Hot Cowboy Nights (Lucky Penny Ranch #2)(9)

“What was that all about?” Allie asked.

“Mitch and his new bride are planning to be at the festival here in town.” She roped herself in with the seat belt.

“Don’t let it get to you.” One side of Allie’s nose twitched in disgust. “After what he did to you, he shouldn’t show his face in this town again.”

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a shit,” Lizzy replied with a giggle at her Rhett Butler impression. “I’m over him.”

Lizzy realized she didn’t give a rat’s ass if Mitch came to town or not, with or without his new wife. She’d burned that bridge and roasted virtual marshmallows in the fire.

“That’s a few weeks from now. Maybe he’ll change his mind.” Allie peeked over the front seat.

“Things can change in a matter of seconds,” Toby said.

Blake put the dual cab truck in reverse, backed out, and headed down the road a mile to the Lucky Penny. “Hey, changing the subject here. Deke called and said he’d be at the house when we get there. He’s bringing five big thick rib eye steaks to grill for supper.”

Toby’s hand covered Lizzy’s but then he jerked it back. “You sure this isn’t a problem?”

“I like steak and I like Deke’s better than anyone’s, so it’s not a problem.” She used both hands to smooth out the wrinkles from the peach-colored flippy skirt she’d worn to church that morning. She’d tucked a sleeveless western-cut shirt with lace insets down the front into the waistband.

“Hey, we should call Fiona and see if she can get away to come to the festival. We haven’t seen her in months,” Lizzy said, quickly changing the subject.

“Wouldn’t that be great?” Allie clapped her hands. “Let’s do it when we get home. We’ll convince her to come home even if it’s just for the weekend.”

“So is Fiona married? I know she’s your sister, but I haven’t heard much about her,” Toby asked.

“She’s not your type, either,” Lizzy said.

“Either?” Toby asked.

“Yes, either?” Allie twisted around in the seat again. “Who else are you talking about?”

“Sharlene.” Lizzy covered her slip of the tongue quickly. “She’s stalking Toby.”

“For real?” Blake asked.

“And it’s all Lizzy’s fault. I called the store to ask her if Sharlene was still there so I’d know if it was safe to go to Nadine’s for a cup of coffee without running into the woman. And Lizzy gave her the phone, so I had to talk to her and then Lizzy gave her my cell phone number,” Toby said.

Allie giggled. “That’s pretty mean, Lizzy.”

“That’s exactly what I said,” Toby chimed in.

“It’s not as mean as Mitch coming back to town and flaunting his new wife,” Lizzy protested.

Blake parked in front of the house. “Let him come to town. After the stunt he pulled, he won’t get a warm reception, believe me.”

Allie unfastened her seat belt so she could turn around in the seat. “He won’t have much of a backing from this family or from Nadine and her cronies. Nadine thinks Mama is a saint straight from the portals of heaven for letting her have that café building so cheap. And Sharlene and Mary Jo are both talking about putting in businesses in town, which means they’ll have to deal with Mama, too. Mitch won’t mess with those three, and I don’t expect he’ll get too warm a reception from Lucy Hudson, either, and everyone knows that if you are on Lucy’s bad side, then it’s bad news.”

Deke met them on the porch and led the way into the house. Taller than the Dawson brothers, he was every bit as handsome with thick brown hair that he wore long enough to be sexy, hazel eyes, and broad shoulders. Women tended to flock to him like a moth to a burning candle. But taming Deke would be harder than training a Dawson cowboy to the halter. He was full of tough cowboy charm, and it would take a special woman to rope him and get him aimed toward the altar.

“Why the long faces? Did somebody die at that town meeting?” He yawned. “I would’ve gone but I had a wicked hangover. I knew redheads were firecrackers, but I had no idea she could drink me under the table.”

Toby chuckled. “Got a hold of a wild one, did you?”

“Oh, man! Blake’s hangover medicine even took a while to take effect. I’m going to make sweet tea. Who all wants a glass?” Deke asked. “I’ve got the steaks marinating in the refrigerator and I brought one of them cheesecakes from the store for dessert.”

“There’s a gallon jug already made up in the fridge,” Allie said.

“I’d rather have a beer,” Lizzy said.

Allie spun around to stare at her. “What did you say?”

Lizzy repeated it. “I want a beer.”

Deke almost ran his glass over before he realized he needed to stop pouring. “Holy shit! What did happen at that town meeting? Saint Lizzy doesn’t drink beer.”

“Mitch is coming for the festival on July Fourth weekend. Lizzy says it doesn’t bother her and I expect she’s tired of talking about it,” Allie said.

Toby twisted the top off two beers and handed one to Lizzy.

She guzzled down a third of it before coming up for air. “And he’s bringing his new little wife and I am tired of talking about it. And if you call me Saint Lizzy again, I will hit you in the head with this beer bottle.”