A Texas-Sized Secret (Texas Cattleman's Club: Blackmail 6)

“Should have known you’d see through all that drama she used to be a part of,” Toby said ruefully.

“Of course I did.” Joyce waved that aside. “Her parents are...difficult and they made Naomi’s life a misery for her, I know. It says something about her character that she’s come so far all on her own.” She reached out and smoothed his hair back from his face. “Though she had a good friend, these last few years, to be there for her.”

“I have been,” Toby said, wanting her to understand. “And I’m going to continue.”

“I know that, too,” his mother said, sitting back in her chair to give him a long look. “But, Toby, starting a marriage with a lie isn’t the best way to go.”

“We’re not lying to each other,” he countered. “Or to you and Scarlett.” He’d known she’d feel this way, and he couldn’t blame her. But he could convince her he knew what he was doing. “Naomi needs me, Mom. That baby does, too. I watched you struggle as a single mother, and I don’t want to watch Naomi do the same. We get along great. We’re good friends.”

Apparently with sparks, he warned himself silently, and then dismissed the warning. “We’re good together, and this is what I want.”

“Then I want it for you,” she said, though her eyes said different. “All I ask is that you be careful. That you really think about what you’re letting yourself in for.”

He grinned and winked. “I’m always careful.”

“Not nearly enough,” she said, laughing a little.

“Honestly,” Toby said, stealing another cookie and taking a bite. No one made cookies like Joyce McKittrick. “I figured you’d have the most trouble with me claiming the baby as mine.”

“Not a bit,” she said, shaking her head firmly. “That baby is an innocent, and you and Naomi are doing the right thing for it. I just want to be sure it’s the right thing for you.”

“It is, Mom,” he said, his tone deep and serious. “I never figured to get married...”

She snorted a laugh. “Men always seem to say that, yet the world is filled with husbands.”

His eyebrows arched. “Anyway,” he said pointedly, “Naomi and I are good together. I think we’ll make this work for all of us.”

“I always liked Naomi,” Joyce said, nodding. “She’s got a lot of spirit and a little sass, and that’s a good thing. But she’s also got a heart that’s not been treated very gently over the years.”

“I’m not going to hurt her.”

“Not purposely, of course,” she said. “And she wouldn’t intentionally hurt you, either. Still, I’m your mother, so I’ll worry a little, and there’s nothing either of us can do to stop that. But if it’s my blessing you were after, you have it.”

“You’re amazing,” he said softly.

“I just know my son.” She stood up, walked to a cupboard and came back with a plastic zip bag. She dumped every last cookie into the bag and sealed it before handing it over to Toby. “You take these home with you. And when you get home, you have a good long talk with yourself. Make sure this is what you want.”

“I have. I will.” He reached out and patted her hand. “I know what I’m doing.”

Joyce shook her head and smiled wryly. “Scarlett was right, you know. There’s always been sparks between you and Naomi.”

“Mom...”

“I’m just saying, don’t be surprised if those sparks kindle a fire neither of you is expecting.”

Four

The next morning, Naomi was at the local cable studio outside Royal. No matter what else was going on in her life, she had a job to do—the fact that she loved her job was a bonus.

The station was small but had everything you could need. Local businesses used it to film commercials, the high school football games were broadcast from the studio, and Naomi’s own show had been born there. The studio was so well set up they had community college students as interns, helping the professional staff.

She tried to focus on the upcoming taping of her show, but it wasn’t easy to concentrate when she knew that Toby would be coming by her condo that afternoon to help move her things to the ranch. Naomi stopped on the walk across the parking lot, just to allow her brain to wheel through everything that was happening. She’d worked hard to buy her little condo in Royal and then to fix it up just as she wanted it. Sure, it was small, but it was hers. Her own place. And now she was giving it up to move to the country.

Granted, growing up in a small town in Texas, she was used to being in the country. But she’d never lived there. And not only was she giving up her home, but she was marrying her best friend, and that still was enough to make her bite her bottom lip and question herself.

In fact, Naomi had spent most of the night before pacing through her home, mind spinning. Was she doing the right thing? She didn’t know. There were plenty of doubts, plenty of questions and not many answers. All she could be sure of was the decision had been made and there was no backing out now—since the whole town was talking about her engagement to Toby.

Of course, she told herself, since everyone was busy with Toby’s lie, no one was talking much about the hideous video Maverick had put out. And today she was taping her first maternity-wear show—fighting fire with fire. Maverick had wanted to make her look foolish, but she would take his announcement and make it her own. Toby had been right about that. If Maverick wanted her crying in a corner somewhere, he was going to be really disappointed.