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Grinning to herself—equally eager for the night ahead—she pulled in behind him and followed him back to the ranch.
* * *
An hour later, standing in the beautiful bedroom Drew had given her, Beth stared at herself in the mirror and bit her lip. “I don’t know, Kimberly. Isn’t it a little...um...skimpy?”
Kimberly laughed, handing her a mist-gray shawl that was soft as a butterfly wing. “The dress is perfect. It showcases your assets.”
If by assets the other woman meant breasts, then yes. No question there. The black cocktail dress dipped low in the front and even lower in the back. The silk and jersey blend clung to every curve of Beth’s body as if it had been sewn onto her. Narrow rhinestone straps were its only embellishment.
“This must be horribly expensive,” she said. How could she justify purchasing anything so frivolous and impractical when her house was partially demolished? She was playing dress-up with a man who was way out of her league.
“I’m giving you my discount. You can afford all of this stuff and not break the bank.” Kimberly obviously picked up on Beth’s ambivalence. She shook her head and folded her arms across her chest. “I think I know what’s going on. You have a thing for Drew, but you don’t want to get hurt.”
“You have to admit that we’re an unlikely couple. His prize thoroughbreds have a better lineage than I do.”
Kimberly took her arm and steered her toward a chair, forcing her to sit. The other woman stretched out on the bed on her side, propping up on one elbow. “Let me tell you a story, Beth. It might help.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Jed and I were high school sweethearts.”
“I had no idea.”
“Well, it was a long time ago. Up until this summer when he came home for our reunion, I hadn’t seen him in a decade.”
“That must have been odd.”
“Odd and awkward. Because I was the one who broke up with him.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. We were madly in love. He was headed off to college, but he wanted to give me a ring before he left.”
“And what about you?”
“I didn’t have the money to go to college. My parents and younger brother were killed in a car accident when I was fifteen. There was only a tiny life insurance policy. My grandmother lived with us and was in poor health. So, all during high school I was her caretaker. It was everything I could do to keep my grades up, go out with Jed occasionally and make sure Grammy was looked after.”
“That must have been terrible.”
“Not terrible, exactly. Just a lot of hard work. But by the time graduation rolled around, I realized that Grammy was sliding into dementia. Jed was brilliant. He had multiple acceptance letters from colleges and universities all over the country. But he chose to go to Austin so he would be able to come home and see me regularly.”
“So why did you break it off?”
“I knew it was an impossible situation. He deserved to do all the things young men are supposed to do when they get out on their own. I couldn’t bear the thought of dragging him down.”
“I see.”
“I don’t think you do. I made assumptions about his feelings for me. I told myself it was puppy love. That he would meet lots of girls in college—suitable females with family backgrounds similar to his. I did the noble thing and let him go.”
“And?”
“I broke his heart,” Kimberly said flatly, her eyes shadowed with remembered grief. “And I broke my own. All because I had issues with self-esteem and a chip on my shoulder about my circumstances.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
Kimberly’s smile was gentle. “Royal is a small town when all is said and done. I know there have been unkind people over the years who have slandered your reputation. And I remember your mother. She wasn’t much of a parent.”
“Don’t forget my wonderful brother,” Beth quipped. Hearing Kimberly voice the truth hurt. A lot.
Kimberly shook her head. “No one who takes the time to know you will ever believe that you are anything but a strong, talented, amazing woman.”
Beth refused to cry, though her eyes burned. “Thanks for the pep talk.”
“I’m serious, Beth. If there’s something between you and Drew...something real, don’t be as stupid as I was. Don’t throw away love.”
“Who said anything about love?”
“I saw the way he looked at you this morning.”
“That was lust. There’s a difference.”
“And which is it for you?”
The pointed question put a lump in Beth’s throat and made her stomach hurt. “The man is a billionaire.”
“The man is a man. We all need someone to love. I’ve been lucky enough to get a second chance. I don’t care how much money Jed has. He loves me, and I love him, and we’re having a baby. That’s something money can’t buy.”
Beth jumped to her feet, stripping off the dress and putting on a clean pair of jeans and a long-sleeved lavender top. “Thank you for bringing the clothes. If you’ll give me the receipt, I’ll write you a check.”
Kimberly nodded. “I’ll get it to you tomorrow. And listen, Beth, take things slow if you’re scared, but don’t run away. You and Drew could easily have been killed, but you weren’t. Haven’t you wondered why?”
“Mother Nature is random in her violence.”
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