Chapter Fifteen
Despite the unpleasant encounter at the ranch between herself and the barracuda, the rest of the preparations for the big event had been nothing but fun for Liz, and quite often downright exciting. Some of the items donated by the rich and famous of Houston were simply amazing. The Tiffany vase was indeed worth even more than Courtney had said it was, but it was far from the most exquisite or costly item. An anonymous donor had brought in a wristwatch given to Jackie Kennedy Onassis by her second husband, the Greek billionaire Aristotle. Liz didn’t mind admitting she’d ogled the thing for a very long time.
The plans for the fundraiser had been pretty set in stone overall, but the details had changed from hour to hour. Liz was as flexible as the next person when it came to a change of plans, but the Barons had a whirlwind style that allowed for pivoting on a dime, so to speak. As a result, Liz was learning so much more about just how much hard work it was being a patron of anything. Everyone involved in the event, including Paige and Eve, were dressed in the same outfit. Jeans, boots, and a Save the Steer’s Den t-shirt. While the t-shirts were identical, Liz knew the boots and jeans Paige wore were way more expensive than her bargain buys.
“Holy cow.” Eyes wide, Emily, dressed in the same t-shirt and jeans as Liz, spotted the Jackie Kennedy watch. “Who donated this?”
“Anonymous. Isn’t it exquisite?”
“And then some.”
“Except for his second wife,” Devlin strolled up behind them, “and possibly that watch, the man had awfully gaudy taste.”
Liz couldn’t resist scanning the man from the tips of his booted feet to the top of his sandy-brown hair, lingering a little longer on sparkling eyes before smiling. One thing was certain, besides having stunning blue eyes she could lose herself in forever, Devlin knew how to wear a pair of jeans.
The guests were beginning to arrive. Liz had never seen so many Stetsons in one place. The silent auction items had been set up on tables along the side wall. The actual items to be in the live auction, like Jackie’s watch and the Tiffany vase, were set up on tables for bidders to preview in an area designed for an orchestra. The number of people perusing the goods in both areas gave Liz goosebumps.
Devlin’s phone buzzed. “Grams has determined that we underestimated the last-minute attendees. She wants more tables on the veranda.”
“From the barn storage?” Emily seemed to know how the Baron household ran as well as any other family member.
“Yep.” Devlin nodded. “Mitch and Mack are sending out an all points bulletin for muscle.”
“I’m in.” Emily pushed the cotton long sleeves up her forearm and grinned.
About to open her mouth to volunteer as well, Liz stopped at Devlin’s raised hand.
Stepping into her private space, he placed an all too brief kiss on her lips. “Someone needs to stay here who knows how to answer any questions the guests may have on an item.”
On a sigh, Liz nodded. He had a point. “If you still need help after Paige and Eve come back from checking on the wine and food, I’ll come out.”
“Fair enough.” Devlin nodded.
No sooner had he and Emily crossed through the French doors onto the veranda then, a glass of champagne in hand, Courtney of the many names sauntered up beside her. “The vase should have been front and center.”
“Like a ten pin,” Liz teased. Not sure why she thought the barracuda might have a sense of humor.
The witch glared at her and Liz did her best to stay calm. This woman could tick off Mother Theresa. “A bowling joke. What I should expect from you.”
Liz had to wonder if Courtney still thought she was talking to Emily.
“And here I thought it suited you so well.” Flashing a forced toothy grin, Liz probably should have sweetened her words with honey instead of vinegar, but she just couldn’t help herself.
For a few seconds, the whites of her eyes circled dark brown orbs, Liz expected smoke to come out of Courtney’s ears. Instead, grinding her back teeth, she merely gathered her composure and shook her head. “So childish. Proves my point. Devlin needs a real woman.”
Visions of this ‘real woman’ with a black eye crossed Liz’s mind, but she didn’t dare do anything to upend the carefully arranged event. Instead, she bit her tongue and side stepped her nemesis. “I’d better see if Paige needs any help.”
Shaking her head, Courtney gently raised one shoulder in an indifferent shrug.
Silently counting to ten or a thousand, just as Liz passed the barracuda, she tripped over her own two feet. Or did she? Glancing down at the floor in search of some obstacle to have tripped on, the only thing she saw was Courtney’s tapping foot in boots that probably cost more than Liz’s weekly income. Slowly raising her gaze to meet the witch’s, there was no missing the satisfied smirk on her face. The little… “Having a hard time keeping those size ten blocks to yourself?”
Once again, Courtney’s eyes widened, her nostrils flared and any second, Liz was sure steam would be coming out of the woman’s ears. The woman was way too easy to rile. “I’ll have you know I wear a petite size seven. Perfect size for my frame.” The woman actually patted the side of her head as if proving some ridiculous point.
She knew she shouldn’t have done it. It was truly childish to follow the philosophy of tit for tat, but when Courtney spun around to saunter away, Liz couldn’t help herself. Her size eight boot slipped forward and Courtney went flying over the boot, and unceremoniously face planted on the hardwood floor.
Heaving up onto all fours, Courtney glared at her and suddenly, like staring a snorting bull in the face, the woman grunted and lunged forward.
