Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek)

by Tina Leonard

  That was the problem—Lucy hadn’t really ever been around a friend set common to her years. She’d never had real girlfriends after high school. And now if Kel’s wife was going to have an issue with Lucy, Sugar wondered if Pecan Creek was the best place for her sister. “You could probably go on some kind of assistance. We could look into the GI Bill or whatever is available to us.”

  “Yeah. Like the military would have anything nice to say about me. Pretty sure that’s a dead end.” Lucy’s voice was flat. “What’s bugging you? It can’t just be Dumb Debbie.”

  “We don’t know that she’s dumb. It’s difficult when one spouse has been deployed for a long time. You know this.”

  Lucy shrugged. “Whatever. She’s dumb. If she asks me, I’ll tell her so.”

  Sugar closed her eyes for a second, hating the idea of such a confrontation taking place. “Honey, listen. I love you. But I think you need to go away.”

  “Because of a catty broad?” Lucy was incredulous. “Sugar, I’m surprised at you. Besides, I’m really getting into the spirit of PC.”

  “PC?” Sugar frowned. That was what Jake called the town.

  “Look. Stop worrying about me. I can take care of myself.”

  Sugar looked down at the green bills on the table. “I just don’t think there are any guys your age in Pecan Creek that are available.”

  Lucy’s jaw sagged. “Sugar, I’m not looking. You know that. Men are the last thing on my mind.”

  Sugar did know that. And it bothered her a bit, for her sister’s sake. Wasn’t that a rite of female passage—chasing guys? Until you found the right one for you?

  Although she didn’t know if Jake was the “right” one for her. Even if he wasn’t, she was having a great time with him.

  Lucy got up and retrieved two glasses of tea from the pitcher in the fridge. She set one down in front of Sugar. “I made this cake. I’m proud of this cake. I’m learning more here in PC than I would in a stuffy old lecture hall. And I’m only twenty-five. Why would I want a stupid boyfriend when you don’t have one? You’re thirty. You didn’t marry Ramon until you were—”

  “Almost twenty-five,” Sugar murmured, regretting the painful memories.

  “And that’s what you get for settling down too soon,” Lucy said. “Ramon was a nice guy. I see how you made that mistake. But I’m the little sister. I get to learn from your mistakes. I’m going to keep swinging from the trees.”

  “Jane eventually got her Tarzan.”

  “Yeah, well. When I meet my Tarzan, I’ll know, but it sure as heck’s not Kel, so quit trying to send me out of town on the train of shame. Jeez.”

  She whistled for Paris and took her pound cake and tea upstairs. Sugar sat looking at the money, worried and not sure why.

  “I’m here,” Jake called to his mother as he let himself inside. “Mom?”

  Vivian came into the kitchen. “How nice of you to spare some time.”

  So it was going to be Angry Visit Redux Jake sighed. “So your message said you needed to talk to me.”

  She nodded. “Come into the den, please.”

  Jake grabbed a soda from the fridge, wishing he was steering Sugar down Bad Boy Road with vodka and conversation and maybe some more of those kisses that sent him straight up. “What’s up?”

  He sat across from his mother on the prissy sofa.

  She set a sheaf of papers in front of him on the coffee table. “This is what’s up.”

  He had a bad feeling he knew what was in the papers—all the skeletons in the Cassavechia closet. “I don’t want that.”

  “I think it’s your responsibility to know. You should have done a background check on them before you rented them our family home.”

  “Damn it.” Jake let out a heartfelt sigh. “Once again, the house had been empty for years. It’s come alive since they’ve been there. I know you don’t like them, I know you wanted some Vanderbilts to rent the place, but I swear they didn’t take my calls. I think they were out of the country on their yacht or something.”

  Vivian sniffed. “Any reputable business does a background check.”

  Jake eyed the thick sheaf. “Not quite like you do. If your team is this thorough, how come you couldn’t ever find Dad?”

  Vivian sucked in a breath. “That’s uncalled for.”

