“I’d say that she’s infiltrating their camp,” Andy laughed. “She’d make a good actress. She comes off kind of shy and backward. That will bring that man’s guard down real fast.”
“If I could have your attention, please.” Carlton was leaning against the back fender of the limo with the microphone in his hand again. “I see that you’re enjoying the barbecue, and we’d love to tell you all about how our plans can benefit both your community and you personally. We’ll be mixing in the crowd if you’d like to catch us for a moment.”
“Why is he so hell-bent on having Pick, Texas?” Vicky wondered aloud.
“It’s a prime location and he thinks he’ll get the land cheap. He’s most likely already conned a few investors or he wouldn’t be spending so much on limos and a caterer to try to buy you with barbecue and big words.”
“We’ve spoken our piece. He should go on down the road for his McMansion business,” Vicky said.
“Amen to that. I told my father that he was all hat and no cattle. He said he wanted to see for himself.” Andy swiped a paper towel across his mouth. “But to answer your question, from a business standpoint, it’s like this. The lake is to the north and land up there will be more expensive, plus folks looking for a bedroom community aren’t interested in the sounds of motorboats and the smell of fish. To the south is Frankston, which is fine for buying supplies on the way home but already a little congested for what Carlton is looking for. This is the perfect spot. Not too far to Tyler, and if Palestine grows much more, it could accommodate their overflow as well.”
“So he’s all hat and no cattle?” She’d heard that expression before, but it put a smile on her face. “And you really think that Jancy is over there playing spy?”
“I’d bet my business on it.” Andy smiled.
“Oh!” Vicky gasped.
“What?” Andy glanced around.
“I just made the connection. You are that guy,” she said.
“What guy?”
“The one who owns the wedding cake and bakery business,” she said.
“Yep, I’m that guy. The one who everyone thinks should be wranglin’ cows and stretchin’ barbed-wire fences, not making fancy cakes.”
Vicky smiled. “Everyone should mind their own business.”
“Well, thank you very much for that. Mama said that if you love what you do, then you are a success, no matter if it’s diggin’ ditches or sittin’ in the Oval Office. With that in mind, I am a success and I’d be an even bigger one if I had the recipe for your tarts. But I understand you hanging on to it. I have recipes that a million bucks couldn’t buy, too.”
Shane drew the bow across the strings and it really did give an evil hiss, silencing Andy and the rest of the crowd in the park. He did his rendition of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” while Ryder tuned his guitar and Jimmy set up a keyboard. By the time Shane had finished, they all went straight into a country two-stepping song that brought the dancers out to the cleared area in front of the band.
“They’re pretty good,” Andy said. “Do they do gigs or what?”
“No, they just play for fun and occasionally in church,” Vicky said. “Shane can play a gospel tune that will bring the most avid sinner to his knees.”
“Can he heal a shattered heart? My date is dancing with Mr. Muscle Man,” Andy joked. “You have to dance with me so I can show Jancy up.” He hopped down off the tailgate and held out his hand. “One dance? So I can save face.”
“Just one. I wouldn’t want you to go home with a bad taste in your mouth about Pick. And then we’ll have desserts with a glass of strawberry wine. You really should try the blackberry cobbler.” She put her hand in his and led him to the dance area.
“I’d rather have a piece of chocolate cake with my strawberry wine. I’m not one for cobblers. Too much dough.”
Vicky scolded herself for dancing with anyone, especially someone who was most likely trying to sweet-talk her out of a recipe. Maybe the gossip would center on Jancy and not her.
Don’t bet on it, the voice in her head said. They’ll see you with Andy, and tomorrow morning’s gossip will have it that you are selling your diner and moving to Palestine to work for him. Jancy’s flirting is juicy gossip, but yours will set the phone lines on fire.
He was so smooth on his feet that she felt as if she were gliding two inches above the grass. The song ended too soon, but he didn’t ask for another dance like the cowboy who had Jancy pulled up too close.
“That wine is disappearing pretty fast. We should get in line if we’re goin’ to. And would you look at that? Rachel isn’t busy. We could go over there and visit with her.” Andy’s green eyes glittered with mischief.
“Her name is Rebecca, not Rachel, and you have to taste Woody’s strawberry wine. His late wife, Irma, made the best in the whole state.”
One second she was looking up into Andy’s eyes—the next someone had grabbed her arm and swung her out to the music. She blinked twice, but Carlton’s big smile didn’t fade. She didn’t fight him when he brought her back to his chest with a thud.
“You look beautiful this afternoon, Victoria,” he said with one of those big smiles.
“I’ve told you repeatedly, it’s Vicky, not Victoria, and I’m not selling you my property so you can build a gated community of McMansions.”
“I detest that word.” He swung her out again.
“The answer is no. Not today or tomorrow or next year,” she told him.
“Have dinner with me, darlin’, and I’ll up the price to two hundred thousand. I might even consider making you a partner. You are both gorgeous and smart. I can see us working well together.”
“There are some things in life that money cannot buy.”
“Money,” he whispered into her hair, “can buy anything. I’m really attracted to you, Vicky.”
“You are crazy for thinking you could ever change my mind.” She deftly hooked one leg behind his knees and ground down into the arch of his other foot with her heel as he stumbled. If Hilton hadn’t caught his arm, he would have pitched right into Shane and sent the band members scrambling.
Well, crap! Vicky thought as she turned back to Andy. If I had it to do over again, I would have waited until we were closer to Shane. I could buy him a new fiddle and it might have kept Carlton out of Pick.
“You bitch,” Carlton mumbled.
She turned around and in two steps was nose to nose with him. “You ask a lady if she wants to dance. You don’t grab her like that. Go crawl back to whatever rock you came out from under, Mr. Wolfe, and stay away from our town.”
“Oh, honey.” He reached out to pat her cheek, but she grabbed his hand in a vise grip, twisting it until he leaned in.
“Don’t touch me. Don’t speak to me. And damn sure do not call me honey,” she whispered just for his ears.
“You are breaking my fingers,” he growled.
“I will if you try to lay a hand on me again for any reason.”
Shane caught her eye and raised an eyebrow.
“Keep playin’,” she mouthed.