Texas Hustle (23 page)

“I’ll never look at a can of whipped cream the same way again.”

Porchia laughed. “I know what you mean.”

Darren pulled her on top of him. “Let’s just stay here the rest of the weekend.”

“Okay. Who needs food anyway?”

Lifting his head off the bed, he kissed her. It amazed her that a simple kiss from him could scramble her brain so much.

Darren’s large hands warmed her ass. Then he gave her a soft swat on her butt.

“It may be getting close to dinner time. We need to get a move on.”

She dropped her forehead on his chest. “Really? I have to move? Sorry. No can do. My bones dissolved about thirty minutes ago.”

When he chuckled, his chest vibrated below her.

“Okay,” she said. “Just a minute.” Propping herself up on her forearms, she raked her fingernails along the side of his head. “I know. I know. I have to get off you.”

“Eventually.” He adjusted his arms until they were wrapped snugly around her. “In a minute,” he said and gave her nose a kiss. “So tell me about your morning.”

She wasn’t sure what he knew about what was happening tonight. Magda had sworn her to secrecy when they were baking the cake for tonight.

“Oh, you know. The usual. A little baking. Some girl talk. What about you and Reno? Where did you have to go?”

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “What do you know?”

“I don’t know. What do you know?”

They had a stare down until she giggled, which made him laugh.

“You know, don’t you?” he asked.

“Do you know?”

“I know.”

“Me too.”

“Whew,” he said. “I’m glad we got that settled.”

She laughed again.

“So that’s where you and Reno went this morning? To get the needed supplies for tonight?”

“Would you please stop talking in code? Yes. We picked up the license and Magda’s ring. What did you do?”

“We baked a three-tiered wedding cake. Well, actually, Magda made cookies while I made the cake. I told her it wasn’t right for a bride to bake her own cake.”

“Hope your cake is as good as Magda’s cookies were.”

She slugged his arm. “You’ll pay for that.” With a suffering sigh, she rolled off him and stood. “I’m headed for the shower.” When she saw him begin to move, she added, “Alone.”

“Spoilsport.”

The family was gathered at the lodge by the time Darren and Porchia walked over. Well, everyone but Reno and Magda. Sometime while she and Darren had been secluded in their cabin, Marc Singer had arrived, bringing Lydia Henson back with him. However, she was sitting next to Jason, their hands clasped as though one of them would float off if they let go.

One of the things Porchia had come to admire about the Montgomery family was the support they showed their children, even in difficult situations. The family had stood behind Olivia when she was pregnant and unwed. And when Travis and Caroline had the fake wedding. She’d heard all kinds of stories about Cash and what his brothers and parents had done to help him get back on his feet.

Her parents were not like this at all, but maybe it was her fault her family wasn’t as close. It had been her foolish decisions that’d almost wrecked her life and her dad’s career. Sure they spoke, but they had never discussed that night again.

“Need a drink?” Olivia asked, holding up an opened bottle of wine. Porchia nodded and Olivia passed her a full wine glass. Mitch tossed a bottle of beer to Darren, who immediately popped the top and took a long draw.

“Okay,” Darren shouted. “Settle down for a minute. Is everyone here? Who’s missing?”

“Reno and Magda are the only ones not here,” Clint said. “Have you seen them, Nadine?” he asked.

As his mom shook her head, Darren put two fingers between his lips and an ear-piercing whistle blasted in the air. As soon as he did, the door to Reno and Magda’s cabin opened and they walked out.

Reno wore a new, crisp pair of jeans, new white, snap shirt, a black string tie and shiny black boots and a black cowboy hat. Magda wore a white satin dress that was above her knees in the front and dropped to her ankles in the back. Her white cowboy boots sparkled with rhinestones. Her cowboy hat was white and had a small veil that hung off the back to between her shoulder blades.

Darren stepped to the side as Marc Singer made his way down to stand on the concrete walk.

“What’s going on?” Nadine said. “Clint? Do you know what’s going on?”

Clint shook his head slowly as a smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Reno?” his mother asked. “Have something you want to tell us?”

Reno grinned. “I know you’ve been planning that double wedding for me and Darren, but I can’t wait until he finds some woman who’ll finally agree to marry him.”

“Yeah, love you too, bro,” Darren said with a laugh.

Reno looked up at all the Montgomerys crowded onto the porch. “Magda and I thought Cash and Paige had the right idea. You’re all here. We’re here. And we’re getting married.”

Nadine’s hand flew to her mouth as she cried out. At first, Porchia thought it was in dismay, but she quickly realized how wrong she was. Nadine was thrilled, not upset. There were probably families who would object to their son marrying the daughter of a relative’s foreman, but not this one.

“Mom. Dad. Will you come stand over here?”

Nadine and Clint hurried down the stairs and stood by their son.

“Dad? You and Blanche up there?” Magda said.

“Right here, honey,” Zeb Hobbs said.

“Will you and Blanche come stand with me?”

“Of course,” Blanche said, and they joined Magda.

“Before we start, Magda and Reno wanted to say a few words,” Marc Singer said.

Magda turned toward Zeb and Blanche. “Zeb. You may have only come into my life in the last six years, but you’ve been a wonderful father to me. My life would not be the same without you.” She looked at Blanche. “I hope I make Reno as happy as you’ve made my father.”

Blanche dabbed at the tears in her eyes.

Magda turned to Reno’s parents. “Nadine. This is all your fault, you know?”

Nadine nodded. “I do good work.”

Magda smiled. “That you do. Thank you for making Reno the wonderful man he is.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Reno said. “I owe all my happiness to your sneaky plan.”

Instead of looking embarrassed at being caught at her matchmaking, Nadine blew them a kiss. “A mother knows,” she said.

“Dad. I’ll try to be as good a husband and father as you are. You’re a heck of a role model.”

