Читать книгу Slow Talkin' Texan - Mary Baxter Lynn - Страница 8

Two

More mortified than she’d ever been in her life, Ellen stood transfixed and watched as Matthew’s daddy, six feet of muscle and brawn, tipped his hat, then sauntered toward them.

The instant Matthew saw his daddy, he squirmed, waved his arms and grinned from ear to ear.

“Whoa, little boy.” Ellen held on to him for dear life, fearing he was going to leap out of her arms.

“He’s a handful, I’ll admit,” Porter said, reaching to take him from Ellen.

Feeling splotches of color invade her cheeks, Ellen kept her face averted. She had no idea what this man was thinking, but she could guess. All the more reason not to be on the receiving end of those brown eyes that reminded her of dark chocolate.

“Hey, son, you and me need to have a talk,” Porter said in a gravelly voice that sounded as if he could easily have been a drinking man.

Ellen knew better. He was in too good shape physically, especially his midsection. Even though it was disguised under a cotton shirt, she bet it would resemble an old-time washboard. Realizing the direction her thoughts had taken, her color heightened.

“Yeah, son, when we get home, we’ve got to talk about manners.”

“I’ll have to say, he pulled a boner,” Meg chimed in, laughter threatening to bubble over.

“Shame on you.” Porter gave his son a playful tug on the chin before transferring his gaze to Megan.

“How ’bout introducing me to your friend my son just assaulted?”

Ellen forced herself to look at her sister, then at Porter. They were having a good laugh at her expense, and she wanted to turn up her nose at them. But she knew that would make the situation worse for her. She kept her features devoid of emotion. Yet she couldn’t help but bristle inside.

“Actually she’s my little sister,” Meg said with a devilish smile.

“Ah, I see. Well, does she have a name?”

“It’d be nice if y’all would stop talking about me as if I weren’t in the room.” Ellen heard the sharp primness in her tone, but she didn’t care. To hell with both of them.

“That she does,” Meg said, as if Ellen hadn’t spoken. “Porter, meet Ellen Saxton.”

Porter again tipped his Stetson, and his smile burgeoned, showing a row of perfect white teeth that added an extra dimension to his attractiveness. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Same here,” Ellen said, telling an outright lie.

“Sorry about the uh, accident,” Porter said, his gaze narrowing on her.

Again Ellen wondered what was going on behind those incredible eyes, then mentally kicked herself for caring. It wouldn’t bother her if she never saw him or his kid again. She just wished he would take Matthew and leave. Her patience with this entire episode was wearing thinner than a piece of rotten thread.

“That’s okay,” Ellen finally said. “It happens with babies.”

Porter’s gaze held steady. “So you know.”

“Not from experience.” Ellen’s response was stiff.

“Ah, that’s too bad.”

That’s your opinion, she wanted to lash back. But she didn’t; she curbed her tongue, not giving a damn what he said or thought.

“I’m not so sure about that,” Meg said with a chuckle. “My sister’s not the motherly type.”

Porter shifted his eyes back to Ellen. “Well, anyhow, tell the cleaners to send me the bill for your blouse.”

“That’s not necessary,” Ellen said. “It’s no big deal.”

“I insist,” Porter said, a hint of steel in his tone, though his pleasant demeanor didn’t change.

Ellen shrugged. “Fine.”

Porter looked at her for another long moment, then turned to Meg. “So how are things with you and your family?”

“I guess all right.”

An eyebrow quirked. “You don’t sound so sure.”

“Thanks for asking.”

“You bet,” Porter said.

Ellen noticed how cleverly her sister had sidestepped the question. She swallowed a sigh, wishing Meg would confide in her, unable to squelch the feeling that something was not quite right with Meg and her family.

“We’re outta here.”

Porter walked over and reached for Matthew’s diaper bag. “Much obliged for taking care of my kid.”

Later Ellen was sure it was just her imagination, but she could have sworn his eyes lingered on her a bit longer than necessary.

After he’d gone, silence filled the room, though not for long. The little girl’s parents came for her, but once they were gone and the sisters were finally by themselves, Meg laughed outright, pointing at the dark stain on Ellen’s blouse.

Ellen glared at her. “If you don’t put a lid on it, I just might strangle you.”

Meg laughed that much harder.

“Megan, I’m warning you!”

“All right, I’m sorry.”

“No you’re not, not in the least,” Ellen retorted, though she was having a hard time keeping a straight face herself.

“All I can say is, you got christened whether you wanted to or not.”

“Funny.”

“I thought so.”

“You’re making a big deal out of nothing. And so, sister dear, I’m leaving.” Ellen’s tone was huffy as she made her way to the door, but not before grabbing her purse and slinging it over her shoulder. She’d begun to smell herself and feared she was about to be sick to her stomach.

“Hey, hold your horses,” Meg cried.

Ellen stopped and swung around. “Why? I upheld my end of the bargain. I helped you out Now I’m going home.”

