Come and Get It (9 page)

“
Stop it this minute,” she
hissed, trying to tug her arm away. “Turn loose of me.”

He just smiled and tilted his head
toward her. “No way, sweetheart. I told you we’d talk today and I
meant it.” He continued to guide her down the aisle and into a pew
two rows back from the dais.

She quickly scooted all the way down,
hoping to nip out the other end and head for a side exit. She was
thwarted in that effort when Rebecca Lynn and Jess blocked her
way.

“
Hey, Dixie. Hey, Quin.
Great party last night, huh? Didn’t I tell you?” Rebecca Lynn was
all smiles. She kissed Dixie’s cheek. “You look tired, honey. Did
you get any sleep last night?”

“
I’m fine,” Dixie said
between clenched teeth. “Scoot up and let me out.”

Before she could think about moving,
Quin placed a hand on her knee. He didn’t say a word but the
message was clear—wherever she went, he would follow.

Dixie closed her eyes and sent a
prayer the Lord would forgive her for throttling Quin Halladay in
His house. She brushed his hand from her knee.

“
What the heck do you think
you’re doing? You don’t even believe in God,” she whispered
frantically. “You can’t just show up and escort me to church. That
means something in the South.” He quirked an eyebrow at her. “You
know what it means. Everybody here knows you’ll be gone soon and
you’re just flaunting our . . . understanding . . . to show off.
They’ll feel sorry for me but they’ll judge me too.”

He turned slightly, looking at her.
“You’re serious.”

Dixie tipped her head back and sighed.
“Yes. Please, just go.”

He got up and left without a word and
Dixie whispered her thanks. Relieved as she was that he was gone,
she still felt a void where he’d once been.

* * *

Quin had worked up a good pout by the
time he got back to his room. He’d meant it to be cute and sexy,
showing up to attend church with Rose. He figured it would soften
her up a little, maybe get her to agree to come back here to the
restaurant for lunch. And, yes, maybe a little sack time in his
room. Instead, he’d made some archaic social blunder and
embarrassed her.

He flopped down on the bed and picked
up the room service menu. By now he knew the thing by heart. He
picked up the phone and dialed, ordering a grilled chicken
sandwich, a side salad, and a beer.

The clerk gave him the bad news. “I’m
sorry, sir. We can’t sell beer or wine before noon and no liquor at
all on Sundays. Is there anything else I can get you?”

His jaw clenched and released. “No.
You know what? Cancel that. I’ll go down to the truck stop for
breakfast.” He hung up, grabbed his keys, and hit the
road.

* * *

The aroma of fresh coffee and frying
bacon hit Quin the moment he walked into the dining room. He
couldn’t remember the last time he’d allowed himself to indulge in
anything fried. He made a concerted effort to maintain a fit,
healthy body and he liked the way women looked at him when he was
shirtless. They appreciated his sculpted chest, washboard abs, and
bulging biceps.

Dixie liked his body and she liked
what he could do with it. He didn’t see anything wrong with that
and he didn’t understand why it was so important to her to maintain
a sense of propriety when everyone in town knew they were sleeping
together. It didn’t make any sense.

He took a stool at the counter and
nodded yes when the waitress held up a coffeepot and raised her
eyebrows in question.

She snagged a heavy crockery cup with
one finger and set it down in front of him. “You want creamer,
honey?”

“
Please,” he replied,
reaching for the menu. He perused it quickly while the waitress
refilled cups and returned with a pitcher of half-and-half. She
pulled her pad and pen out of her apron pocket and waited. “Um, how
about two eggs over medium, bacon, home fries and a side of
pancakes.”

“
Silver dollar or regular?”
she asked.

“
Better make it silver
dollar.” He patted his stomach. “Gotta watch the old
waistline.”

The waitress snapped her gum and
looked him up and down. “Nothin’ wrong with your waistline, sugar.”
She gave him a wink and sauntered away to put in his
order.

Fidgeting with his phone while he
waited, Quin finally broke down and dialed Dixie’s number. The
machine picked up on the first ring.

