Page 79 of Nashville Cowboy
The happiest day in his life was when the lawyer had said a no-contest divorce would take a couple of months, tops. He was actually married to her less time than it took to divorce her.
“No, I’m sorry,” Winona said. “It’s a…joke between two old friends.”
“Well, then, it’s not very funny, is it?” Mima said. “Now that we’ve got that straightened out, I’m Jackson’s grandmother, Lillian Carver. Pleased to meet you. Over there is Eve Iglesias and she lives here. Jackson’s ex-fiancée. Nothing funny about it, either. I don’t know where you’re from, young lady, but here in Stone Ridge we don’t make jokes about marriage.”
“I’m from Okla—” Winona began.
“I think you had better stop talking,” Jackson said.
He led Winona out to the front porch, making sure to keep enough distance between them so as not to even accidentally touch her. He’d made such great progress with Eve, and now this. He spotted two suitcases by the front door, not a great sign.
He moved them to the side and sat on the top step of the staircase, bending his head. “Want to tell me what in the hell is going on?”
Winona sat next to him. “I’ve been calling you and leaving messages ever since I heard. Jackson, you can’t do this. Eve destroyed you and I’llneverforgive her for what she did to you. I saw how she ripped your heart out. I picked up the pieces. I took care of you.”
“It isn’t any of your business whether Eve and I are back together or not.”
She went palms up. “Listen, honey. I was afraid this would happen. I heard about the family wedding from one of your band members. You’re thinking of getting back together with Eve, aren’t you? After what she did to you? That would be a mistake!”
Jackson shook his head. “Good thing it’s not up to you.”
“If I’m not too late, and I hope that I’m not, I want you to think carefully about this. I saw what she did to you, how broken you were.”
“This is still none of your business.”
He and Winona had been better drinking buddies than lovers. But he’d once made the mistake of confiding in her. To get a woman’s perspective, he’d told himself. He wasn’t looking for sympathy, but simply to understand. When had Eve fallen out of love with him and how had he missed it? Winona had rallied to his defense, telling him Eve obviously didn’t love him enough in the first place if she’d let him go. He’d appreciated the support, while telling himself he hadn’t really expected to hear the honest truth from a woman he was sleeping with on and off.
Then came the ill-fated short marriage and Jackson’s guilt over wanting to immediately divorce her and move on.
“We haven’t so much as talked in months. Where is this coming from? We’ve both moved on and had other relationships since then.”
“But I’ve never been with anyone quite like you.”
Jackson wished he could say the same, but the woman inside his family home was the only woman he’d ever loved. Even though he’d disappointed her in ways he wasn’t sure he could ever make up to her.
This wasn’t helping. “I love Eve. I’m sorry, but I don’t love you. I can’t help how I feel.”
“Can we talk? There’s just so many things I want to say to you. In private.” She threw a glance over her shoulder at the house. “I have regrets. So many. I’m not getting any younger, you know.”
The old song and dance she’d been doing since she turned thirty-five. Winona had been a beautiful woman a few years ago, but all the hard drinking and touring had caught up to her. There were dark circles under her eyes. She was too thin. Even so, she didn’t look anywhere near forty.
Jackson raked a hand through his hair. “We’ll talk, sure. We’re old friends. But not …now.”
“I got it. She’s here. We need some privacy.”
“No. That’s not it. I don’t keep secrets from Eve.” Jackson stood. “I’m going to take you to Kerrville, where they have a full-service hotel you can stay in. Until you can get your travel arrangements in order to leave.”
“I thought I might stay here in the family home.”
“I’ll get some truck keys,” Jackson said, without further explanation.
The screen door opened and slammed shut and Eve stomped out. Ignoring both of them, she passed him on the steps headed to the horse stables.
“Oh, wow. She’s pissed,” Winona said.
Jackson scowled. “And thanks so much for your contribution to that.”
“Let me go talk to her.” She stood and smoothed the skirt of her dress.
