“It was important, which is why we’re not coming down on you,” Cal said. “But don’t get it into your head that you can pull a stunt like this again and then expect our approval later. Next time, ask.”
“Yes, sir,” Ty said solemnly. “Could I maybe get a burger? I skipped lunch to get to the hospital.”
“Tell Grace I’m buying,” Ronnie told him, moving to let him out of the booth.
After he’d gone, Ronnie faced Maddie. “He’s grown up since I left.”
Her gaze followed Ty before she turned back. “Some days I regret that, but I have to say that today I’ve never been more proud of him.”
“Same here,” Cal said. “Do you really think he got through to Annie?”
“I’ll know more after she has her next session with Dr. McDaniels,” Ronnie said. “But I really think he did. If that’s the case, I’ll owe him for the rest of my life.”
Maddie reached over and squeezed his hand. “We all will.”
Now that he’d helped to smooth things over for Ty, Ronnie sat back and took a long, considering look at Cal Maddox. “So, Coach, tell me how you snagged the second-best woman in Serenity?”
“Second-best?” Maddie protested.
Ronnie grinned at her. “Dana Sue’s at the top of my list, darlin’, but you sure do come in close behind her.”
Cal looked at Maddie with enough heat to make Ronnie wish Grace Wharton would turn on the air-conditioning. “Sorry to contradict you,” he told Ronnie. “But in any poll I take, Maddie comes out on top.”
She tucked her arm through Cal’s and grinned at Ronnie. “And that, in a nutshell, is how he got me.”
“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if I think he deserves you,” Ronnie said.
Maddie laughed. “You don’t get a vote.”
Cal leaned across the table and met his gaze. “Maybe we should be talking about how you let a woman like Dana Sue get away.”
Ronnie didn’t flinch under Cal’s direct gaze. “That’s an easy one. Stupidity, pure and simple.” He winked at Maddie. “And just for the record, I’m much smarter now. It won’t happen a second time.”
Maddie’s gaze was serious as she told him, “I’m counting on that, Ronnie Sullivan. I really am, because if you break her heart again, I won’t be responsible for what I do to you.”
“And I’ll back her up,” Cal said.
Ronnie grinned at the two of them, impressed by their united front. “Not to worry. I have a plan.”
“Care to share it?” Maddie asked, her curiosity obviously aroused.
“Not till all my ducks are lined up in a nice, neat row,” Ronnie told her. “And even then, I think Dana Sue should be the first to hear about it.”
“Does this plan of yours involve the old hardware store?” Maddie asked.
Ronnie frowned. “How the hell do you know about that?”
“Sweetie, this is Serenity. Have you forgotten that gossip travels with the speed of light around here?”
He shouldn’t have, Ronnie conceded. News of his affair had certainly spread like wildfire. Of course, this time he thought he’d sworn Mary Vaughn to secrecy.
“Wipe that frown off your face,” Maddie advised. “Mary Vaughn didn’t say a word. At least half a dozen people drove by while you were looking the place over the other day. And Grace’s antennae flew up the second she saw you and Mary Vaughn get out of your cars down the block. If you’d wanted to keep it secret, you’d have had to go in there in the dead of night.”
“I’ll remember that next time,” Ronnie said. “I’d better pay Grace and get out of here. Now that at least part of the cat is out of the bag, I’d better kick my timetable up a notch. I have some calls to make.”
“Don’t keep Dana Sue in the dark too much longer. She’s bound to have heard the same gossip I have,” Maddie warned him.
And, Ronnie suspected, she was probably already turning his silence into some big conspiracy to keep her out of the loop. “I’ll tell her the minute there’s something to tell,” he promised.
Maddie winced. “You might have different definitions of when that is.”
Ronnie sighed. “More than likely, but that’s the best I can do. If she says anything to you...” he began.
Maddie grinned and held up her hands. “I know nothing.”
Cal, who’d been silent through the exchange, spoke up. “Want my advice?”
“Sure,” Ronnie said.
“Tell her whatever there is to tell right now. I may not have the same long history with Dana Sue that you do, but most women resent being the last to know, especially when the news involves someone who’s trying to patch things up with them.”
“Even if nothing’s final?” Ronnie asked doubtfully. “Even if it could all fall apart tomorrow?”
“Even then,” Cal said, glancing at Maddie for confirmation.
“He’s right,” she said. “Talk to her now, Ronnie. The sooner you make her a part of your plan, the sooner she’ll start to feel like you’re a team again.”
“Good point.” He nodded. “I’ll talk to her first chance I get.” With any luck it wouldn’t already be too late.
Chapter Fifteen
When Dana Sue walked into the kitchen at Sullivan’s around four o’clock, Erik greeted her with a frazzled look.
“What’s wrong?” she asked at once.
“Karen’s babysitter bailed,” he said, as he frantically tried to do half a dozen things at once. He dredged catfish in a spicy cornmeal mixture, layered it in a pan, then shoved that in the refrigerator and pulled out the salad greens. Precut green beans were ready for the steamer, slivered almonds were in a bowl for garnish and he had okra stewing on the stove.
Dana Sue immediately nudged him out of her way. “I’ll take over with the salads. What are tonight’s specials?”
“Thank goodness it’s the middle of the week. I think we can get away with only having one. I’m going to go with
