Courting Trouble (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 3) (6 page)

"Very funny."

A.C. jingled the change in his pocket and held out Jeff's jacket. "Are you coming or not?"

"All right." Jeff stood and stretched.

As Mimi glided to her feet, A.C. noted her dangerous stiletto heels. He made a mental bet with himself that she'd been wearing those shoes when husband number two filed assault charges against her. Foot stomping with intent to kill. The charges had been dismissed, but Mimi still wasn't a woman A.C. would be in a rush to anger.

"Thank you so much for the great advice, Jeff." Mimi grabbed his Jeff's arm and wriggled. A.C. knew exactly the view Jeff was getting, the one A.C. had once enjoyed. But now he knew those mountains contained dangerous avalanches for unsuspecting men. Perhaps he should've warned Jeff, but passing on Mimi had seemed like a great idea at the time.

Jeff wrapped his arm around Mimi's shoulders and A.C. scowled. "Let's go."

"Where are you dragging us to in such a hurry?"

Us? Oh, great balls of fire. No. Not us. "I'm sure Mimi already has plans for tonight."

"Little ol' me?" she asked in her little ol' little girl voice. She batted her false eyelashes. "The only plans I have involve defrosting a TV dinner."

"See? I knew you had plans. A woman like you always has plans."

Mimi pouted.

"He's just trying to be funny, Mimi," said Jeff, glaring at A.C. "Lousy joke, cuz."

For the first time in his life, A.C. felt an urge to chew his nails. He might have known that anything Diedra planned would backfire on him. All he needed was to bring Mimi along on Jeff's date with Meagan.

Diedra would tar and feather him. She'd make more appliances attack him. Maybe he could phone and cancel the whole thing. "I forgot. I need to make a call first."

"Make the call from the restaurant. Mimi and I are starving."

A.C. experienced another first: the desire to whimper. This was what hanging out with Diedra had done to him. He led the way morosely out the door, wondering how much lower he would sink trying to please Diedra.

Chapter 5

A.C. looked at his watch for the sixteenth time. He hadn't needed to rush after all. Where was she? Diedra was the one who'd insisted on such a strict schedule. His emotions fluctuated between anger and worry. He might have known she'd be late, although he'd hoped the years had made her more responsible.

It might be just as well she was standing him up. The way Mimi was clinging to Jeff, A.C. felt sure she'd targeted Jeff as husband number five. Normally, he'd think it was humorous, but with Meagan and Diedra coming...

He heard a laugh and knew it was her. He turned and saw the restaurant host leading Diedra and Meagan to his table.

Diedra looked good. Very good. Her skirt was short and blue, his favorite color. It clung to her like plastic wrap. Whew. His blood pressure rose several notches and a bead of sweat trickled from his brow.

And he wasn't the only one to admire her.

Through slit eyes, he noticed a half dozen other gorillas ogling Diedra's skirt, too. Some Gargantua in a tux and pastel paisley tie followed them toward the table. If strange men were going to start following her, he had half a notion to cover her with his trench coat. She shouldn't dress that way in public. It was indecent. Now if they were alone...

He was out of his mind. Why else would he keep imagining running his hands down that tight skirt, cupping Diedra's body and pulling her to him? The woman was trouble, but for the moment he didn't care one iota.

Mimi giggled, pulling him back from fantasy. He silently swore. He had to detach Mimi from Jeff. Diedra would never forgive him if he blew this reconciliation scene.

Leaning close to Mimi, he placed his arm across her shoulders. "Darlin', have I told you how positively scrumptious you look tonight?"

So what if there was no way in the world she could compete with Diedra? Even if he hadn't spoken the strict truth, he knew most men thought of Mimi in terms of eye candy. Sugary, light, cotton candy. But Diedra was French Silk Pie. Rich, silky, smooth. She'd melt in his mouth.

* * *

When Diedra and Meagan had left the shop, as bad luck would have it, they'd run into Heather and Bert. Meagan invited them both for dinner, and Diedra hadn't been able to stop them without giving the game away.

They'd made it to the restaurant just a wee bit late. As promised, the seating host led them to the table Alec and Jeff were already occupying. Diedra managed to traverse the crowded obstacle course of tables, diners, waiters and trays with no great mishap. Her purse strap had tangled on a chair back, but she'd managed to disengage without knocking the chair occupant to the floor. Things were looking up.

She caught sight of Alec as they approached the table. His hungry gaze radiated heat as it swept over her. Her pulse quickened. But wait a second.

Who was the blonde bimbo draped over him?

Diedra took a deep steadying breath before rushing to keep up with the seating host. She reminded herself she should be thinking about Meagan and Jeff, not the fact that Alec had brought a date.

Disappointment stabbed her. If only she didn't keep hoping he felt a fraction of the attraction that she felt for him. Why hadn't he told her he was involved with someone?

Why hadn't he said he'd be bringing along a date? The way the blonde nuzzled against him, they'd obviously known each other for some time.

Diedra knew she was being silly. Alec had made it clear he wasn't interested in her, but that didn't make her feel less annoyed with him.

Of course the fact they had brought Bert along to dinner didn't enter into it. It wasn't as if she were dating him.

The idea of having to watch Alec play footsy with a baby doll filled Diedra with trepidation. Even though she couldn't or shouldn't have him, that didn't make it any easier to watch another woman who could. Maybe it wasn't too late to go to another restaurant. Meagan could patch things up with Jeff on her own.

Diedra grabbed Meagan's arm. "I have a sudden craving for ice cream."

