Read Online Texas Heat by Fern Michaels - Free Book Online Page B

saddened him and terrified him at the same time. They’d talked of this, of marriage and children. Sawyer should have children, lots of them. She’d be a wonderful mother. But what of himself? He just couldn’t see himself at fifty with toddlers climbing on his knee. He knew Sawyer was looking at him, willing him to share her secret smile, to give her some sign that one day the two of them would achieve this miracle. When Rand refused to meet her eyes, Sawyer dropped her head, silky blond hair hiding her face.
    Susan patted Sawyer’s hand and looked directly at Jerome. “Don’t say another word, but I’m going to have another scoop of ice cream.” There was a challenge in her eyes, determination in the set of her mouth. There, it was out in the open. She’d told her family and they were delighted. Until this very moment, with Jerome’s badgering, she hadn’t been certain herself that she wanted this baby. But now her family knew, and they were happy for her.
    Servants were clearing the table, bringing out an array of cordials: Courvoisier for the men, Grand Marnier for the women. Bowls of fruits and boards of cheeses replaced pie plates and ice cream salvers.
    Billie followed Riley’s gaze as it rested first on one face, then another. It hurt to look at the boy. Her heart ached for her dead son. Seeing Riley, now a young man, recalled so many old torments. It was uncanny how much he resembled his father, her son who had died so young. Hardly fifteen, but already he was as tall as his father had been at twenty. Maggie was right: the worn jeans and favorite shirts and perhaps even the boots that had been stored away because no one could bear to dispose of them would fit the boy now. If Riley chose to wear them. And Billie knew what his decision would be. She hoped she’d be gone from here before then. Grief, it seemed, held to no time clock.
    Â 
    Maggie clutched Billie’s hand as they walked back to the house to rest for a while and change before the guests began to arrive. “I’m scared as hell about tonight, Mam. I don’t know if I can pull this off.”
    â€œYou’ll do fine, Maggie. Stop worrying and just enjoy your guests. Everything’s under control, and you have your entire family here to back you up.”
    Maggie slipped her arm around Billie’s shoulder and squeezed. The deep sable tones in her hair contrasted with Billie’s blondness. “I know, and I appreciate it, believe me. It’s just that I’m afraid to make a fool of myself. Sunbridge is home now; it’s important to me to be accepted by my neighbors.”
    Billie laughed merrily. “I’d hardly call the governor and his wife neighbors, but I know what you mean. As we were driving out today, I saw how developed Crystal City has become. I remember when it was Crystal Crossroads, with nothing but a general store and a gas station. Now, it seems, culture has arrived. Boutiques and bookshops, and didn’t I see an art gallery and gift shop?”
    â€œYou did. And a hair salon and haberdashers. You name it, we’ve got it. Most of the shops and businesses have been opened by bored matrons from the country club. Their clientele consists mainly of one another, but I’d say they’re thriving, giving Neiman-Marcus a run for its money.”
    â€œIt’s been almost a year since you’re out here, Maggie. Have you joined the club and made friends?”
    â€œI’ve joined the country club, but I don’t know if I’ve made friends. Oh, I play tennis and even some golf, and I’m a member of the Cattleman’s Association, but I don’t really know if they accept me.”
    â€œI felt the same way when I lived here with your father. They’re a closed unit, and while they smile on the outside, I guess you have to be one of them to know what’s going on inside. I wasn’t born here, Maggie; you were.