Things Good Girls Don't Do (16 page)

“Mrs. Andrews, as you are neither my mother nor my boss, I would ask you to keep your opinions to yourself.” Katie said it as calmly as she could, but even she noticed the tremble in her voice. Doing her best to distance herself from the situation, something her mother always told her helped during a conflict, she started to turn her back on the older woman. Too bad New Katie took over just long enough to say offhandedly, “Oh, and by the way, it was the backseat of his car, not a hayloft.”

Mrs. Andrews gasped and Katie walked away, a mixture of horror and pleasure warring within her. She’d always been taught that talking about sex and intimacy was a private matter, but the look on the nosy old bat’s face had been so . . . satisfying. She’d probably regret it later, after Mrs. Andrews had told anyone who’d listen, but for right now she felt good, like she was ten feet tall and bulletproof.

She walked past all of the young girls and women, barely noticing their curious glances as she reached a storage room, which doubled as her private dressing room, and opened the door.

Becca and Steph were inside and they turned to her simultaneously. Becca closed and locked the door while Steph hissed, “Where have you been? Mrs. Andrews has been walking around asking everyone if they’ve heard from you.”

“I took Chase to see Rainbow Falls.”

“That’s code for sex, right?” Becca asked.

“Oh my God, you had
sex
with him?” Steph shrieked.

Katie wanted to bang her head against something. God knew she loved small-town life in most instances, but the nosy, gossipy way everyone was in everyone else’s business made her crazy sometimes. Even when one of the nosy neighbors was her best friend. “Okay, yes, we did; no, I don’t want to talk about it right now and, may I ask, why are you two back here anyway?”

Becca grabbed a garment bag hanging from a metal shelf of cleaning supplies and said, “I could not let you wear that gangrene-colored monstrosity of a dress again, so I brought you something else.”

“And I thought I could help you with your hair and makeup, just like in high school,” Steph said innocently, but Katie didn’t buy it for a second. Her suspicions were confirmed when Steph continued, “And I wanted to know what happened with Chase. Everyone is talking about him dropping three hundred bucks at the kissing booth and—”

Katie interrupted. “I will tell you everything later, but for right now, can we just get me dressed so I can do this stupid thing?”

Steph frowned at her. “Are you serious about him? I thought this was just a casual thing.”

That’s what Katie had thought originally, but now she wasn’t so sure. “I like him. Not sure about anything else, but can we discuss it later? I am so late.”

Steph remained silent, but Katie could tell by the stubborn tilt of her jaw that they weren’t done discussing it.

Becca, bless her heart, unzipped the garment bag with a flourish and grinned. “Let’s do this thing!”

C
HASE WALKED UP
the aisle of the community center, feeling out of place with the people in the crowd staring at him. He recognized the back of Becca’s multicolored head and took the empty seat next to her. “Have I missed anything yet?”

Becca shook her head and held out a little bag of popcorn. “Nope, still have a couple minutes before it starts. I love beauty pageants. Want some?”

“No thanks. I’m surprised. I would’ve thought you would despise them,” he said.

“Nope, love them. The fashion. The competition. The drama. It’s better than anything Hollywood could dream up.” She shoved a handful of popcorn into her mouth, and the lights dimmed. She elbowed his side. “Wait until you see Katie. She looks smoking hot.”

Chase looked past Becca and saw Steph glaring at him but didn’t have time to ask her what her problem was before the stage lit up and Harold Martin grapevined into the spotlight. Harold did the afternoon show at LMKZ 105.9, the local country station, and his smooth voice called, “Who wants to see some foxy ladies tonight?” The crowd cheered. “Yeah, that’s what I like to hear! I just want to thank everyone for coming out tonight to support the thirty-sixth annual Canyon Queen Pageant. These women aren’t just beautiful, they are smart, talented, and some of them even laugh at my jokes. How sweet is that?” A few chuckles. “Just a reminder that the fireworks have been canceled due to the rain, but as soon as we can figure out the best day to light up the sky, we will announce it. Now, I’d like you all to welcome last year’s Canyon Queen, Ms. Katie Connors. Louder, everyone, she needs to feel the love in here!”

