narrowly. If she looked like such a pyrotechnic explosive, why wasn’t Mitch blown away? “I think you should reconsider your play options.”
He looked at her earnestly. “Truly, Crystal, you’re the only woman in Lover’s Valley who is single of her own hardheaded choosing. And ain’t you ever heard heartbreak is attractive on a woman? Makes a guy just wanna cuddle her and hold her tight,” he said, crushing her to him, “and protect her from all the mean old tackles in life!”
She ground her teeth to hold back her reply while she counted slowly to ten, mentally composing herself. The gentler-version reply never formed in her mind as the room suddenly went silent except for the soft orchestral strains from the band.
Kathryn “the Prom Queen” Vincent walked into the great room. She was just as petite as ever, her smile still cheesily bright, ever the cheerleader. But the size of her stomach wasn’t hidden by the elegant black dress she wore.
She was heavily pregnant, and she was alone.
Chapter Five
Crystal swallowed as Kathryn’s eyes met hers. Why did my family invite her? was the first thought that shot through her mind.
Her second thought was that Kathryn looked very uncomfortable, either from her pregnancy or from being the center of attention. It didn’t matter. She’d made an effort to dress up and come to Crystal’s party, even bringing a brightly colored gift, and Crystal knew good manners like she knew sequins on a bridal gown.
“Kathryn,” she said, walking over to the woman she’d once called her best friend. “How lovely of you to come.”
“Thank you.” Kathryn’s voice wavered a little. “Tom couldn’t make it. I…I hope it’s all right that I came alone.”
Kathryn’s brown eyes seemed to speak of loneliness. Crystal remembered that her husband, Tom Trent, traveled a lot, the only one of the football buddies who’d ever managed to get past his small-town roots in some fashion.
“Of course it’s fine. I’m glad you could be here.” She took the present Kathryn offered her, admiring the silver-and-purple wrapping. “Thank you so much.”
“It’s just something small, a…a small thing to put in your house. I heard you liked animals,” Kathryn said nervously, staring up at Crystal.
“Do I ever. Come get a drink. We have Perrier water and a few other things.”
“Thank you.”
Crystal walked her over to the bar. Her mind flew with a thousand questions, none of which seemed like a safe topic to introduce. Kathryn seemed more ill at ease than ever, and it dawned on Crystal that she couldn’t leave the watermelon-shaped ex-cheerleader alone at the drink bar with no one to talk to. And no one seemed in a big hurry to rush over and greet the prom queen.
Crystal frowned as she fixed a Perrier. “How have you been?”
“Oh, fine,” Kathryn said airily.
Too defensively flip to be candid. Crystal stared at Kathryn. Long seconds passed. Why wasn’t anyone coming over to welcome one of the most popular girls in their class?
Suddenly, Mitch appeared at their side. “Hello, Kathryn,” he said warmly.
“Hi, Mitch.” The cheerleader’s smile was relieved.
“Care to dance?” he asked.
“And keep a brave front?”
“The only other option is to fold in the face of scrutiny.” He grinned at her, his expression daring.
After a moment, she nodded. “All right. Ever my knight whether in jeans or a tux.”
“Excuse us, Crystal,” he said, “Kathryn and I are going to enjoy a dance for old times’ sake.”
Crystal forced her jaw not to drop, but it was like holding up a concrete bridge. Once again he’d referred to that ill-fated night—so casually! Never mind that he’d gone off to dance with the woman for whom he’d dumped her, a move guaranteed to thrill the spectators. She felt exposed and ridiculed.
Barney Fearing pulled her out onto the floor. “Come on, Miss Red-Hot. Let’s not stand there like you just turned to stone.”
“Oh, hush, Barney!”
He chuckled. “Not that I expected you to thank me for being such a gallant and pulling you out of a pickle, but you could act like you’re enjoying yourself, Crystal. It’s bad for my reputation as a ladies’ man to have you treat me as if I smell like boiled cabbage.”
“I’m sorry.” She focused on Barney, making herself take a deep breath so her heart would stop racing. “You’re a true gentleman to save me from myself.”
“I know,” he said with a big smile. “Now, why don’t you quit eyeballin’ over thataway and affix your purty eyes to my handsome face? That way nobody’ll know your heart’s bleeding red as that sexy dress.”
Some irritation poured into her spine, a little at a time. “Affix my purty eyes to your handsome face?”
“That’s right. Is there anything in this room you’d rather be gazing upon?” His grin was wide and gleeful.
Crystal smiled ruefully. “No.”
“I didn’t think so. Mama always said I was a sight for sore eyes. And I reckon yours are sore as anybody’s tonight.”
She shook her head. “Barney, you’re different from the other men, I’ll have to give you that.”
“I know. Quality shows.”
Crystal laughed. “So…how come you haven’t settled down?”
He winked at her. “Because I couldn’t go out with my buddies anymore if I did.”
“I’m not sure I believe that.”
“Sometimes me and Frankie stay over at Linc’s until one o’clock in the morning,” he assured her.
“But if you had a wife, you wouldn’t have to do that.”
“Fine lecture coming from the most eligible woman in the Valley.”
“I’m not… Eligible isn’t how I describe myself.”
“How do you?”
“I don’t know,” she murmured. “Happy?”
“Alone?”
“Well, yes. I have my five cats, three dogs, et cetera, and my bridal salon. I never feel alone,” she said, vaguely wondering if she was telling herself or Barney the truth.
“Maybe you and I should get married, since we both think marriage is too much trouble,” he suggested.
“Maybe so.” She laughed, not taking him seriously. “I don’t cook.”