Clint smiled. “Thank you, son. That means the world to me.”

Reno looked toward Zeb and Blanche. “I love her, Zeb. I’ll take good care of her.”

“I know,” Zeb said. “That’s why I’m gonna let you marry her.”

Reno held out his hand and Zeb shook it.

“And last, before we start, Magda and I would like to wish Cash and Paige a happy one-week anniversary.”

After the group quieted down from the well-wishes to Cash and Paige, Marc said, “We are gathered here to witness the wedding of Reno Alexander Montgomery and Magda Alicia Hobbs.”

The ceremony went off without a hitch, although Porchia’s vision was a little blurry from her tears. When Marc pronounced them husband and wife, a loud cheer went up from the crowd. Darren squeezed Porchia’s hand and then went to congratulate the newlyweds.

Dinner was loud and festive. Porchia lost track of the number of toasts that required taking a drink of wine. KC helped her set up the wedding cake. If Porchia hadn’t let Magda bake her own wedding cake, she sure wasn’t going to let her stage it either.

By nine, all the Montgomerys and Landrys under the age of ten were sent to bed with Noah, Caroline Montgomery’s brother, as their sitter. Darren joked that must have cost Mitch and Travis a nice sum of money.

It was almost midnight when Magda climbed on top of a table. “Turn the music off. I want to say something.” She swayed as she spoke and Porchia was a little concerned, but then she noticed Paige and Cash stepping up to brace Magda. “Okay. Here’s what I want to say. I love you all. Love you. Love you. Love you.” She pointed around the room with each love you.

Wide grins split the faces in the room. The bride was toasted.

“But I love Reno more than anybody.” She staggered, but Reno was there in a flash to steady her. “And now, my husband has to take me home.” As she climbed off the table, she said, “Aren’t you glad we don’t live in the time when people would come to watch us have sex on our wedding night?” She giggled. “I bet they’d be surprised.”

Reno kissed her to shut her up as the rest of the remaining campers laughed.

“Need any help getting her home?” Darren asked.

“I’m ready to go,” Porchia said. “Why don’t we walk with them as far as their cabin? I need some fresh air.”

“Good idea,” Darren said. “Come on, bro and my new sister-in-law.”

“I’ll go with you,” Marc Singer said. “I have to head back in the morning, so I need to get a little shuteye tonight.”

The night air was cool and crisp and exactly what Porchia needed, and she suspected the others did too. The moon was still at about a quarter but the stars were brighter than they’d been last weekend. She took Darren’s hand and blew out a sigh of contentment. This was the happiest she’d been in a very long time.

Singer’s phone rang. He pulled it from the holder on his belt. “Singer.” He listened. “Really. Any idea what time it started?”

He turned his back to Porchia and walked a couple steps away. She tried not to listen, but the night was so quiet the sheriff’s voice carried and every word could be clearly heard. All four of them stopped to see what had required a call to the sheriff while he was out of town.

“Everyone out of the building?” Pause. “The fire chief have any idea of where it started?” Pause. “Okay. I’ll be on the road within a couple of hours. See you at the station.”

“What happened?” Darren asked.

Marc walked over to Porchia and laid his hands on her shoulders. “I am so sorry, Porchia. There was a fire at Heavenly Delights. The entire building was involved.”

“But it’s out, right? The fire department put it out, right?”

He shook his head slowly. His fingers tightened as he gave her a gentle squeeze. “No. I am truly sorry, Porchia. The fire department did all they could, but it was just too big and spread too quickly.”

“It’s all gone?” she whispered, not believing what Marc was saying.

Marc nodded. “It’s gone.”

Chapter Eighteen

Stunned, Porchia stood frozen in place. She tried to force her brain to process what she was being told. Sure, she’d had a number of glasses of wine. And, yes, her brain was a tad fuzzy, but her mind did not want to believe what Marc had told her. Then the words connected and the implications that everything she’d worked for was gone hit her. And not just for her, but for her employees.

Guilt swamped her. This was all her fault. Slade Madden. She knew it. She might not be able to prove it, but in her gut she knew. Her knees began to shake and her legs crumbled beneath her.

Darren caught her before she hit the ground, sweeping her up into his arms. “I’m so sorry, babe. I know this is the worst thing you can hear.” He kissed her forehead. “But it’ll be okay. I promise.”

“It’s my fault,” she cried out. “My fault.”

Marc stepped closer. “What do you mean
your fault
?”

“I should never have come here. Never should have been gone a whole week. If I’d been there, this wouldn’t have happened.” She struggled in Darren’s hold. “Let me down.”

“Can you stand?”

“Of course I can,” she snapped. “I’m not an invalid. Put me down.”

He set her feet back on the grass, but he kept an arm around her waist. She was sure he meant his arm to be supportive, but right now it felt like a vise.

Her breath hitched. “I have to get home. I have to see it for myself.” She pulled from Darren’s hold and grabbed Marc’s arm. “You’re going back tonight. I heard you say that. I’m going with you.”

Marc’s gaze flashed over to Darren. “Of course…if that’s what you want.”

“Great. I’ll get my stuff together.”

“Wait a minute, Porchia,” Darren said. “I brought you here. I’ll take you back home.”

She whirled on him. “No. You’ve been drinking.”

“So have you.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m not driving. The
sheriff
is.” She looked at Marc. “I’ll be ready by the time you’re ready to leave.”

He jerked his head in the affirmative and headed toward his truck and fifth wheel. It would take a few minutes for him to get his camper hooked up, which was enough time for her to throw her crap into her luggage.

She turned and hurried toward the cabin.

“Damn it, Porchia. Wait,” Darren called. With his long strides, he caught her before her foot hit the bottom step. “Just wait. There’s nothing you can do tonight. We’ll head out first thing in the morning.”