Free Nearest Thing to Heaven (Maverick Junction) by Lynnette Austin Page A

dance in the cramped living room. As close as he held her, they didn’t take up much space.
    Ty listened to the give-and-take and knew he should offer to dance with Maggie. But that would leave Sophie with Brawley. The idea of them together, of her in his arms—especially in that outfit—didn’t sit well. Which, when it came right down to it, was an even better reason to dance with Maggie.
    “Come here, Red. Dance with me .” He took her hand and swung her into a dance.
    Brawley tipped his head to Sophie. “Guess that leaves you and me. Can’t say this is gonna be a hardship, sugar.” With that he pulled her close, and they moved to the music.
    When the song ended and another started, Brawley called out, “Switch.”
    Laughing, everybody shuffled partners, and Ty found himself with Annie. “See, Cash?” He waved a hand between them. “Lots of space here. Not moving in on your woman.”
    “See you keep it that way.” Cash twirled Sophie.
    Staubach sniffed the air, looked longingly at the pizza, then entered the mix, knocking against legs and end tables as he circled the dancers.
    The song switched again and so did the couples. Ty swallowed and placed his hand at Sophie’s waist, touched bare skin above it. He bit back a curse. Soft. So damn soft. And warm.
    His heart beat like an adolescent’s, touching his first girl. What in hellfire was going on?
    Then she looked up at him and smiled. If he’d been raised Catholic, he would have had to head straight to the nearest confessional.
    Instead, with a groan, he tucked her into him, held tight, and simply quit fighting it. For the space of the song, he would simply be a man, not a widower. A long-forgotten feeling. Her warm breath teased him, and the rest of the world ceased to exist.
    This time when the song ended, Maggie said, “Enough. I’m hungry, and you promised us food.”
    They sat at the table Annie had sanded and refinished. Ate pizza, drank beer, and told stories on each other while Staubach made the rounds, grinning as each of them tossed him chunks of pizza.
    Ty watched Sophie, who sat quietly, taking it all in and smiling at some of the outlandish stunts they’d pulled. He swore a wistful expression settled over her face.
    Hadn’t she had this kind of closeness growing up? Good friends who could sit around a table and chew the fat? Or had the pampered little rich girl been above that sort of thing?
    *  *  *
    A couple hours later, the guys and their dog left. Sophie stood at the window. As the taillights faded into the distance, she wondered if Annelise truly realized how lucky she was.
    Cash Hardeman. Her cousin couldn’t have done any better. Despite their differences, they’d been made for each other.
    And the camaraderie here. These wonderful people who had taken Annelise under their wings made her feel so at home.
    Sophie heard Annelise lock the door, was aware of Maggie putting on some new music. Still, the room felt quiet . As if all the energy had jumped up and hopped in the old Caddy with the guys.
    Staring into the Texas sky, seeking out familiar constellations, Sophie’s mind opened to unwanted thoughts and worries. Nathan. She’d have to have another heart-to-heart with him. She shivered.
    And her mortgage payment came due next week. Her heart sank. Good luck with that. She still hadn’t managed a single new design.
    Because Annelise’s mother and her mother were sisters, everyone assumed she had money. Wrong. Annelise’s mother had married money. Huge money. Her mother hadn’t. And it had never really mattered.
    Still didn’t.
    She’d make her payments. Always did, one way or another. She rolled her tense shoulders. Tonight wasn’t for this. Tonight was for celebrating. For dancing with a cowboy who made her all warm and fuzzy.
    Determined to put money worries aside till after the wedding, she fixed a smile on her face. Turning to the others, she waved her bottle of midnight-blue polish. “Who’d like her nails