“I’m not pouting.”
“Your bottom lip could catch a baseball.”
She sucked in an indignant breath. “You and my father have something in common.”
“What’s that?” he asked in a wary tone.
“You both need to go to charm school,” she told him, and turned away from him.
“Oh, yeah.” He snagged her hand and pulled her back around. “Well, it seems to me you’ve been a little charm-free yourself tonight.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “C’mon, Sin, give the guy a chance.”
She stared into his eyes. She really liked his honest violet eyes. “Okay. Let’s go, but we might want to make dessert to go.”
They placed their orders, and Troy was relieved to watch Sin adopt a more gracious attitude. “The ranch looks great,” she said to Rex. “You’ve expanded.”
“Every year,” he said with a nod. “I’m trying to buy some neighboring property right now.”
“Bet your horses are terrific.”
Rex cracked a smile. “We still have Brownie.”
Troy watched Senada’s eyes widen in surprise. “I’m surprised she’s still alive.”
“Oh, yeah. Kept one of her foals too.”
“Brownie?” Troy interjected.
“Sin’s favorite horse. Barely a horse really. Small, but this mare has the disposition of a saint.”
“I haven’t been riding in years,” Sin murmured.
“You oughta come out.”
A lengthy silence followed where a father’s eyes searched his daughter’s. Troy saw her soften, just a little. “Thanks. Maybe I will.”
The evening continued with small steps forward. Troy and Sheree filled gaps in the conversation. Rex watched Senada.
“I like that dress, Missy. You look pretty in it. Real classy,” he said of Senada’s simple white sheath.
She grinned. “Thank you, Dad.”
“Covers better than that black sleazy thing you wore the other night,” he added firmly.
Troy put his hand on Sin’s knee and watched Sheree’s elbow make contact with Rex’s side. Senada’s smile tightened slightly. “There’s all kinds of tastes for different fashions.”
Troy gave her a reassuring squeeze.
Sheree nodded. “That’s so true, and in a few months I’ll be wearing one kind. Tents.”
They all laughed, and the conversation continued. Troy and Rex argued over who would pay the check. After it was paid, Rex turned to Senada with a serious look on his face. “How long have you been sick, baby?”
Sin went very still. Troy felt her body tense, but her tone was casual. “I’m not sick.”
“You got the diabetes, don’t you?”
“It’s a disease, Dad, but I’m not sick,” she said patiently. “In fact, I’m probably healthier than I’ve ever been.”
Rex looked unconvinced. He sighed and put his arm around his wife. “Listen, baby, Sheree and I have discussed it, and I want you to know that you can come and live with us if you want to.”
Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Why would I want to?”
“Well,” he said hesitantly. “In case you ever get sick and can’t live alone.”
Troy watched Senada’s face turn pale. “I’m not going to get sick,” she insisted in a painfully precise voice. “If I did, I wouldn’t come to you. As I remember, Rex, you don’t handle serious illness well.”
Rex looked as if he’d been slapped. He stood, and Senada did too, matching his shame with her own indignation.
“It was an offer,” he said gruffly. “A father should take care of his daughter.”
“And what should a husband do for his wife?” she asked him quietly. “It wasn’t an offer. It was penance.” She shook her head. “Sorry, Rex, you’ll have to find another way to absolve your guilt.”
They stood silently for a moment, then her lips tilted in a sad smile. “We just can’t seem to get together without hurting each other, can we, Rex? Sorry if I gave you indigestion.” She fluttered her hand toward his, then without touching him, dropped it to her side. “Thanks for dinner. Good night,” she murmured, nodding toward Sheree, then walked away.
Troy rose and glanced at Rex with a shrug.
Sin’s father waved his hand. “You don’t need to say a word. I know it was my mouth as much as it was hers that messed things up. Maybe more,” he added. “Go on after her,” he said, tilting his head toward the exit. “Maybe she’ll calm down once she gets home.”
Troy jammed his hands in his pockets as he walked to the front of the restaurant. God, what a mess. And now he was going to have to try to calm Sin down. He glared at a potted plant. He wasn’t looking forward to it.