Sweet Texas Kiss (Sweet Texas Secrets) (15 page)

“Hey, Macy.” Karen was probably in her car; Macy heard her turn down music in the background. “Thanks for getting back with me.”

“No problem. What’s up?”

“I have a meeting lined up for you with the producers of
Musical Chairs
.” Macy could hear the excitement in Karen’s voice, could practically picture her bouncing in her seat. “They think you’ll be perfect to host the show, and they can’t wait to meet you. I just need to know when I can get it on the books.”

“That’s awesome!” And she meant it. She had to line up new job opportunities, and the busier the better if she was going to get her mind off of Gavin and Sweet Ridge. The inventive musical improvisation show was going into its second season, and it would mean that Macy could stay involved with the music scene through another television show. Best of all, being back at work in Nashville meant she wouldn’t know what she might have had if only she’d opened herself up to a real relationship and a new life in Sweet Ridge. It was a cop-out, but she wasn’t ready for anything serious, and Gavin deserved someone who was. “I’ll call you later when I know my schedule. I’m coming home soon.”

Energized and glad to have a solid reason to skip town and avoid suffering through an awkward conversation with Gavin, she prepared for her shower. She’d figure out later how to break it to him. After relaxing under the hot spray, humming to herself and pushing thoughts of romance out of her mind, she took her time getting ready. She wouldn’t be back in the house, wouldn’t spend her evenings luxuriating in the giant garden tub surrounded by fragrant bubbles while Gavin sat across from her, sharing stories about crazy things that happened at work. She wouldn’t use the ornately framed mirror over the sink to check her reflection or apply makeup before a romantic date. He’d never complain that she left her socks and towels on the floor, playfully tossing them at her. Before long, she’d be back in her Nashville home, moving through her daily life while someone else picked up after her. Nobody would complain that she left her things lying around, and nobody would say a word if she left a cereal bowl in the sink instead of washing it.

Things would return to normal soon, and Gavin would be the last thing on her mind.

After tucking her makeup into a cosmetics bag and checking to be sure she wasn’t leaving anything behind, she returned to her room, anxious to finish packing, find a flight, and get out of town. Gavin’s bedroom door was closed, and she tried hard not to think about what it would feel like to spend the night inside. His note suggested he needed very little encouragement to invite her to his bed, and she knew that she wouldn’t resist if given the chance. Best to get out of town before things got more complicated, because if she saw him again, things would definitely become complicated. Gavin Cooper didn’t mess around, and he didn’t play games like other guys. He was direct about what he wanted, and it would be nearly impossible to resist much longer.

With that decided, she knew the only way she’d make a clean break without second-guessing herself would be to leave a note and lock the front door without looking back.

She found a pad of paper and wrote:

It was much less personal than she was feeling, but making a clean break meant keeping her feelings out of it. Encouraging him, letting him know that she’d be thinking of him, writing the things she really wanted to say would only prolong the inevitable. She left the note on his nightstand, propped between his clock and a book, and went back to her room without a backward glance.

The phone rang, and expecting her agent, she quickly swiped the screen to answer.

“Hi, Macy, it’s Kelly. Do you have a minute?”

“Sure. I meant to give you a call. It turns out I’m going back home today.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize it would be so soon.”

“I didn’t know until this morning.” Should she build some time into her schedule to say good-bye to Betty Lou and Mr. Procter before heading to the airport? She hadn’t promised them anything, but they’d been so great to her during her visit.

“I see. Do you need me to let you go?”

“No, it’s fine. Something came up last minute for work, and I’m just now getting ready. I haven’t even booked a flight yet, so really there’s no rush. What’s up?” Macy took a seat on the bed, crossed her ankles, and settled in for a brief chat.

“Okay, good. The thing is, Mr. Procter had a heart attack in the middle of the night. He’s in ICU, and they don’t know if he’s going to make it.”

Her heart sank. “Oh no, that’s awful.”

“His daughter called me because they didn’t know how to get in touch with you.”

