Devil in Texas (Rugged and Risque 1)

Not her help. Her time.

Lydia turned on her sensible flats and walked off.

Liza watched her go. She couldn’t help but wonder if Jess always delivered the flowers to Lydia’s shop, what had possessed Lydia to stop in today? She knew Liza worked here now. Lydia had made the announcement yesterday.

Had her Royal Witchiness come in just to size Liza up?

* * * * *

After Jess returned, Liza walked down the sidewalk, rounded the corner and headed toward Pietro’s for her lunch with Ginger.

She truly hoped she could help her new friend. Even in some small way. Ginger didn’t deserve the moral persecution she was receiving. And good grief. This was the twenty-first century! Hardly the Victorian age when, sure, sexy lingerie had been frowned upon. But today? Sheesh. The reverend’s wife needed to update her views as much as she needed to update her wardrobe.

Stepping into Pietro’s helped to take the edge off, which always seemed to come with thoughts of Lydia. Today’s mouthwatering aroma hinted at a pesto basil sauce with pine nuts that Liza hoped was paired with angel hair pasta.

“You’re becoming my new best customer,” Ruby said as Liza strolled over to her podium and admired her hunter-green apron. This one read, “Sausage Taster”. Liza snorted out a laugh at it and wondered if Lydia would get the double entendre. Likely not.

“Something amuses you?” Ruby asked in her clipped tone, though her now-rosy cheeks declared she knew Liza got the joke. Must be most people didn’t.

“Just enjoying the humor of your aprons.”

“I make ‘em myself. Want one?”

“I’d love one. You figure out the saying.”

She eyed Liza from head to toe, then said, “I’m on it.”

“I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”

“Need a menu?”

“Special.”

“Figures.”

Liza’s eyes scanned the lunch crowd and she said, “Looks like my lunch date is here.”

Ruby frowned. “You stepping out on a Jack, honey?”

Liza could tell Ruby found that an offensive notion. She couldn’t help but laugh. Nice that Ruby was so protective of him, but…seriously? “Would you?”

Ruby blushed deeper as she tried to shrug off the question nonchalantly.

Liza grinned. “I’m having lunch with a new…friend.” The word was a bit foreign to her.

Leaving Ruby at the podium, she wound her way around the tables until she reached the one Ginger occupied.

“I didn’t keep you waiting long, did I?” Liza asked as she sank into the chair across from the petite blonde.

Ginger glanced up from her menu, a big smile on her fa

ce. “Oh no! Not at all. In fact, I just got here. You know,” she said in a conspiratorial tone, “I’ve never actually read the menu before. I always just order the special.”

Liza had to laugh. Ruby was right. What a waste of money on printing costs. Except that last night’s sausage and peppers had rocked her world almost as much as Jack had with his tell-all.

Ginger closed her menu and pushed it aside. Ruby took their orders—and Liza’s request for a glass of Pinot Grigio to go with the pesto basil pasta. She looked around the restaurant, hoping like hell the reverend or his wife—or both—were having lunch and saw her enjoying a glass of wine in the middle of the day.

No such luck.