Place Your Betts (The Marilyns) (33 page)

Gabe wrapped his arm around her, and his fingers drew tiny circles at the small of her back. “I liked hearing you sing. I’ve never…um…” Gabe kept his eyes straight ahead as he propelled her to the closest set of double doors. “Heard you.”

Of all the things he might have said, that was not one she’d counted on.

Slowly, Betts turned her head to him. “All those years of playing two-bit bars and dives—living out of my car and paying my dues were for nothing. So I haven’t rubbed my fame in your face.” Betts snapped. “Damn.”

Gabe leaned close to her ear. “Your fame, yes, but your voice, no. I’m plenty jealous of the fame, but I didn’t listen to your voice because it was too painful. You used to sing just for me.”

Her stomach did the roller coaster drop as Hope picked up Apprehension, spun him around, and threw him against the cage.

Betts stared at the purple crepe paper crisscrossing overhead and gathered her emotions in close. She fixed her smile in place, opened her mouth to say something sassy, but nothing came out.

“Excuse me, Red. I’ve got some business over in that corner.” Gabe strode off and returned five minutes later holding a bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand and a boy by the collar in the other.

“Red, this is Tony Greene. He and his liquid courage would like to meet you.” Gabe pushed the boy in Betts’s direction. “Say hello, Tony.”

“Can I have your autograph?” Tony’s bloodshot eyes and one-hundred-proof breath explained why the bottle was half empty.

“I’d be happy to.” Betts peered closer at the boy. He was turning as green as his last name. “Looks like he’s about to be sick.”

Gabe whisked Tony to the nearest trashcan just in the nick of time. Betts grabbed a handful of napkins and a glass of ice water from the refreshment table. She barreled head down, not making eye contact, through the crowd to the sick boy.

Gabe held up the boy as he finished retching up the last of the Jack Daniels.

“Rinse your mouth but don’t swallow.” She shoved the glass at the boy. “When your stomach is settled, drink as much water as you can manage.”

“Looks like our discussion will have to wait.” Gabe grinned at her. “Duty calls.”

She and Gabe were going to get their happy ending. It had only taken seventeen years.

***

Gabe glanced at the clock above the basketball goal and willed the hands to move faster. He had to stay until midnight, and he couldn’t wait to get Betts alone.

God knew they needed to clear up the past, but it was the future he was most worried about. They deserved a chance after all they’d been through; in fact, they’d more than earned it. Gabe glanced at Betts standing on the other side of the gym. She laughed at something Mayor Toddwell said and then began telling a story. Gabe could tell because she was gesturing grandly and pretending to be serious. Did she want a future with him?

That song, sweet Jesus, that song.

Betts had loved him, longed for him to come to her, wondered what she’d done wrong, and pleaded with him for another chance. He’d remember the words and the sorrow in her voice for the rest of his life because they were exactly what he’d felt.

Could she love him again?

Seeing her up on stage really drove home her stardom. To him, she’d always been plain old Betts, but to the rest of the world, she was famous. His humdrum ranch must be a lesson in boredom for someone used to the glamorous life. He swallowed. Gabe didn’t exactly have much to offer her. How would their lives fit together? She wasn’t exactly rancher’s wife material, and he wasn’t gonna become Mr. Betts Monroe.

“What?” Betts cocked an eyebrow. “You look like you just lost your best friend.”

With great effort, he ironed out the wrinkles in his forehead and crooked his elbow, offering her his arm. “Allow me to escort you home.”

Gabe covered her hand with his.

He could feel her body tense up. Gone was the cocky, flirty Betts, replaced by a rigid, deliberate one. Why was she nervous? The ball of hope in his stomach dropped like a lead weight. She didn’t trust him. And why would she? This time, he chose her and the world be damned. They would be together no matter what.

“Your hand is like ice.” Gabe rubbed his lightly over hers, trying to warm it up.

“I can’t help it. I’m nervous.” She stared straight ahead as they walked out of the gym and into the chilly night. “What I wouldn’t give to do some pacing. It settles my nerves.”

