Heaven, Texas (Chicago Stars #2)(74)

As she placed the bowl of chips on the coffee table and took a seat next to him, she realized Buddy was watching her with open interest. She felt his eyes moving over her breasts and down her bare legs. When Bobby Tom looked at her like that, she got goose bumps, but Buddy’s perusal embarrassed her. If she’d known they were going to stop here, she would have ignored Bobby Tom’s request and worn slacks.

Buddy took a beer from his wife and, leaning back into the vinyl recliner, regarded Bobby Tom. “So how does it feel not playing in preseason? This is the first time in how many years?”

“Thirteen.”

“That’s tough. You broke some records, but if you’d been able to play longer, you might of got more of the important ones.”

Buddy was deliberately pouring salt into Bobby Tom’s wounds, and Gracie waited for Bobby Tom to deflect the gibe with one of his wisecracks. Instead he shrugged and sipped his beer. She felt oddly protective of him. Here, among his childhood friends, he seemed vulnerable.

Impulsively, she leaned over and patted Bobby Tom’s thigh through his jeans. The muscles beneath her palm felt hard and powerful. “I’m sure most of the people in town are grateful he’s making a movie instead of going off to training camp. Windmill is pouring a lot of money into the local economy. But, why am I telling you this, Buddy? Your garage is getting all kinds of business from Windmill, isn’t it?”

Buddy flushed. Bobby Tom shot her an assessing look. She patted his thigh again as if she had every right to touch whatever part of his body took her fancy. Terry Jo stepped into the silence with a report on the progress the various Heavenfest committees were making and finished by announcing that Gracie had been named to the birthplace committee.

Bobby Tom’s eyes narrowed. “I told Luther I wasn’t having anything to do with that, and neither is Gracie. It’s a damn fool idea, and whoever came up with it ought to have his head examined.”

“It was Luther’s idea,” Buddy said belligerently.

Bobby Tom raised his beer can. “I rest my case.”

Gracie expected Buddy to rise to his father’s defense, but instead, he grunted and grabbed a handful of potato chips from the bowl at his side. His mouth full, he turned to Gracie.

“The town was surprised to hear about the two of you. You’re not Bobby Tom’s usual type.”

“Thank you,” Gracie replied politely.

Bobby Tom chuckled.

Buddy studied her more closely, then regarded Bobby Tom. “How’s Suzy taking your engagement? Or is she too busy spending time with her new boyfriend to pay attention?”

“Hush, Buddy!” Terry Jo exclaimed. “I don’t know what’s got into you, actin’ so mean tonight. And there’s no need to bring up something that probably isn’t anything more than gossip.”

“Bring what up?” Bobby Tom asked. “What are you talking about?”

Buddy stuffed another handful of chips into his mouth. “You tell him, Terry Jo. He won’t believe me.”

Terry Jo’s beer can clicked on her wedding ring as she rolled it between her palms. “It’s just a story going around. There’s probably nothing to it.”

“If it has to do with my mother, I want to know about it.”

“Well, Angie Cotter was talking to Nelly Romero, and you know how she is, couldn’t keep something quiet if her life depended on it. But half of what she says isn’t true. Last month she saw me runnin’ into the day-old bakery in Buddy’s shirt, and the next thing I know, she’s telling the whole town I’m pregnant again. So it’s probably like that.”

Bobby Tom regarded her levelly. “Tell me what she’s saying.”

“Well, the rumor is that Suzy’s keepin’ company with Way Sawyer.”

“What?” Bobby Tom laughed. “I can’t believe this town. Some things never change around here.”

“See, Buddy, I told you it was a big lie.”

Buddy leaned forward in the recliner. “Angie says she saw Way Sawyer’s chauffeur picking Suzy up at her house a few weeks ago. If that turns out to be true, your mother’s not going to have a friend left in this town.”

“She’ll have me,” Terry Jo said. “I love Suzy, and I’ll stand by her, no matter what.”

Gracie realized she’d forgotten to mention her encounter on the highway with Way Sawyer to Bobby Tom, but now didn’t seem the time to do so. She’d liked Mr. Sawyer. Not everyone would have stopped to see if she needed help, and it made her uncomfortable to hear them talking about him this way.

Bobby Tom stretched his arm along the back of the couch, grazing Gracie’s shoulders, then idly slipped his thumb inside the neck of her sweater and ran it along her collarbone. The skin on her breasts prickled, and she was very much afraid something embarrassing was happening to her nipples, something the clingy material of her sweater was almost certainly revealing to everybody. Heat flooded her cheeks.

Bobby Tom kept rubbing. “I’m sure she’d appreciate your loyalty, Terry Jo, but it’s not going to be necessary. Mom loves this town, and I can guaran-damn-tee you she wouldn’t even think about keeping company with that sonovabitch.”

“That’s what I told everybody,” Terry Jo said. “Honestly, Bobby Tom, I don’t know how we’re gonna keep goin’ after Rosatech pulls out. The town’s been having a hard enough time as it is. If Heavenfest doesn’t put us on the tourist map, we might as well board up Main Street.”