“I think it was a few months ago. Word is that maybe it has to do with all the drillin’ that’s been goin’ on over there.”
“We’ve got just as much drilling here, too.” Megan furrowed her brow with worry. “Was it bad over there?”
“4.8. That’s what they said in the news. No one got hurt, though.”
“Not yet,” Megan muttered.
Verna took a final puff on her cigarette and let the smoke out slowly. “Nothin’ we can do ’bout it. Best thing that’s ever happened to this town is the drillin’. I’d have lost the house if it wasn’t for Prescott Oil buyin’ some of my land. They even gave me a job. They’re good people.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“You tell her, Megan,” Naomi said. Yep, she was starting to really like her now.
Jeremy raised an eyebrow at her.
“What? Can’t an angel have an opinion on environmental politics?”
He shook his head and chuckled. “You’re one of a kind, Naomi.”
“No guessing ’bout it.” Verna said loudly. She walked to the road and flicked the cigarette, putting it out with her shoe. “It’s what puts food on the table and a house over our heads. It’s gettin’ late, and you need to get ready for your shift at the Dixie Bar tonight.”
Jeremy turned to Naomi, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Dixie Bar?”
“Welcome to Texas,” she said.
“How long do you think we need to stay?” Naomi said as she watched Megan in a tight-fitting white T-shirt and jean shorts that barely covered her assets, serving customers at the Dixie Bar.
“Why? I’m having fun.” His eyes looked appreciatively at Megan.
Naomi rolled her eyes. Just when she was beginning to like Megan, thinking that she had a good head on her shoulders, she acted like...like a blond bimbo.
She gritted her teeth, hating to even think such negative thoughts about the girl she was supposed to be protecting. She couldn’t help it. All she could remember was the way her body had rubbed up against Lash’s.
Megan moved toward the bar with a tray full of empty beer bottles. Eyes were glued on her as she passed each table. Some whistled at her; others gave her a friendly hello. She smiled and talked to each one.
“What’s with the scowl?” Jeremy nudged her.
“I’m not scowling.”
He slid his finger down the front of her forehead. “You’re telling me this line here is permanent?”
“Not funny, Jeremy.” He chuckled as she batted his hand away. “We’ve been here for hours. I don’t think anything is going to happen. She’ll continue to be eye candy for all the guys here.”
“It’s probably best to wait until she’s safe in her home,” Jeremy said.
Megan was headed in their direction with a tray of burgers. She stopped at a table with a couple of guys, both wearing their Stetsons, typical Texas cowboys. One of them looked like he was stuck in the 70s, with a huge mustache and polyester shirt exposing a hairy chest. She set the tray down and flashed one of her teen-model smiles. When she turned, mustache-man slapped her butt.
Megan’s nostrils flared, and her eyes tensed with anger, catching Naomi by surprise.
Quickly smoothing her face, she turned to mustache-man and giggled.
“Now, now.” She wiggled her finger at him. “Don’t handle the merchandise.” She then went to the bar, laid her tray on the counter, and headed straight for the Ladies’ room.
She’s acting, Naomi thought. She didn’t like the way she was being treated, but she put up with it anyway. Why would she do that?
A few minutes later, Megan came out of the ladies’ room, brushing her fingers under red-rimmed eyes. She took a deep breath and picked up another tray of drinks from the bar.
Naomi finally understood and was actually starting to respect Megan and all she was putting up with in the bar. If it were her, she’d have chewed out mustache-man and slapped him. Megan had to put up with it. It was a job.
“I’m an idiot,” she mumbled under a breath. All Megan was doing was trying to earn a living, and here she was judging her. Some angel she was.
“Aw, Naomi, you’re not an idiot,” Jeremy said. “You’re just a little...misled by the green-eyed monster.”
Her eyes shot up at him. “You can read minds, too?”
He smiled. “No. But I’m really good at reading pretty faces... like yours. You have absolutely nothing to be jealous about.”
She felt herself grow warm as Jeremy continued to stare at her. This was not good. Not good at all. She needed to get some space between them.
“Well, if we can’t leave, can we at least wait outside?” She was headed toward the door when her eyes suddenly grew wide, and she froze.
Jeremy was immediately by her side. “What’s wrong?”
She swallowed thickly as she stared at the familiar face that stood at the bar’s entrance.
“Chuy,” she breathed.
10
Lash watched the white and pink petals dancing in the air as he sat beneath one of the cherry trees. Any other day, he would’ve found the scene enchanting—not today. All he could think about was Naomi. It had been only minutes since she left with Jeremy, but each second that passed felt like an eternity. He was being melodramatic, and he knew it. But he couldn’t help himself. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the hurt on her face. And then, when she left, she couldn’t even look at him long enough to say good-bye.
“Lash,” a soft voice woke him from his thoughts.
He blinked until his eyes focused on Rachel, who stood in front of him with sad eyes. “Oh, hey, Rachel.”
“Mind if I join you?”
He shook his head. “I’m not really in the mood for talking.”
“Sometimes talking helps,” she said, sitting beside him, tucking her legs beneath her. “Raphael told me what happened...about you telling Naomi.”
“Who else knows?” The last thing he needed was other angels talking about him. He didn’t like the thought of his life being a soap opera for them.
“No, just me...and Michael”—she looked down, fiddling with a blade of grass—“and Gabrielle.”
“That’s just great. Now everyone knows!”
“Not everyone.”
Brown eyes glanced up at him, and he narrowed his eyes. He knew her too well. “And...”
She swallowed. “Well, I may have told Uri.”
He groaned. “So all the archangels know I was dumped.”
“You were not dumped. Naomi just needs time to think this through.”
He let out a loud breath in frustration. He wished he could be patient. It was so hard, especially with her gone―and with Jeremy!
He groaned as he tilted his head back, leaning it against the tree. White blossoms fluttered on a breeze going through the gardens. Some tore off from the branches and sailed to the ground, so delicate, so beautiful, just like Naomi.
“She couldn’t even look at me, Rachel. She went on assignment with Jeremy for who knows how long, and she didn’t say a word. It’s like she gave up on me.”
“Don’t think like that! She loves you so much. Anyone can see that.”
Lash watched a cloud between the branches as it drifted across the sky, covering the sun for a moment and leaving them in a shadow. That’s how he felt at that moment—a shadow of himself, empty without Naomi’s love.
“I don’t know. Maybe there was a reason why we were prevented from being together the first time around. Maybe she’s meant to be with someone else.” Naomi placing her hand in Jeremy’s right before she left was seared in his mind.
“Lash, stop it!” She shook his shoulders, hard. “Snap out of it, and stop talking nonsense.”