Page 50 of Texas Daze (Texas Montgomery Mavericks)

“Oh, so you told him that you loved him and thought that by kicking him in the nuts, he’d leave with a clear conscious and have awonderfullife?”

“I’m not in love with him,” she saidforcefully.

“Yeah,” Tina said. “Shitty liar.” She looked at Delene. “Does she think we don’t remember the last six weekends of tears and icecream?”

“Shut up,” Marti said, without any malice in her voice. She sighed. “I’m leaving.” Shestood.

“Where you going, Marti?” Chad asked. “The night’s just gettingstarted.”

Before she could answer, Delene tugged at her shirt hem. “Don’t look now, but the man you’re not in love with just walked inthedoor.”

Marti froze, afraid the Delene was lying and terrified that she was telling thetruth.

“Hey, everyone. Hi,Marti.”

Eli’s deep voice rattle through her, grabbed her heart and squeezed. Her back stiffened. Hell, everything in her stiffened. He couldn’t do this to her. She was just now barely able to sleep without him infiltrating herdreams.

There was a chorus of greetings from theirusualgang.

“Hi, Marti,”hesaid.

She turned to look at him. Her stomach fell to her knees while her heart jumped into her throat. The air left her lungs. Damn it. He wore pressed khakis and a white oxford shirt with the long sleeves rolled up to mid-forearm, his very muscular, sexy forearms. His hair was a little longer, his face shaved smoother than a baby’s butt, and his mouth—his full, luscious mouth—tugged at the corners with asmile.

“Hi, Eli. You’re looking well.” Through sheer will, she kept her voicesteady.

“You too. Mind if Ijoinyou?”

She shrugged. “Not my table. Help yourself.” She stood. “In fact, I had just accepted Zack’s invitation to dance,right,Zack?”

Zack looked up inconfusion. “What?”

Delene elbowed him…hard. “You and Marti were just going to dance,remember?”

“Huh?” Delene jabbed himagain.

“Oh, right. Come on, Sweetcheeks.” He grabbed Marti’s hand and led her onto the dancefloor.

“Thanks,Zack.”

“Sure. Not sure what’s going on, but being a guy, I’m thinking I don’twantto.”

“It’s probably better,” sheagreed.

* * *

Eli watchedMarti and Zack dance. She wore a pair of tight jeans that show all her assets. Her top was low and clingy and it was all he could do not to stomp out there and jerk her away. Marti’s laugh rose above the music, burning his gut with searing jealousy. His pulse pounded in his ears like a base drum. He didn’t believe for one minute that Marti was over him, that she’dforgottenhim.

The last six weeks had been hell. He went to sleep thinking about her. Woke up thinking about her. His dreams were filled with her laughing, sighing, and always making lovewithhim.

His apartment was too quiet, too still. Food didn’t taste as good. When he walked the streets, he thought of things he wanted, no, needed to tell her. He’d picked up the phone more times than he wanted to count. Once he’d actually waited until she’d answered, but his voice had failed him and he’d hung up. All his insecurities from childhood came rushing back. He wasn’t good enough, smart enough, or attractive enough to keep someonelikeher.

A couple of times, he’d gone on dates set up by friends and family. One of the women, Ruth Smith, was a friend of the family that his mother had been pushing on him for years. Ruth was sweet, pretty, and wanted nothing more than to be the society wife of a prominent doctor. She’d laughed at all his lame jokes, never disagreed with anything he said, and left him in the driver’s seat when it came to sex. She’d let him know that she wouldn’t say no if the opportunity arose. Ithadn’t.

He’d been sobored.

He needed a woman who challenged him, drove him crazy with her mouth, and stood on her own merits. Someone who didn’t give a crap about who Elias Boone was in society. Someone who didn’t care that he was worthmillions.

He needed Martha GaleJenkins.

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