Devil in Texass(64)

strategic tactic of guilting the sinners into seeing his way in person. Can’t do that with a written ballot.”

“I see what you’re saying.” Still, as Liza’s eyes scanned the crowded dining room,

she swore she saw more distaste than pleasure on the faces of those sipping water,

coffee and tea with their meals.

“What about revenue?” she asked. “I mean, Jack’s place loses money because of the

alcohol ban. What about the grocery stores? The restaurants?” Talk about screwing with 160

Devil in Texas

a town’s economy! “Think of the profits Mike and Ruby are losing when this place is

wall-to-wall with people and the waiting area is overflowing into the street. They could be serving beer, wine and cocktails with dinner and to those waiting for a table.”

“You’re preachin’ to the choir, sweetheart,” Jack said, his voice tight.

She understood his frustration. Empathized with it. “So he uses God against you

all. Not very Christian, if you ask me. And, hey!” she added, a thought occurring to her.

“What about during Sunday service? What does he offer the repentant sinners? Kool-

Aid?”

“Oh no,” Ruby chimed in as she appeared at the table to take their orders. “That’s

wine. Holy wine, ‘cause we wouldn’t want to offend God with Kool-Aid.”

“Well, this is just plain ridiculous,” Liza said. Her stomach growled—loudly—

distracting her. “Whatever Mike is making us for dinner would go nice with a bold

red.”

“You said it, sister,” Ruby concurred. The others nodded their heads in agreement.

“So you want yours to go?”

Liza smirked at her. “And miss your sunny disposition? Not in a million.”

Ruby chuckled. “That’s the first time anyone’s taken me over hooch. And that

includes my husband, I regret to inform ya’ll.”

Everyone laughed. Liza said, “He’s probably just worn out from feeding all our

hungry mouths.”

“He wasn’t too worn out last night,” she said with a wink, leaving mouths gaping.

She turned to Jess and asked, “What’ll it be, honey?”

Liza noticed Ruby wasn’t the only one working the floor and she was pleased the

restaurant owner had chosen to wait on their table. Not that they were going to be a

fussy group. Jess inquired about this evening’s special and Ruby barely got the words

“Lasagna Bolognese” out when Jess said, “I’ll have that.”

“Make it two,” George said.

“Three,” Jack chimed in.

Ruby sighed. “Why did I even bother paying to have menus printed up?”

Liza toyed with hers, flipping it open. As much as she’d had her heart set on the

special, she had a feeling something more adventurous awaited her. “I’ll venture

outside the box,” she said. “Italian sausage and peppers.”

“That’s Mike’s specialty, honey,” Ruby said. “He creates his own combinations.

Tonight’s is parmesan cheese and roasted garlic rolled into the sweetest, spiciest Italian sausage you’ve ever tasted.”

Liza felt another orgasm coming on. “I’m in for one hell of a treat.” She handed

over her menu. But she really didn’t want to miss out on the lasagna, either. Turning to Jack, she asked, “Will you allow me to nibble?”

“We’re talking about food, right?” he countered with a wicked glint in his eyes.

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“Yes,” Liza said, trying to fight the inevitable heat his mere presence—not to

mention his sinful gaze—sparked. “Just a sample.”

“More than happy to share with you, darlin’.”

She had to look away, because she was smiling like an infatuated schoolgirl. They’d

shared plenty these past few days. Thinking about all those erotic moments made her

blush even deeper.

Unfortunately, as she tried to get her riotous emotions under control, her gaze

landed on Lydia, who was watching their table a little too close for comfort.

What was that woman’s problem?

Knowing she wouldn’t get the answer she sought at that moment, but deciding to

press Jack about it later, she jumped into the conversation at the table.

Several topics later, their meal arrived and silence ensued. Then they gave up their

table for another group that had been on the lengthy waitlist. Obviously tourists, as the locals clearly knew Mike and Ruby’s was the place to be—and required a reservation if one was to eat at a respectable hour.

They stepped outside and George said, “I’d suggest we go for a cocktail

somewhere, but…”

“Actually,” Liza said, “I don’t mind if we call it a night.” She was beat. “Are you

okay with that?” she asked Jack.

He grinned down at her. “You said something about a massage and a hot bath

earlier, so…” He let his voice trail off as he grinned at her.

Her stomach flipped. “Jack,” she said, trying to sound shocked over his audacity in

mentioning something so private in front of Jess and George. But of course she wasn’t.

Couldn’t say the idea was too far from her mind either.

Jess said, “So I’ll see you tomorrow morning around eight?”

“Be there with bells on.”

Jess gave Liza a quick hug, startling her. “I’m so glad you came to Wilder.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Though, in her exhausted state—both physical and emotional, because she’d

responded in a way she hadn’t imagined to the people who were actually kind to her—

Liza wondered if she was getting in over her head.

Planting seeds she wasn’t quite ready to cultivate…

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Devil in Texas

Chapter Sixteen



They went their separate ways and Jack helped Liza into the cab of his truck. When

he pulled up to the cottage, she waited this time for him to round the vehicle and open the door for her. She knew he liked doing that. She could give him that one, she thought with a smile.

They walked up the pathway and crossed the porch. She unlocked the door and

turned back to him. Jack propped a forearm against the doorframe and leaned in to kiss her.

“Hmm, that was nice,” she said on a sigh when he pulled away. Her arms wrapped

around his neck, she whispered in his ear, “I’m still interested in that bath. You game?”

“If it’s what you want.”

She smiled at him. “You already know what I want.”