“Good, because I was having serious doubts about this plan.”
“Me, too. Maybe we always knew on a subconscious level it wasn’t a good idea.”
“Oh, I knew on a conscious level it wasn’t a good idea.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, I just talked to Imogen, and it turns out that she and Tammy and the kids are all going down to Texas next weekend, so it seems kind of pointless to drag everyone together for a dinner party on Monday when they’re all spending the weekend together. And clearly she and Ty are digging each other if they’re hanging out like this, and I don’t think I should really interfere.”
There was a giant pause, which irritated Suzanne.
“You don’t think you should interfere? Are you feeling okay?”
Now she shredded the napkin. “I’m fine,” she said through gritted teeth. There was no point in getting into an argument with Ryder.
“Does this mean I won’t get my three months’ worth of desserts?”
“I’ll make you the pineapple upside-down cake, but that’s it.”
“Fair enough. My stomach thanks you. Are you going to Texas, too?”
“No. I have plans.”
“A hot date?” he asked, and there was an edge to his voice.
“Yes, with a bride. I’m reviving my wedding planning business, and I have a meeting with a potential client.”
Another pause. “Why are you doing that? I didn’t think you enjoyed wedding planning all that much.”
Dipping her finger in her margarita, not giving a shit how tacky that was, she sucked her fingertip. She so did not want to have this conversation, but it was inevitable. Might as well get it over, and do it in public, where she might actually be able to control her hormonal emotions. “It’s time to go back to work.”
“Why? You’re plenty busy with the charity work.”
Damn it, he was going to make her spell it out. “I need the income. There are only two alimony payments remaining.”
“Are you serious?” Ryder sounded as shocked as she felt that it had been two whole years since their marriage had been puked out and flushed down the toilet. “If you need more time, I don’t care, Suz, you know that. You want another year or two?”
Of course he would offer. And of course it would make her feel even shittier than she already did. “No, thanks, that’s okay. I’ll be fine. Why postpone the inevitable?”
“But—”
“Gotta go. I’ll talk to you soon. Take care.” Suzanne hung up and sucked in a deep breath.
Lord, she was shaking like a puppy pooping peach pits.
She was starting her life all over again for the third time at the age of thirty-three and it sucked donkey dicks.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
IMOGEN was easily bouncing with as much excitement as Tamara’s seven-year-old daughter Hunter when they pulled up to the entrance of the motor coach park at the track in Texas. Elec had sent a car service to collect them at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, and Hunter had been talking nonstop about stock car racing the entire drive. Tamara’s older child, Pete, was much more subdued, reading a book on insects and occasionally glancing out the window.
Feeling a burble of excitement ready to burst forth herself, Imogen sympathized with Hunter’s impatience when the girl declared, “Man, it’s about time we got here!” Then the little girl added, “This ride lasted longer than Viagra.”
Imogen hadn’t seen that one coming.
Tamara’s jaw dropped. “Hunter, we really need to talk about your language. You should not be using words when you don’t even know what they mean.”
“But Suzanne—”
“I know,” Tamara said grimly. “And the rule is, if Suzanne says it, you are not allowed to repeat it. End of story. Now hop out of the car. I see Elec right there waiting for us. You, too, Petey. I’ll be right there.”
As Hunter yanked open the door and took off running toward her stepfather, her brother following at a more leisurely pace, Tamara grimaced. “Good Lord. My seven-year-old is talking about Viagra. I think I’m going to have to have another chat with Suzanne about little ears.”
From Imogen’s perspective, it was actually rather amusing, but she wasn’t Hunter’s mother. She also knew Suzanne would never intend to be causing problems for Tamara. “You know Suzanne doesn’t mean for Hunter to overhear.”
“I know she doesn’t. But she also has a voice that carries three rooms.” Tamara hesitated with her hand on the door handle. “I feel terrible that she didn’t come with us. I tried to talk her into it, but she was adamant.”
“She was the same way with me. But I don’t think anyone can talk Suzanne into anything.”
“That’s true.” Tamara stepped out of the car. “Let me go get my daughter before she maims my husband.”
Exiting out the other side, Imogen saw Hunter climbing up Elec’s legs, her ponytail bouncing and her mouth moving a mile a minute.
Then Imogen spotted Ty heading toward the entrance, and if she could have gotten away with it, she would have crawled up his legs, she was so excited to see him. It had been a long ten days since their camping trip. She had been inundated with work at school and he had been equally busy both prepping and racing, plus he’d done several sponsor appearances. They had talked every day on the phone for a good hour, but aside from a quick dinner on Monday, they hadn’t seen each other, and there had been no other communications. She had been hoping for random brief contact throughout the day, but she’d quickly figured out he didn’t like e-mail or text messages. When she’d sent an e-mail, it had been his assistant who had responded, letting her know he almost never checked his mail, which had been monumentally embarrassing since Imogen had made an offer of fellatio in the body of the message. And whenever she texted him, he always called her back instead of just replying.
When they had talked, it had been fun and interesting, very much the type of conversations where you explored getting to know someone. They had discussed movies and books and their families and a multitude of other topics, and they had more in common than she would have ever suspected. It was also gratifying to discover that her interest in Ty didn’t wane, it actually increased. It was definitely more than simply a physical attraction she felt for him.
Though the physical was quite important, she must confess. Other than a quick up-against-the-wall encounter after dinner, she hadn’t touched him in five days, and when she saw him, she wanted to do nothing more than press her body up against his and kiss him like crazy.