“With me? Why?” She couldn’t remember ever having met his daughter or think of any reason she’d want to get in touch.

“I guess he was asking her to see if you’d meet his teen group today. She said he was really confused this morning, and she told him they could cancel it, but he was insistent that you’d be there. I don’t really know if she found a way to get the word to them or not.” Kelly paused. “I hate to ask since you’re trying to get ready to leave, but it seems pretty important to him. I’d hate for the kids to show up at school and not have anyone there to meet them.”

Macy was many things, but the one to call in a crisis was not one of them. Her instinct was to refuse and get the hell out of town, but the kids’ enthusiasm and openness had touched her the other day. It wouldn’t delay her too much to stop in, spend an hour with them, and make sure they weren’t left thinking that Mr. Procter was a no-show for no reason.

“All right. Tell her I’ll be there.”

• • •

Gavin handed Grayson the plastic take-out container of Betty Lou’s famous chicken salad and took a seat in his brother’s office upstairs at Guac Olé. He unwrapped his club sandwich slowly, stretching out the small task while he decided how much to share with his little brother about his evening with Macy. He’d already played his hand with her, leaving that note. She’d run upstairs so fast after the kiss, it was obvious that she wasn’t ready for their relationship to take a turn, and he knew one wrong move could ruin any chance he’d have with her. That little voice in his head urged him to run home and get rid of it, but there was no doubt that she’d already read the note, so the only thing to do now was to wait until after work to see her.

Grayson was preoccupied with his own troubles, apparently. “You know, I’ve been watching Becca at work, and for the life of me, I can’t see why Dad gave her my shares.” He slammed the strawberry charm on his desk, obviously in a black mood. “And this. What the hell does this stupid strawberry mean?”

“I have no idea. It makes as much sense as the glasses he left me.” Though with his rekindled feelings for Macy returning so fiercely to the forefront, perhaps their dad’s comment about looking to the past made more sense. “Unless…”

“Unless what?” Grayson took a bite of the chicken salad and glared at Gavin while he chewed.

He twisted his paper straw wrapper until it was in a tiny ball. “I almost made a huge mistake and slept with Macy.”

His brother swallowed his bite quickly, his eyes wide. “What? That’s not what I meant when I suggested that you be a little nicer to her.”

“It started off that way. We had dinner and some wine, then we got to talking about Tori, and Macy explained how everything went down the night she died. It changed the way I saw things, the way I saw her. I don’t know, man. Something happened, and the old feelings started coming back.”

“How did you get her to let you kiss her after being so openly hostile to her since she stepped foot in town?” Grayson ignored his lunch for a moment.

Gavin’s heart beat a little faster at the memory. “Believe me, she was an enthusiastic participant. It was more than just a kiss, though. I think something might be going on between us. It all happened very fast, but it felt right.”

“You are unbelievable.” Grayson pressed the speakerphone button and punched in a number. He sipped iced tea through a straw while he waited for an answer.

“Who are you calling?”

“Hey, Gray,” Gage’s voice greeted them.

“Hey. Gavin’s here with me, and you’re on speakerphone. He has something he needs to tell you.” Gray was grinning, clearly enjoying the moment.

Gage was on the road, probably making do with a borrowed office somewhere. Gavin could picture his brother sitting in one of those rent-a-cubicles, clicking one of the generic ballpoint pens that came with the desk, and, knowing Gage, doodling on a notepad he’d swiped from the Holiday Inn. “Hi, Gage. It’s nothing. I don’t know why Grayson thinks this news merits a conference call.”

“Well, now I’m intrigued. What’s the news?” A door opened in the background, and they could hear murmuring and shuffled papers.

“Gavin made out with Macy last night.” Grayson blurted out the news, obviously unable to help himself.

“Really?” Gavin heard Gage’s chair squeak, probably as he pulled his feet off his desk and sat up straighter. “You and Macy?”

“Yeah, and now I regret telling Gray, since apparently he gossips like a schoolgirl. She obviously thought it was a bad idea, and besides, she’ll be going back to Nashville soon. So it’s not like anything can really happen between us. It’s nothing, really.”

