness. It’s really great to finally meet you.” She extended her hand.

  Becca couldn’t help but notice the enormous rock on her finger. She shook Charlotte’s other hand. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  Charlotte gave Grayson a playful nudge. “Gage sent me to fetch you. Apparently, Macy’s got some special announcement she’s going to make onstage. Would you like to join us, Becca?”

  “Oh, no.” She was grateful she now had an excuse. “I can’t leave Tangie and Betty Lou.”

  “You should come over,” he interjected, taking a mini–corn dog from Tangie. “We’ll be hanging out to the right of the stage.” He pointed toward the band and winked at Becca, adding, “But you knew that already.” He popped the corn dog in his mouth.

  Her cheeks flamed over Grayson’s enjoyment that she’d seen him earlier and mistook his sister-in-law for his date. God, this man was so full of himself.

  She grabbed a bowl of dip, shoving it at Chuck McAllister, who’d stopped by to flirt with Tangie. Well, he could hit on her best friend later. She needed a handsome red-blooded American male at this very second, and Chuck fit the bill.

  “I don’t know how long I’ll be here. Depends on how my ‘not bad’ guacamole sells.” She scooped some dip on a chip and batted her eyelashes. “Chuck, taste this.” She proceeded to feed him the chip while moving her hand up and down his arm. It didn’t matter that she’d known Chuck since kindergarten and had zero romantic interest in him. Grayson didn’t need to know that.

  “Yum …” Chuck said, taking another chip.

  “Glad you like it.” She gave Grayson a “go screw yourself” half smile and turned her attention back to Chuck, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “Grayson.” Charlotte started to pull him away. “I love this song. Let’s go dance.”

  “Ladies.” He nodded and let Charlotte lead him back toward the band stage.

  “Bye, boss,” Tangie called out. “Hope we’ll see you around the factory sometime.”

  Becca glared over at her friend. “He’s not your boss. I’m your direct supervisor. Why would you encourage him to stop by the factory?” That was all she needed: him lurking about.

  “Oh, calm down.” Tangie waved her question off. “How many times has he stopped in the entire time we’ve been working there?”

  “Once, and that was one too many.” Becca huffed and dipped a chip into her guacamole, taking a bite. How could he suggest her concoction was anything but sensational? He had to be doing it to push her buttons. She grabbed two bowls and handed them to a couple of young women standing off to the side. “On the house, but please tell me what you think.”

  The women grabbed some chips and dived in, agreeing it was very good.

  Over the next twenty minutes, the compliments on her dip were flying left and right from satisfied customers eager to taste more. For some reason, the praise didn’t make Becca feel any better. Funny how a “not bad” delivered by one Grayson Cooper could negate all the praise.

  Tangie came up beside her and grabbed the bowl in her hand. “I’ve got this. It’s time for you to go make nice with Mr. Blue Eyes.”

  She bit her lip. Even though she’d rather scrub all the Guac Olé vats with nothing but a toothbrush than make small talk with Grayson, this really would be a great opportunity to chat it up with Gage and Gavin.

  Tangie’s earlier point had been a good one. Maybe easing into her new shareholder role might make the inevitable less stressful. Besides, Gavin was always polite when he saw her around town.

  She didn’t know Gage. They’d been in the same grade in school but never spoke. He’d been heavy into sports, and she spent most of her free time working for Betty Lou. She couldn’t recall a time she’d ever seen any of the Cooper boys in the diner. She definitely would have remembered waiting on any one of them. She always remembered the popular kids and the entitled chip they usually sported on their shoulders.

  She did remember Jack, though, but not in the diner. One time while taking out the garbage, she’d accidentally interrupted her mother speaking with him in the alley. Her mother had blown it off, saying Jack needed change for a twenty. At the time, Becca hadn’t given it much thought, but she still remembered that her mom’s eyes had been red and watery, as if she’d been crying.

  She made a mental note to bring it up with her mother during their next visit, although it was unlikely she would remember such a trivial encounter.

  While Becca arranged the table with all the hot food Betty Lou brought out to them, the music started and her gaze zoomed over to the band. Macy Young hadn’t taken the stage again, but her band was doing a fabulous job covering “Texas Beauty,” the town’s unofficial anthem that everyone knew the words to, perfect for Founders’ Day weekend.

  Charlotte’s invitation rang in her ears. Could she really go join them? Two months ago, she would have never imagined she’d be invited to hang out with Jack Cooper’s sons. So much had changed in the last sixty days. Was she ready?

  She looked over at Tangie, who gave an encouraging nod toward the bandstand while mouthing the word, “Go.”

  “I guess I could say hello.” Becca pulled off her apron and straightened her dress.

  “Good girl. I’ll help Betty Lou close up and then join you.” Tangie paused, adding, “Unless you and Grayson have skipped town to elope by then. In that case, make sure you send me a selfie of the wedding.”

  Becca wiggled her nose, but then her brain did something completely unthinkable, imagining Grayson looking as handsome as ever in a black tuxedo. She gave that mental image a swift kick with her boot. “I don’t know …” she said, having second thoughts. “I really should stay and help you both break down.” She started to put her apron back on.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” Tangie grabbed the apron and held it behind her back. “You’re going, but first your fairy godmother needs to do a few things.” She bent down and came up with her purse. Within seconds, she pulled out a tube of lip gloss and some hair spray. �
��Pucker up,” she instructed and swiped Becca’s lips and then yanked her ponytail holder out, giving her curls volume with a few pumps of the hair spray to seal them in place.

  “Much better. And now you need an escort.” She whistled to Chuck, who had been looming nearby. “Chuck, go spin Becca around.” She winked. “I’ll make it worth your while if you keep an eye on her. Make sure she has a good time and those Cooper boys behave.”

  Chuck finished his beer, handed his empty cup to Tangie, and offered his arm to Becca. “I would be happy to do that, darlin’.”

  Becca shot Tangie a murderous look, but took Chuck’s arm. Screw Grayson. Charlotte had invited her into the lions’ den. She was the majority stockholder. It was time to stomp out Grayson’s roar.

  • • •

  Grayson licked his bottom lip, still tasting the strawberries, avocado, and another tangy ingredient he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Hands down the best dip he’d ever tasted, but he’d never admit it. Rule number one: never give your opponent the upper hand.

  He’d returned to the VIP area right off the stage, where he and his brothers had been hanging out for most of the night. It was nice to have Gage home for the weekend, and he had to admit, he was really digging Charlotte and her cute Australian accent. They’d be going back home to Houston in the morning.

  He scanned the crowd for Becca, not really believing for a second that she’d accept Charlotte’s invitation to join them. Not after he’d insulted her guacamole. He’d have to find a way to figure out what was in it another time. It was that good.

  Walking over to the blue cooler Gavin had brought with him, he reached in the ice for a can of beer and pulled the tab. “So, what is Macy’s big news?” he asked Gavin, who’d come up beside him.

  Gavin reached in the cooler and grabbed a beer for himself. “Not sure. I bet it’s epic.”

  “Are you two really happy?”

  Gavin took a sip of his beer, placing his hand behind his neck. “I never would have believed that we would end up together. Remember how much we hated each other after that last year in high school? Something clicked, though, and I knew she was the one.” He smiled over at Macy in her hot performing outfit, deep in conversation with her manager. “Or maybe I just have a thing for fringe leather miniskirts and sexy cowboy boots,” he joked.