For a woman who lived with a romance book under her pillow, another on her nightstand, and hundreds more filling several bookcases, to say Rena was a romantic was like saying Picasso had toyed with painting. Rena read romances. She watched them on TV. She saw them play out with friends and family and always offered helpful advice. She ate, drank, and slept with the idea of happily ever after in her blood.
“J.T., why am I still single?”
His expression softened, and he wrapped a huge arm around her shoulders. The big lug stood a good head taller and took after his father in size if not looks. Unlike Uncle Liam, J.T. had the same medium-brown skin Rena did. His sister, Del, on the other hand, had ash-blond hair in funky braids, sleeves of tattoos covering white-girl-with-a-tan arms (J.T.’s description, not hers), and gray eyes. They didn’t look much like family, but the Websters were thick as thieves. That Rena was included in their dynamic somewhat soothed the part of her always wishing for a forever love of her own.
“Well, it’s not for lack of looks.” J.T. smiled. “You look prettier than Aunt Caroline every day. But don’t tell her I said that.”
Rena’s and J.T.’s mothers had been sisters, both always trying to one-up the other. J.T. thought it amusing to continue the tradition of teasing Rena’s mom. Rena chuckled. “I won’t let you get her started. You know Mom’s vain.”
“But still beautiful. Looks just like Bridget.” His own mother. J.T. looked over at his father. “He’s been talking more about her. It’s been nice.”
“Good.” Rena knew her uncle had loved deeply, and when Aunt Bridget had passed away, he’d grieved for her foryears.Until he’d met a special McCauley. Like daughter, like father. “So he and Sophie are seriously getting married on Valentine’s Day?”
Uncle Liam would be getting married on Rena’s favorite holiday, enjoying his honeymoon on the most romantic day of the year. Rena would be nursing a hot cup of tea, eating chocolates she’d buy for herself, and binging on Hallmark movies while she wallowed in self-pity.
“Yep. I can’t believe it.” J.T.’s large grin showed his pleasure at the thought. “You going to bring a date to the wedding?” He paused, still looking at his dad. “Heller’s back in town to stay.”
“Don’t talk to me about that man,” she fumed. “Heck. The reason I’m single is probably because he’s been keeping everyone away from me.” He wouldn’t ask her out, but he didn’t like anyone else paying attention to her. The big, sexy Viking.No, the big, unsexy jerk.
J.T. turned to regard her with concern. “Now, Rena, Heller’s not like that.”
Blaming her loneliness on Axel felt better than thinking her inability to attract a man might be her own fault. Heck, she couldn’t remember the last time anyone had flirted with her. “Oh? He comes into the bar and smiles at me, then glares at everyone else.”
J.T. grunted. “Good. I don’t want you dating the guys who hang out at Ray’s anyway.”
“You hang out there.”
He nodded. “Exactly.”
She shook her head. “You make no sense.”
“Oh please. How many times have you talked about quitting the bar? And not just because you’re opening your own salon. Ray’s is a great place to chill…if you have a rap sheet.”
“Stop.”
“Or you’re hiding from the law.”
She bit back a laugh.
“Or your P.O. demanded you get a job and Ray’s the only guy who’d take you.”
“He took me.”
“And Big J and Earl and Wiley—who we all know has issues with theft. The crap in Ray’s kitchen can’t possibly be store-bought. You said you saw a brand new stove in the back last week. And that jukebox is shiny and sounds terrific. Definitely not the one that was in there last month.”
“Well, okay. So maybe Wiley knows a few guys. He’s sweet.”
“He’s a crook,” J.T. growled. “Hey, I like him too. I like everyone there, except the few guys Ray kicked out.” A few white-power creeps who’d made Rena feel more than uncomfortable. Guys like Fletcher, whom Axel had just pulverized last night. She didn’t know how to feel about that. Glad the guys were gone but wishing Axel would stop fighting before he got hurt.
“And you know,” J.T. was saying, “Ray has a habit of looking the other way from what goes on in the parking lot, especially if it involves cigarette cartons and brand spankin’ new electronics.”
“Chump change.”
“Illegalchump change,” J.T. said, sounding just like his father. “Since the guys and I aren’t around as much, I feel better that you’re quitting sooner than later.”The guysmeaning J.T.’s mechanic buddies who worked for Del at her garage. And Axel. The source of Rena’s current confusion.
She didn’t want to talk about Axel Heller though, so she fell back on the old “You’re not the boss of me.”
Del had returned to overhear. “Oh,thissounds like a mature argument.” She took the plate from Rena and started eating again. “What did you do?” she asked her brother.