Meagan looked at her in surprise but didn't break stride. "I thought you were dying for Japanese? Besides, we're here. You can have ice cream later."

They came up to the table. "I feel ill."

"You do look flushed," observed Heather.

"Maybe you're just hungry," Bert suggested.

Just then, Meagan glanced at the table and caught sight of Jeff. "Oh. I'm feeling suddenly ill, too."

"Meagan!" Jeff stood up, his napkin falling to his feet, unnoticed.

Diedra watched Alec detach himself from the perfect future trophy wife. As he stood, he smiled sheepishly. There was no going back now.

"Hello, Jeff. Fancy meeting you here," Meagan said as Alec gave her and Heather a hug.

"Hi," Diedra said.

Jeff hugged Diedra. Alec started to offer her his hand but seemed to think better of it. He quickly hugged her as well, then stepped back, looking embarrassed. She should have slugged him rather than let him get so close.

Diedra caught Alec's eye, raised her brow and then stared at the blonde. Wasn't he going to introduce her?

He gave her a sideways grin, obviously getting the point. "Nice to see you, Meagan, Heather and Diedra. Mimi, may I introduce Jeff's wife, Meagan; her sister, Diedra Palmer; and her cousin Heather Palmer?"

"Mimi LaPeugh is a long-term client." He looked directly into Diedra's eyes, then wordlessly mouthed, "Be nice."

She couldn't help the disbelieving look she shot him any more than she could help wanting to believe him. The woman had "man shark" written all over her. And what a name!

"Mimi. Nice name. Pleased to meet you," said Heather, making Diedra bite her tongue to keep from laughing out loud.

Meagan introduced Bert to everyone, then grabbed Bert and Heather. They chose seats at the far end of the table, forcing Diedra to sit next to Jeff. The waiter took their orders and bustled off to the kitchen.

Jeff glared at Bert, then faced his wife. "I've missed you."

"Yeah, right." Meagan nonchalantly turned and whispered something to Bert, who laughed in response.

"We need to talk," Jeff growled.

Meagan shrugged. "We've talked enough."

This wasn't going the way Diedra had hoped. At the opposite side of the table, she sought Alec's gaze, but he was busy whispering to Mimi.

Diedra felt like every kind of fool. If that was the kind of woman Alec liked, he had to be shallower than she'd dreamed possible.

She was being ridiculous. For all she knew, Mimi was a very nice person. Diedra just wasn't sure she could trust a woman with cleavage shown to such advantage.

The cook arrived at the grill directly in front of their table and began to work his magic with meat, vegetables and knives. He put on quite a show, tossing the sizzling food and knives. But rather than enjoying it, Diedra was distracted by watching Alec.

He winked at her, letting her know he'd seen her staring. Then he kissed Mimi's hand. He was rubbing it in! She'd like to get even with him. Just let her get her hands on one of those knives...

The cook placed a knife on the grill as he scooped food onto a plate with another one. The discarded knife moved. Toward Alec. At first just a twist, but then it slid an inch closer. Then a spoon glided off the table and landed in his lap.

Diedra wanted to disappear beneath the table. Granted, her electromagnetic issues had grown worse lately, but it sure as tootin' hadn't ever done anything like that before.

She and Alec were the only ones who saw what was happening. Everyone else was distracted by the fight going on between Meagan and Jeff, who appeared to be jealous of Bert.

"Meagan, if you'll just be quiet for five minutes and listen—I know it's a reach for you, but try—I think we could straighten this out."

"A reach for me?" Meagan reached for her water glass, then flung the contents across the table into Jeff's face. Diedra didn't have time to observe his reaction. She felt as though she were attending a tennis match and watching the ball lob back and forth across the court. Water cascaded from Jeff's face. At the same time, at the other side of the table, the chef's knife somersaulted, this time off the grill and onto the table.

Alec's fork disappeared from the table. He looked down, clearly puzzled.

Something told her it simply had to be her fault. It always was. But she wasn't even seated near Alec. In fact, the only time she'd been near him was when they'd arrived.

Oh, heavens. Tommy's collar. Was it possible? She dug in her pocket but the magnetized collar was gone. When she'd hugged Alec, it must have somehow attached itself to him. As if in confirmation, the knife slid directly at Alec. Good God.

Meagan, in tears, jumped from her chair and ran for the door. Jeff leaped up, slugged Bert in the nose and ran after Meagan.

Shocked, Alec took his eyes off the knife and watched Jeff and Meagan dash out.

Bert, who'd fallen off his chair, stood and held a napkin to his injured nose. "I'b going to the ben's roomb to clean up."

Then Diedra saw the knife. She wanted to help Bert, but she had to help Alec, who was about to be skewered. She stood up and yelled, "Quick, Alec. Follow them!"

She ran to his side of the table and grabbed the knife just before it could make the final plunge. Alec looked at her as though she'd lost her mind. When he stood, the fork and spoon dangled from... his belt buckle, along with Tommy's collar.

"What the hell is going on, Diedra?"

"We don't have time to chat now. Go catch Jeff."

That dazed expression crossed Alec's face. He abruptly knocked the flatware and collar to the floor and ran out the door.

Mimi said, "But what about the bill?"

"We've got an emergency here, Mimi. Heather, could you please pay it and I'll reimburse you later?" asked Diedra as she turned to follow Alec.

"No problem," said Heather. She was obviously vastly entertained by the madness, because her eyes gleamed with mischief. "I'll wait for Bert and then we'll meet you outside."