Gabe smiled. “I like the front porch swing, or sometimes I do laundry. There’s just something about folding warm clothes and the smell of fabric softener that puts a man’s mind at ease.” He hunched his shoulders. “You can walk circles around me if it helps.”

“I hate doing laundry. What a waste of time—”

“Don’t you have someone to do it for you? A maid or butler or someone?” It was hard to picture her as anything but self-reliant, but famous people always had an entourage.

“I used to have a housekeeper, but I don’t like people touching my things, especially my clothes.” She shivered.

He put his arm around her to shield her from the cold. Except for the yellow glow of the parking lot lights and the occasional star cluster peeking through the clouds, the black hole of a night swallowed them in anonymity and isolation. They were the only two people alive.

“So, I make you nervous?” He meant it to sound easy and flirtatious, but it was forced. She hadn’t spoken of her current feelings toward him at all.

Gabe opened his pickup door for her.

“Thanks.” She stepped in, and he closed it. Jesus, she made him nervous as hell, and he needed some sign that she cared, or he wouldn’t have the courage to own up to his feelings.

He opened his own door and climbed in.

“You make me feel vulnerable, and I hate that,” Betts said on a long exhale.

He nodded. Sign noted and accepted.

Gabe turned over the engine and clicked on the heat. A vulnerable Betts was one thing, but having her admit it was serious. She cared. He had courage enough to conquer anything.

He took a deep breath.

“I have loved you for almost half my life.” Gabe glanced over at her but couldn’t quite make out her face. They were parked at the back of the lot in a space farthest from the light.

Silence chipped away at his self-confidence.

“I love you too.” Her voice was little more than a whisper. “Always have and always will.”

He didn’t grab for her; instead, he sat there and let it wash over him. She loved him. That was everything.

He took another deep breath and shook his head. “Do you have any idea how it feels to believe something about a person for so long that it becomes a part of you and then to find out it was all a lie?”

Betts laughed. “Yes. I believe I do. Kinda like finding out Clark Kent is only a reporter or that your mom is the tooth fairy.”

“I’m sorry that it took me so long.” He pulled her onto his lap. “Forgive me?”

“You’re forgiven.” She traced his jaw. “I love you.”

He closed his eyes and savored the words.

“That song—”

“I wrote it when I was eight months pregnant.”

Gabe took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “I never told you this, but that night I heard you singing in your grandmother’s backyard wasn’t exactly the first time I’d seen you.” He might as well tell her the whole truth. “I’d seen you out in Gigi’s front yard pulling weeds a couple of days before. I must have driven by a hundred times hoping to see you again. The night I finally stopped, I’d already been through the drive-thru four times before I worked up the courage to talk to you. I ate two Hungerbusters, three chocolate shakes, a Blizzard, two Dilly Bars, and a banana split. Carl Ishenhour, who was working the drive-thru that night, thought I was nuts. After the last Dilly Bar, I knew I had to meet you soon or I was going to puke.”

“Words every girl waits a lifetime to hear.” Betts kissed his jaw.

“How many songs have you written about me?” Her warm thighs and backside pressed into his legs. His body throbbed with the need to love her. He’d like nothing more than to march her to the closest bed and spend a couple of days reminding her that sex was an expression of love. But the physical was all that was between them and he wanted more…everything. Gabe took one last deep pull of her peachy scent, carefully scooped her off his lap, buckled her in, and slid over to his side of the truck.

“I’ve written twelve songs about you.”

“How many of them are about how much you hate me?” He started the engine and backed out of the parking space.

“Ten.”

He could hear the smile in her voice.

“So I’ve got ten-to-two odds?” Gabe nodded. Not the best, but not the worst.

“I’d say it’s closer to nine-to-three. I’m still working on number twelve.”

Gabe smiled. “Odds are getting better and better. I like knowing I’m a work in progress.”

“What do you plan on doing about it?” Her tone was teasing and light. Flirty Betts was back.

She deserved all the pomp and circumstance he hadn’t been able to give her before. “Red, hold on to your socks because I’m about to start courting you.”

Tom clicked off the bedroom light and crawled under the comforter. He would definitely dream of Kaitlin tonight. The thing she’d done with her mouth while he was driving—amazing. How had he gotten so lucky? Giddy might be a good word to describe him if it weren’t so girly and childish. Happy was better. Yeah, happy.

