“Son, you don’t know me, but I knew your father, Jack. We grew up together in these parts and used to run wild on Divine Creek every summer. I just wanted you to know we’re glad you’re back in the area and we hope the ranch is coming along. I also wanted to tell you that not everyone in Divine has a damn burr up their asses like some of these folks do in here tonight.”
He said the words with a dark, damning look in his eyes as he cast them around the room. Maya was amused to note many folks who had been milling around gossiping were now returning to their tables like puppies with their tails tucked between their legs.
The venerable man continued as his wife stood proudly by his side, holding his hand. “My name’s Sherwood Porter. Your dad knew me as Woody. It’s Justice of the Peace Porter nowadays. Forgive ’em, son, ma’am. Some people are like cattle. They tend to follow aimlessly without thinking where they might wind up.”
Casting another dark gaze around the now quiet room, Porter turned kindly eyes on Maya and quietly said, “Welcome to the neighborhood, ma’am. I reckon old Jack would’ve doted on you for a daughter-in-law. Y’all have a nice evenin’.”
“Thank you, judge,” Kendall said as he offered a handshake, which was returned.
So that was Justice of the Peace Porter.
The dining room returned to a more normal-sounding buzz, and the waitress delivered their food a few minutes later. Maya traded bites of her honey-glazed salmon for a taste of his perfectly seared beef tenderloin. The food was so good it almost made up for the rudeness of the restaurant patrons. Almost, but not quite. That didn’t mean she was staying away from there, or that she was going to be run out of town.
Kendall groaned quietly when she ate her dessert, which came with a scoop of ice cream, with obvious relish. The heat in his eyes promised he’d be enjoying his dessert just as much, as soon as they were alone.
Chapter Twenty-one
Richard denied the urge to floor the accelerator as the truck ate up the distance between Divine and Morehead. He was already going fast enough to get a ticket.
Boone had generously suggested that Richard drop him off at the Divine Creek Ranch and then head over to Discretion to surprise Maya. After a quick shower and shave that’s exactly what he did.
He was tensed and ready to jump out of the truck and run up the steps to the boutique as soon as he got there. He sat behind the wheel, taking several deep breaths. He hadn’t felt so anxious about a girl since he was a preteen about to ask his first girlfriend to a school dance.
He lifted the wrapped bouquet of red roses from the passenger seat and sniffed them, hoping she’d like them. She wasn’t expecting Boone and Richard home until late that evening, so this was going to be a surprise for her.
Sweet scents filled his nostrils as he quietly entered the boutique. The bell rang, and Teresa looked up from the large wooden counter by the door. A wide, surprised smile lit her face, but she remained silent as he put his index finger to his lips. She pointed to the far wall, at a row of tall book cases and mouthed silently, “Over there.”
Rachel stood behind a glass-topped counter rearranging…butt plugs and dildos.
Focus, dude.
Rachel looked up at him and grinned as she slid the door on the display case closed. “Hello, sir. Can I help you find something?”
Richard spotted Maya dusting and arranging a bookshelf. Their avid erotic romance reader was probably keeping her eyes open for more bedtime stories in the process.
“I think I’ve found just what I need.”
Maya turned abruptly at the sound of his voice. “Richard!”
He happily held his arms out and caught her as she flew at him. She enveloped him in a delicately scented hug. He pressed his lips to her silky head and held her close. She practically vibrated with happiness as she burrowed close, pressing her breasts against his upper abdomen. He had heaven in his arms. “Hi, honey.”
“I didn’t expect you back until tonight.” She looked up at him, her blue eyes sparkling joyfully. “I missed you so much.”
Not caring who watched, Richard lowered his lips to hers in a sweet, slow reunion kiss. By noticeable degrees she turned to putty in his hands as she melted into the kiss. He wanted more than anything else to get her alone and make love to her. Boone was at the ranch with Kendall and would be all day. If they left now they’d have the house to themselves for several hours.
“Can you get away?”
Maya turned and looked at Grace. She’d ridden into Morehead with her that morning.
Grace waved her hand in a shooing gesture. “I’ll be fine. Adam is in Morehead doing a job today. I’ll let him know, and he’ll probably show up when I leave and follow me home. Rachel and Teresa are carpooling it today, too. We’ll all get home just fine.”