Two arms wrapped around her knees and yanked her feet out from under her. Oh, hell, what had she started?
“There we go. All set.” Brushing his hands together, Devlin surveyed the veranda. The extra tables were in place and Paige, Eve, and their grandmother were quickly helping the staff pretty them up.
“Looks like we’d better buckle up.” Staring ahead, Emily bumped the last table over a smidgeon. “Courtney’s here and she’s marching straight for Liz.”
“Liz?” His gaze narrowed as he searched out the two women. “She’d better keep her distance.”
Emily cocked her head to one side. “You really do care for Liz, don’t you?”
His best friend studied him so intently, discomfort slithered up his spine. “Of course I do. I care for a lot of people. You included.”
Shaking her head, Emily rolled her eyes at him. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
The thought of side stepping, or fudging his way out of the answer occurred to him, but there was no point, he had to face the music eventually and now was as good a time as any. His head bobbed. “Quite a bit.”
One brow lifted over eyes that shimmered as brightly as Liz’s but somehow, had never affected him the way Liz’s did. “I thought so.”
“And?”
“And what?” Her brow settled back into its rightful place. She really didn’t know what he meant.
“Are you okay with it?”
Her expression softened as her lips tipped up. “I couldn’t ask for a better man for my older sister.”
The tired old joke between the twins had them both chuckling. Maybe it wasn’t that old or that tired.
“I mean it.” She stepped back. “If you two work out, I couldn’t be happier. You hurt her and I’ll slowly break every bone in your… “Uh-oh.” Emily slowly maneuvered around him, her gaze focused toward the French doors. “You-know-who appears to have Liz cornered.”
“What?” He’d never liked Courtney, but after the other day when she was so rude and insulting to Liz, he not only deplored her, he didn’t trust her as far as he could throw an elephant. Following the direction of Emily’s gaze, he located the two women just in time to see Liz stumble and right herself. Narrowing his gaze, he zeroed in on Courtney’s face. “That…”
“Now, now.” Emily patted him on the arm. “Your grandmother has bionic ears.”
Shoving his sleeves up his arms, he began his march across the ballroom, muttering to himself, “I have never struck a woman in my life, but they say there’s a first time for everything.”
Emily scurried up behind him and grabbed his arm just as Courtney face planted. “See? Sis has this under control.”
Stopping in place, Devlin pressed his lips together and held back a laugh. “They do say karma’s a bitch. At least now I won’t have to slug her.”
“There you go, saved by the… “Oh hell.”
“Oh hell, what?” Devlin spun around again, his gaze landing on what Emily had seen. Her arms around Liz, Courtney had yanked Liz’s legs out from under her and now the two women were rolling around on the ground like a couple of troublemakers at the schoolyard. “I’m going to kill her.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Emily grabbed his arm hard. “This is going to be fun.”
“Fun? Have you lost your mind?” Panic was beginning to make itself at home in the pit of his stomach. “I need to go rescue her.”
“Why would you want to rescue Courtney? She deserves everything she has coming.”
“Not Courtney. Liz.” Her name may have come out a little louder than he’d wanted it to, but Emily had a tight hold on him and he needed to breakaway and save Liz.
The way Emily kicked her head back and laughed—hard—Devlin considered maybe she’d hit her head or something and he hadn’t noticed. Only a mad woman would stop him from protecting her sister. “Believe me when I tell you, Liz most definitely does not need saving.”
He turned to see where the two women had been rolling around on the floor, and debated if Emily would kill him for shoving her out of his way. Legs and boots were flying up, then down, arms were flailing and just as he was about to drag Emily across the floor if he had to, Liz popped up, grabbed Courtney by the wrist and a second later, Courtney was flat on her back.
“See?” Emily straightened her shoulders, a proud grin on her face.
Another moment, and Liz straddled Courtney, a tight grip on either wrist, she had the woman pinned to the ground, and rather than break it up, a crowd had gathered around the cat fight.
“What is wrong with everyone?” While he couldn’t have cared less what happened to Courtney, he didn’t trust her not to pull a sneaky move and actually hurt Liz. He couldn’t stand the thought of Liz getting injured. “Come on.” He waved Emily on. If she followed him or not it was up to her, but he was not letting this fight continue.
“I’m telling you,” Emily scrambled to keep up with his large and hurried strides, “Liz is a second-degree brown belt. She doesn’t need anyone’s help.”
Devlin looked back over his shoulder at Emily. “She’s a what?”
“You heard me.”
The two stuttered to a stop by the pair on the floor. Both women were perfectly still, glaring at each other.
“Need some help?” he asked.
Liz shook her head. “I’m not letting go until this Botox overdosed bimbo promises to behave like a good little girl.”
“There she goes stirring things up even more.” Emily rolled her eyes skyward and sighed. “Absolutely no filter.”
Trying fruitlessly to pull her arms away, Courtney actually growled at Liz.
“See, what did I tell you?” Emily crossed her arms and winked at her sister.
Flat on her back, Courtney looked at Emily then turned her attention to Liz. Her eyes bulged with surprise before a deep frown settled in and she skewered all three of them with an icy glare. “What the heck?”