“Aren’t you the least bit curious about Porter Wyman?”

“Should I be?”

“Yeah, as a matter of fact you should.”

“why?”

“I figured that was obvious.”

“Well, you figured wrong.”

“God, sis, I know you’re divorced, but I didn’t think you were dead.”

Ellen counted to ten. “I hardly think my lack of curiosity about your friend qualifies me as a cadaver.”

“Well, you know what I mean.”

“Nope, sorry, I don’t.”

“Look, I know you’re not still carrying a torch for your ex.”

“Megan, what’s this all about? I’m tired. I stink. I want to go home. I want a bath.”

Meg laughed again. “You stink, huh?”

“Boy, you’re sure full of piss and vinegar today. Too bad Ralph’s not home to take some of that starch out of you.”

“We’re talking about you, not me.” Meg paused, grinning again. “I saw the way Porter looked at you.”

In spite of herself, Ellen flushed, then wished she could reach her own backside so she could kick it. “And just how was that?”

“You know.”

Ellen’s lips thinned. “No, I don’t know, and what’s more, I don’t care. For heaven’s sake, Meg, the man’s married with a baby. If he was looking at me, then he’s a cad.”

“Oh, but you’re wrong. He has every right to look at you, or any other woman he pleases. You see, he’s not married.”

Ellen frowned. “Then whose baby is that?”

“His.”

“His, but—” Ellen clamped her lips shut. This was a subject she wasn’t interested in pursuing, though Meg certainly was. Maybe if she indulged her, then she could go home and get that coveted bath.

“Right after Matt was born, Porter’s wife, Wanda, hauled ass.”

Ellen’s mouth flopped open. “You’re kidding.”

“I wouldn’t kid about something like that. The scandal stood this town on its ear.”

“What made her do such a thing?”

Meg lifted her shoulder in a shrug. “Gossip had it she couldn’t handle motherhood or being tied down, which, in my book, translates into not wanting to be married.”

Ellen shook her head, trying to take it all in. “You never know what goes on behind closed doors. Maybe there were reasons why she didn’t want to stay married to him.”

Meg snorted. “I don’t believe that for a second. She was just trailer trash when they tied the knot, and even though she married money, she couldn’t break that trashy mold.”

“You mean he has money?”

“Tons.”

“Could’ve fooled me. He looked like he shops at the nearest Goodwill. Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Ellen hastened to add, “if that’s the best you can do.”

“Around here, jeans and boots hardly qualify as Goodwill duds.”

Ellen sighed. “Whatever.”

“Porter’s probably the richest man in town.”

“That blows my mind.”

Megan grinned. “Besides being rich, he’s the most sought after bachelor in the county.”

“Good for him.”

“Still not interested?”

“Not in the least.”

“Sure about that?”

“Deadbang sure.”

“He’s a damn good catch.

“Then let someone else go fishing.”

“cut.”

Ellen gave her a cheeky grin. “Thought so myself.”

“Of course, I’ve been told he’s sworn off women, that he’s only interested in raising his son.”

“Kudos to him.”

“Heavens, sis, you’re a hard nut to crack. Aren’t you the least bit interested in how he got all his money?”

“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me anyway.”

“Right.”

“Then get it over with,” Ellen said in a bored tone.

“He owns a huge farm equipment store, plus thousands of acres of prime ranch land.”

“So he’s a real East Texas cowboy.”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“Down girl. Nothing’s wrong with that He’s just not my type, even if I were interested in a man, which I’m not.”

“I hope that creep you were married to hasn’t turned you off men for good.”

“Maybe not for good, but certainly for now.”

“You’re too young to have that attitude.”

“That’s easy for you to say, Meggy. You didn’t live with Samuel.”

Meg’s face sobered along with Ellen’s. “I know it was bad, but—”

“Let’s just say that it was far worse than even you knew.”

Meg’s face turned pale. “He...he didn’t physically abuse you, did he?”

“No, but—” Ellen broke off. “Look, Samuel’s history, and I’d rather not dredge up the past.” She forced a lame smile. “Especially when I smell like stale pee.”

Meg giggled, then cocked her head to one side. “I can understand that, although Kyle only showered me one time that I can remember.” She paused. “Seriously, you wouldn’t consider going out with Porter if he were to ask you?”

“Read my lips. No, Megan!”

Meg backed up and held up her hands. “Okay, okay. I get the picture.”

“I’m not sure you do. I don’t care how much money the man has, or how much land. He’s not my type. Besides, I have my shop, and that’s enough for me. I need to heal emotionally. Only time will tell if I can handle another relationship.”

“You’re right Sorry, I got out of line. But you can’t blame me for trying. I really like Porter, and I really like you, so—” Meg broke off with a grin.

“So it ain’t gonna happen. Babies and cowboys are not my thing and never will be.”

And with that Ellen flashed her sister a saccharine sweet smile and walked out the door.