“Dude, this isn’t nothing. You had a major crush on her, she owns our dad’s house, and now you’re saying it doesn’t mean anything?” Gage’s voice was clearer, as though he’d shifted from casual conversation to full-on situation mode. He wasn’t a big believer in love or relationships, but he was surprisingly sensitive when it came to other people’s romantic feelings.

“I really don’t know what good it does to talk about it. We kissed, and then she got scared and ran upstairs to hide in her room all night. I don’t think she’s into it.” If he was being honest with himself, Gavin was very interested in seeing where a relationship with Macy could go. It stung that she was so quick to dismiss the idea.

“So she freaked out a little. That doesn’t necessarily mean jack.” Gage usually busted his balls, but there was no hint of sarcasm or teasing in his voice.

“There’s more.” With Macy returning home soon, he didn’t have time to wait until he figured out what to do on his own. He needed to lay all his cards on the table and let his brothers help. “I left her a note before I went to work, and she hasn’t called me to respond. I left it in the kitchen by the coffeepot, so there’s no way she hasn’t seen it. I’m so screwed.”

“Not necessarily.” Grayson sat back in his chair, leaving a plastic fork stuck in the scoop of chicken salad. “Just because she ran out doesn’t mean she isn’t feeling the same way you are, and just because she hasn’t called you yet doesn’t mean that she doesn’t want to respond. Maybe she’s just trying to figure out what she wants and doesn’t want to rush. She might be gun-shy, but that doesn’t mean this can’t work out.”

“He’s right. This can be salvaged.” Gage sounded more confident than Gavin felt.

“Guys, I don’t know what I want, or if there’s anything to be salvaged. Just forget I said anything, okay?”

“Too late.” Grayson wouldn’t let it go that easily. “You know, you two would make a good couple. Let’s make this happen.”

“Agreed.” Gavin could practically hear Gage nodding. “Actually, this sounds like the perfect opportunity for you to get the house. Make nice with Macy and see if she’ll sell. Anything else is gravy.”

“Wait, what? No. She doesn’t want anything from me, she doesn’t live here, and I don’t even know if I want to take it any further. Maybe kissing was a mistake and we should move on.” Had telling his brothers been a mistake? It was one thing to let his feelings get away from him, quite another to involve them in a plan to make Macy his. “We should just drop it.”

“If it was anyone but you, I’d agree.” Grayson was confident and decisive. “You’re like Mr. Relationship.”

“Absolutely.” Gage agreed. “You’re the one who had the problem with her, not the other way around. You can’t let this opportunity get past you.”

“She made it very clear that she’s not interested.”

“She didn’t, though. That’s the thing. All she made clear was that she wasn’t ready to deal with you last night.” Grayson took a small bite of his lunch.

“Look, get her some flowers, make her a nice dinner or take her out, and talk to her. The worst that can happen is you find out that she isn’t into you and you still don’t get the house.” Gage sounded reasonable, like it would be easy to get Macy to fall for his charm and sign over the house.

Framing it in terms of getting the house was easier than finding out if there was something more between them. Gavin didn’t know if he was ready to admit that he had deep feelings for Macy, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted a relationship with her. The kiss proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they had chemistry together, but she’d made it clear that she didn’t want to be with him. Maybe they weren’t the perfect match and maybe they wanted different things in life, but he should find out before dismissing the idea out of hand. He’d kissed plenty of women without feeling like his life had been forever changed, and somehow this time was different. If he let Macy leave without at least trying, he’d always regret it.

“You’re right. I need to talk to her.” He wrapped up the containers from his lunch, warming to the idea. “We owe it to ourselves to at least have a conversation.”

“Absolutely, and let me know how it goes. I don’t want to be the last to find out we’re getting a sister-in-law.” Grayson laughed.

“Just worry about getting the house. Seduce your lady love later.” Gage’s sarcasm came through loud and clear.