Free The Way to Texas by Liz Talley

Regret for Andrew for not having the kind of father who would stoop to such a task, regret she’d not had any more children and regret she’d put the kibosh on exploring something more with the sexy contractor.
    It seemed her life would be full of regret.
    â€œNow that’s the kind of man you need, D.” Margo’s words jarred her from her pity party.
    â€œI don’t need a man,” Dawn said, shifting her gaze from Tyson and Hunter Todd and zeroing in on Margo, who had plopped down beside the jack-o’-lantern.
    â€œWe all need a man, baby,” Margo said, brushing her bright orange-tipped nails on her apron. “You know, for stuff like fixing a car or killing mice in your house or a roll under them sheets.”
    â€œNot me. My track record says differently,” Dawn said, climbing the stairs, heading for the front door. She had to check the sugar cookies baking inside.
    â€œSo you got a hold of the wrong ones first. Ain’t all of ’em good ones, baby. I’ve had my share of toads before I found my prince. And let me tell you, he ain’t a prince every day neither. But I’m glad I got him. Don’t close off that door in your life yet, girl.”
    Dawn stopped and lowered her voice. “I haven’t putany nails in the door. It’s still unlocked. It’s just not wide open. My life is in shambles right now.”
    Margo tilted her head. “Why’s it in shambles? You got a job. You got a family who loves you. You got a man who’s interested.”
    â€œWe’re friends. ” Dawn felt indignant. Why did Margo always have to meddle? She hadn’t known the woman but four months, and she was always telling her how to do everything.
    â€œBaby, that don’t mean he ain’t interested,” Margo said with a tinge of smile.
    â€œMargo. Damn it. A friend is all I want.” She crossed her arms and glared at the assistant director. How dare the woman remind her of the insane attraction she had for Tyson? They’d been doing great as friends. Just yesterday, they’d sat on the porch, drank lemonade and talked about their favorite TV shows, even quoting some of the one-liners to try to stump each other. They’d laughed so hard, one of the neighbors had peered over a hedge at them. It had been nice. And fun.
    Despite that, every second she spent with him made her want him more.
    â€œWell, you tell yourself whatever you need to. But I’ve been around for the past two weeks, and if I lit a match around you two, we’d all go up in smoke.”
    Dawn straightened. Margo could feel the sexual tension? Dawn had thought she and Tyson had trampled it down well. Lord knew she’d been trying to play it cool. To stop looking at him so much, to stop thinking about him so much. She thought she had succeeded. Now she knew she hadn’t.
    â€œLook. Tyson’s a great guy, but you know my past. I can’t choose a guy based on mere attraction. Don’t you remember what I told you about Murray? It only tookone kiss before he had my ankles over my head.” Dawn lowered her voice. She didn’t want Tyson to hear how easy she’d been. Besides she didn’t want him to know how much he occupied her thoughts.
    Margo laughed. “I wish I could get my ankles above my head.”
    â€œYou know what I mean,” Dawn sniffed.
    â€œGirl, are you crazy? You didn’t know that man was married. You didn’t cause that whole scene outside the museum. That was on him. Not you. Why you carrying around that guilt? So you screwed up. We all do that.” Margo’s dark eyes flickered in the dying sunlight. She looked like an ancient mystic sent to set everyone straight. But Dawn didn’t want to hear it.
    â€œI can’t help it. I saw his wife’s face. Saw their children. I knew exactly what she felt when she saw me standing there holding her husband’s hand. I knew because I had felt