...I practically raised my two sisters...Ol’ Nick is a square shooter.... She didn’t know what she thought of him. But she didn’t think he was an asshole.
“I believe you when you say you didn’t take advantage of me while I was...incapacitated. I admit I was awful. Good enough?”
He straightened and smiled. “Good enough. I’ll call you in a day or two.”
She chastised herself all the way home. He might be right in that she had been under a lot of stress lately, but did that justify drinking herself into oblivion at a virtual stranger’s house and winding up undressed in his bed? She might never be able to face him again. And she certainly would never tell anyone what had happened. Hell. She didn’t even know what had happened.
She arrived back at her house in time to feed everyone and shower and shampoo, which made her feel slightly better physically, but she didn’t know what would make her feel better emotionally and mentally. She was so confused. She didn’t want to like Nick, didn’t want to be lured by him, but she couldn’t help herself.
She would love to stay at home and nurse her embarrassment, but she started for LaBarkery, satisfied she would get there early enough to open it on time. She found her sweet, loyal employee Betty Ann already there. With her was a cute little white fluffy dog with a pink ribbon tied around a topknot. Betsy the Westie. Sandi knew it immediately. It bounced around and made cute barks that sounded like a puppy. How could anyone who called himself a human being be mean to such a sweet little dog? “What are you doing here?” she asked Betty Ann.
“I was afraid you might not want to come in. Like, you know, if you spent the night. I’m waiting for a full report.”
Sandi ducked her chin. “Nothing to report.”
“Did you have a good time? Was it great?”
Sandi couldn’t keep from laughing. Her two employees were determined for her to have a romance. “It was fine. I see you have a new dog.”
“I know I’m not supposed to have her here, but Juanita dropped her off and I haven’t had a chance to take her home. I fed her a couple of Barkies. I put the money for them in the cash register.”
Sandi walked over to her showcase and removed half a dozen of the Barkies and a couple of Little Fidos. “Here. After what Betsy has been through she deserves some more. On the house.”
Betty Ann gave her a huge grin. “Thank you so much.” She picked Betsy up and fed her a Little Fido. “Say thank you to your ga’ma,” she baby-talked to the dog.
Sandi bit down on her lower lip. She was too young to be a grandma. “So Juanita captured you, huh?”
“She brought her by so I could look at her. Look how trusting she is. I couldn’t believe the little thing had been left to run the streets alone. What mean person could leave something so sweet and cute, knowing that in the end something bad would probably happen to her?”
“Happens every day, Betty Ann. It’s sad, but that’s the way it is. I keep warning you about Juanita. Pretty soon you’ll be as tied down as I am.”
***
On Tuesday, before Nick had started his day, Harley called and asked him to drive up to Midland to look at a couple of bulls. Saturday night had nagged at him for two days. He wanted to get better acquainted with Sandi. Saturday night’s behavior notwithstanding, he believed her to be a loving, caring person who’d had some bad luck. He pressed in her cell number. Several burrs passed before she came on the line. “This is Sandi.”
“How are you?”
“I’m fine. How’s Waffle?”
He heard no enthusiasm and no interest in his call. She only cared about Buster. This wasn’t going as he had hoped. Still, he pressed on. “He’s good. We’ve been busy. Listen, I’m on my way up to Midland. Got a business errand to do for Harley and I’m gonna stay tonight out at my place. I was thinking about the past weekend and I was thinking...well, hoping we could try it again.”
“Supper, you mean? Or another visit with Waffle?”
“Either or both. You like barbecue?”
“Oh...I guess so.”
“Well, do you or don’t you?”
“Okay. I like barbecue.”
“Me, too. Maybe we could go to Tag Freeman’s place for some ribs or something. And this time, I’d like to come to your house and pick you up.”
A pause. Finally, she said, “This is Tuesday. Thursday is usually the day I take off. I was planning to drive down to Salt Lick to meet you at the Styling Station. My aunt and her partner both are always in their shop on Thursdays.”
“That’s good. That works for me. Does that preclude us going out for some barbecue tonight? I can pick you up about six.”
She sighed. “Okay.”
Chapter 22
After closing the store, Sandi rushed home and pulled her most feminine dress out of the closet. Lavender with clear crystals adorning the sweetheart neckline. The last time she had worn it was to a friend’s wedding.
Nick the Beautiful did come and pick her up. He was dressed in starched and pressed Wranglers and a blue-and-white tiny check shirt with a red Cinch logo below the pocket. The blue checks matched his eye color.
He looked her up and down and told her she was beautiful, which left her giddy as a teenager. He drove them to Tag Freeman’s Double Kicker Barbecue & Beer restaurant. “I don’t get to Tag Freeman’s very often,” she said.
“You don’t like ribs?”
She laughed. “I love ribs, but I’d never eat them on a date. Too messy. I get barbecue sauce all over my face.”
He laughed, too. “Well, lady, I’ve seen you with worse than barbecue sauce all over your face.”
Going through the buffet line, they both ordered something safe—sliced brisket and French fries. He found them seats at the end
