Texas Proud and Circle of Gold (Long, Tall Texans #52) - Diana Palmer Page 0,20
her sights and she’ll do anything to get his attention. You watch out,” she added.
Bernie sighed. “I guess she’ll really hit the ceiling when she finds out I’m going to a movie with him.”
“Movie?” Sari asked, all ears.
“When?” Glory asked.
She laughed. “Friday night. He’s taking me to the drive-in.”
“Ooh,” Sari mused. “Heavy stuff.”
Bernie blushed. “He’s so good-looking. Honestly, I feel dowdy compared to Jessie.”
“He didn’t like Jessie, though, did he?” Olivia reminded her. “He told me not to mention he was having lunch with us when I went back to the office. He wasn’t impressed by her. In fact,” she added with a chuckle, “he said he knew how deer felt during hunting season.”
“Wouldn’t that get her goat?” Sari teased. “I wasn’t kidding about Mikey,” she added to Bernie. “He really isn’t a ladies’ man.”
“He could be in movies,” Bernie said.
“Yes, he could,” Glory agreed. “I wonder.” She glanced at Sari. “Didn’t anybody ever try to get him to audition for a movie?”
“In fact, Paul says he was pursued by a Hollywood agent who saw him in Newark. He just smiled and walked away. He’s shy, although that never comes across. He puts on a good act,” Sari added.
“He’s good with people,” Bernie told them as they went out and locked the door, Mr. Kemp having gone home from a day in court already. “The ladies at the boardinghouse think he’s just awesome.”
“And what a lucky thing that Mrs. Brown only had one vacancy,” Sari said. “Or Jessie would be over there like a flash.”
“I still can’t figure what she’s doing down here,” Glory said. “She’s a bad fit for our office, and she doesn’t mix with anybody in town except her friend Billie at the county clerk’s office.” She frowned. “In fact, Billie hasn’t been here long, either, and she’s a city girl from back east somewhere. They’re both of them out of step with local people.”
“Do they room together?” Bernie asked.
“Yes, at some motel out of town. That’s got to be expensive, too, since none of our local hotels serve meals.”
“Which one do they stay at?” Glory asked.
“The one where all the movie stars live when they’re in town filming,” Sari told her. “The one with whirlpool baths and feather pillows and mini bars.”
“Ouch,” Glory laughed. “That’s the most expensive place in town. Jessie doesn’t make enough here to afford such luxury.”
“Well, she and Billie share,” Sari said. “I guess they share meal expenses, too. Jessie would never manage it alone.”
“Don’t mention your upcoming date in the office,” Glory cautioned Bernie.
“I might not need to,” Bernie said, waving Olivia goodbye as she drove off in her car. “We were sort of holding hands in Barbara’s Café,” she confessed.
Sari whistled.
Bernie looked at her curiously.
“And Mikey knows about small towns, too,” she mused. “Apparently he doesn’t mind people knowing that he likes you.”
Bernie flushed. “Really? You think he does?”
“Paul does,” Sari said. “And he knows Mikey a lot better than the rest of us do.”
“Wow,” Bernie said softly.
“There’s my ride. My boys,” Glory gushed, waving to Rodrigo at the wheel of their car and their little boy in the back seat. “See you tomorrow!”
“Have a good night,” Bernie called. Glory waved as she got into the car and fastened her seat belt. Rodrigo waved at the women on his way past.
“There’s just one thing,” Sari said gently, turning to Bernie when they were alone. “Mikey’s down here for a reason, and it’s a dangerous one. I can’t talk about it. But you should know that there’s a risk in going around with him.”
“I do know,” Bernie replied. “I don’t care.”
“So it’s like that already.” Sari smiled. “I’d feel the same way if Paul was like Mikey. You know that Mikey’s past isn’t spotless?” she added a little worriedly.
“You mean, about his hotel business?”
Sari didn’t know what to say. She felt uncomfortable telling tales. Well, better to let sleeping dogs lie. “It was a long time ago,” she lied, smiling. “He’ll tell you himself when he’s ready.”
“I don’t care about his past,” Bernie said softly, and she smiled. “I’ve never been so happy in my whole life.”
“Judging by how much he smiles lately, neither has Mikey,” Sari laughed. “Paul said he was the most somber man you’ve ever seen until lately. They grew up together.”
“Yes, he did. Paul and Mikey had a rough childhood. Their grandmother was all they had. Well, and each other, although neither of them would admit it.”