Under Her Skin

Cruz looked at the sign on the side of the road. It read, Welcome to Titanville—the best little town in the whole damn country.

“He wanted the town?”

“He wanted it named after him. There were a few other things. That he still got to sleep with the school teachers, as long as he found them a good husband when he was done, and something with water rights. They struck a deal. Titanville was born and my great-great-grandfather settled down. The shifty drifters went away and the town prospered. A triumph of government over the Wild West.”

She pointed out the various businesses. “We used to stop for candy there, on the way home from school,” she said. “That restaurant has the best Chinese food. Skye got her first kiss under that awning, in the rain.”

He glanced around at the quiet, clean streets, the perfectly maintained storefronts. It was like something on Nick at Nite. Not real. The world of his youth was a tiny house at the end of a narrow street. Abandoned cars filled front yards and the sound of gunfire meant Julio was out on parole again.

“It’s a mixed blessing,” she said. “Having everyone know who you are. I could never know if people were being nice because that’s how they were or if it was about my father. A lot of times it was about my father.”

She waved as a sheriff’s car drove by. “That’s my friend, Dana. She’s a deputy in town. Like I said, I have access to the law.”

He grinned. “If you’re trying to threaten me, you’re going to have to do a better job than that.”

She led them into a diner. “I’m working with what I have. You should respect that.”

“I respect everything about you.”

“If only that were true.”

They stepped into a small restaurant that looked as if it had lost a fight with a calico delivery truck. Every surface was covered with the tiny floral print, including the tables, the walls and the cushions on the wooden chairs.

Cruz immediately felt trapped.

“We can’t eat here,” he said.

“You’ll get used to it,” Lexi told him.

“No one could get used to this.”

“They serve the best breakfasts in three counties. It’s a thing in Titanville. Most of the restaurants have a theme. This one is calico.”

It was the most feminine business he’d ever been in and he didn’t mean that in a good way. He expected some large woman to burst out from the back and attack him with a rolling pin.

A teenager showed them to a table, then handed them each a menu, the front of which read, Breakfast Served All Day. If You Want Something Else, Go Away.

“The food is great,” Lexi told him. “They have everything. The specials are to die for. You’re going to love it.”

Lexi knew it was probably petty and small of her, but she enjoyed watching Cruz squirm. She’d never seen him out of his element before. He was always supremely in control, no matter what. But not here. She thought about teasing him that there was so much calico, he was at risk of transforming into a pioneer woman, but didn’t think he would find that funny.

He kept darting glances around the room, then shuddering as he took in the calico curtains, the display of calico porcelain cats on a top shelf and calico jar cozies covering all the jams and jellies.

“Open the menu,” she said. “Trust me. It’ll be worth it.”

He muttered something she couldn’t hear and read the selections. Their waitress arrived, dropped off coffee, took their order and left.

Cruz leaned back in the booth. She liked looking at him and would never get tired of the view, but she knew she would have to be careful around him. He had way too much power over her. The question was, did he know it or not?

She glanced around the restaurant and immediately spotted someone she knew. “Come on. There’s someone you need to meet.”

“Here?” he asked as he stayed in his seat.

She stood and put her hands on her hips. “Get up now, Cruz. Don’t make me fight dirty.”

He grinned. “You gonna wrestle me into submission?”

“You wish. I was thinking of pretending to cry.”

That got him to his feet.

He followed her to a table in the back. Lexi waited until the man there looked up from his newspaper and smiled.

“Morning, Congressman. Good to see you.”

“Lexi. How are you, darlin’?”

“Great.” She grabbed Cruz’s hand, ignoring the inevitable tingle, and drew him next to her. “Congressman Vantage, this is Cruz Rodriquez.”

The congressman looked Cruz over and nodded curtly. “You tell your daddy I send him my best,” he said to Lexi, basically ignoring the introduction.

Lexi didn’t understand. Was it a new-money thing? A Mexican-American thing? Did it matter?

She held out her left hand so the diamond ring was clearly visible. “We’re engaged.”

The older man’s face changed. He stood and held out his hand to Cruz. “Are you, now? Congratulations. You’re a lucky man, winning a Titan girl. Especially Lexi. Do you golf?”

“Sure,” Cruz told him.

Vantage handed over a business card. “Give me a call. We’ll go spoil a good walk, as my wife likes to say about my golfing. What kind of business are you in, son?”

“Cars. Everything from racing to dealerships.”

“Good. Good. I know some people you need to meet.” The congressman’s cell phone rang. “I need to get that. You two take care, you hear?”

They returned to their table. Lexi didn’t know what to think.

“He wasn’t subtle,” she grumbled. “I don’t get him blowing you off. What if you wanted to contribute to his campaign?”

“He doesn’t need the money. His seat is assured for as long as he wants it.”

Which was true, but still. Apparently she didn’t have to wonder if Cruz really needed her connections to make his way into Texas society.

“Why do you want to be a part of all this?” she asked.

“I’m taking the game to the next level.”

“You won’t like it.”