The Care and Feeding of an Alpha Male (22 page)

Her mother had loved the Louboutins. And she was right, the
pink and yellow Louboutins had matched her light pink sheath with yellow piping perfectly, but she’d given the shoes to Miranda two days ago. She’d paired the dress with white heels and a white shrug instead. “They’re white shoes, Jeanette. It’s not like I showed up barefoot.”

Though Colt would have smiled if she had. She flushed with warmth just thinking about him. She hadn’t talked to him in three days—his latest overnight trip. She missed him. He should be coming in soon. Maybe he’d call her and they could get together.

Or maybe he was done with her after that scene with Allan and didn’t want to bother anymore? Her heart twinged painfully at the thought. He’d invited her to sleep over tonight, but that invite had gone out days ago. What if he’d had a change of heart after being away from her for a few days? He didn’t like drama, and her life seemed to be full of it.

“I’m so disappointed Allan won’t make it today,” Jeanette murmured to her.

Beth Ann wasn’t. It was the only reason she’d agreed to come to the luncheon.

“Do you know anything about that?” her mother asked, turning to her.

Two black eyes,
Beth Ann wanted to say.
He won’t show his face until he looks handsome again
. She knew Allan all too well.

“I heard that one of the Waggoners trashed his face,” Lucy said slyly, and shot a look at her sister.

Beth Ann froze, her hands squeezing her napkin in her lap.

“Oh, those awful Waggoners.” Her mother shook her head. “The town would be better off if they all just dropped off the face of the planet.”

Beth Ann bit her lip. Great, now she was going to have to endure this for the rest of lunch.

“I haven’t heard a thing about this. Beth Ann, do you know what’s going on?” Her mother turned her gaze to Beth Ann.

“Yeah, Beth Ann. You know what the deal is?” Lucy’s eyes gleamed.

What had her rotten little sister heard? “I haven’t heard a thing,” she said innocently, and gave Lucy a hard look. If she wanted to play this game, Beth Ann had ammo, too. She raised her water glass deliberately and took a sip. “So, Lucy, honey, how is Colossus? You—”

“I bet it’s over a woman,” her mother interrupted, and Beth Ann choked on her water. “Allan probably sold her a car that was too expensive. You know those trashy Waggoners don’t have two nickels to rub together. One of them likely got mad at all the money spent and went after him with his fists. Disgraceful.”

God, this was unendurable.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Lucy said. “Colt’s kind of hot.”

Great, now Lucy was baiting both of them.

“Lucinda Janelle Williamson,” her mother scolded. “If you show up with one of those Waggoner boys, your father is going to have a heart attack.”

Beth Ann stood up. “Gosh, look at the time. I just realized that I have a meeting with a Realtor this afternoon.”

“A Realtor?” Her mother’s mouth fell open. “Right now?”

“Right now,” Beth Ann confirmed. She was going to call the Realtor and insist on seeing a few apartments ASAP, just to get away from this awful mess.

“But, honey,” Jeanette said. “You know you can stay with your father and me for as long as you need to. We know you can’t afford both an apartment and your cute little business.”

Beth Ann’s teeth gritted. Cute?

Lucy grinned. “Run while you can, Beth Ann. I’m out of here as soon as I graduate.”

Her mother gave Lucy a fierce look. “What did you just say, young lady?”

Oh, thank God for Lucy. A distraction. Beth Ann leaned in and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Gotta go. Love you. See you soon.” She moved around the table and hugged Lucy’s shoulders, too. “Thank you,” she whispered in her sister’s ear. “I owe you.”

“I want pink streaks in my hair,” Lucy whispered back.

Beth Ann gave her a thumbs-up and scanned the room for her father. He was deep in conversation with the congressman and wouldn’t like to be interrupted. Well, she’d catch him some other time. Pulling her keys from her purse—thank heavens she and Lucy hadn’t ridden here with their mother—Beth Ann slipped into the parking lot and pulled out her phone. She dialed the Realtor. “Hey, Georgia? It’s Beth Ann. Can we look at some apartments today?”

“This duplex is a little on the high side of your price range, but it’s so cute that I just had to show it to you,” Georgia gushed with a smile. She waved Beth Ann forward. “Come on.”