  “Yeah. It is.” He leaned back, suddenly tired. “Look, I know you’re whispering in Averie’s ear about how awful the Cassavechias are. I know you want to block Maggie from being the mayor at the parade, and that you think Sugar is one step away from Satan’s princess minion.”

  “Please don’t forget the tattooed and bellybutton-ring-wearing little sister with the middle finger forever poised as her trademark,” Vivian said.

  Jake closed his eyes for a moment. “So what does the Encyclopedia Britannica of background checks say?”

  “Read it.”

  How bad could it be? The Cassavechias were human beings, and God only knew, he had his share of skeletons. So did Vivian. “Mom, I’m entirely uncomfortable with this. I really don’t care what gets dug up on them.”

  “You’re that crazy about Miss Cassavechia?” Vivian picked up the folder. “Maybe you’d be interested to know that she and her sister were in the military.”

  “I know. So was I. So?”

  “But little sister was dishonorably discharged. Apparently there was a fracas with an officer.”

  His gut cramped. Dishonorably discharged could mean anything, but it wasn’t good. “It doesn’t say why?”

  “No. But there’s all kinds of ramifications involved in such a thing, and as an officer, you’ll appreciate it’s not a high mark.”

  “Okay.” Jake sighed. “Go on, if you must.”

  “The mother has been married twice. I don’t know if she ever got a divorce from husband number two. The detective couldn’t find a record. No one knows what happened to the husband, which I find a bit strange.”

  Jake figured this was Lassiter’s problem. “Go ahead. What’s behind door number three?”

  “And Sugar,” his mother said with relish, “has recently been divorced. Apparently, she caught her ex with his hands in the cookie jar.”

  He winced. Made a note to stay far away from Averie, or Sugar was never going to trust him. “Half the people in this country get divorced. Sad but true statistic, I guess. Unless you’re married to a bastard, which it sounds like Sugar’s ex must have been.”

  “The only thing is,” Vivian said, “there’s some question as to whatever happened to dear old dad. The ex knows. And when the detective approached Capt. Ramon Higueras to chat about it—”

  “Very unprofessional,” Jake snapped. “Do you know the snakes you hired are lower than dirt?”

  “The ex claims Sugar got rid of the sterling stepfather,” Vivian said, shrugging. “Of course, this Ramon had been fed about a twelve-pack by then, so he was a little looser than he normally might have been. He could have been spinning a bitter ex tale. My source says, however, that the strange thing is that Sugar’s husband seems to still be madly in love with her. He’s hoping that her business venture will die and she’ll fall on her face and come home to him.” Vivian looked at him. “What business venture do the free-n-easies have going in our house, Jake?”

  He drained his soda Left it on the table. “I’ve got to go, Mom.”

  “Jake!” She followed him to the front door. “You needed to know all this!”

  He waved back at his mother, jumped in his truck.

  “Jake!”

  He drove away.

  There was only one thing to do.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Twenty minutes later, Jake had driven by his house, grabbed a six pack of beer and a bag of chocolate chip cookies—comfort food—and headed down the road to the creek. He had to think, and the only place he could think in peace and quiet without Kel’s issues or his mother’s fixation with the Hot Nuts, or Averie wanting to relive their relationship, was his private hideaway.
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  He passed Sugar and Paris walking down the road, looking like she might be heading into town. “Don’t do this,” he told himself and backed up his truck.

  “Hey,” he said, and she smiled at him.

  “Hi.”

  Just her smile made his muscles relax. He hadn’t realized how tense he was until he breathed out at the sight of her. “Where are you two ladies off to?”

  “We’re heading into town. We’re going to get a new dog bowl and a bag of dog treats.”

  He looked at Paris, the world’s most spoiled dog now, and her beautiful red-haired mother. Paris had on an autumn-leaf-themed kerchief around her neck. Sugar wore capri jeans and a green top that showed just a bit of her waist, and he wanted to sit and stare at her all afternoon.

  “Where are you going?” Sugar asked.

  “Just going to head off for a bit.”

