Chapter 11

Ted

Mason wasted no time with the women as we entered Kinsey’s, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d told me in the parking lot. I glanced around the bar looking for Lauralee, and with any luck, she’d be sitting in her usual corner. Trying to act casual, I stole a look and found her there.

God, she was gorgeous, wearing the sexiest little blue dress with her brown cowboy boots, and her hair was pulled back loosely framing her face. She turned her head, and I looked away, not wanting her to see me gawking at her. I couldn’t help it. Once I’d given her safe time to look away, I glanced again, noticing how the dress exposed her back and shoulders. She was without a doubt the prettiest girl I’d ever seen, and my heart did some amazing tricks when in her presence.

I turned my attention back to my brother as he called my name. “Ted, you remember Jamie?” The girl extended her hand and gave mine a firm shake when I took it. The girls were all smiles as we gathered around the table and Mason continued flirting. Always the silent type, I ordered a beer and listened to him prattle on with the girls, who were leaving to go to Ella’s. I glanced to the bar to flag a waitress, but something else caught my eye. There was a man at the bar with Lauralee. From what I could tell, she’d moved from her usual spot to sit next to him.

What the hell? Anger boiled inside me, and it took all I had not to walk over and break the guy’s legs for the chummy smirk he seemed to be giving her. She looked comfortable too, and I wondered how well she knew this man.

I don’t know why I was surprised. It wasn’t the first time she’d given her attentions to another. The only difference was, I’d had the privilege of punching him in the face before. Right or wrong, it had felt good. The very idea of someone else’s hands on her, eyes on her, thoughts on her, sent my temper over the edge and kicked my caveman tendencies into overdrive. She was my girl. Always had been and always would be. I gritted my teeth and gripped my beer as the waitress set it in front of me. Lifting it to drink, I remembered how bad an idea it was to punch her prom date, and guessed I should get over it. As angry as I was, I wouldn’t assert myself on her.

Lauralee would do what she wanted, and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about it. She’d made it clear that she didn’t like the way I treated women, but she didn’t know the why of it. She didn’t realize my samplings were all in vain for trying to find another her. The truth was, there’d never be another Lauralee Langston. The rest were cheap substitutes, and once I figured them out, I had no choice but to move on to the next.

I’m not blaming her, but that’s how it was just the same.

She threw her head back, and I heard her giggle in the pause of the music changing on the jukebox. She wanted to laugh it up with another, I wouldn’t stop her. But how dare she judge me. She’s the one who stepped out on me with that tuxedo-wearing twit.

I didn’t know the man she sat with, so I leaned in and asked Mason, who didn’t know either, but the look on his face—that little smirk, told me he thought my interest was hilarious.

About that time, Jamie grabbed onto my arm and tugged. “You sure are a quiet one, you.” I slapped on a smile for her to keep things from being too awkward.

“I’m a little tired tonight. I think I need something stronger than this beer.” I waved the waitress over again and asked for a round of shots.

“That’s more like it.” Jamie gave me a wink. “I can’t believe you’re considering missing this party. It’s always epic.”

“I’ve been every year,” I said in my most bored tone.

“I went last year, but this is Tammy’s first time.” She and the other girl, whose name I somehow missed—Tammy, giggled like they’d shared more than friendship, and Mason’s eyes widened as they slapped hands between us.

Tammy bounced in her seat. “I’m ready for some fun.” The girl took out her phone and then a commotion at the front door commanded our attention.

“The party has arrived, ladies and gents.” Ella’s voice was already slurred, and I had a feeling it was from more than a pre-bar drink. She staggered in, followed by some other people, one of which I hoped held her car keys.

“Damn, she’s wasted already.” Mason shook his head at David’s ex, and I couldn’t help but think of the colossal bullet he’d dodged. That one would have left a mark for sure, and the thought reminded me of the marks she’d left on my back. Catty, scratchy female, that one.

I turned my gaze back to the bar and stiffened when I found the two facing each other, laughing like they shared the world’s funniest joke or some sort of private one that I’d never be in on. My nerves set on edge and I needed to get out of there. I excused myself from the table, and Jamie hopped up to follow me outside.

“What’s the matter with you?” she asked. Her eyes were wide and as grey as the sky in a thunderstorm, and she was a beautiful woman. I could take her to my truck and put those pouty lips to work on me with a simple suggestion, but it wouldn’t do me any good. I’d only be proving Lauralee right.

I gritted my teeth, and she giggled. “Your jaw is twitching like you’re angry.” She batted her lashes and smiled wide. “You’re not angry with me, are you?”

“No. I’m mad at myself.” She stood close, and I rested my hand on her shoulder and took a strand of her pale blond hair in my fingertips. The silky texture, I imagined, might match the feeling of her lips, which looked damned inviting, but didn’t grab my interest as much as I expected.

“Well, don’t be mad at yourself, sugar. I can take all that anger and frustration away. Want to make me a bet?”

I laughed at her boldness, but not at her. She tried so hard I couldn’t help but think she had no idea how far in over her head she was. I was about to tell her, when my brother and Tammy came out to join us, flanked by Ella whose expression turned feral seeing me with Jamie.

“There you are, Teddy boy.” Ella sauntered over and threw her arm around me. She regarded Jamie and ran her hand slowly up the girl’s arm. “I see you met my friend.” She leaned in close to my ear, her voice thick with honey as she whispered, “How about a tiny birthday kiss.” Her lips met mine, and I stood still, not returning the kiss. She pulled away angry, a rebellious gleam in her eye.

