Page 48 of Lone Star Longing
“No, but I don't need a lot. I mean, I saved a lot of my old salary, which is why I’ve been able to not think about it this long.”
“Must be nice.”
“It is,” he said, flashing her a grin.
She was content to ride in silence after she finished her taco. She poured him a cup of coffee from his thermos and watched him sip it carefully. She was glad she’d never been a big coffee drinker because it smelled heavenly. She put her face close to the opening of the thermos and took a deep breath.
Ahead of them, the sky was brightening. The horizon was so clear, she could see a line of red along the curve of the earth. She leaned forward in her seat, not even wanting to blink as she watched the sky change colors, the clouds reflecting the light in breathtaking colors. She pulled out her phone and was disappointed that the screen didn't reflect the vivid colors she saw in front of her. Nonetheless, she snapped a few images through the windshield and sent them to Poppy.
Well, tried, because they were in the middle of nowhere and her phone had no reception.
She sat back and just let herself enjoy watching the sky go from navy to violet to sky blue before she dove for her purse and her shades.
“You can nap if you want to,” he said. “Not much to see for a while.”
“I might.” She angled the air conditioning vents away from her and closed her eyes against the bright sun. “I feel a little bad since I asked you to take me, and then I’ll go to sleep.”
“Don't worry about it. I’m used to riding by myself.”
“Instead of with a woman who talks your ear off?”
“Nah, you don't talk that much. And I like it. Nap if you want to. I’ve got this.”
*****
SHE SNORED. OKAY, MAYBEshe didn't always snore, maybe it was because of her position, sitting up with her head angled to the side. Or because she was pregnant.
But she was over there, the other side of the cab, snoring. And he thought it was adorable.
Damn, he was taking her to see the father of her baby, and he couldn't stop thinking about how he wanted her for his. So much that he was thinking about going to work in the Permian Basin, working in the oil industry. To be honest, part of his decision to become an engineer in the first place was because he thought he’d find work in the basin. He’d lucked into the job with Riley when he saw the ad and answered it, impressed Riley with his quick thinking. The rest was history. The whole trajectory of his life had changed with that one interview, and was about to change again.
But he was willing to try, partly because of the pregnant snoring woman who was about to see the father of her baby after months apart.
His head knew what he was getting into when he agreed to this trip. His heart...not so much.
Now he remembered why he liked to drive. He got a lot of time in his own head. But maybe now, that wasn't the best place to be.
They reached San Antonio a full two hours before Jesse’s plane was supposed to land. They’d eaten the sandwiches she’d packed, so they weren’t hungry, and neither of them were familiar enough with San Antonio to trust that they could make another stop and still get to the airport on time. Lacey decided on the mall a few exits away from the airport, so Beck pulled in. Stretching their legs after that long trip would feel good, though they had pulled over every chance they got so Lacey could use the restroom.
She leaned on Beck a minute when she got out of the car, and looked up at the tall facade of the building.
“I’m suddenly pretty nervous.”
“Yeah, I figured that when you stopped talking a half hour ago.”
“He doesn’t know I’m coming. I didn't tell him. It’s a surprise. What if he doesn’t want to see me?”
Honestly, Beck had that impression anyway. If the guy wanted to see her, the mother of his child, he would have come to her first, wouldn't he? That’s what Beck would have done. But he didn't know this guy, and he wouldn't cast judgment.
Yet.
They walked into the air conditioned building, and Lacey held onto his arm as if to orient herself as she looked up, around at all the racks of clothes, the rows and rows of glass cases with jewelry and makeup and perfume.
“Our whole town could fit in here. Our whole town could have something new to wear every day, and still there would be clothes left over.”
“Yeah, well, San Antonio is a big city, and has lots of tourists, especially from Mexico, who come shopping here. So they have to have a lot of options.”
“This is just crazy.”
