In Shining Whatever (Three Magic Words Trilogy #2)(35)

He picked up his cell phone and called Kate; after four rings it went to voice mail again, as it had for the past three days. "Call me when you have time. We've got things to talk about. If I don't hear from you by the end of this next week, I'm getting in the truck and heading that way. So if you don't want to see me, you'd best be calling me," he said.

He locked the door behind him and pushed the button to open the garage door. Somewhere deep inside his heart, he hoped that one day he'd push it and there she'd be, waiting in her truck right outside the gate. It didn't happen that evening any more than it had in previous days. The last time he saw her, she was headed home after spending the night with him when the tornado went through.

"What happened?" he wondered aloud.

Nothing fell from the cloudy skies above him in the form of an answer. God seemed to be silent that night. Not even the devil came up with an answer for him, so when he pulled his big truck into the driveway and headed back to the barn, he was still wondering what he should have done differently.

"Hey, look what just walked in the door. I believe it's T-R- O-U-B-L-E," the band singer announced through the microphone. "Let's have a little Travis Tritt by that name, even if the song is about a woman walking in the door. Old Hart has been his share of trouble in his day, so this one is for him."

Hart waved and an old friend appeared at his elbow.

"Hello, Darlene," he said.

"Hi, darlin'. Come on out here and give me the first dance. I'll be the envy of all the women in the place," she whispered.

He removed his hat and hung it on a hook just inside the barn doors. The dance was fast enough that she didn't glue herself to his chest, and for that he was thankful. Darlene had chased him for years and swore someday he'd get tired and let her run him to ground. So far, he was still on the move.

"Thank you," she whispered, as she kissed him on the cheek when the dance was finished. "I've got a room reserved at America's just in case you are feeling lonely. Number 101. Knock three times."

He smiled as she walked away.

Theron grabbed his arm and led him to the table he and Fancy had claimed, along with Sophie and the preacher. Feeling like a fifth wheel, Hart slid into a chair with his back to the wall so he could see everyone who came through the doors. He hoped that maybe Kate would have a change of heart and show up. He'd told her about the party in a voice message and invited her to go with him.

"Darlene trying to put the make on you again?" Theron asked.

"Never stops."

"Kate know about her?" Fancy asked.

"Don't think she'd care," Hart said forlornly.

"I talked to her a while ago. She asked about you," Sophie said.

Hart grabbed a Coke from a tray carried by a passing waiter and gulped down a fourth of it before coming up for air. "Then why doesn't she return my calls?"

"You sure you are even interested in her," Sophie said, "or are you just intrigued because she's run away from you? She's opinionated, brassy as the devil, bossy, and is making you miserable."

"Hart, she'll come back home. Give her time," said Fancy. "She's got to figure it all out for herself. She loved being a detective"

"Then why did she ever leave it in the first place?" he asked.

"Told me she was burned out," Fancy replied. "I think a case went wrong. She never would talk about it, but when her mother wanted to move back to Texas, she quit her job. It had to be something like that for her to walk away from the job. Maybe someday she'll talk to you about it"

"She won't even talk to me about the weather," Hart said. "But enough. You are here to enjoy a party. Don't let me drag you down. Theron, have you even asked this pretty lady to dance?"

"I guess I'd better, or you'll be getting ahead of me" Theron stood up and held his hand out to Fancy. "Mrs. Warren, would you care to dance with your husband?"

"Yes, sir, I do believe I would like that very much"

"Sophie?" Hart asked.

"Don't look at me," Marcus said. "I can't dance worth a flip. I came for the music and the good food. Y'all go on out there and enjoy yourselves."

"Care to dance with me?" Hart asked.

"I'd love to," Sophie said.

It was a slow dance and he held her close, but there were no sparks or electricity between them. Sophie was a fine-looking woman in her designer jeans, boots, and Western-cut lace blouse with ruffles at the sleeves and neck, but she didn't do a bit more for Hart than Darlene did.

"Why don't you just go down there and make her talk?" Sophie asked.

"You think that's what I need to do?"

"Either that or get over her. She's playing with fire, giving you time to think with Darlene chomping at the bit."

"I'm not interested in Darlene."

"How do you know, if you don't give her a chance?"

"I thought you were Kate's friend"

"Fancy and I have been her best friends since we started school."

"Then why are you trying to get me to forget her?"

The dance ended and they stood on the floor facing each other, oblivious to the people around them. "I'm not. I'm saying you need to talk to her or call her and tell her to get on with her life. This limbo isn't doing either of you a bit of good."