A Texas-Sized Secret

“Not by much, there isn’t,” he said and leaned back, laying one arm along the top of the booth bench. “Naomi, we live in a tiny town in Texas. People talk. Always have. Always will. What matters is how you deal with it.”

“I’m dealing,” she grumbled, and he wanted to smile again but was half-worried she might kick him under the table if he did.

“No, you’re not.” He tipped his head to one side and gave her a look that said be honest. “You’re nearly five months along with that baby, and you just now told your folks.”

“That’s different.” Her fingers tore at the napkin again until she had quite the pile of confetti going.

“And when we walked in here and people turned to look, you would have walked right back out if I hadn’t gotten in your way.”

She frowned at him, and the flash in her eyes told him he was lucky she hadn’t kicked him. “I don’t like it when you’re a know-it-all.”

“Sure you do.” She lifted one eyebrow again, and he had to admire it. Never had been able to do it himself. “Look, either you can let this Maverick win, by curling up and hiding out...or you can hold your head up like the tough woman I know you are and not let some mystery creep dictate how your life goes.”

“Using logic isn’t fair.”

“Yeah, I know.”

She sat back in the booth and continued to fiddle with the paper napkin in front of her. It was nearly gone now, and he told himself to remember to ask Amanda for more.

“Toby, I don’t want to let Maverick win. To run my decisions. But isn’t that what I’m doing by agreeing to marry you?”

“No.” He straightened up now, leaned toward her and met her gaze dead-on. “If you were doing what he wanted, you’d be locked in a closet crying somewhere. Do you think that bastard wants you to be with me and happy? Do you think he wants you turning the whole town on its ear so they don’t even think about his stupid video?”