Page 31 of The Cowboy's Downfall
“I’m so glad she’s making friends,” Shauna said. “It’s hard for her to fit in with girls who’ve known each other their whole lives. She’s struggling a little to come up with common ground.” She knew what it was like. No one had invited her to sit at their table. She’d invited herself.
“Whatever possessed her to try bull riding?” one woman asked.
“I have no idea,” Shauna said, resisting the urge to add,It’s none of your business.“She’s always been fearless. I admire her willingness to try new things.”
“You don’t worry about her around those group home boys at the ranch? My daughter wanted to try out, but it was a hard no from her father,” Pam said.
That explained why Taryn was the only girl in the clinic.
Shauna took a sip of her coffee to wash down a bite of sandwich, buying time to come up with the right wording. As much as she was on the defense over Taryn, she’d earned her reputation, but Nix hadn’t earned the damage to his. He was an innocent bystander, and she had to address it.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” she said. “Dan and the other two owners have a firm grip on those boys. There are counselors and a social worker onsite, and the men in charge of the clinic seem very responsible. I can’t imagine the Endeavour hiring them otherwise. They hold positions of authority over teenagers. Imagine the lawsuits if they were in any way negligent.”For instance, say, sleeping with one of their charges. And let’s not forget, ladies, that I’m a lawyer.She folded the paper wrapper around the remnants of her sandwich, picked up her coffee, and shrugged her purse over her shoulder. “Thanks for sharing your table, but I’ve got to get back to the law office.”
She tossed her sandwich in the garbage on her way out of the café.
She’d known that agreeing to have Taryn stay with her was a bad idea, but she had agreed to it, and now she had to deal with the fallout. Her own words came back to her.They hold positions of authority over teenagers.
In this case, the one holding authority over Taryn was her, and Taryn could use help in strengthening potential friendships in her new school.
*
Shauna
“I thought we’dgo out to dinner tomorrow,” Shauna said. “Why don’t you ask Nora if she’d like to come with us?”
They’d ordered takeout the last two Friday nights. After they ate, Taryn would retreat to her bedroom for gaming or online chats with her friends in California. They needed to change the habit before it became a routine.
Innovoni was one of Shauna’s favorite restaurants in Grand. Mid-scale, not too fancy but not casual either, it would give the girls an excuse to dress up for a chaperoned night out on the town.
Late Friday afternoon, when Shauna got home from work, the two girls were in Taryn’s bedroom, already trying on clothes.
“That looks fantastic on you!” she heard Taryn exclaim. “Keep it. It’s not my color and I never wear it.”
Shauna smiled to herself. Taryn really did have redeeming qualities. She was generous, for one thing. She was also secure enough in her own good looks that she never worried another girl might outshine her. Tonight was going to be fun. Their reservation was for seven thirty.
She knocked on the closed bedroom door, then waited for permission to enter.
Inside, the room was chaos. Discarded clothes littered the bed and the floor. Taryn sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed. Nora stood, center stage, admiring herself in the free-standing full-length mirror stuck in one corner, next to the desk. She wore a ruched dress in bright coral that went well with her long, dark hair and dark eyes. The dress clung to her slender figure like plastic wrap, and since she was six inches taller than Taryn, the hemline was a tad on the short side, but all her parts were well-covered, and overall, she really did look fantastic.
Shauna didn’t want to interfere with their fun, but at the same time, she would love to join in.
“Would you like me to do your hair for you?” she asked.
“Shauna’s great with hair,” Taryn assured Nora.
Nora’s hesitant smile broadened. “Yes, please.”
Two hours later, they were dressed and headed for dinner. Shauna had upswept Nora’s hair, leaving long, spiral curls framing her face. Taryn, in a light blue halter dress with diamonds notched out of the sides, had her blond curls tucked into a messy bun. Both girls wore far too much makeup, but because this was a ladies’ night out, Shauna didn’t see any harm. She’d opted for simple yet elegant. A French braid, a sheath dress in shimmering gold, a lighter hand with the makeup, and she was ready to go.
They found parking on Yellowstone Drive, a block from the restaurant. Inside, Innovoni was bright and clean and smelled of rich spices and smoked meats. Potted artificial date palms and white tiled floors with gold accents gave it a distinct Middle Eastern flair. The dining area was full.
At a table in the center of the room, Shauna spotted short brown hair and familiar blue eyes. Her heart clambered onto her lungs even as heat seared terrain south of her midriff. What was Nix doing here?
He looked good. Very good. The neatly pressed dress shirt was a surprising detail, considering she’d seen plenty of men in dress shirts and she preferred the cowboy vibe he gave off. Tomorrow night seemed like a long, long way away.
He looked up. Their eyes locked. Then, he tore his gaze away. Her blush froze in its tracks.
What the hell, Nix.
