“Then come see me. It’s been a long time. Too long.”
He didn’t say anything in response. He’d already said no. That was the end of it. But Madeline didn’t hear no very often.
“It was good, Cole. God, it was so good. I missed you when you left. So, tonight when you’re not seeing anyone and you start remembering how good it was…” She laughed. “Well, you know where I’m staying.”
He almost asked how many other people would be there. But that would reveal too much. He was damned if he was going to reveal anything at all.
“Oh, I want that pinto!” she said suddenly. “Can I have him?” And that was about as much consideration as she gave men, too.
“Sure. The pinto’s fine. He’s young. He’ll probably be grateful for the exercise.”
The joke went over her head. Or maybe it just hadn’t been very funny.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
GRACE WAS RELIEVED she didn’t have to ride home alone with Eve. One of the preproduction photographers recognized Eve from a photography retreat they’d attended years before. He asked if she wanted to grab dinner, so Grace had ridden home in the backseat, happy to shrink into the corner and pretend she wasn’t there.
Despite her new boss’s reassurances, Grace was still self-conscious about that scene. Out of all the messes she’d managed to get herself into over the years, that confrontation had been the most mortifying moment. Because there was truth in it this time. Because she’d done something really stupid.
She hadn’t meant to take anything from Scott, only what he’d promised her. And then… God. She’d always been able to be arrogant about things people had thrown in her face, because she made very sure that no one ever knew enough about her to injure her. People could say anything they wanted, nobody knew the real Grace Barrett.
But now people knew something real enough to hurt. Lots of people.
When they got to the Stud Farm, Grace murmured a good-night and slid quickly out of the car.
What the hell did it matter anyway?
This place was only a temporary resting point. She didn’t really know these people and never would. She’d leave and they’d remember her as a purple-haired chick with a shady reputation and a grumpy disposition. Hell, a few years ago, the idea would’ve delighted her.
“Must be getting old,” she said as she hurried up the front walk.
“Grace!” a female voice called from the blue dusk beyond her sight. “Is that you?”
“Jenny?”
Jenny emerged from the shadow of the pine tree and waved. “Hey, I’m off early tonight, so I’m glad I caught you! I already left a message for Eve, but I didn’t have your number. Want to get together Sunday evening?”
“Eve?” she asked nervously.
“Yes, we both have birthdays next week, so I thought this would be a fun way to celebrate.”
“By getting together with me? I don’t think so.”
“You promised we’d do makeovers!”
“Oh. I don’t…” She clutched the handle of her makeup kit tighter, afraid her suddenly sweaty hand would lose its grip. “Eve’s my boss. I don’t think she’d want to hang out with me.”
“This is a small town.” Jenny laughed. “It’s pretty slim pickings as far as girlfriends go. Boyfriends, too, for that matter. If we didn’t fraternize, we’d all just stay home. Where’s the fun in that?”
“Oh. I…” Crap. This would be awkward. Even if Eve would’ve said yes yesterday, she wouldn’t say yes today. Why would she want to hang out with someone like Grace? Someone she had to worry might steal her car?
“Please? Come on. You owe me. And you promised. And Sunday’s my only night off this week.”
It would be fine, she told herself. Eve would say no. Of course she would. “Okay. Sure. It sounds like fun.”
“Yea! I’ll give you my address later, all right? I can’t wait!”
“Happy birthday,” Grace said as Jenny waved and disappeared back toward the saloon. “Almost.” She heard Jenny calling goodbye to the people lingering on the saloon porch, and then she heard the distinctive sound of the woman’s muscle car starting. Grace didn’t know enough about cars to know the make, but it was definitely American and old and it was definitely yellow.