Beauty Queen (48 page)

Matt, Robin, and Jake all turned to see who he was talking about.

Oh, shit, Robin muttered.

Who is it? Matt asked.

Bud Reynolds. Rebeccas ex, Mr. Lear said. Youve

heard him on the radio, havent you? Come on down to Reynolds Chevrolet, yada yada yada.

Yeah, hed heard him, all right, and had thought, long before he knew Rebecca, that the mans voice grated. While the blonde on his arm was predictably pretty, Reynolds sure didnt look like the big, strapping, handsome man Matt had expected a man worthy of Rebeccas attentions. No, Bud Reynolds was the opposite of that. He was big; his barrel chest had slid to belly flab. And he had a thick face with a ruddy complexion that suggested either he drank too much or the exertion of walking to the stage had almost done him in.

How she stayed married to that ass for so long is a mystery, Robin said disgustedly.

Why she ever married him is a mystery, if you ask me. Mr. Lear snorted. Ill tell you the truth, Matt, he said, pausing to down the last of his whiskey and shove the glass back across the table to him, thats what I worry about with Becky. Shes pretty, but shes not the sharpest tack on the board when it comes to men.

Come on, Aaron, thats not fair, Jake said instantly. She was fifteen when she met him, nineteen or maybe even younger when she married him

But Mr. Lear cut him off with a biting, So?

So, shes a lot older and wiser, just like all the rest of us. She knows what she is doing. And Matt here is a good guy.

Thanks, Jake. Ill remember you said that, Matt said with a wink, and took Mr. Lears glass. Would you like another one, Mr. Lear?

If you dont mind.

Matt swiped up the glass, stopped short of crushing it on Lears head for having so little faith in his daughter, and began striding to where Rebecca was standing with Tom and her jerk ex-husband.

She must have felt him coming, because she glanced over her shoulder as he approached, and he saw a look of relief on her face as Tom began to wave at him.

Matt! Tom cried, extending his hand. I was just telling Rebecca that shes done an outstanding job. Ive heard from

several of my supporters that this is a great party.

The best Ive seen, Matt said.

Reynolds was eyeing him closely, too. Dont believe weve met, he said through the cigar in his mouth. But Ive seen you in the paper, he said with a sly wink. Bud Reynolds, Reynolds Chevrolet and Cadillac.

What was the deal with announcing your business? Some sort of lame plug? Matt Parrish, he responded without offering his hand, and instead, put it possessively on the small of Rebeccas back.

Reynolds didnt miss that obvious signal, and chuckled as Matt greeted Toms wife, Glenda. Oh, hi, Mike, she said.

Jesus, Glenda, its Matt, Tom all but spit at her.

Matt smiled, turned to the blonde with Reynolds. And as Reynolds didnt seem inclined to introduce him, Matt introduced himself. Im Matt Parrish, he said, offering her his hand.

She looked at his hand as if she wasnt certain what to do with any of them and reluctantly took it. Ah .. . Im Candace.

I was just going over the program with Tom, Rebecca said, looking up at Matt, the anxiety evident in her blue eyes. He has some, ah, new friends hed like to have sit up front. They are planning to do standing ovations and maybe ask some look-good questions.

You mean, friends other than the contributors who have paid two thousand dollars to have front row seats? Matt asked, frowning at Tom.

Yes, Rebecca said, her voice full of frustration. Im not sure how we can do that.

Well, we cant do it, Matt said to Tom. Those folks paid for the entertainment and the privilege of looking right up your nose, he said, which Glenda thought was funny enough to laugh very loudly.

Cant you just find a couple of tables and squeeze them in? Reynolds asked, smiling darkly at Matt. But whatever message he thought he was sending, Matt was not the least bit intimidated he saw that oily smile in the courtroom all the time.

We could. But that sort of defeats the purpose of charging different plate prices, dont you think? he asked, returning that dark smile with a thin one of his own.

Yeah, it does, doesnt it? Tom asked, now looking just plain confused.

But Reynolds was obviously a man used to getting his own way. Come on, buddy, he said, clapping Tom on the back. Were just talking a couple of tables. You think those folks are going to know the difference? Hell, just tell them we got the three -thousand-dollar plates! he exclaimed and laughed as if it was funny.

Theres no room, Rebecca tried to explain. We could barely squeeze the ones already there.