High end of her price range. Beth Ann stifled a sigh. Georgia was so excited to show her the houses that she couldn’t really
point out that she desperately needed low end rather than high end. “Of course. Hey, what about that little bungalow Miranda was renting?”

“Snapped up right away,” Georgia said with a grin, twisting the key in the lock. “The good ones always are. Now,” she said, pushing the door open. “There’s new carpet, and brand-new countertops in the kitchen. Isn’t it
cute
?”

Not really. The duplex was small—which was fine with her—but looked hard used. The backyard was overgrown, the fence falling down, and the appliances in the kitchen were from the seventies. The walls were patched over, as if rambunctious prior owners hadn’t been mindful of the drywall at all, and the new carpet was a hideous shade of yellow. The only good thing about the place was the location—five minutes from work. Bluebonnet was low on rentals, though, and she’d prefer to stay in Bluebonnet. She stepped inside, peeking in the rooms. Two small bedrooms, and a rather dim bathroom. The kitchen adjoined to the living room, and the back door was a big, cracked sliding-glass door. Her mother would have wrinkled her nose in horror. Allan would have sneered at it—it was half the size of the house they’d rented together—a pink gingerbread Victorian that was a centerpiece in town. Naturally.

This was small and plain in comparison. But it was clean, and it’d be hers. “How much is it a month?”

Georgia consulted her printout, and then quoted Beth Ann.

She winced at the price. It was tight, but maybe she could up the price on her tanning bed that she’d rented, bring in a little extra. Work an extra day out of the week to bring in some cash. “Okay.”

“And all you have to do is put down a deposit of three months’ rent up front,” Georgia said cheerfully.

Beth Ann’s heart sank. Three months’ rent? Up front? She gave Georgia a faint smile. “What if I don’t have that?”

Georgia frowned. “Two months’ up front might be a tough sell.”

“I don’t have any to put up front, honey,” Beth Ann admitted, glancing around at the duplex so she wouldn’t have to look Georgia in the eye. It stung, admitting she didn’t have savings. Between the loans for her business start-up and the shop rent, she had only a few hundred in the bank. She refused to ask anyone for the money.

Georgia gave her a soft, understanding look. “I know you’re hard up on cash right now, sweetie.”

Beth Ann gave her a wavering smile. “That obvious?”

“Well, everyone knows you and Allan are going through a phase,” she said.

Oh lord. Here we go again.

“But I’m going to be real honest with you,” she said, hugging the printouts to her chest. “This is a tight market for renters. No one has the money to buy right now, so everyone’s renting. And I have to tell you that unless you have at least two months’ rent to put down in advance, you’re going to have a rough time finding a place.”

Beth Ann nodded tightly. “Thank you, Georgia.”

“I just think—”

Beth Ann’s phone rang, cutting them off. She gave Georgia an apologetic look and picked up the phone, heart thrumming. That was the ringtone she’d assigned to Colt. She put a finger to her ear and turned her back as she answered. “Hello?”

“Hey darlin’,” he said, his voice sending a thrill through her body. “Where you at?”

“I’m looking at places to rent,” she said softly.

“Can I join? Dying to see your pretty face again. Ain’t no one on this last trip half as good-looking as you.”

She flushed with pleasure. “Missed you, too.”

“So?”

“Sure.” She gave him the address. “See you soon.”

When she hung up and turned around, Georgia was giving her a knowing look. “Was that who I think it was?” She wagged a finger. “I knew it was just a matter of time before you two lovebirds got back together. So you won’t be needing my help after all, will you?”

Oh dear. “That was my boyfriend.”

You could have knocked Georgia over with a feather. Astonishment flicked over her face, then speculation. “New boyfriend?”

It was going to be all over town this afternoon, if it wasn’t already. “I’m dating Colt Waggoner.”

Georgia’s mouth dropped a little. “One of the Waggoners?”

Beth Ann crossed her arms over her chest. “Colt, yes.” The rest of the family was a little rough around the edges, but Colt wasn’t like that. “He’s a good man.”

“Oh,
sweetie
,” Georgia said, and moved to Beth Ann. She rubbed her arm. “I know you and Allan are going through a hard time right now, but he’s a good man with a great job. He’d marry you if you’d just give him the chance. Don’t ruin your pride, tossing yourself at the first man that comes along. You’re beautiful. You deserve so much better than a Waggoner boy.” She smiled at Beth Ann’s frozen face. “Look at you. So young and sweet. You
deserve the best man in town. And that man’s
not
Colt Waggoner.”

