Liza.”
“I didn’t see you. I’m terribly sorry.”
“It’s all right. Just bad timing on my part.”
“Who’d expect a sidewalk traffic jam in Wilder?”
“Not a normal occurrence, no. But I’m glad we bumped into each other.” His smile
was contrite. “Well, not literally, of course. I wanted to make sure you and Jack were okay. Lydia has just been beside herself since the accident this afternoon.”
A brow jerked up. “Really?” she couldn’t help but say, though she did have the
good social grace not to elaborate. If Lydia Bain was “just beside herself” when Liza had been in her shop, she was going to hate being in her presence when Her Royal
Witchiness was back to normal.
“Jack and I are fine,” Liza continued on, trying to keep her composure. “Thanks for
asking. He has quick reflexes and was very concerned about my safety. His aunt’s as
well.”
Maybe she could help to redeem Jack in the reverend’s eyes.
“Lydia and Jack have always been good friends. She would feel remorseful for
hitting anyone’s car, but it was particularly distressful for her to damage Jack’s truck and potentially hurt him, because they’re so close.”
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Devil in Texas
Was that the source of contention between Jack and Bain? Did the reverend have a
burr in his saddle because Jack and his wife were friends? Did he suspect, as Liza had initially, that there might be something sexual between them?
Hmm. The plot was thickening. And the bad part about it was that Liza seemed to be stuck in the middle.
“The damage didn’t look too bad,” she assured him. “Your wife’s car took the brunt
of the hit. I’m just glad she wasn’t injured.” Liza had to dig deep for that one, but in the grand scheme of things, of course she wouldn’t want anyone getting hurt in a car
accident.
“I’m on my way over to the salon now to find out when she’ll be wrapping up with
the ladies. I don’t particularly like that she’s working late after being so shook up. Poor thing.”
Yes, poor thing, indeed. Liza resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“Say,” he added. “If you’re looking for something to do this evening, the church
hosts Bingo on Saturday nights. We get quite a turnout.” He consulted his watch and
said, “It’s almost seven o’clock. Shops are closing up and people will be heading over after dinner. Usually gets exciting around eight.”
The city girl was at a loss for words. Her first Saturday night in Wilder and her best invitation was to play Bingo with the church folk? Last Saturday she’d been at a swank function at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. Sipping champagne and
prematurely celebrating the rebound of McClellan-Piper’s corporate debacle, which
she’d worked so hard to fix. She and her colleagues had been there with clients when
they’d learned the CEO had foregone her crisis management plan and had heaped the
whole mess on poor PR. Leaving Liza holding a bag of shit she hadn’t been the one to
fill.
She tried to shake off the memory. She needed to move on, didn’t she?
“Thanks for the invite, Reverend,” she said. “I already have plans.” There was still a chance for her to do a little more sinning this evening. A thought that sent an erotic shiver down her spine.
While she bit back a smile at the idea of hooking up with Jack again, the corners of
the reverend’s mouth dipped. Though he didn’t give her a full-fledged, disapproving
frown, she was sure he knew what her plans entailed.
With any luck, her sexy cowboy would continue what he’d started this morning.
Liza was more than happy to put her bizarre day in town behind her and singe the
sheets tonight back at the cottage. The mere thought of the Devil’s scorching-hot kisses and wicked ways was enough to make her want to wrap up her conversation with the
reverend and head straight to the saloon.
But then he said, “If you change your mind, the ladies usually play until eleven.”
“Eleven?” Her eyes narrowed. Hadn’t Jack said his bar had to be closed by ten
tonight? Yet the Bingo Babes got their curfew extended to eleven? Where was the
justice?
105
Calista Fox
“You’d be surprised at how lively it gets,” the reverend continued with a smile.
“I can imagine.” Oh please! “Well, again, thanks for letting me know. I’ll keep it in mind for the future.”
“You take care of yourself, Liza,” he said in a fatherly tone.
“I am, Reverend. Thanks for your concern, though.”
He nodded. The flicker in his blue-gray eyes made Liza wonder if he thought of her
as some poor, lost soul he had the opportunity to save. Was she lost? Was that why
she’d settled in a town she’d never even heard of without a second thought?
“I admire your independence, Liza, don’t get me wrong.” He was quick to say. “It’s
just that young people can be misguided sometimes. Or easily influenced.”
Ignoring the obvious dig toward Jack, she smiled politely and said, “I’m twenty-
eight, Reverend. Hardly ‘young people’.”
He surprised her with a laugh. “I suppose I lump all single individuals into that
category. Forgive me. Although,” he added, “Twenty-eight is still young.”
“Thank you for that.” It was a nice reminder that she still had a long life ahead of
her. Her career was over, yes, but she was only twenty-eight. There was plenty of time for her to make something of herself, wasn’t there?
Giving a self-deprecating laugh, she said, “Really, Reverend. Thanks for the
reminder.”
He grinned. “Glad to be of service.” He stepped past her, but paused and said over
his shoulder, “And I do hope to see you tomorrow morning.”
Liza couldn’t lie to him. “I’m not really the worshipping type. But I won’t totally
discount it.”
“Fair enough.” He nodded his head in acceptance and continued down the
sidewalk toward Lydia’s shop.
Liza piled her purchases in the front seat of her Mercedes and headed back to the
cottage. As she turned onto the winding drive, she thought about the last time she’d
been there, following lunch with Jack and her first run-in with Lydia. The confusion
she’d felt over the allegiance Jack had to one but not the other step-relative still
bothered her. Especially since Liza preferred the reverend to his sanctimonious wife.