“Probably not. People like them survive on the danger in their lives,” Beezy answered. “On a different note, y’all have lost your place at the top of the gossip list in Devine. My sister called while we were gathering shells. The preacher at our church has been offered a position in Amarillo. Everyone in Devine is talking about who might come to pastor for us. Some folks are hoping it’s a young man with intentions of putting down roots. Others hope it’s a married man with children so that he’ll be more stable.”
“I’m glad to give up my place at the top of the rumor list,” Macy said.
“I never really made it on the list, since no one knew about Joel,” Sarah added, “but I fell in love on the beach today.” She crossed from one side of the deck and sat down on the other side of Beezy.
“With seashells?” Beezy asked with a chuckle.
“No, with a little girl named Angela,” Sarah answered and told her about her brief encounter with the child and her father. “My biological clock screamed in my head the whole time I waved goodbye to her. I wondered if it was an omen. Maybe I was saying so long to any hope of ever having children of my own.”
Beezy draped an arm around each of their shoulders and gave them a sideways hug. “Be patient, darlin’ girls. Fate is working things out for Grace.” She nodded across the deck toward Travis and Grace, who had their heads together, whispering about something or other. “Your turn is coming.”
“I hope it is,” Macy agreed, pushing herself out of her doldrums.
Grace had given the idea of the girls working for Butler Enterprises that summer some thought and decided that she should tell them about the offer. She might regret it on down the road, but she would really be surprised if her decision to give them a chance like that would change the path of their lives for theworse.
Audrey was a professional at eavesdropping and could hear a cat walking across carpet, so Grace kept her voice barely above a whisper as she told Travis about her decision.
“That’s great,” Travis said. “I’ll let Delores, Calvin, and Lucy all know when I get back. This has been a wonderful day. I can’t remember when I’ve had more fun or wished that I had a family like you have. But...” He paused.
“Why does there have to be abut?” Grace’s Spidey-senses went on alert for the second time.
Travis slipped his arm around her waist and drew her closer to his side. “I still want to spend time with your family. They are so much fun, but...” He hesitated again and looked down into her eyes. “I want to spend some time with just you, also. I like you, Grace Dalton, and I’d like to see where this attraction that is between us might go.”
When she gazed into his eyes, she felt like she was looking straight into his soul—and everything felt right. “I can live with thatbut,” she whispered.
Chapter Twenty
Beezy needed to go into town for souvenirs, and the girls wanted to check out Pier Park—maybe ride the Ferris wheel at the small carnival there and get some cotton candy. The speed limit on the two-lane highway from the motel to the shopping center was twenty-five miles an hour, so Grace kept an eye on the speedometer and on the golf carts, bicyclers, and joggers at the same time. Five miles from one spot to another in Texas usually meant less than five minutes. At the rate she was driving, it would take three to four times that long to get to Pier Park.
“Stop!” Macy yelled from the passenger seat.
Without hesitation, Grace stomped the brakes and sent up a prayer that she had not hit one of the several dogs she’d seen running along beside their jogging owners.
“What?” Grace’s heart thumped so hard that she had trouble breathing.
Macy pointed over her shoulder. “Travis is waving at us. That house right behind us must be where he is staying.”
Before Grace could gather her racing thoughts, Travis had jogged over to their rental SUV. Macy pressed the button to roll down the window, and he leaned his elbows on the edge. A soft breeze blew his woodsy cologne across the front seat to Grace. Added to his brightsmile and the twinkle in his eyes, the whole effect sent vibes bouncing all around the inside of the SUV.
“Good mornin’, ladies,” he said.
“Mornin’,” Grace chimed in with the others.
“We’re off to Pier Park and to buy souvenirs,” Beezy said from the back seat. “You want to go with us?”
“Not this morning,” Travis answered. “But after a day in that place, y’all are going to be too tired to go out for supper or to fix anything at the motel, so why don’t you let me cook tonight? There’s a fancy grill out on the patio. I could make us some steaks.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Beezy said. “What time should we be here?”
“Anytime you want,” Travis answered, but his eyes were on Grace. “Bring or wear your bathing suits, and you can play on this end of the beach. We’ll go completely informal tonight and even eat out on the patio.”
“We’ll bring dessert,” Grace said.
“Ice cream would be great,” Travis said and slid a slow, sexy wink at her.
The way I feel right now, I might need to cover my body in it.Grace fought the urge to fan herself with her hand.
“Any particular flavor?” she asked.
