“What about the store?” I asked. “I know Tim hadn’t forgotten about your store.”
My mother owns a boutique in town. The small area of shopping that runs through Boerne is known as the Hill Country Mile: a mile of locally owned stores that run down Main Street and attract tons of tourists to town.
“Maybe he doesn’t realize how much money gets pulled in from that little shop, or the other two storefronts that people rent from us,” Momma said, giving me a wink.
“He can have his money. I wouldn’t have wanted it anyway. I’m just glad it’s over and done with. My heart breaks for Liliana, though.”
The three of us turned and looked at my daughter. The entire lower half of her face was covered in sauce. She smiled and shoved more lasagna into her mouth, oblivious to the conversation.
“She’ll be fine,” Daddy said, taking a bite of food and chewing. Once he swallowed, he went on. “You’ll meet another fine young man who will love you and Liliana like you deserve to be loved. I mean, look at her, she looks like she doesn’t give two shits about her low-life of a father.”
“Daddy! Do not curse in front of her,” I said with a chuckle.
He rolled his eyes. “She has no idea what I’m saying.”
“She does, and she will repeat it. She’s three, not three months.”
“Bullshit,” Daddy mumbled.
Liliana shoved more food into her mouth and said, “Bullchit.”
Giving me father a glare, I pointed to her. “See!”
Both my mother and father laughed hysterically, which only made Liliana keep saying the word.
“Bullchit! Bullchit!”
“That’s enough, Liliana, that’s a bad word. We don’t say bad words!” I reprimanded.
My daughter laughed and pushed her hands through her brown, curly hair. I groaned.
I focused back on my father. “I have no intention of looking for a replacement anytime soon. The only things men care about are themselves, and they only think with their D.I.C.K.S.”
With a wink in my direction, my mother said, “Spoken from a scorned woman who needs time to heal.”
“I’m healed, Momma. Trust me. My heart is not broken; I’m not crying myself to sleep at night. As a matter of fact, I plan on opening a bottle of your best wine after Liliana goes to sleep tonight and celebrating.”
A wide smile crossed Momma’s face. “I like the sound of that! Should I invite some people over?”
I lifted a brow. “You already have, haven’t you?”
“A small group of friends. Nothing big.”
Daddy laughed, and I tried not to smile but lost the battle. God, it was good to be home.
Truitt
THE DOOR TO my brother’s house opened and he looked at me with an expression that should have dropped me to my knees.
“Why in the hell are you at my house at…what time is it?”
“Seven,” I replied, pushing past him and walking into his house. “I brought you an egg, bacon, and potato breakfast taco.”
“No cheese?” he asked, walking behind me.
“I thought you gave up cheese,” I said as I glanced back at him over my shoulder. He looked like he hadn’t slept all night. I knew that look. I’d seen it on him a dozen or more times. I stopped and turned to face him. “Dear God, tell me you didn’t.”
He shrugged. “I did. I figured you’d be hooking up with Doc Turner. Your dick must be sore if you didn’t hit that last night.”
Scoffing, I pushed the bag of tacos into his chest. “You’re a manwhore.”
“I can’t help it if you’ve had a dry spell, or that your cock isn’t working. There are other ways to play you know.”
“The nurse?” I asked.
He smiled. “She’s taking a shower.”
“Jesus, Roger. How many nurses have you banged in the last five years?”
My brother walked into his kitchen, opened the bag, and dumped the tacos out on the island.
“Let’s see,” he said while he looked up and thought about it. “I’m going to say six? You get hurt, I get screwed. It’s a win-win.”
The next thing I knew, Lucy, the nurse from yesterday, walked into the kitchen with nothing on but underwear and one of Roger’s tank tops. She stopped when she saw me, and her face turned fifty shades of red.
“Want a taco?” Roger asked, handing her a foil-wrapped taco.
“No, I should probably be heading on out.”
“You sure?”
I looked at Roger, stunned. He always pushed the women he hooked up with out the door, but for some reason, he wanted this one to stay.
“Yes, thanks for the fun night,” Lucy said in a soft voice as she smiled at Roger.
“No, thank you. I learned a new position last night.”
Lucy blushed and then made her way out of the kitchen.
Roger looked at me and smiled.
“You liked this one?” I asked with one raised brow.
He shrugged. “She was…different. Fun.”
I laughed. “Listen, I’ve got a consult today. It’s actually here in Boerne.”