He dreaded the hurt and embarrassment the next question would cause his friend. “I don’t want to hurt you, Ruby. I don’t. I know this is hard for you. It is for me, too. But I have to know. What time did he leave?”
The flush on her cheeks deepened, and her head bowed. “…I couldn’t do it.” She averted her gaze. “I thought I could, but I couldn’t.”
“Do what?”
She laced and unlaced her fingers. “…Sleep with him. I wanted to—to feel wanted. Special. But, with him, I’d be just another notch on his bedpost.”
She looked up and he steeled himself against the hurt blazing in those amber eyes.
“I’m no saint, Coop. I’ve done my share of things I’m not proud of. Had some short-term flings, too. But I’m done with that. I want a home. A family.” She inhaled deeply and continued. “I told him I was sorry, but he’d have to leave.”
Cop radar jumped to high alert. Billy omitted all of that. “What happened?”
“Well, not surprisingly, he got mad, called me a few choice names, and left.”
“Did he hurt you?” Coop couldn’t keep the anger from his voice.
Ruby shook her head. “He grabbed my arm, but I’ve had my share of pissed off dates, too.” She lifted a snub-nosed thirty-eight from a desk drawer. “I pulled this out, told him to leave, and he left.”
“What time did he leave?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe eleven-thirty.”
“Did he say where he was going?”
“Not really. Said he might go back to Teddy’s. See if he could find a real woman.”
Her stricken voice gashed at him because he knew he added to her pain. He stood and grabbed his hat, then looked at the woman he had called a friend for more than twenty years. “You’re too good for the likes of him.”
“But not good enough for you.”
Before he could respond, she stood and waved a hand in front of her face. “I’m sorry, Coop. That was petty, and uncalled for.”
He didn’t know what to say, so he stuck to business. “Thanks for talking to me.”
“Bill’s a smooth-talking ladies’ man, Coop. But he’s no killer.”
“Take care of yourself, Ruby.” He hurried out, questions mounting with each step he took.
Why didn’t Billy Ray tell me the whole truth? Why would he imply something more happened between him and Ruby when it didn’t? He had to know I would check his story.
The friend side warred with the cop side as he wondered how a man who never had trouble getting a woman dealt with being rebuffed by two in the same night. Did he go back to Teddy’s and find someone happy to be another a notch on his bedpost?
Or did something more sinister happen?
He watched Sam exit the lawyer’s office, then cross the street to a dress shop, the big dog beside her. Something about her fascinated him from their first encounter. It was obvious she possessed great power, but at the same time, exuded a delicate vulnerability that titillated him. She would be the perfect accompaniment.
Suddenly consumed by a nervous energy he had not experienced before, it was difficult to remain focused. Everything must be perfect this time.
Sam headed back to her truck, arms loaded with packages, Jack at her side. She needed to get back to Dallas soon and retrieve more clothes, especially work scrubs. She juggled the bags, trying to reach into her pocket for the keys.
“Here, let me help.” Billy Ray deftly pulled two bags from her arms. “You have your hands full.”
She hadn’t noticed him coming toward her, and jumped at his voice. “Oh, thank you. Thought I had it under control.” She retrieved the key and clicked the unlock button. “Obviously, I didn’t.”
Jack growled low and menacing.
“Down, Jack,” ordered Sam. “He’s a friend.”
Billy moved away from the dog, holding the bags until Sam transferred them to the front passenger seat. “Not very friendly, is he?”
“I’m afraid not.”
When Jack growled again, Billy looked at Sam. “He won’t bite me, will he?”
“No. Unless he thinks I’m in danger, then yeah, he will. Could be it’s just a guy thing.”
“A guy thing?”
“You know, like flexing your muscles or showing off.” She put the last bag away and faced him. “He does that anytime a strange man comes around.” She reached down and stroked the mutt’s head. “He’s really a big ole softy, aren’t you, sweetie?”
Jack sat on his haunches, eyes still on Billy.