I wouldnt do it, Tom, Matt advised. Its dishonest and unfair, and trust me, it wont go unnoticed.

Reynolds snorted a laugh at that. Did you make this poor guy pay, Tom? Cuz hes sure acting like he had to cough up a couple of grand.

Oh, God, Rebecca muttered beneath her breath; Matt could feel his pulse racing, probably from the strain of keeping his fist out of that mans nose.

Youre right, Bud, Tom said, not sounding very certain at all. No one will notice. But he looked expectantly at Rebecca. You can get a couple of tables, right, Rebecca?

Sure she can. Just look at that mug. Reynolds chuckled.

Rebeccas blue eyes turned to ice. Ill see what I can do, she muttered. If youll excuse me

Ah, before you go round up those tables for us, Becky, Reynolds said. Is Aaron here? Thought I might talk to him a minute.

Rebecca stiffened, but spared the ass a glance. Hes here somewhere, she said, and turned, walking away before Reynolds could say anything else.

Reynolds laughed, snaked his arm around the blonde. Women, he said, shaking his head. You have to watch them, dont you? Especially that one ... shell turn to ice so fast, youll think an artic wind has blown up your shorts.

At least Glenda had the decency to gasp, and even Tom

looked a little appalled. As much as Matt would have liked to turn Reynoldss fleshy face into dough, he forced himself to say nothing, to turn and follow Rebecca, who had marched off at a clip.

He found her with Harold, who, true to form, delighted in the challenge of squeezing extra tables up front. Ill get right on it! he assured her with a snap of his fingers, and was off.

Whats going on? It was Pat, who had seen them talking with Tom. Matt told her, and Pats irritation was evident. Is it those high rollers from Houston?

Who? Matt asked, unaware of anyone from Houston in Toms back pocket.

I dont know... a couple of guys from some firm down there. They call him pretty regular. Franklin and Van-dermere, something like that.

The name, Matt thought, sounded vaguely familiar. But at the moment, he couldnt think; he was too busy trying to rearrange expensive seating for whomever it was Tom wanted to impress. In the meantime, the music had started up; people were dancing in between trips to the barbecue pits, and drinking plenty. The event was going exceedingly well, Matt thought, and figured, doing a rough head count estimate, that it had probably raised tens of thousands, not to mention the amount Tom was gathering by walking around and glad-handing everyone in the crowd. Including Rebeccas father, Matt noticed, in the company of his ex-son-in-law. From where Matt stood, Mr. Lear looked even unhappier than before, and in fact, when he made his way to the table with the forgotten whiskey, Mr. Lear was sneering something fierce.

Fucking bastard is still after my money, he groused, taking the whiskey from Matt. Wants another ten grand, like the first wasnt enough. Let me tell you something right now, Matt. If you ever decide to run for office, leave me out of it. I dont like politicians and I dont like bloodsuckers.

Seemed like a good time to dance, Matt thought, and when Rebecca returned, a frown on her gorgeous face, he

intercepted her. Dance with me, he murmured in her ear. I want to dance with the most beautiful woman here.

Rebeccas eyes widened. Really? she asked. You want to dance?

Yes, really!

I dont know any guys who dance! she exclaimed, laughing.

We dont as a general rule, Matt said with a wink. Unless we want sex. Lucky you, / even know how to waltz.

Rebecca was happy to dance, and they fell in with a crowd doing a slow country waltz while Matt whispered in her ear that she was the most beautiful woman on the planet. And Rebecca, giggling, whispered back, How do you know? Have you met all the women on the planet?

Educated guess, he said, pressing his thigh between her legs to twirl her around. And for a moment on that summer evening, the world faded into background noise, and it was just the two of them, a lucky guy with the most beautiful woman in the world, turning round and round in their own little happy fog, smiling at each other. They were, in that moment, perfect.

But then the music ended, and the band announced a break, and they reluctantly made their way back to the table.

At least Rebecca was reluctantshe was dreading the conversation with Dad because of what he might say, dreading looking at him again because of what it might mean. She was desperately worried about him; he looked like hell and was drinking like a fish. But when she tried to ask, he got mad, said there wasnt a damn thing wrong with him and to quit asking. Conditioned from years of having Aaron Lear as her father, Rebecca did what came naturally and just stopped talking. Which left Dad the opening he needed to grill her What are you going to do after this clowns race? Arc you going to stay home with Grayson? Too many women rush out in the world and leave their kids spinning. That remark had, of course, infuriated Robin, who interjected with her own, How would you know? You

werent around so much. And how come it has to be the mother who stays home ?