Numb with shock at this pep talk, Beth Ann stared at her.

Georgia patted her on the arm. “I realize you’re rebounding, and this is a phase, sweetie, so I’m not going to lecture you. Everyone wants the bad boy before they settle down. You’ll get it out of your system and then go back to Allan. Here.” She pushed the pile of printouts toward Beth Ann, each sheet of paper with a key attached. “I’ve got another appointment I need to run to. Just return these when you’re done and we’ll talk about which one you like best, okay?”

“Sure,” Beth Ann said in a faint voice. “Thanks.”

Georgia gave her a wink and trotted off. Beth Ann heard the Realtor’s car start a moment later, and then Beth Ann was all alone.

You’ll get it out of your system.

And then go back to Allan.

She looked around the ugly duplex she couldn’t afford.

Despair crashed over her. Beth Ann sagged against a wall and slid to the ground, curling her legs close. Hot tears dripped down her face, ruining her careful makeup. She didn’t care. She swiped at the tears, but the more she swiped, the faster they fell.

She couldn’t afford to move out. Her business was failing. She was failing. Everyone thought she was just having a “moment.” That she’d regain her senses any minute now, and run screaming back to Allan because that was the only sane move.

And nobody liked her with Colt.
When are you going to wise up and go back to Allan? You had such a good man,
everyone told her.

But she had a good man
now
. And she should have said it,
should have defended him. But no one listened to what she said anyhow.

Everyone thought they knew what she needed better than she did.

And it was just too much.

A quick knock came at the front door a few moments later, and before she could respond, the door opened and Colt stuck his head in. “Hey darlin’—”

His gaze darkened as he came inside, studied her from where she was crumpled in the entryway of the small, cramped duplex, her face covered in tears. As she watched, his jaw hardened. He very carefully shut the door behind him, then eased down onto the floor next to her, mindful of his knee, and took her hand.

He still smelled of wood smoke and campfires. He’d wanted to see her so badly he hadn’t even stopped to shower yet. For some reason, she liked that.

“Was it that cocksucker?” he asked, his voice flat and deadly. “Do I need to go rip his dick off to give him the hint?”

She shook her head, wiping at her cheeks. “I think…I think I’m just having a bad day.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, kissed her hair. She snuggled up against him and sighed, resting her cheek against his shoulder.

“You want to talk about it?”

She didn’t want to talk about all of it, because she knew it’d hurt his feelings. He didn’t say much about his family, but she knew that he was sensitive about it. She’d be blind not to know that. “I want to move out from my parents’ place,” she said in a quavering voice. “As long as I’m there, they’re going to drive me
crazy with society parties and stupid fund-raisers and trying to push me back toward Allan because he has money.”

“I’ll help you move out,” he said slowly. He leaned in and she felt him rest his cheek against the top of her head, and her heart melted just a little. “You like this place, darlin’?”

“Not really,” she said with a hiccup, and then laughed at herself. “I’m being a snob. It’s small and the bathroom sucks and I think the neighbor is growing pot in his backyard. But I can’t afford it anyhow. I can’t afford anything.”

“You want to borrow a few grand from me?”

Oh heavens, that would just make her feel worse. She shook her head, her fingers stroking down his arm as she stared at the empty, tiny living room, the brand-new yellow carpet. “When I moved in with Allan, I let him pay for everything. He paid the rental on the house. He bought both of our cars. If I wanted something, he bought it. When we broke up the first time…I didn’t have anything. My bank account had been joint with Allan’s bank account, and we’d long since used up my money to send him through business school. I didn’t even go to college. What was I going to do with a degree anyhow? I was only good at looking pretty and fixing hair. So I thought I’d go to beauty school. I’d hidden money over the last year Allan and I were together, and I used that to put myself through beauty school. There was nothing left for opening a salon. I had to borrow money from my parents for a car. I borrowed money from the bank—money that my parents had to cosign for—to start my business. And no one is convinced I can do it on my own.” She gave a watery sigh. “No one understands why the mayor’s daughter wants to play at having a business and do people’s hair. And
everyone seems to think I’m going to come to my senses and jump right back into Allan’s arms.”