And talk about happy, his old man had sure been smiling and whistling when Tom got home. His dad had asked Tom if it was okay with him if he dated Betts. Tom wasn’t so sure about his dad and Betts dating, but worse things could happen. He frowned. What if they started doing it? Yuck. Did old people still have sex? A shiver ran down his spine—it was wrong on so many levels.

What if Betts did marry his dad? Would that be so bad? Tom turned toward the wall. She was nice enough, but it had always been just him and his dad. What if they started having babies? Tom would have sisters and brothers. Ten years ago, he’d have loved it. Now, not so much. Christ, he could be a father himself. That heavy weight nagged at him all the time. Kaitlin had assured him that girls didn’t get pregnant the first time. But he had been careless. He’d hurt her. That was the worst part.

***

“Are you sure Tom’s okay with us being together?” The next morning, Betts put the last breakfast plate in the dishwasher and then wiped down Gabe’s kitchen counters. He liked seeing her there. She fit into his life as if she’d always been there. And hadn’t she?

The barstool where he’d perched himself so he could watch her was starting to make his left butt cheek hurt. Every night this week, he’d snuck into her trailer and left before dawn. When did he get to wake up next to her?

“He nodded, which is teenager speak for absolutely.” Someday soon, they’d need to tell Tom the truth. Gabe hopped down and wrapped his arms around Betts. It felt natural and comfortable for her to be in his house. This was what it should have been—two people sharing a life together.

“He’s okay with it, I promise.” He kissed the top of her head and just held her because she was letting him.

There was one loud throat clearing.

Gabe turned his head but didn’t let go of Betts. Time to see how Tom reacted.

His son stood in the living room wearing an odd expression, not happy or sad.

“Just thought I’d let you know Kaitlin and I are going to the movies tonight.” Tom’s lips quirked up in a smile, and he nodded. “Have fun.” He walked out the front door and closed it behind him.

“Did our son just give us his blessing?” Betts shook her head. “And what was with the ‘have fun’ thing?”

“I love you.” He gave her a peck on the cheek.

Gabe hooked a finger in the collar of her pink sweater, pulled it open, and looked down. “Nice. Does your bra always match your shirt? Tom will get used to seeing me in a committed relationship.”

“I like the sound of that, committed relationship.” Betts kissed him briefly on the lips. “It occurs to me that we’re all alone, and the closest we’ve ever come to shower sex is skinny dipping in the stock pond.”

“Now I’d hate to think you only want me for my hot water.”

“I have to admit, it does bring something to the table.” She ran her hands down his back and squeezed his backside. “But I’m counting on some serious hands-on experience to make it a memorable milestone. Why don’t you tell me exactly what you’d like to do to me?”

“Red, you have one very dirty mind.” He kissed right below the ear. “That’s one of the things I love most about you. Now, let me see…I plan to start at the top and work my way down.” The fingers of his right hand snaked into her hair and massaged her scalp while his left hand went to the small of her back and propelled her toward the bathroom. “Then I’m gonna move slowly down to your butt. I aim to make sure you have the cleanest ass in Harrison County.”

Wondering about the old man and Betts and knowing were two different things. Tom put his truck in reverse and backed out of Kaitlin’s driveway.

“Thanks for picking me up.” Kaitlin leaned over and kissed him.

He picked her up every morning, but it was nice that she still thanked him.

“I think you’re right about Betts and my dad.” Tom pulled out onto the highway. “I saw him sneak back into the house early this morning. Wearing only his pants, and his shirt was rolled up under his arm.”

Kaitlin grimaced. “Okay. I guess it’s nice they found each other…you know, once you get over the gross factor.”

“You think old people still have sex?”

Kaitlin shivered. “Yuck.”

She chewed on her top lip.

He loved when she did that. Made him want to suck on it.

“Okay, here’s the truth. I know my parents do it.” She rolled her eyes. “The other day, I was looking for something in my mom’s nightstand, and I found a condom. That night, there was a lot of laughing coming from their room. The next morning, the condom was gone.”