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He frowned, his playful expression giving way to a worried one. Then he led her a little farther, where a wooden bench had been placed along the bank of the creek.
“Here. Sit. If you can, in that skirt.”
She bunched its layers up, checked the bench for dirt, and not seeing any, took his advice and sat down. He sat beside her. “I like to come out here and just watch the water go by,” he said. “It’s soothing.”
“Water’s like that for me, too. It’s a nice spot. The whole thing, what you’ve done here, with this place. It’s really amazing, Bobby. It’s wonderful. You did all right.”
“You think the boys liked it?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.
“Joey sure did. He almost convinced me he was a real outlaw.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He nodded, eyes low. “But do they like the place? I built it for them, you know. I want to leave them something more than just a portfolio full of stocks and holdings. I want to leave them something real. Something they can build on, be proud of. You know, when I go.”
“Which isn’t gonna be for another thirty years or so.” She frowned at him. “Is it?”
He smiled as if she’d said something funny. “You said you had something to tell me. You trying to change the subject now?”
She wasn’t. But she thought maybe he was, and she filed it away to mull on later, with all the other little things leading her to a conclusion she didn’t want to reach. But first, she had to come clean. Entirely clean. Because she was falling in love with this man. Again. Maybe she’d never really fallen out of it.
Drawing a deep breath, she nodded once, lifted her chin and met his eyes. “I lied to you all those years ago, Bobby. That night we spent together? The night you can’t remember?”
He nodded, but didn’t speak.
“I told you I didn’t remember either. But I did. And I still do. I remember every single second of it. And it was...it was the most beautiful, the most intimate night of my entire life. You made me feel...cherished. And I didn’t want it to end.”
He sat up straighter and searched her eyes. “Are you saying that we–?”
“We made love. We made sweet, incredible love.” She pressed her lips tight, nodded once. “And there’s more....”
The saloon’s back door opened, and someone leaned out, calling, “Dad, you out there?” It was Jason’s voice.
Sighing, Vidalia felt as if she’d been saved by the bell. God knew she was dreading the rest of what she had to confess to this man.
She got to her feet and turned toward the saloon.
He got up too, put his hands on her shoulders. “Oh, no. No, you’re not getting off that easy.” And he turned her to face him again. “Why, Vidalia? Why would you lie to me about that?”
“Dad?” Jason called.
“Why? Come on, Bobby Joe, I was a married woman. A mother of four. I’d committed adultery.”
“No one ever would’ve known.”
She lowered her head. “I thought about telling you then, but you said you were leaving town. And I just...I just thought it for the best to let you go.”
He nodded, was silent for a long moment, during which his son called for him once more. “I wish I remembered,” he said. “I’ve dreamed about being with you like that, so many times. To think I actually had it and was too damn drunk to remember....”
She lowered her head. “Do you hate me for not telling you?”
“I couldn’t hate you if I tried.” He hooked a finger under her chin, lifted her head, kissed her softly and sweetly, and then a little more deeply. When he lifted his lips from hers, he whispered, “I’d sure like another night like that with you, Vidalia.”
“Ohhh, you’re the devil in blue jeans, tempting me like that Bobby Joe McIntyre.”
“I’m noting only that you didn’t say no.”
“I didn’t say yes, either.”
“Then I’m gonna keep on trying.” He kissed her once more, then turning her, kept his arm around her. “But you said there was more.”
