Missy's Moment (The West Series Book 4) (12 page)

“Look who I found.” He pulled Missy closer to his side, showing everyone his interest in her.

“It’s good you guys came alone. We were getting tired of trying to convince Reece to look like he was having a good time,” Alex said as she playfully punched her cousin’s arm.

“Well, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m gonna have to steal one of your men soon. I’m wearing my dancing boots and I’m desperate,” Holly said, swaying to the song that was playing.

“Take mine,” Haley said, holding her sides. “Since having the twins, I need to sit down every other song.”

Wes leaned down and kissed his wife’s cheek then held out his arm for Holly. “I’m all yours, for now.”

“He won’t admit it, but he loves to dance,” Haley said watching Wes and Holly swing across the floor.

“Look who’s back in town,” Alex said, nodding towards the bar. “I heard she was in Houston getting another boob job.”

Reece almost choked on the sip of beer he’d just taken.

“Sorry,” Alex cringed.

He shook his head to let her know it was okay. He’d never had sisters around, but he knew how open his cousins were.

When he finally got around to glancing towards the bar, he was surprised to see Savannah standing at the bar, staring at the group. When she noticed him looking at her, she smiled and stuck her chest out a little farther.

He remembered their run-in at the Grocery Stop the week he’d arrived in town. His eyes dropped to his beer and he tried not to look her way again, as the group continued to talk about her.

“I heard it was a nose job this time,” Haley whispered.

“No, she had one of those when she turned eighteen.” Alex waved her sister off. “But there is something different about her.”

“Maybe she was visiting Travis. Wherever he disappeared to,” Haley suggested. “Well, whatever the reason for her almost month long disappearance, she’s back in town and our problem now.”

“Is she really that bad?” he asked, taking another sip of his beer.

“Worse,” Alex said, glaring towards the bar. “I guess in a way I have her to thank for my marriage, though.” His cousin blinked a few times and her eyes softened as she looked over at her husband.

At that moment, Reece realized that his strongest desire was for someone to look at him just like that. At least once in his life.

“Can you believe our luck?” Holly said, leaning against the porcelain sink. Melissa was reapplying her red lipstick, which she was very happy Holly had talked her into wearing that night.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, it’s wonderful that Reece was here.” She nudged her. “By the way, Haley and Wes agreed to take me home tonight.” Holly winked at her, and she couldn’t help smiling.

“You’re a dork.”

“Yes, sadly, I’m a dork that will be going back to an empty apartment.” She faked a frown and gave her sad eyes, blinking a few times.

“There are plenty of good-looking men out there.” She nodded towards the bathroom door.

Holly laughed. “Right.”

“What about…” Melissa tried to think of a few guys they had gone to school with that were still single.

“Ha! Can’t think of any, can you?” Her friend pointed at her.

“Joey.”

“Joey? Joey Briggs?” Holly held her arms out and made her face chubby.

“Okay, so he’s gained a few pounds since school.”

“Ha, he’s no quarterback anymore, that’s for sure.” Her friend teetered on the sink and Melissa reached out to steady her.

“Maybe you should see about having Haley and Wes take you home soon.”

Her friend waved her aside. “I’m not toast yet.”

Melissa laughed and helped her off the sink just as Savannah walked in.

“Well, well. Look who got lucky.”

If Savannah’s dress were any tighter, Melissa was sure it would have broken several laws of physics. Her breasts did look bigger and she wondered if what Alex had said was true.

“Hello, Savannah.” Melissa turned towards the other woman, still holding Holly steady. Now her friend was leaning a little more on her shoulder.

“Wow, how big can they get?” Holly asked, earning her a pinch on the arm from Melissa.

Savannah gave Holly a look that said everything. It was obvious that Holly didn’t even warrant a response from her.

“Well, Melissa, it’s very lucky for you that I had to leave for a very important meeting for daddy’s business in New York.”

Savannah crossed her arms over her chest and continued to block the only exit from the small room.

“Oh? Why is that?” she asked, taking the bait. She knew better, but for some reason, she was dying to know what Savannah was up to.

“Well, before I had to leave, Reece and I had started something that would have, no doubt, ended up being much more than what you have.” She smiled and looked down at her perfectly manicured fingernails. “But I’m sure it won’t be long before he becomes bored with you.” She sighed and looked up at her, her eyes raking over her simple cotton dress. Then she chuckled. “I’ll be sure to have him tested, first.”

It happened so fast, Melissa didn’t have time to respond. Holly wiggled out of her grip and before Melissa knew what was happening, there was blood splattered over the three of them.

When it was over, Holly stood over the crumpled and much larger Savannah. Savannah had fallen to her knees and was holding a very broken nose in both of her hands, screaming at the top of her lungs.

“Don’t ever talk like that about someone I love.” Holly shook her fists. “Everyone in town knows that the only one carrying any STDs in this town is you. Besides, you couldn’t get a hold of a good man like Reece. Even if you roped and hog-tied him. Everyone knows that all you care about is stealing everyone else’s men.”

When Holly finally stepped back and Melissa could see the actual damaged her friend’s tiny fists had done, her nursing instincts kicked in. She may be small, standing at only five-three, but Holly Bridles could punch like a pro boxer. It was rumored that her father had been quite the pro back in his Navy days.

