Texas Strong (27 page)

“He loves his work,” Laura managed to say without choking up. “He’s taken care of a lot of people.”

“So you’re here visiting? For how long?”

Laura’s eyes burned. “I’m not sure.”

“Oh?”

A change of topic seemed overdue. “Chrissy and the kids have fallen in love with this town. Thank you for hiring her.”

“We needed the help badly. She’s a good hand.” She studied Laura again. “So tell me again how it is that you changed from being a visitor to working in my kitchen?”

Any answer was a minefield, since Jeanette and Spike had said Ruby and Scarlett were so invested in this place. A look at the little woman before her told Laura that Ruby thought of herself as nowhere near feeble. “People are always asking me if I’m going to open a restaurant, but I have no experience beyond throwing big parties and catering for friends. I guess Chrissy had mentioned that, so Jeanette thought maybe I could—”

“Jeanette!” Ruby called out. “Get yourself in here.”

Jeanette and Laura exchanged worried glances when the waitress entered.

“So you’ve turned my cafe into a training school?”

Jeanette towered over Ruby, but her shoulders still rounded like a chastened child before she forced them straight again. “You should taste her cooking. She’s got the gift.”

Ruby seemed to be winding up, so hastily Laura intervened. “Is there any chance you’d share that biscuit recipe, Mrs. Howard? Those are absolutely amazing.” Spike had been making them, but it wouldn’t be fair to get it from her without Ruby’s permission.

“Call me Ruby,” the woman snapped. “Everyone does. And no, I won’t share the recipe, but you can watch me make them in the morning.”

“That would be great.”

“Be here at four.”

Laura nearly choked. “Four…”

“Got to let them rise a bit. Folks show up by six. You think a restaurant is fun? It’s hard work, girl.” She turned back to Jeanette. “And you, missy, you thinking I’m not coming back to take the reins again?”

“I never thought that, Ruby. It’s your place. But Scarlett can’t work yet, and you were cutting back some.”

“I ran this place when you were barely a twinkle in your daddy’s eye, girl. I still run this place.”

“I know you do, but Scarlett—”

“Get over here, young lady, and bend down so I can hug you.”

“Hug?” Jeanette echoed. But she did as she was ordered.

“Hug.” Ruby did so, then turned to Laura. And winked. “Henry—”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Finish that order, then get over here and let me hug you, too. I appreciate how you’ve stepped in and handled the grill.”

Henry complied, blushing while Ruby hugged him.

Then she turned to Laura. “Well, you get over here, too. I’m grateful to you for pitching in. We can put you on the payroll. You might just be a gift from above, arriving here when I was worried sick about how to keep my granddaughter resting a little longer. Girl lost a powerful amount of blood, and she’s still not got her energy back. But she’s worrying over me, and when I can tell her that we can manage fine without her for a while longer and not make me work as hard as I once did, well…” Ruby’s eyes filled as she hugged Laura fiercely. “If you could even give us a few days, there’s no way I can thank you enough.”

Laura’s heart warmed with the feeling of being needed. Even if it meant being here at the terrifying hour of four a.m. “You don’t have to pay me. Jake makes good money, and what I’m learning is payment enough.”

“Be that as it may, you will get paid. Every woman needs some mad money, if nothing else. Now let’s go sit down and work us out a schedule I can go show my granddaughter so she’ll relax.” She grinned. “Ian’s going to want to thank you, too.” Ruby shook her head. “I’ve been half out of my mind trying to figure out how to convince Scarlett not to rush back. Ian’s about ready to tie her to a chair.”

“Bet that went over great,” Jeanette drawled.

Ruby laughed, the worry gone from her features. “You got that right. Okay, let’s start finagling. Henry, you get over here, too.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Tank didn’t know what he was doing at the cafe. He didn’t belong. He’d never belonged.

But Chrissy was here, and she drew him, moth to her bright flame. He kept picturing her on his land, spreading sunshine with her smiles, her joy, her gentleness with her children. Everywhere he looked, he caught the imprint of her behind his eyes, a double exposure over every view, a hidden ghost in every image.

He was so tired of his demons. Exhausted from holding them at bay. She made him want to step into the sunshine and find a way to live there. To simply…be. No constant fighting himself and his knowledge of whose blood flowed through his veins. Who he was fated to be.

Somehow she and her children, the sweet faith they placed in him, made him want to believe he could be more.

“Want some coffee?” asked the voice he’d been hearing in his head.

His eyes rose. “I would. Thanks.”

She poured so expertly. “You look tired.”

He felt tired. Soul-deep worn out. He merely shrugged. “Just a day. How has yours been?”

“Busy, but I’m enjoying having my sister here. She’s been helping Ruby and Henry, and she looks as happy as I’ve seen her since she arrived.” She shook her head. “Men.”

He glanced up. “All of us?”

She touched his shoulder, and he was warmed clear through. “No, you get a pass. It’s my brother-in-law I’m disparaging. Idiot man.”

He frowned. “What’s wrong with him?”

“He messed up pretty big, and now he wants me to help set her up so he can kidnap her and whisk her away to some romantic spot.”

“That’s bad? You don’t like him?”

“I adore Jake. But Laura’s my sister. She practically raised me. And he hurt her.”

Tank tensed. “Physically?”

“No. Oh, no, never.” Another graze of her fingers. “He just lost sight of her for a bit, that’s all, really. He’d never intentionally hurt her, not even her feelings.”

He had no concept of that kind of relationship. “Love complicates things.” At least he guessed it did. His mother always said she loved his father, made constant excuses for a violent man who felt free to use his fists on those he supposedly loved.