Chase watched Katie glide onto the stage like she was floating, her hair pulled back from her face and twisted into a fat bun high on the back of her head, her tiara placed in front of it. The black dress she wore wrapped up over one shoulder and hugged every curve of her body until it hit mid-thigh, where the skirt split into strips of fabric, dancing along her legs like black flames. In her hands was a clear box that held another tiara, probably for tonight’s winner. She looked amazing and he wanted to jump up on stage and hide her away from the other men’s eyes. He had never been the jealous type, but as he scanned the crowd and saw several men sit forward with interest, he clenched his fists.

Becca leaned over and whispered, “Isn’t she gorgeous?”

He only nodded as Harold greeted Katie and asked, “So, Katie, how do you feel about giving up your crown tonight?”

“Actually, I feel really good about it, Harold. I enjoyed being Canyon Queen, but I’m ready to relinquish the honor to the next worthy candidate.” She smiled out at the crowd and when her gaze landed on Chase, it brightened.

He returned her smile as Harold said, “Well, let me just say, she is going to have some mighty big shoes to fill. You are quite a beauty. I hope your guy appreciates you.”

Chase could see Katie’s blush from his seat. “Thank you, Harold. I’ll be sure to tell your wife how lucky she is to have such a charmer.”

Harold turned to the crowd and said, “You hear that, Wilma? I’m a charmer!”

A woman’s voice shouted a reply that Chase couldn’t hear, but laughter ensued from her side of the room. Harold gave the crowd an uh-oh look and said, “Well, I guess I better get on with it before my wife decides I’m sleeping in the doghouse tonight! Katie, may I escort you to your throne, Your Majesty?”

The crowd chuckled as Katie gave him a shallow curtsy and said, “Why thank you, sir.”

Harold led her to her throne, a giant gold chair with red cushions, and deposited her smoothly, while Katie nodded her head at him regally and shooed him with a wave of her hand. Harold made a great show of continuing to bow as he backed away, and when he turned back to face the crowd, he said, “Why do I feel like I should be wearing a fool’s hat?”

There was more laughter from Harold’s wife’s side of the room, and he called out sternly, “Woman, you better be nice to me or . . .” he paused, “well, I’ve got nothing. Let’s welcome our first contestant to the stage, everyone!”

The crowd cheered as contestant number one walked out onto the stage, and Chase watched Katie smile as the girl came over to greet her and kiss her cheek. The girl seemed a little unsteady on the high heels she was wearing, and Chase kept waiting for her to biff it, right on her face.

Harold, as if anticipating her unsteadiness, rushed toward her and held out his hand. “Ladies and gentleman, may I introduce you to the lovely Jenny Andrews? All of seventeen, Miss Andrews has managed to score a scholarship for the Boise State music program and hopes to one day play professionally. Now Jenny, I believe you’re going to play us something mighty fancy on that fiddle of yours.”

“Yes I am, Mr. Martin,” Jenny said, smiling nervously.

“Well, let’s get it started then,” Harold said, stepping back to stand beside Katie as Jenny set up for her talent.

Chase leaned over and asked, “Is that the dragon lady’s daughter?”

Becca choked on her popcorn and a couple of people behind them shushed. Steph leaned over Becca and said, “Yeah, she’s the youngest.”

Steph’s tone sounded sharp and irritated, and he looked at her again. Her expression was fierce, and all that annoyance was directed at him. Sitting back in his seat, he grimaced. Chase wasn’t sure exactly what he’d done to piss Steph off, but he knew when someone had a bone to pick with him. He’d seen it enough times to know the signs. Now he just needed to wait until Steph made her move and fix it. Because if he wanted to continue to see Katie, he couldn’t have her best friend hating his guts.

Jenny started to play a classical piece on her violin that at least sounded in tune to Chase, although he was no expert. His gaze moved over to Harold and Katie, who were smiling and whispering. Once Jenny finished, the next contestant was called, and he caught Katie looking bored during her very bland rendition of a monologue from
Romeo and Juliet
. When she caught him watching her, he gave an exaggerated yawn and she covered her mouth to hide a smile.

Contestant number three, Marissa Channing, did a cheerleading routine, and four, a weird “interpretive” dance that had Becca and him trying to cover their laughter with coughing fits. Steph scolded them, but even that didn’t stop the grimacing and groaning that took place when contestant number five sang “On My Own” from
Les Misérables
and hit the high notes at a pitch so off it could make ears bleed. Chase saw Katie was still smiling, although she kept touching her ears discreetly, and shook his head. When the girl finished, Katie clapped the loudest, and he loved her good heart.

