Devil in Texas (Rugged and Risque 1)

“So,” Ginger said as she reached into her purse and pulled out a folded-in-half piece of white paper. Opening it, she flattened the sheet on the table and said, “Here’s what I was thinking for my very first window display.”

Liza’s jaw nearly hit the table. “Wow,” she said. Aside from that, she was speechless.

First of all, Ginger was a beautiful artist. The attention to detail in her drawing was astounding and the colorful picture she’d sketched with pastels was vivid and left nothing to the imagination.

Which brought Liza around to her second point.

“It’s gorgeous,” she said of the display Ginger planned to emulate in her shop window. “Sexy, elegant, a wee bit risqué,” she said with a wink. “But really, Ginger. If I walked by your shop and saw that teddy paired with the panties, thigh-high stockings—love the velvet bow on the band, by the way—and slippers, all surrounded by lace and satin and all these gels and oils and candles… I’d buy the whole display, set it up in the bedroom and seduce the hell out of Jack Wade.”

She laughed. “Something tells me you don’t need to go to all that trouble.”

“Oh,” Liza said, her cheeks burning. “So you’ve heard about us.”

“Everybody’s talking about it.” Her smile faltered a little. “I imagine the reverend’s not too happy about the two of you getting together.”

“What business is it of his?”

“In my opinion, none. But he has this thing against premarital sex.”

“So I’ve heard. Who says we’re even having sex?”

Ginger was the one to blush this time. “Well, no one, of course. But apparently, the way Jack looks at you and touches you in public has the grapevine abuzz with activity.”

“People in this town have way too much time on their hands.”

“You said it, sister,” Ruby suddenly chimed in as she set two hot plates, piled high with the delicious smelling and looking pesto-and-angel hair pasta creation, in front of them.

Yes!

Exactly what Liza had been hoping for.

Reaching for her rolled-up flatware, she asked Ruby, “What’s tomorrow’s special?”

“I have no idea. Mike doesn’t decide until the ‘muse’ kicks in after his second cup of coffee. Little friendly reminder, though,” she said as she eyed both girls. “You keep eating here and you’re gonna wind up looking like me.”

“What’s wrong with the way you look?” Liza countered. “I bet Ginger could dress you up in something lacy and frilly and Mike’s muse would plan an entire month’s worth of specials in one wild night!”

“Oh you!” Ruby said, letting out a hearty laugh. “Well, I just… Oh.” She turned and rushed off, but Liza heard her chuckling to herself.

Ginger smiled. “You are so nice.”

Liza’s throat closed up. She reached for the glass of wine Ruby had delivered with the meal and took a deep sip, needing a moment to compose herself. She felt the tears sting her eyes and had to blink them away. Why she got so emotional these days when someone said something nice to her—or about her—was beyond her.

Except that maybe it’d been too long since she’d had such genuinely nice people in her life.

When she’d composed herself, Liza said, “Thanks. I’m trying to be.”

Unfortunately, she wasn’t feeling the least bit congenial toward Lydia. Despite the story Jack had told her. Today’s incident in Jess’ shop had left her as cold as every other encounter with Lydia.

Prompting her to say, “You should set up that display this afternoon. I’m happy to help you if you need it.”

“Thanks,” Ginger said around a bite of pasta. “I’d take you up on that offer if I could justify it. But the truth is, no one will come in the store this afternoon, so I’ll have plenty of uninterrupted time to put it together.”

“I like how you have the red and ivory satin and lace framing the window. Nice touch. Very sensual.”

“The fabric store’s right down the street, so I can pick up what I need after lunch. Although…”

She sighed and set her fork aside. This alarmed Liza because she could barely stop shoveling in the pasta herself. Good Lord. Mike was a culinary genius.