Nearest Thing to Heaven (Maverick Junction) by Lynnette Austin Read Free Book Online

like a field of wildflowers. The same scent that had filled both his truck’s cab and his dreams last night. This morning.
    Annie was going to have to get someone else to play chauffeur after this trip. He didn’t want the feelings Sophie stirred in him. Never again. He couldn’t do it again.
    He took a sip of coffee to give himself another second. “You look fine. Maggie’s gonna love that top.”
    “You think? I’m so excited. I’m dying to see her shop after everything Annelise has told me about it.”
    “Maggie’s worked hard and done well. Annie wearing her dress to that big to-do in Dallas gave her a huge nudge. I worry she’s gonna leave us. Head to New York City. Be good for her, I guess, but we’d sure as hell miss her.”
    Sophie nodded. “There are always two sides to the coin, aren’t there?”
    “Yep.” He drank again. “So you girls are going off for the day. I never have understood that. I mean, how long can it take to try on a dress?”
    “This isn’t just any dress.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Right.”
    “Oh, you’re such a man.”
    “Guilty as charged. Seriously, though. Come on. Give. What’ll you do today? Really.”
    “Ohhh. Are you asking me to divulge the secrets of the sisterhood?”
    “Yeah, guess you could say that.”
    “Hmmm.” She crossed the room toward him. “Do I have time for a cup of coffee before we go? If I’m going to be divulging deep, dark secrets, I need caffeine.”
    He grinned. “You bet. I don’t think there’s any rush.” He held up his cup. “Good coffee, by the way.”
    “Thanks. I brought the beans with me. I buy them at a little deli on the corner. I very rarely drink coffee, but when I do, it has to be the best. I’m spoiled, I guess.” She shrugged. “Today felt like a coffee day, and I thought Annelise might like some when she got here.”
    At the counter, Sophie poured herself a cup, added cream, and walked back to the table. Sitting across from Ty, she thought again what an easy man he was to look at. What an easy man he was to talk to when he relaxed. When he put away the sadness she’d seen at the Fourth of July barbecue and last night when he’d thought no one was watching. When the couples in their group were holding each other close on the dance floor.
    She decided to keep things light.
    “Well, let’s see. What will we do first?” She tapped her chin with pastel pink nails. “Obviously, I’ll try on my maid-of-honor gown, but only after I ooh and ahh over Maggie’s shop and her creations. Which I’m sure I’ll do. We might shed a few tears. Try on a few things.”
    At his grunt, she took a bracing sip of coffee and closed her eyes. She’d needed that.
    “I saw plenty of tabloid pictures of Annelise and Cash at the Dallas fund-raiser. The dress Maggie designed for her was nothing short of spectacular.”
    “Like I said, our Maggie’s good.”
    “Good?” She laughed. “That’s like saying Pride and Prejudice is a nice little story. What a gross understatement. But since we’ve already established you’re a guy, I’ll let it go. You just can’t understand. It’s not in your genes.”
    “Whoa, are you male-bashing already? It’s not even nine o’clock.”
    “Nope. No bashing. Simply telling it like it is. Anyway, after I slide into my gorgeous gown and we all dry our eyes, Maggie will no doubt decide she needs to take a few nips here, a couple tucks there.”
    She grimaced. “She might even have to let out the side seams. Northern winters tend to pack on a few pounds.”
    “Hah, I seriously doubt that’s a problem for you,” Ty said.
    “Thank you, sir. Your mother taught you well.” She wrapped her hands around her cup. “Anyway, once Maggie’s satisfied the dress fits me and is up to her standards, we’ll probably stop by the liquor store and pick up a couple bottles of vodka or, better yet, tequila. Then we’ll head to Maggie’s to eat pizza, drink margaritas, and smoke cigars.”
    For just the