Once all fifteen contestants had finished the talent portion, Harold called each one back up on stage to answer a series of questions. By the time the last girl had been interviewed, Chase was ready to bail. He kept waiting for Harold to call an end to it, but it seemed like a never-ending parade of tight curls, clown faces, and ruffle dresses.

“All right, folks, we are going to turn our final decision over to our wonderful judges, Gracie McAllister, Kirsten Winters, and Daphne O’Neal.” The crowd applauded the three women, and after ten minutes of deliberation, and some really bad jokes on Harold’s part, Gracie handed him an envelope.

“My queen,” Harold said, bowing to Katie, “would you like to help me announce the winners?”

Katie stood up gracefully and moved forward, accepting the white envelope Harold held out to her. “Thank you, Harold, I’d be delighted.” She pulled out the little card and after looking at it for a moment, spoke into the microphone with a smile. “The second runner-up is Ms. Lindsey Lawrence.”

Applause and whoops sounded to Chase’s right and he leaned over to ask Becca, “So what do the winners get?”

Becca shrugged. “Probably a gift card to get their nails done or something.”

“Lindsey, here is your gift certificate for a free pedicure at K.C.’s Salon. I’ve heard the place is fabulous,” Katie joked, hugging the younger girl. “Congratulations.”

Harold hugged the girl, who looked like she was going to start weeping at any moment, and helped usher her over to the winner’s side of the stage. “Wasn’t she outstanding, folks?”

Once the applause for the distraught girl quieted, Katie called out, “First runner-up for the crown, who will take over if our queen cannot fulfill her duties, and the winner of a dinner for two at Stampede Pete’s Steak House is . . .”

Chase asked, “Is that place any good?”

“I wouldn’t know; I don’t like red meat, but it’s always packed when I drive home,” Becca said.

“Maggie Palmer! Congratulations!” Katie said as a frowning girl allowed Katie to hug her. When Harold came over to walk her across the stage, the girl brushed past him and stomped her spiked heels as she disappeared behind the curtain.

Harold, collecting himself, said, “Well, folks, there’s all kinds of queens out there. Queen Bees. Evil queens.
Drama queens.
Katie, why don’t you announce our winner and we’ll see what kind of queen she is.”

Chase clapped along with everyone else, thinking that if he got the chance to take Katie out on a proper date, he would take her to that steakhouse. If she was interested, that is, and after the things she’d said to him on the way to the pageant, he had a suspicion she would be.

“And now for the winner and your next Canyon Queen . . .” Katie smiled as she announced, “. . . Jenny Andrews!”

Jenny screamed and jumped up and down in her heels excitedly until a loud snap echoed through the large auditorium. With her arms spinning like a windmill, she toppled over into the contestant next to her. That girl grabbed the next contestant, Marissa Channing’s dress, as she fell, ripping the fabric to reveal the poor girl’s corset-clad upper body. Struggling to her feet, she wrapped her arms around herself and hobbled off the stage wailing as the crowd roared with laughter and sympathetic cries. Jenny scrambled to her feet and, with her face in her hands, limped from the stage on her broken heel after Marissa.

Katie, shoving the microphone at Harold, followed the distraught girls off stage. Harold stood red-faced, trying to control his chuckles. Finally calm, he cleared his throat, and said with a straight face, “Did I mention how graceful they were?”

The guffaws from the audience started all over again, especially from Becca, who was howling beside Chase. “What did I tell you? Drama and laughs!”

“Yeah, you did,” he said, standing with a smile. “I’m going to go backstage and see if I can catch Katie.”

“Oh, give her a kiss for me,” she said, pursing her lips and smacking them together.

“Thanks for coming out tonight, folks, and hope you enjoyed the excitement! See ya next year,” Harold said as people started to get up.

Chase laughed and started toward the stage, rounding along the edge and through the people moving about. Suddenly, a hand grabbed his arm just as he was about to make it backstage, and he turned to face Steph.

“Oh hey, Steph, I was just heading back to see Katie.”

Steph’s look wasn’t friendly. “I don’t know what your deal is, but you need to leave Katie alone. She’s too good for you.”

Chase was surprised by Steph’s outburst, and he suffered a severe case of déjà vu. How many times had he been told he wasn’t good enough for something? A girl? A scholarship? It hurt, but he’d never let someone’s low opinion keep him from what he wanted. “Look, Steph, Katie is a grown woman, and if she doesn’t want to see me, I’m sure she’ll put on her big-girl pants and tell me.”