“It’s not that. It’s just that you’re, well… you march to the beat of your own drum.” Lou was trying to soften it, but Brenne wasn’t in the mood.
“Alex basically accused me of helping sell the ranch off to Gavin, then accused me of wanting to collect the billionaire like some kind of kinky baseball card. Either I’m the spiteful bitch trying to get back at my brothers for manipulating me, which they’re very happy to do, by the way, or I’m the harlot digging for gold. There’s no way to win with these men.”
“Johnnie doesn’t think you’re a b-word or a… a… harlot,” Lou whispered the last word, even though it wasn’t technically a swear, which she tended to avoid. “He’s on your side. You should have heard him cursing out Alex in the kitchen when he realized the doc had shown up with his tech, you know, his date to the charity event.”
“Emma.” Brenne swallowed hard. “Alex was there with Emma?”
“I’m sorry, Brenne, but he was. They were having dinner together and she looked happy as a clam.”
Her stomach sank. Alex and Emma, out on another date together. Happy as pigs in mud. “Well, who cares?” she grumbled. “That is dead and buried, as far as I’m concerned. Emma can have him.”
“That’s the spirit,” Lou said, but even to Brenne’s ears, it sounded like false cheer. “You’re on to Gavin and it looks like you’re having fun together. I mean, who gets a calf on their second official date?”
Brenne laughed. Lou always had a way of putting things in perspective. Lou’s own unique perspective which was usually something she hadn’t thought of before. Brenne said she’d pass on the message about the wine tasting to Gavin and hung up.
At a stop sign on a quiet road, Brenne put the truck in park and swiveled around, pulling open the window to the truck bed. “Y’all all right back there?”
“Lucius and I are fine,” Gavin said.
“Lucius?” Brenne held back laughter at the name Gavin had chosen.
“Yes. After General Lucius D. Clay who orchestrated the Berlin Airlift after World War II, a magnificent feat of logistics.”
“I see. And how is Lucius’s adopted father faring?” she asked, keeping a straight face.
“The jostling is rough, but the day isn’t unpleasant. I’m reminded of what our drivers and transport staff do on a daily basis.” Gavin gave a nod, as if he’d just decided he was enjoying himself.
“We are about halfway there. You and Lucius stay loose.” She closed the window, deciding to keep the calf. Like Lou said, not every second date ended in a joint calf purchase. Maybe Lucius would soften Gavin up to moving his headquarters elsewhere.
She looked in the rearview and saw Gavin with his arm around the calf as the wind ruffled his hair. Oh yeah, look at Lucius, doing my heavy lifting for me. There’s no way Gavin is going to wreck the town now.
CHAPTER 25
ALEX
Alex knew he’d made a mistake the second he set foot into the community center. I am all kinds of idiot for agreeing to this. Emma stuck her arm through his and led them into the fray, her eyes bright.
I have fucked up so royally, not even the Lord can save me now, he thought as he looked at a portrait of Jesus that hung on the wall. He was holding a lamb and ministering to a group of rosy-cheeked children. How about you and me switch places, he said to the voice in his head to the Savior. Kids and livestock have to be easier to manage than female employees.
Pink and red hearts dangled from the community center’s ceiling. It was Valentine’s Day, the scourge of men nationwide. Like a dolt, he hadn’t realized the date when he’d agreed to go to a square dance with Emma. I shouldn’t have been agreeing to go anywhere with her, he told himself, regret covering him like a cloak to hide his shame.
Alex had planned to sit down with Emma, somewhere outside the office, to make it clear that things couldn’t go any further between them. He wouldn’t bring up Brenne’s name because he didn’t want word getting out. Instead, he’d lean on human resource policy and professionalism. She’d been in Whiskey River to assist with some house calls, so he’d invited her to the saloon to grab some dinner before she drove back to Lubbock.
Emma had been excited to talk about the success of the fundraiser and her hopes for the pet parade in Lubbock. She told him that she hoped it showed him that she was ready for more. He’d kept the conversation tilted in the professional direction, telling her he’d be happy for her to take on more responsibility at the clinic.
She’d reached across the table, gripping his hand, gushing about how much she’d enjoyed working for him, getting to know him, spending time with him, and so on. Her face had been nearly enraptured, and there was no way he could say what he’d come to say, no way he could crush another dream, just like his own had been crushed.
He’d regretted the missed opportunity later that same night, and every day since, but he still couldn’t bring himself to upset Emma. Not because he felt anything more for her than cordiality, but simply because she didn’t deserve it.
Did Brenne deserve it? an inner voice whispered, making him scowl.
No, Brenne did not deserve it. But she was strong enough to get past it. Stronger than me, even. Emma isn’t like Brenne.
Which was the problem. Emma deserved a man who appreciated her sweetness, a man who wouldn’t look at another woman when she was in the same room with him. Not a man hung up on a girl he’ll never be able to have. No woman deserves that, especially Emma.
And now here he was, at a Valentine’s Day square dance with a woman whose heart he was going to break. It was just a matter of time. Until then, he would cross no lines and do his best not to lead her on any more than he already inadvertently had.
“Are you ready to join a square?” she asked, swishing her frilly skirt in anticipation.
Alex nodded, figuring the sooner begun, the sooner done. They joined a square and moved to the music as the caller called out the moves. Alex didn’t count himself a big dancer, but square dance was something they’d taught at school. The community always came out for a dance. It was a Texas tradition.
Heads started turning in the direction of the table where two elderly women with identical teased blonde hair took the entry fees from those entering. Alex’s gaze followed the herd and he realized that someone he knew was passing one of the women a hundred-dollar bill.
Gavin Fucking Jeffries.
He wasn’t alone, it turned out. Brenne came behind him, nodding to the ladies and sauntering into the dance area. Unlike most of the other women present, she was dressed in flashy blue jeans instead of a round skirt with petticoats underneath. “What’s Brenne doing here?” he said out loud before he could help himself.
Emma looked in their direction. “Oh good, they came!”
“You invited them?” Alex asked her, confused.
“Well, when I called Mr. Jeffries to tell him about the silent auction, we got to talking and I mentioned the square dance tonight and he said he’d invite Miss Brenne and join us.” Emma smiled as if what she’d said would delight him.
Alex pushed away the surge of negativity roiling in him and plastered on a smile. “That’s nice,” he said, unable to produce a better lie.