“
Dixie, it’s me, obviously.
Look, sweetheart, I’m sorry about this morning. I swear, if I’d
known, I never would have shown up and put you on the spot like
that. I thought I was being . . . romantic, I guess. You’re right,
I don’t get it. Or I didn’t. Don’t hold a grudge, baby. Give me a
call so we can talk about it.”

As long as he was waiting, he checked
his email. There was a scathing note from Allison, belittling him
for not returning her call and demanding he drop everything to be
home to escort her to that damn party. He made a rude noise and
closed the phone.

The waitress grinned as she set his
food down. “Got yourself in the doghouse, did ya?” she
teased.

Quin gave her a sheepish smile. “I
guess. She’s pissed but I’m not exactly sure why. All I did was
meet her at the church and escort her inside. Now she’s all upset
because I’ve taken our friendship public when I’m only going to be
here for another six weeks or so.”

The waitress cocked her hip and
planted her fist. “Takin’ a girl to church is serious business in
the Bible Belt, sugar. You go to church with a woman you’re makin’
a statement that your intentions toward her are honorable. It’s
like you’re thumbin’ your nose at folks and embarrassin’ her to
boot.” He groaned and the woman laughed. “That’s what you get for
beddin’ a respectable woman, sugar. Welcome to Texas.”

Chapter Seven

Dixie arrived at the job site on
schedule and got busy with setup. As usual, Allen appeared to help
her unload and set up tables. She gave the parking lot a furtive
scan but Quin’s truck was nowhere to be seen.

“
He had some kinda
conference call late this morning so he hasn’t come in
yet.”

Dixie grimaced. “Was I that
transparent?”

Allen smiled and shook out a checkered
tablecloth, watched it settle over the length of the
table.

“
Not so’s anybody would
notice. It’s just I’ve known you since we were kids. You had that
same exact look when you and Garrett were fighting.”

“
He’s just . . . honestly,
I don’t know what he is.”

With all the tables set up and
readied, Dixie and Allen sat down for a cup of coffee. “He’s an
asshole’s what he is,” Allen declared. “Don’t any of us like the
way he treats you, Dixie Rose.”

Dixie chuckled. “All y’all see is the
business side.” She gave Allen a light punch on the arm. “You were
at the party last night, people liked him just fine.”

Her words were met with a derisive
snort and, “People like you, Dix, that’s why he was treated like
company.” Allen shook his head. “He’s not near enough good for you,
sugar. He’ll have his fun with you and be on his way, mark my
words.”

Dixie drained her cup and stood. “And
what makes you think I’m not havin’ my fun with him? My man’s been
dead for three long years, Allen. I miss him like all get-out and I
reckon I always will, but it’s time I got on with life. The thing
with Quin Halladay is me testin’ the water. I know there’s no
chance he’ll stay here and hook up with me for good. And I sure
don’t intend to leave my home.” She shrugged and headed for the
trailer, talking as she went, saying, “Sauce for the goose is sauce
for the gander, my friend.”

Allen walked up to the window. “What’s
good today?”

Dixie grinned. “Hell, Allen, it’s all
good. You know that.” She lifted the lid on a soup pot and inhaled
the steam. “Mmm. Tomato soup made from some of the last on the
vines. There’s a little soy milk in there and I’ve got low-fat sour
cream, some finely grated parm, and a sprinkle of chives for
garnish.” She laughed as Allen’s stomach rumbled.

“
Grilled cheese?” he asked
hopefully.

“
Smoked gouda with thinly
sliced avocado and Vidalia relish. Yes? No?”

“
Hell, yes.”

Dixie assembled the sandwich and put
it on the hot griddle, then ladled up a bowl of fresh tomato soup.
At precisely noon, the construction noise stopped.

“
Here comes the thunderin’
herd,” Allen said.

Dixie leaned out of the window and
hollered, “Come and get it!”

Bubba beat Hugh to the window today,
an unusual happenstance. “Hey, Bubba, what’ll it be today? I got
homemade tomato soup or smoky corn chowder. For sandwiches, it’s
apple chicken salad and chipotle roast beef on artisan bread, and
chili steak burritos. The hot meal is spicy peach pork roast with
asparagus risotto and spicy glazed carrots. Got some of those
clover rolls you like too.”