  “Oh.” Sugar smiled. “Have fun.” She started walking again, and he watched her fanny move from side to side in the tight jeans, and groaned.

  She was dynamite in his world, capable of blowing his heart to bits. He knew that now, but he wasn’t entirely sure it mattered.

  He pulled his truck up beside her, and she and Paris stopped again. Sugar looked at him, a question in her eyes.

  “I’m going to take the canoe out.”

  She nodded. “Good.”

  “You know, I—”

  “Jake. I get it. You don’t have to explain anything to me. This is one of those times where you need to get away. You have your ways, just like Lassiter.”

  He looked at her. “I guess so. Never thought about it that way before, but—”

  “Anyway, you don’t have to tell me every time you breathe, Jake.” Sugar smiled at him, and his heart dropped. “I’ve got to go. I promised Paris treats, and I keep my word.”

  He nodded, and she went on down the road.

  He let the truck idle, a feeling of discontentment stirring inside him. The problem was, he shouldn’t have told her—anyone—he was going to his private hangout. It sort of ruined the effect of going off to work things out.

  What had really ruined it was Sugar saying she understood that he had his ways. He hadn’t known he had “a way” until she’d said that.

  He wasn’t really like Lassiter. He didn’t do private benders. Just a six pack alone with his thoughts.

  He didn’t really want to be alone with his thoughts. He wanted to be alone with her.

  “Hey,” he said, pulling up alongside Sugar again, “would Paris consider a trip to the creek a treat?”

  Sugar looked at him but didn’t stop walking, forcing him to slowly edge the truck forward to keep up with her. “She probably would. But she has to decline your invitation. She has social calls in town to make.”

  “The invitation was for both of you.”

  Sugar smiled. “Thank you. But we have other engagements.” She peeked over the window at his stash. “Is that your picnic?”

  “Yeah. Beer and chocolate chip cookies.”

  “Ew.” Sugar resumed walking. “Whatever floats your boat.”

  “Cute.”

  Sugar rewarded him with a smile.

  “Get in,” he said, “both of you.”

  “No,” she said, “I’m not the kind of girl to intrude on a man’s cave time. And Paris definitely isn’t. Well, she is, she’s an attention drain, but I’m bribing her with treats so she says maybe another time, thanks.”

  He grinned listening to her create a story for Paris. Sugar could not be the horrible person his mother’s investigator seemed to think she was. He knew it wasn’t possible, because until he’d met Sugar, he hadn’t known how happy he could be with a woman.

  Jake got out of the truck and stood in the road. Sugar turned around. “What are you doing?”

  “Either you go with me, or I’m going with you.”

  “But what about your ways?”

  He walked up to her, kissing her until she rose up on her toes and put her arms around his neck. “I’m trying to find a new way,” Jake said against her lips. “You coming?”

  “I have to take Paris back home.”

  “Why can’t she come?”

  “In your canoe?”

  She looked adorably concerned. “Yeah,” Jake said. “And we’ll stop in town first to get her treat, because if there’s one thing I can’t bear, it’s doggie disappointment. We’ll also pick up something for you to toss in the cooler that goes better with beer.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  He led her to the truck. Paris got in the middle with a big doggie grin, and Sugar laughed, making him smile.

  He’d never been more sure of anything in his life.

  “So the purpose of the secret hangout,” Sugar said, “is for you to have time to sort things out. Anything you want to share?” She flicked some water at him as they floated in the creek. Jake had brought a couple of rafts and so they floated side by side while Paris lay on the bank, chewing a bone Jake had commandeered from somewhere.

  “Yeah,” Jake said. “It occurs to me that I’ve shared two of my secret hangouts with you, while you’ve been keeping yours remarkably quiet.”

  “I don’t have a hangout.”

  “Well, you should. I don’t even get invited inside your house, though.”

  “That’s true. Not likely to change.”

  He jiggled her raft a little just to shake her up. “You could at least invite me over for a movie night like you have with Paris.”

  “That would involve you getting into my bed.”

