Shut Up and Kiss Me (31 page)

She didn’t know she was crying until he brushed the tears from her cheeks. She looked up at him as she put her other fear into words. “What if your daughter doesn’t like me?”

He scoffed. “She’s going to love you. I’m getting her next weekend, and I’d love it if you’d agree to meet her.” He leaned down and stared into her eyes. “So would you please say it?”

“Say what?”

“That you love me. I think I’ve said it three times, and you’ve yet to say it back.”

She smiled and pulled her paleface close. “I love you, Matt Goodson. I loved you from our second date, but tonight, seeing you out there…”

“Making a fool out of myself?”

She grinned. “Yeah, making a fool out of yourself. I fell in love with you all over again.”

“I guess it’s true then,” he said.

“What?” She giggled. “That white men can’t dance?”

He leaned his head back and laughed. “No, that love makes fools out of us all.”

“I don’t mind being that kind of fool,” she said, and kissed him.

Jose stood watching the powwow continue, feeling damn proud that he’d managed to do exactly what Redfoot wanted. It seemed like a first. Then, suddenly, his father was standing beside him.

“I think we did it, son.” He dropped his hand on Jose’s shoulder.

“I think we did,” Jose agreed, his gaze on the women moving center stage of the arena. “When’s the next powwow?”

“In October. Maybe you can visit then.”

“Yeah, maybe I can.”

Jose wiped his brow. The temperature felt as if it had just risen ten degrees, and the drums changed to a different rhythm. He looked up. The sun hung low in the horizon and was painting the sky a bright pink and purple. His gaze slowly shifted back to the dancers, who were again standing tall and proud.

The drum tempo increased, and the women now began to move to the sound. Golden sunlight spilled everywhere, making them seem to glow, but one woman stood out from the rest. He recognized her: Poncha Rivers. The
girl he’d taken to his senior prom, and the waitress who’d been so glad to see him at the diner.

Watching her graceful movements, the way her breasts jiggled ever so lightly, the way her hips moved in little circles, he was mesmerized. His chest grew heavy, and he tried to remember if he’d gotten further than second base with her. Damn, he had a vague memory of being extremely drunk and naked, but if anything had happened, he couldn’t recall.

“Son?”

Jose tried to look away from Poncha but couldn’t. “Yeah?”

“Nothing,” his dad said and chuckled. He left Jose there to watch Poncha finish her dance.

Redfoot saw the Scrabble player standing a few feet away and went to join him. “Please tell me the bulldog has been arrested.”

“The bulldog?” Lucas repeated.

“The senator.”

“They’ve brought him and his men in for questioning. Their asses are ours.”

Redfoot nodded. “That’s good.”

Lucas reared back on his heels. “How did you know that Sky and Shala would hit it off?”

“The spirits told me when I sleep.”

“Seriously?” Lucas said.

“Seriously,” Redfoot answered. “And the other night, I saw you in a
wacoi
.”

“Wacoi?”
Lucas laughed. “The sacred word?”

“Right.” Redfoot said. “Maybe next time you’ll let me use it.”

“I doubt it. But what is a
wacoi
?” Lucas asked. “Or is it still too sacred to share?”

Redfoot dropped a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Like Sky, you too will find your way.”

“What way?” Lucas asked. “Wait a damn minute. If
you’ve seen me with a soul mate in some weird-ass dream, then I know you are batty as shit.”

Redfoot just laughed. When he saw Veronica, he left the Scrabble player to his stupidity. Like Jose, this man would know his fate soon enough.

“Where are we going?” Shala asked Sky when he finally got off the phone with the mayor.

“To the only air-conditioned spot around here. The ticket booth.”

She saw the sweat rolling off his brow. “Are you sure you should be out here after all you’ve been through?”

“I’m fine,” he grunted.

“I’ll bet you were told to go home and go to bed, weren’t you?” she asked.

“Maybe.”

“That’s it, I’m taking you home! Where’s your truck?”

“I didn’t drive. Phillip dropped me off.” He opened the door to the ticket booth and motioned her inside.

She frowned. “I’ll go find Lucas.”

“Shala, please step inside and let’s talk.”

Seeing the determined way he looked at her, she walked inside. The booth was no bigger than a concession stand, but it was cool from the air conditioner humming in the corner. “Here.” She pulled out a chair and motioned for him to sit.

He did so, and then motioned to a chair at the side. “You sit down, too.”

“Why?” she asked. “Do you have more bad news? Is there another hit man out for me?”

“No. It’s about us.”

She sighed. “Can’t we worry about that when you’re better?” She was beginning to get worried about Sky walking around at the powwow after just leaving the hospital.

“No. Sit down,” he ordered.

“Fine, but it’s not fair to do this right now.”

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because I’m feeling sorry for you and grateful that you played Hollywood cop to save my life, and it will be hard for me to be objective.”

“Then this is definitely is the right time,” he said. “Because I need all the ammunition I can get. Now, please sit, before I stand up.”

She dropped into the chair. He met her gaze, and she saw something in Sky Gomez she’d never seen. Fear.

“I screwed up, Shala. I know that. I accused you of jabbering and said that I didn’t believe—”

“I do jabber,” she interrupted.

“I know, but it was mean of me to say it. And here’s the thing. I didn’t think I believed in love, I didn’t think I’d find anyone who made me feel…whole, right, complete. I—”

She held up her hand. “Are you on pain medicine?”

“Yes, why?” He sounded annoyed that she’d stopped him.

“Then maybe you should wait until you’re clearheaded to—”

He shook his head. “I’m very clearheaded about what I’m about to say. So just listen.” When she nodded, and he continued. “I was saying…that I don’t know if it’s because you lost your parents the way I did, or if…hell, maybe there’s something to this whole soul-mate thing. The first time I saw your picture, I think I fell for you. Then, the day you arrived in Precious and I followed you, I fell harder. When I kissed you and we made love…well, I just keep falling for you harder and harder. I know I told you that I didn’t think it would last, but I was lying. Lying to you, lying to myself. Hell, I was lying to Sundance and Butch—who, by the way, miss you something terrible.”

“Sky—”

“No, let me finish. I know you live in Houston. And I don’t like the idea of moving, but if Precious isn’t your
type of town, then I’ll do it. I’ll follow you anywhere, because Precious hasn’t been so precious since you left. I love you and—”

“Sky—”

“I’m not finished,” he growled. “I need—”

She leaned in and put a finger over his lips. “Sky, I love Precious. I love you. Now would you please…just shut up and kiss me?”

“The fun—and action—never stops in the enchanting
Divorced, Desperate and Deceived.
Christie Craig’s prose practically sparkles with liveliness and charm in the exciting conclusion to her stunning
Divorced, Desperate and Delicious
Club trilogy.”

—Joyfully Reviewed

“The mystery and romance plots fit seamlessly into a witty and fast-paced novel that’s easy to read and satisfying to the heart.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“I was simply delighted by this breezy, snappy, good-time story… This book is sure to brighten your day.”

—Beyond Her Book Blog,
Publishers Weekly

“A story that twines emotions and feelings with sizzle and steam, all wrapped around bits of humor…
Weddings Can Be Murder
combines passionate and intense characters with a plot that’s well-balanced and fast-moving. It’s edgy and fun.”

—Once Upon a Romance

“This is an entertaining, fast-moving mystery and romance with interesting, likable characters… The main romance, as well as the secondary ones, are delightful, and the suspense is well done. This is an allaround enticing and fun story…”

—
RT Book Reviews

LOVE SPELL®

June 2010

Published by

Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Copyright © 2010 by Christie Craig

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E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0884-2

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.