“I’m giving you that one since it’s your birthday.”

“Kisses all around.” She giggled and leaned in to kiss Jamie, who seemed terribly impressed, especially when she leaned in and kissed Tammy too. Mason’s eyes widened and then Ella reached for his hand and pulled him close.

I didn’t stop her from kissing Mason, and when she was done, he gave me a helpless shrug.

I clapped my hand on his shoulder and leaned in to his ear. “Knock yourself out, man, but I’m out of here. You’d leave too if you cared what was best for you.”

Mason shook his head as the girls headed to their car. “Don’t be so dramatic, Ted. I can take care of myself.”

As Ella’s other friends came out of the bar, I watched my brother disappear into the crowd, and I headed to my truck. Part of me wanted to go back inside and take my Lolly from that big oaf she was sitting with, but the other told me to let it all go. There was only so much I could control, and if I wanted things to work out with the ranch, that was where my main focus should be.

Closing my truck door, I glanced in my rearview, and once the crowd that had taken my brother, passed by, I backed out and headed home.

I didn’t need the stress. I needed to spend some time working, but instead, I decided to go up to my room and wallow in self-pity over the girl I’d lost too long ago.

I hadn’t hired her thinking things would end up this way. I simply needed a hand, and she was there, imposing herself on me in the best of ways. I should have told her no and went after Bailey a bit harder.

If she didn’t like the way I treated women, why did she give in to me so easily? Maybe she was just using me, and it wouldn’t be the first time I’d let a woman do it. Ella was proof of that. But I didn’t expect that kind of bullshit from Lauralee. She had always been a good girl as far as I could tell. That man beside her and the easy way she laughed with him, made me wonder if she’d changed.

I should have listened to Luke and stayed home when I failed to get him to come along. But that wouldn’t have changed enough of my problems. If I wanted to go back and do something over, I should have gone to prom. Who would have guessed that six years later I’d realize not going ruined my life? I still don’t understand the big deal, but it meant enough for her to step out on me with another guy, even though she says it was innocent. I should have thrown on a tie and bought her a stupid flower and taken her to that gym. I blew it, and maybe now this is her revenge, to make me watch in misery as she swoons for another. She gave me a taste only to take it away.

I sank in my seat as I turned in the drive. I wasn’t about to face Mama or Luke after letting Mason run off with Ella. Luke had warned me that it was a bad idea to go out, but I hadn’t listened. Avoiding the house, I decided to go to the office instead to see if I couldn’t get a head start on the new system. With any luck, I’d have it loaded for a fresh start in the morning.

I walked into the office, and before I could get settled, Luke came in from the barn.

“I take it Mason went his own way?” He dropped down into a chair across from me.

I nodded my head, not wanting to get into it with him over our brother.

“Sure is early. I figured even you’d be out later than this.” He kicked my chair to tease me. “Something happen?”

“Lauralee was there. She had a date.”

“Oh, I see.” He groaned. “So instead of going to jail, you decided to come on home. Makes sense.”

“Not worth it. That ship sailed long ago, and you know what they say, you can’t go back.”

“Who is they, exactly?” He chuckled and pulled in a long breath. “We all know you are in love with her. Shit, you get possessive when I look at her and remember when she brought us that pie?”

“She brought me that pie.”

“She did not. She brought it for everyone, but you took it to your room and ate the whole damned thing.”

“It was good pie.” I shrugged.

“So, if I’m wrong, you wouldn’t mind me asking her out.” He backed his chair up and laughed as my jaw tensed and my hands closed into fists.

“You wouldn’t. She’s not your type of girl.” I narrowed my eyes, and my words were a warning.

“Shit, she’s grown into a fine woman. I mean, when we were growing up, she was always the awkward girl next door. But, man, when she started filling out—damn.” Determined he wasn’t going to get a rise out of me, I ignored his obvious attempts and turned on the computer.

Luke continued beside me. “I bet her pie is delicious. I’m sure she’d give me a slice.”

My knee-jerk reaction was to punch his arm.

“Ow! What the hell was that?” Luke rubbed the tender spot.

“I don’t think you’re talking about pie.” He’s lucky I only punched once. I wondered if he imagined my girl spread out in front of him.

He held his hands up as a slow smile spread his lips. “What difference does it make? You don’t love her, right?”

“What difference does it make? That’s the point. She doesn’t care. She’s off at Kinsey’s with someone else.” I didn’t realize I’d blown up so bad until he flinched away from me.

“Does she know how you feel?” When he met my eyes, I could tell he was being sincere. “You’re not the best at opening yourself up.”

“What the hell does that mean?” I pushed my chair away from the table and turned to face him. “You don’t even know. I’ve opened myself up plenty. She’s not interested, and she’s already informed me that I don’t treat women to suit her.” I was so irritated that I grumbled.

“Sorry, man.”

“If you want to be useful, I could use your help with this system.” It wasn’t often I could get Luke in the office after hours, and he was the only one of us that had a grasp on computers. You’d think me and my family had been living in a hole for the past twenty years. I guess we had in a sense.

“I’ll see what I can do. No promises.” He aimed the monitor in his direction and pulled the keyboard closer. “I should have kept Cindy around. She would have had this shit done already.”

I slapped his arm and watched as he worked his fingers across the black keys. “I’ll hire her. Is she available.”

“Hell no, we’ve got enough exes lurking around here. Besides, she’s a handful.”

“Yeah, we Dawsons sure have a way, don’t we?” We shared a laugh, but my gut was still tied in knots with thoughts of Lauralee.