  “Oh. Something wrong with the DVD player in the den? I put that in not four years ago.”

  Sugar smiled. “Haven’t used it once. The one in the bedroom gets all the playtime.”

  “I like it,” Jake said. “I envy Paris like I’ve never envied a dog before.”

  “The vet says she’s coming along nicely. Gained weight, her coat looks better, and she’s even acting more secure.” Sugar smiled. “Don’t envy her. She deserves all the good times she’s getting in Pecan Creek.”

  “I know.” He sighed. “Pecan Creek is good times.”

  She looked at him. “How’s Kel?”

  “Terrible. Miserable.” Jake took her fingers in his, lacing them together as they floated. “He’s a dimwit, but I hate to see him suffer like this.”

  “I told Lucy.”

  “I’m sure she was just thrilled to find out someone’s wife blames her for the breakup of her marriage.”

  “Lucy’s pretty emotionally well defended.” Sugar looked up at the sky. “I tried to talk her into going back to college.”

  “Did she bite?”

  “No. She says she’s learning too much in Pecan Creek.”

  “Uh-oh,” Jake said. “That’s a knife that cuts both ways.”

  Sugar laughed. “Why are you always so guarded about this darling little town?”

  “Because Peyton Place was minor league compared to Pecan Creek.” He looked at her. “Promise me you’ll tell me if you ever hear a rumor that upsets you.”

  She raised a brow. “A rumor like you’re getting back together with Averie?”

  He frowned. “Who told you that?”

  “No one.” She studied his face, noting the suddenly tight frown line and drawn mouth. He was so handsome, even when he was annoyed, like right now. It made her want to kiss the annoyance away—and yet, she had to keep her distance. “Would you tell me?”

  “I can honestly tell you that there is no way that will happen. But, Sugar, it won’t surprise me if people try to tell you things to make you change your mind about being in Pecan Creek.”

  She studied his face. “You were coming here to peace out, and now you sound so serious. What is going on?”

  He sighed. “Can’t I tell you after I make love to you?”

  “Wow. It must be bad.” Sugar tugged his raft closer to hers and flicked water at him again. The droplets looked good lying against his deep brown skin and strong muscles. She could ba
rely take her gaze from his body—which was a trap, because she couldn’t be blinded by the amazing packaging. “Are you saying you think we won’t be friends if I know whatever’s on your mind?”

  “I’m pretty sure I won’t be getting into bed in the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas room with you.” He winked at her. “Process of elimination. I know Lucy got the Belle Watling room. I figure Maggie didn’t want the American Gigolo room, because she’s more the type to go for J.R. Ewing. I knew that after she wrapped Lassiter around her finger.”

  “Good guess, Sherlock,” Sugar said. “Quit stalling.”

  He sighed. “Okay. If I tell you, you have to promise me you won’t jump in my canoe and paddle off.”

  “I never make promises I can’t keep.”

  “Figures. Are you sure you won’t let me make love to you before I tell you?” Jake looked hopeful. “Believe me, you’d be surprised how good raft sex can be. In fact, canoe sex doesn’t exactly suck, though it requires a little more balance.”

  “You know this from first-hand experience?”

  “No.” He laughed. “A guy has fantasies.”

  “So does a woman,” Sugar said. “How do you know that I won’t reward you for your secrets by tearing off your clothes?”

  “You might tear off my clothes, but it will only be to leave me here stranded.” His tone was morose.

  She got off her raft and slipped onto his, straddling him. “Start talking, or I take off my top. And you will not be allowed to touch. I’m not exactly bragging, but my top hides some things you’ll probably like.”

  “I heard.” Jake sighed. “Believe me, I’m a man who lives in daily hell.”

  “What are you talking about?” Sugar bounced on his midsection, making him ooph.

  “Oh God. Here ends the best month of my life,” Jake said. “Kel was up on the roof one day and saw you ladies enjoying quiet time in the backyard.”

  Sugar stared down into his face. “Quiet time? You mean, he saw us without our tops on?”

  He nodded.