Silver James - Billionaire Country

“So anyway, it was a one-night deal. Their lead singer came down with something and couldn’t perform. Mr. Jake introduced me to ’em—the band, I mean. Come dark, there I was, front’n center on the stage.”

“Okay?” He wondered if maybe one of the band members was responsible for her current condition.

“That night I was singin’ my heart out and there was a guy sittin’ there at a table. He was downright good-lookin’, if you know what I mean?” She cut her eyes toward him and winked. “Not as handsome as you, but dang close. Anyway, he bought me a drink. And then another. And so on, until...well, you get my drift.” She paused and waggled her finger in his direction. “Now, I might not be a good girl, but I ain’t normally stupid, even if I’ve drunk way more whiskey than is good for me. We took precautions but...” She sighed. “Sometimes, stuff happens. Come mornin’, he went his way while I went mine.”

“Uh-huh.” Tucker was fascinated, despite his better judgment.

“Well, due to circumstances...” She patted her belly. “That stuff happened. I bought a test to confirm it.”

Tucker had the insane urge to touch her belly. “It was obviously positive.”

“Yup. So, I went lookin’ for the man. I figured he had the right to know, seein’ as he was the daddy and all.” She glanced over at him. “I mean, wouldn’t you want to know?”

He considered the question. “Yes, I would.”

“Took me two months to track Redmond down, and by then, it was a little late to be doin’ anything about the situation.” Her chin rose in a stubborn jut. “Not that I would have, even if that’s what he wanted. That solution is fine for some people, but not me.” She rubbed her belly with one hand, a gesture both protective and soothing, and one Tucker thought she was unaware of. He found it...endearing.

“So...” Tuck stretched out the word. “You wanted him to marry you?”

“Oh, hell no! I mean really, it’s not like love had a thing to do with it.” She inhaled deeply and breathed out slowly. “And I wasn’t out to trap him. I’m not that kind of woman.”

Given that she was running away from her wedding, obviously not. Tucker said as much. “Since you’re here with me and not on your honeymoon, I sort of figured that.”

Zoe blinked rapidly at him. “I told you my life has turned into a soap opera. Are you sure you want to know all this?”

At his nod, she continued. “I didn’t discover until too late that I shoulda just hightailed it outta there. Redmond let on that he was prouder than a bantam rooster about bein’ a daddy, but did he take care of me or help with doctor bills? Nope. That sonavagun dragged me all over the South, stallin’ every step of the way.” She dropped her voice as she mimicked. “Just one more job, baby girl, then I’ll give you some money.” She rolled her eyes and grimaced. “I plead pregnancy hormones because if I’d been in my right mind, I would have ditched that man way before I did.”

“Uh-huh.” He didn’t hide the dubious tone in his voice.

“Trust me, I’m serious. Anyway, we were down in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.” She started to say more but caught herself. “Let’s just say things went downhill. He turned out to be a...well, Redmond liked the ladies. A lot. And it got him in a whole heap of trouble.”

Tucker didn’t like the way her voice sounded. “What kind of trouble?”

“Unbeknownst to me, he took up with another man’s wife. And got caught with his britches down. T’make a long and sordid story short, there was a shoot-out. Red walked away. The husband didn’t.”

She heaved out a sigh and rubbed her side. Tucker waited, silent now. This was quite a tale, but he felt the urge to reach over and take her hand, to tell her that everything would be okay.

“I was ready to take off as soon as he was arrested, but Etta Smithee, his momma, had different ideas. She made me stay in Tuscaloosa for the duration. Sat me down in the front row, right there behind her baby boy every day of that trial. She bought me all these frilly maternity clothes and there I sat, day after day, lookin’ and feelin’ like a fool. I didn’t love that man, and he deserved to be sent to prison for killin’ that boy.”

“I...” Tucker paused. What could he say?

She favored him with a sidelong but understanding look before continuing. “As soon as the jury read the verdict, I was ready to hit the road. Before I could go, Miz Smithee got all sweet, sayin’ it was up to her and the Smithee family to look after me and the baby. Things were fine until she decided to make an honest woman of me. Since I wouldn’t marry Red, I’d just have to marry Norbert, his brother.” She issued a long-suffering sigh. “Mama Smithee wants all her chicks in a row and all her loose ends tied up. And those loose ends would be me and Baby Bugtussle here.”

Tucker tried to wrap his brain around this information, failed and gave up. “Why would she want you married to Norbert?”

“That woman is covered in crazy sauce. She decreed that her first grandbaby should have the Smithee name, and I should just be dancin’ with joy to marry Norbert. Like any smart woman, I hitched up my skirts and hightailed it out of town first opportunity I got. I went back to singing and was doin’ pretty good despite the extra baggage.” She patted her belly, a big smile curling up the corners of her mouth—a mouth Tucker found most intriguing. “I got a job in Gatlinburg. I had no idea the Smithees roosted around there. There I am, strummin’ my guitar and singin’ a Miranda Lambert song and who walks in the door?”

“Norbert.”

“Got it in one, slick.” She winked at him, but her smile faded and a haunted look filled her eyes. Tucker tensed, not sure he wanted to hear the rest. “Next thing I know, he’s stuffin’ me in his old truck and drivin’ like a bat outta hell straight to his momma’s house. That woman locked me up in a bedroom until she could—” Zoe paused and formed air quotes with her fingers. “Make arrangements.”

“Did those arrangements include that...dress?” He wanted to banish the ghosts lingering in her eyes so he tried her trick of making a joke.

“Absolutely.” She squirmed a little and sighed. “Speakin’ of, got any idea how far it is to the next gas station so I can change clothes? And...” She pressed her side and stiffened a little. “This little sucker just loves stompin’ on my bladder. I could use a rest stop.” She blew out a breath. “Sooner than later.”

Tucker couldn’t decide how much of Zoe’s tale was fact and how much was fiction. He had to admire what his mom would call gumption. She was all alone and he caught a hint of the distress she tried so hard to hide. She was sweet and funny and he wanted to protect her, as inexplicable as that seemed, considering they’d just met. He resisted reaching for her hand. Again.

In the back of his mind, a thought formed—he should have his brother, Bridger, who worked for their cousin Cash Barron at Barron Security Services, look into the Smithees. Out loud, he said, “I think I can manage to fulfill that request.”

* * *

Zoe stashed the hated wedding dress in the dumpster behind the truck stop and finally felt like herself. Struggling out of the darn thing, even in the handicapped stall, had been an exercise in futility. Surrendering, she just ripped at it until all the buttons popped, pinging off the metal walls like BBs. The tussle left her dizzy, and she had to sit on the commode and gather herself for a moment before she could pull on yoga pants. Topping them with an oversize T-shirt and slipping her swollen feet into flip-flops was pure indulgence. The hideous dress had been gag inducing. The cheap boots followed the dress into the trash.