Melissa would have laughed, except for the amount of blood that was streaming from Savannah’s face. Then the bathroom door swung open and Carl, one of the bouncers for the Rusty Rail, rushed in demanding to know what had happened.

By then, Melissa had a clean towel covering Savannah’s nose as the woman continued to scream. Holly stood with her back against the wall, staring at the scene with a frown on her face.

Savannah’s friends rushed into the bathroom and gathered her up so they could drive her to the clinic, while Carl grabbed her and Holly by the arms and rushed them to the manager’s office. Reece and Melissa’s brother were right behind them, followed by everyone else from their table.

“What’s going on here?” Reece demanded.

“I’m holding these two until the sheriff gets here,” Carl said, motioning for them to sit on the couch in the manager’s office.

“That doesn’t answer his question.” Her brother crossed his arms over his chest.

“One of these two broke Savannah’s nose in the ladies restroom. I’m too busy right now, so I’ll leave it up to the sheriff to get more details from them,” he said, as he picked up the phone and dialed.

Reece looked at her, and she saw his face pale. Then she noticed everyone else was looking at her too. Glancing down, she realized why they would think she had punched Savannah. Her dress was completely covered in Savannah’s blood. She looked up and shook her head and then looked over at Holly, who had her arms crossed over her chest and a determined look on her face.

“Go, girl!” Alex chimed in, only to be nudged by Haley and Wes.

“Reece?” She started to worry that he might pass out, but he was avoiding looking at her skirt and had taken a seat on the edge of the desk. She stayed where she was and tried to cover up as much of the blood as she could with her arms.

Less than a half an hour later, everyone was crowded into the small sheriff’s office a few blocks away.

“Why does it seem that trouble seems to follow you Wests?” he asked, sitting behind his desk. When everyone started talking at once, he held up his hand and picked up his ringing phone.

“Yo,” he said. “Yeah, so I hear. Are you sure?” He looked towards Holly and frowned. “Right. Okay.”

When he hung up, Grant stepped in front of Holly. “As Miss Bridles’ attorney, I’d like to know the charges.”

The sheriff laughed. “There won’t be any.”

“What?” Everyone looked over at Holly, who had stood up, her hands on her hips.

“That was John T. Douglas, Savannah’s father. It seems that Savannah slipped on a broken tile in the woman’s restroom at the Rusty Rail and fell face first into the sinks. I’ve been telling them for years to fix those floors.” The sheriff shook his head.

“That’s a lie.” Holly stepped forward, only to be grabbed and hushed by Grant. “But it’s wrong. They’re going to sue the Rusty Rail.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll represent the bar,” Grant said, trying to hold the hundred-pound woman back.

“Grant,” Holly began.

“Wes, Haley? Would you two make sure Holly gets home okay?” Grant nodded towards them.

“I’ll make sure she’s okay.” Melissa stepped forward. “After all, we went together tonight.”

Melissa gathered her friend and was grateful when Reece followed them outside.

“I’ll drive,” he said, taking Holly’s other arm. Even then, Holly was trying to get back to the sheriff to explain. She kept saying, “It’s not right.”

When they all got into Reece’s truck, Holly finally settled down, and they drove to the bookstore in silence.

“Do you think they’ll win?” she finally asked when they’d parked in front of the small store. “The Douglas's?”

“I’m sure the bar has sufficient insurance to protect against situations like this,” Reece said.

“I’d just die if they had to close down on account of me,” Holly said, sniffling a little.

“Holly.” Melissa waited until her friend looked at her. “My brother and father are damn good lawyers. Neither one of them are going to let any Douglas get their hands on another piece of this town, least of all shut down a major hub that provides the people of Fairplay the only entertainment we have.”

Holly looked at her nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry I ruined everyone’s night.”

Melissa laughed. “Are you kidding? That was the most fun I’ve had since…well, forever.” She reached over and hugged her friend. “Remind me to bring you along the next time I’m trying to give a five-year-old his shots.”

Holly laughed and Melissa jumped down from Reece’s truck so Holly could scoot out of the middle seat. She hugged her friend again. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”

“Don’t let Savannah get to you. You have a good man there.” She nodded towards the truck where Reece was sitting behind the wheel, waiting. “Have a wonderful time and stop by later this weekend to tell me all.” Her friend reached up and kissed her cheek.

Melissa stood on the sidewalk and watched her race up the outside steps towards the apartment that sat over the bookstore.

“That’s some woman,” Reece said when she got back in the truck.

“Tell me about it. I’ve never see a man punch that hard, let alone a five-foot fairy princess.”

Reece laughed. “That description suits her.”

She smiled. “I’ll make sure to never piss her off.” They both laughed.

I
t wasn’t until he pulled up in front of Missy’s place that he felt the nerves kick in again. He knew what he wanted, but wasn’t sure she was going to invite him in again.

He glanced over at her and saw that her pretty dress was ruined, covered in dried blood. Now that it was a darker red, he didn’t feel the wave of dizziness come over him like he had in the sheriff’s office. She probably wants a shower and her bed, he thought.

She turned in her seat and looked over at him. “Well, are you going to come in or do I have promise you some carrot cake and coffee?” She smiled.