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Kenny went completely still. He stared at Dexter. “Is that true?”
Dex stirred a teaspoon of sugar into his coffee and gave an absentminded nod.
To Emma’s astonishment, all the tension seemed to trickle out of Kenny, and, for the first time, he regarded Dexter with interest instead of suspicion. “No kidding. Even I wouldn’t have the nerve to do something like that.”
His reaction upset Torie. “You should beat him up, Kenny! Although maybe I’d better warn you that he’s stronger than he looks. Still, he’s not exactly Hercules, and you’ll be able to take him without too much trouble.”
Dexter sipped from his mug and nodded at Emma. “Excellent coffee.”
Emma suppressed a smile. “I’ll pass on your compliments to Patrick.”
Kenny looked from his sister to Dexter, then walked over to pour a mug for himself. He leaned back against the counter and studied the other man. “So, Dex, how’s come you’re still alive to tell the tale?”
Dexter wiped up a small coffee spill, then sat on the stool next to Torie. “All I’m prepared to say is that your sister and I slept together, and, since I compromised her, I intend to marry her.”
Torie dropped her forehead and banged it three times against the countertop. “You are such a geek.”
“Doesn’t sound like she’s too enthusiastic about it,” Kenny said.
“She’s enthusiastic.” He reached over and stroked her shoulder. “But she has her pride. She’s also frightened, which is understandable, although it doesn’t make any difference. She and I made a deal, and we’re getting married.”
“What kind of deal?”
“That’s private,” Dex said as Torie opened her mouth to respond. He regarded her with amusement. “Victoria, has it occurred to you that you really don’t need to reveal our private life to everyone?”
“Kenny’s not everyone.”
Dex lifted an eyebrow and caressed the corner of her mouth with his thumb.
“Oh, all right,” she grumbled. Then, trying to regain lost ground, she turned the conversation. “I couldn’t help but notice last night that the two of you weren’t exactly acting like a couple of lovebirds. What happened, Lady E? Has Kenny started beating you, too?”
Emma grabbed the sponge from the sink and dabbed at the clean counter. “It’s complicated, that’s all.”
“Not that complicated,” Kenny said. “Some people just want to make it seem that way.”
Torie looked back and forth between Emma and her brother. “I don’t know why, but I’m siding with Lady E on this one.”
Kenny slammed down his mug, sloshing coffee all over the counter. “You don’t even know what’s happening.”
“I know that Emma’s levelheaded, and you’re notoriously screwed up when it comes to women.”
“Levelheaded? She let the whole world believe that you’re her lesbian lover!”
Torie grinned at Emma. “That was sooo cool.”
Kenny grabbed his mug and headed for the door. “I’m taking a shower.” Then he stopped to regard Emma with chilly eyes. “Maybe you’d better make your big announcement before I leave. I don’t want to deprive Torie of the chance to blame me for this, too.”
He was giving her the opening she needed to tell them that she wasn’t staying at the ranch but moving to a hotel.
Kenny Traveler screwed up again. I always knew it wouldn’t work. The only thing he’s ever been good at is swinging a golf club.
She realized she couldn’t do it. Her plan to stay at the hotel had seemed sound yesterday on the plane, but now she was in Wynette, where news carried quickly, and she simply couldn’t tolerate having Kenny once again held
up to public ridicule, especially when she knew he wouldn’t defend himself. “Well, the truth is that I’ve decided to get serious about learning to drive.” She turned to Torie. “And since Kenny yelled the only time he rode with me, I’m wondering if you’ll give me another lesson.”
He leaned against the doorframe and watched her, a wary expression in his eyes as if he were waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“I don’t know why you think I’d blame you because Lady E wants to learn to drive, Kenny. Sometimes I believe you have a persecution complex.” Torie smiled back at Emma. “How about driving me over to see Father Joseph this afternoon?”