That in turn prompted a rather heated discussion between Robin and Jake and, of course, Dad, who finally demanded to know why they were arguing about it.

Oh, shit. This isnt how I wanted to do it, but what else is new. Dad, there is something I want to tell you, Robin said.

Ladies and gentlemen, if we might have your attention please! Gilbert suddenly called from the stage.

Ah, for the love of God! Robin, not now! Rebecca cried.

Tell me what? Dad all but bellowed as Harold walked up, whispered to Rebecca they were next.

Will you calm down? If youll calm down and be nice, I will tell you, Robin said.

Ladies and gentlemen! Gilbert called again, and the crowd began to simmer down and turn their collective attention to the stage.

Great. Your timing is impeccable, Robin. Weve got to go, Rebecca hissed as Matt reached for her arm, urging her up and toward the stage.

Oh, thanks! Robin called after her as they made their way through the tables to where Tom was already standing.

Please welcome Mr. Doug Balinger of the Texas Democratic Party, for a few remarks, Gilbert said. Polite applause went up as Doug took the stage.

Good evening, folks. I am much honored to be here tonight representing Texas Democrats, he began, and while he expounded on what the party thought of the future of Texas, Toms little team gathered around him while he reviewed his notes.

So how do I look? he asked, sounding nervous, which surprised Rebecca greatly. Of all the times she had been with him and seen him do his thing, he hadnt exactly been articulate, but he had never been short of completely full of himself.

You look great, Rebecca responded with a reassuring smile, reaching to straighten his bolo tie.

Remember, nothing about Medicare! Pat reminded him.

And everything about donations, Matt added.

Right, right, Tom said, and looked at his note cards again as Doug wrapped it up by announcing, It is a great honor for me to introduce to you the next lieutenant governor of the great state of Texas... Senator Tom Masters!

The applause and whistles were deafening; Tom took the steps two at a time, pausing to bow like a prizefighter, then waved to the crowd as he strode to the microphone like a superstar. Thank you, thank you! he shouted as the applause and whistling began to die down. Now this has got to be the best-looking crowd in the Lone Star State!

That sparked another round of thunderous applause, through which Matt, Rebecca, Pat, and Gilbert made then-way up front to a small table reserved for staff.

Before I get started, Id like to thank a few people who have made this night possible, he said, shuffling through his note cards. The fine people of the Three Nines Ranch, he started.

Matt leaned toward Rebecca and muttered, Stand up and wave to the crowd when he calls your name.

And Matthew Parrish, a personal friend and confidant. he said, which, Rebecca thought, seemed to startle Matt. He came only halfway out of his chair, waved quickly to a smattering of applause as he sat again. Ill tell you what, if I dont know the answer, my pal Matt does, Tom continued as Matt sank in his chair and looked at Rebecca and Pat, shrugging with bewilderment. And Pat Griswold. Where are you, Pat? Oh! Stand up, Pat, Tom urged from the podium. Now, Pat here, shes dynamite. Shes helped shape my position on several key issues youll hear about tonight.

Pat stood and sat quickly, blinking in shock.

Nor can I forget our emcee this evening, Gilbert Ortiz, Tom said, gesturing for Gilbert to stand. But Gilbert was already on his feet, clasping his hands and shaking them like a victory dance above his head, much to the delight of the crowd. Through the microphone, Tom laughed and said

jokingly, Gilbert, youre taking my spotlight. The crowd laughed again as Gilbert sat down.

Tom glanced at his notes. Many of you have spoken to Angie Rush on the phone. Angies helping herself to barbecuethere she is! he said, and they turned, saw Angie near the pits, jumping up and down and waving. Angie is my right hand, Tom said. He paused, then glanced at the staff table as if he couldnt remember anyone else.

Rebecca felt her pulse racing. Tom looked directly at her, then said, And Rebecca Reynolds I mean Lear. Im going to get that straight one of these days. He chuckled. Rebecca has been a help to my campaign . .. Speaking of which, I want to talk to you about the vision I have for Texas, he said, and shuffling his cards around, began to talk about Texas under his leadership.