He glanced toward the kitchen, seeing Laura laughing with Henry. “So she walked out on him?”

“She’s playing high-stakes poker.” Chrissy shook her head. “I don’t get taking risks like that with someone who adores you. I’ve never had anyone love me the way Jake loves Laura.” Her eyes were wistful. Then she shook her head. “Sorry—you ready to order?”

He studied her. “Someone should have loved you. You’re so sweet.”

Her forehead wrinkled. “I don’t want to be sweet. I want passion. I want someone to make me crazy, make me desperate the way those two are.”

“No, you don’t—” he snapped.

She recoiled.

“Sorry.” He felt naked now under her look, but he couldn’t help thinking about the woman in the trailer park, who let love debase her. Or his mother, who allowed love to make her meek, and he couldn’t stand the thought of Chrissy being cowed like that. “Don’t ever let love make you weak. Don’t ever give anyone that power over you.”

Her curious look made him want to leave. “I need to go.” He started to rise.

She touched his shoulder again. “Do you have to? I’m due for my break. If you want, I could sit with you while you eat.”

He frowned. “That’s not—”

“Don’t tell me it’s not a good idea, Tank. Can’t you get it through your head that I’m not listening? I’m not afraid to be seen with you. People need to know you better.”

His insides clenched. “I don’t want anyone knowing me.”

“Too late,” she said blithely. “I already do.”

“You don’t have a clue.” He glared. “Don’t make me into some project, Chrissy.”

“I’m not,” she stated simply. “I’m being your friend.”

Friend. He didn’t want her to be one of those. Well, not only. He wanted… He shook his head. Wanting was wrong. It would come to no good end.

Her small hand rested on his shoulder once more. “Stop worrying and trying to protect me, Tank. Just give me your order, so I can get off my feet.”

He glanced upward. “For someone so small and sweet, you sure are bossy.”

She grinned. “I know. Deal with it.” Then she flounced off, stopping here and there to refill coffee as she made her way to the pass-through to order his food.

Deal with it
. He couldn’t help a grin.

Soon she was back with his food, settling into the booth across from him. “So after I get my sister kidnapped, are you going to arrest me?”

Tank choked a little on his coffee.

She grinned. “I’ve never been in jail. It might be exciting.”

His brows slammed together. “You’re not going to jail.”

“Would you come see me in my cell?”

She wasn’t going to quit teasing him. It made him squirm with embarrassment a grown man shouldn’t feel, but…he liked it. No one was ever playful with him. “I don’t know how to deal with you,” he muttered.

Her mouth quirked. “So is that a yes? If Laura baked a file into a cake, would you bring it to me?”

“Stop that.” The tips of his ears felt hot. But his lips wanted to curve, and he felt the oddest urge to laugh.

When her small foot touched his calf, he nearly jolted out of his seat. “Chrissy…”

She only grinned wider, and he glanced around to see if anybody was paying attention to the spectacle. Jeanette goggled at them, and Ruby looked over the pass-through. He waited for someone to stalk up and demand that he leave her alone.

But Ruby smiled and turned away. Jeanette crossed to a table of customers.

And Chrissy leaned across the table and mock-whispered, “Ask me out, and I’ll leave you alone.”

“What?” His gaze whipped to hers. “What did you say?”

“You heard me. If you weren’t so concerned with appearances, you’d ask me out.”

“I would not. I don’t date.”

Her eyes popped. “Ever?”

He closed his eyes, wishing he could disappear. A few abortive tries in high school had cured him of the notion that he was date material. Since then, he mostly stayed away from women or spent time with women who understood the limits. Good-time girls who only wanted the same thing he did: temporary relief for an itch.

“Tank…” Her hand covered his, and he yanked his away.

“Don’t pity me, I told you. I don’t want it.”

Her eyes emanated her remorse, and he couldn’t stand it.

“You don’t understand, and I’m glad you can’t. No one—” He threw his napkin on the table and grabbed his wallet. Took out a couple of bills and threw them on the table. “I have to go.”

“Tank, don’t—” Her hand clamped on his, holding him there.

“I don’t want more of a scene than has already occurred,” he grated. “Let me go, Chrissy. This was a mistake. You keep trying to pretend I’m normal, but I’m not and I never will be.” He walked out, his gut grinding with misery and remorse. Once again, he’d taken something bright and beautiful and turned it to something tainted.

As he burst through the cafe door and outside, he resolved to make himself scarce from now on.

She was too lovely.

And he was tarnished all the way through his soul.

“Laura, this is absolutely delicious—don’t you agree, guys?” Chrissy glanced at Thad and Becky.

“Uh-huh. Wish you could cook like this, Mom.” Thad spoke around a monster bite of the whole-grain focaccia bread pizza Laura had often used to trick her children into eating something healthy.

“Thad!” Laura admonished. “Your mother is a wonderful cook.”

“Not like you, Big. Facts are facts.”

Laura peered into Chrissy’s face, wondering what had put the shadows in it. She’d heard only a hint of Tank’s visit at lunch, but no one seemed to know what had happened, and Chrissy wasn’t talking.

Yet. She would see to it that her sister spilled her misery, but she knew it would have to be after the kids went to bed.

“Even if I had all day, I wouldn’t spend it in the kitchen,” Chrissy said. “You have a gift, Laura, and you love it.”

“I’d better. I may have to support myself with it.” Laura ignored her sister’s instant distress. “I was wondering…” She kept her tone carefully casual. “How would you feel about sharing a house?”