Bubba blushed like a schoolgirl. “I’ll
have the hot meal, Dixie Rose. Can I have an extra honey
butter.”

She smiled. “Of course you can, sugar.
You hang on just one minute.” Quick as a whistle, she filled a
plate with food and set it on the counter. “There ya go, Bubba.
Enjoy.” She took his money and tried to give him change but he
refused. “Thank you very much, sugar.”

As she turned to put the money in the
drawer, the next man stepped up to the window. She turned and
smiled and was momentarily speechless. Golden. The man was a golden
god. Golden blonde surfer hair hung past his shoulders. His eyes
were the golden brown of a tiger’s eye gemstone. A white V-neck
T-shit clung to a broad chest with sprinkles of light hair at the
point of the V.

“
Hi,” she said, trying to
remember how to put a coherent sentence together. “What can pet for
you . . . get for you. What can I get for you?” She closed her eyes
and gave her head a barely perceptible shake.
It’s official. I’m an idiot.
“Sorry.”

“
That’s all right,
buttercup,” he drawled. “I’ll have the hot meal, too. I like
spicy.”

She jerked her gaze from his full lips
and gave him a jerky nod. “Spicy. Okay.”

How she managed to fill the plate
without spilling food everywhere she would never know, but she
pulled it off.

“
Here you go.” She set the
plate on the counter and took his money. Her equilibrium returning,
she counted out his change.

He smiled and leaned on the counter.
“So, I’m new in town and I surely would like someone to have supper
with me tonight. What about it . . . Dixie?” She nodded. “Say yes,
sweet Dixie.”

She shook her head. “Thank you for the
offer, but no.” She attempted to give him back his change but he
simply grinned and walked off with his food.

Big Hugh stepped up to place his
order. “I think I’ll take the hot meal today, too.”

“
Hungry today, Hugh?” she
asked, fixing his food. “How’s Rita Mae? She recover from Saturday
night yet?”

Hugh’s laughter boomed. “I swear,
Dixie, I’ve never seen her let loose like she done at your place.
She was feelin’ so poorly she didn’t make it to church yesterday.”
She set the plate before him, knowing he hoped she’d comment on her
run-in with Quin at church. She smiled and took his money. “Keep
the change, honey.” He looked down at the plate. “Sure does smell
good, Dixie Rose.” He waggled his eyebrows at her and wandered off
to find a seat.

After everyone got their food, Dixie
made the rounds with a coffeepot in one hand and a tea pitcher in
the other, refilling drinks and chatting with the men. Turned out
Hugh was sitting with the new guy.

“
Hugh, you need a refill?”
Dixie held up the tea pitcher.

“
Yes, ma’am,” he mumbled
around a bite of dinner roll. “You ought to come on down to the
Stumble Inn tonight, Dix. Audie’s auditioning bands. I’m gonna try
to go, if Rita Mae don’t pitch a fit over it.”

Dixie leaned over his right shoulder
and poured. “Tell Rita Mae she’s got no wiggle room when it comes
to giving you hell for celebrating too hard. Tell her I got
pictures of her dancing on a table at my birthday party and I ain’t
afraid to use them.”

They had a good laugh and Dixie nodded
at the new guy. “How about you? You need anything?”

He planted his elbows on the table and
entwined his fingers, making no effort to hide his bold
stare.

“
Wouldn’t have minded an
invitation to that party but I’ll settle for directions to the
Stumble Inn?” He chuckled as heat rushed to her cheeks and rose
from his seat. “I’ll see you later, Miss Dixie.”

She stood there, dumbstruck as he
walked away. Holy crap. She hadn’t seen a male butt fit a pair of
jeans like that since the night she met her husband at the rodeo
and he strutted into the bar and led her to the dance floor. High
and tight. Watching him walk away was a pure pleasure.

Hugh took the tea pitcher from her and
handed her a napkin. “Wipe your mouth, you’re drooling,” he said
and busted out laughing. “Every woman I know has the same reaction
when they see Judd. Solid, practical women like you just lose their
minds around him. One day I’m gonna follow him around with a camera
and see how he does it.”