Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek) - By Tina Leonard Page 0,33
Maggie beautiful?” Lucy asked. “Why, are the town crazies holding a beauty pageant?”
“Just bring her. If you can’t find it on the computer, call Pecan Fanny’s and ask directions. I wasn’t paying attention to where we are.”
“Because you were paying attention to Jake,” Lucy said, “I understand.”
“Just bring her. And hurry,” Sugar said, turning off her phone and going back inside.
The tiny blonde had taken over Sugar’s chair in her absence, planting herself right next to Jake, who didn’t look all that happy, but neither did he look upset.
More like a deer caught in headlights on a county road. “Hi,” Sugar said, going to the table.
“This is Averie Pipkin,” Jake said, his expression a bit miserable. Everyone else looked at her with careful smiles.
“Hi, Averie,” Sugar said, feeling, indeed, like a basketball player as she looked at the tiny doll dwarfed by Jake. Averie offered her a small smile, certainly not friendly by any means, and Bobby German got up and dragged over another chair for Sugar since it was clear Averie didn’t plan to relinquish her spot next to Jake unless asked.
“Oh, did I take your chair, Sugar?” Averie asked, as if Sugar’s drink wasn’t sitting in front of her, half consumed.
“Not at all,” Sugar said, her smile smooth. “There are no names on the chairs, are there?”
Averie looked pleased. Jake looked like he was being dragged to a hanging.
Now that she was seated next to Cat and Sandy, they had a thousand things they wanted to talk to her about, which kept her from looking over too often at him and Averie.
“Don’t worry about her,” Cat said, her voice quiet. “Averie can’t get it through her head that Jake moved on a long time ago.”
Sandy nodded. “I love Averie,” she said in a soft voice, “but she can be clueless.”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter to me,” Sugar said, surprised but delighted to be included in “girl” talk. Girl talk wasn’t something there’d been a whole lot of opportunity for in the military. “Jake is my landlord. That’s all.”
Cat smiled. “Jake doesn’t spend time with a girl unless he likes her.”
“Well,” Sandy said, “he’s nice to all the girls, don’t get us wrong. What Cat means is that he’s not interested in Averie. He wouldn’t have brought you here if you weren’t special to him in some way.”
Sugar smiled. “It’s fine. Really.”
They turned to their beers, and the guys ordered some chips and other favorites. Sugar tried not to look at Jake, though she found her glance floating over to him when she thought he wasn’t looking. He smiled at her and Averie glared, and then Kel said, “So, how’s Lucy?”
Sugar blinked at the big, muscular man smiling at her. “She’s fine, Kel. Thanks for asking.”
He smiled at her. “Your mother is nice.”
She was about to say thank you when Fanny’s door opened. Lucy ushered Maggie in, and Kel jumped up like a firecracker exploded in his jeans.
“Hey!” Kel exclaimed, pulling up a couple more wooden chairs.
Lucy had done a good job making Maggie “beautiful”. Her mother wore an emerald-green umbrella skirt and a white blouse that showed off the Florida tan that was baked into her skin. She even had on a little makeup and a chunky gold necklace and big, flashy gold hoop earrings. Lucy and Maggie made their way over, and Kel took it upon himself to make the introductions all around.
“Sit here, Mom,” Sugar said, guiding her to the chair nearest Lassiter.
“Oh.” Maggie smiled at Lassiter. “I guess this is the old-folks corner.”
Lassiter laughed. “Then it wouldn’t be where you’d belong,” he said gallantly, and Sugar was so charmed and pleased with her matchmaking that she beamed at Jake.
He didn’t smile back. His gaze was on Lucy, who looked like Lucy always did, nothing flashy but definitely on the edge. But then Kel leaned close to Lucy, and Lucy stared at him, like what-the-hell-are-you-doing, and Sugar looked back at Jake.
Averie massaged Jake’s arm, catching his attention. Everyone chattered, ordering drinks for the newcomers Maggie and Lucy, and then they put in orders for food and Sugar realized she somehow was odd-woman-out.
Which was nothing she hadn’t been before—except that tonight was supposed to be amends-among-friends night for her and Jake.
It shouldn’t matter—but for some reason, it did.
Jake was stuck, hoist on the horns of good manners. Averie clung to his arm, claiming him. Sugar barely glanced his way, letting him and everyone else know it didn’t matter that they were no longer sitting together, which was well