Page 52 of Texas Daze (Texas Montgomery Mavericks)

“What?” Chad said, and looked at Tina. “Why’d youkickme?”

She sighed and picked upherbeer.

“New York is fine,” Eli said. “Quite different than WhisperingSprings.”

“Must be nice to be closer to your mother,” Marti said. “I bet you’re seeing quite a bit of herthesedays.”

He frowned. What did that mean? “Some. My parents don’t actually live in New York, but yes, living there does put me closer in distancetothem”

“Wonderful.” Marti’s voice reeked ofsarcasm.

“What are doing back in Texas?” Chad asked. “Forgetsomething.”

“Yeah. I did,” Eli said. “And I came back togetit.”

Marti stood. “I’m going to call it a night. Early day tomorrow. Later, gang.” She whirled on her cowboy boots and rushed totheexit.

“Now what’d I do?” Chadasked.

Tina put her arm around his shoulders. “I’ll explain it alllater.”

* * *

It wasdifficult to find the Flying Pig ranch truck through blurry eyes, but Marti did. She climbed in, gunned the engine, and floored it out of the lot. How dare he come back and flaunt all his women in her face? She wanted to…wanted to…oh, hell, she wanted to kiss him, and hold him, and tell him how much she’d missed him. She’d done a great job hiding how distressed she’d been when he’d left. Well, maybe Delene and Tina knew, but no one else. She’d been the fun friend they’d alwaysknown.

And how here he was totally wrecking her life again.Damnhim.

She flipped on the radio, trying to lose herself in music, but then that Tim McGraw song came on, the one where her traitorous friend laughed and danced with Marti’s guy, and she burst into tears.Damnit.

Mashing hard on the accelerator, she picked up speed, racing for the safety and security of home. Eli wouldn’t be here long, probably just the weekend. She would simply outwait him. She had plenty of things to do that would keep her busy untilMonday.

She turned on a backroad that was a great shortcut. There were never cops, or much traffic, back here. She pushed the truck up to seventy-five, ready tobehome.

Out of nowhere, a deer leapt across the road. The truck fishtailed when she slammed on her brakes. Jerking the wheel, she tried to compensate, tried to get the truck straight again. The deer crashed into the driver’s side of the front, smashing in the headlight and hood, busting the windshield and sending the truck careening into aditch.

The floorboard jammed backwards and up. The steering wheel crammed down on her thighs, trapping Marti. Red-hot pain shot through her body. Blood dripped off her head into her eyes. The excruciating agony was more than she could take. Her head grew heavy and she laid in against the door window. No one would find her until it was too late. She shut her eyes and waitedtodie.

* * *

“Marti. Openyoureyes.”

The deep male voice was exactly how she’d always thought God would sound, but right now, she was pissed at him. She didn’t want to see him. He’d let her see what real love was and then took it back. Nope. She wasn’t happy with Godrightnow.

She turned her head away from the voice. “No. Go away,” she said, or maybe she just thought it. Didn’t matter. God would get themessage.

“Marti.” The same voice but this time, it sounded nicer. “Open your eyes,sweetheart.”

Sweetheart? God was calling hersweetheart?

“Listen to me,” the voice said. “I’m here. I love you. I can’t live without you. Don’t you dareleaveme.”

“What?” shechokedout.

A hand stroked her face. “I love you. Openyoureyes.”

Marti forced a slit in her eyes. Bright white light hit her and she slammed them shut. “No, God. I won’t lookatyou.”

The voice chuckled. “Marti, honey, it’s not God. It’s Eli. Look at me. Wait, I’ll shadeyoureyes.”

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