Chapter 13
Morgan
Her silver sedan sat idling in the driveway while Morgan picked at her short nails.
She’d have to do something with those before the wedding, or her sister would lose it.
Not that Morgan’s fingernails should have anything to do with Felicia’s big day or her happiness, but Morgan could manage a manicure for her sister’s sake.
Regardless of how ridiculous she thought it was.
A curtain slid across one of the front windows of the cute little yellow house, and Kim and Melanie appeared, both waving excitedly.
Morgan gave a small wave back and wondered why they were so enthusiastic.
Her cousin was never enthusiastic about anything except her wife.
She and Morgan had both come out of that family weary and wary.
If their enthusiasm meant they thought this was anything more than it was, they were going to be sorely disappointed.
Morgan shifted her gaze from the window to the closed door she’d seen only a few times.
Once for Kim and Melanie’s housewarming, then again for their bridal shower.
She didn’t remember seeing Danielle at either of those, but they were both floating events, so they must have simply missed crossing paths.
The front door opened, and Danielle stepped outside wearing flowy brown linen pants with a fitted white T-shirt and brown sandals, all perfect for the early spring warmth that had hit the area that week.
Her muted, sun-kissed makeup perfectly matched her tanned skin and soft features.
Morgan wasn’t sure she’d ever seen a more beautiful woman in her life.
No.
Stop that.
This woman was off-limits. Morgan couldn’t see being romantically involved with her as anything other than a serious relationship, and that was not an option.
Danielle tucked her long blonde hair behind one ear as she entered the passenger side of the car. “Thanks for picking me up.”
“No problem,” Morgan said as she backed her car out of the driveway then headed out of the neighborhood. “You visit them often? I know you work with Melanie, but I didn’t realize y’all were so close.”
“Yeah, sort of.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Morgan glimpsed Danielle biting the side of her bottom lip. It was equal parts adorable and concerning. The last thing Morgan wanted was to make Danielle uncomfortable about something.
“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s none of my business, really. Forget I asked.”
“No, it’s fine,” Danielle said. “It’s just… they watch my daughter from time to time.”
“Oh. You have a daughter? How old is she?”
That was also none of her business, but a quick sideway look told her this one was okay to ask.
“Thirteen,” Danielle said. “Thirteen going on eighteen, if you ask her.”
Morgan laughed. “Sounds about right. I probably thought I was even older than that at her age.”
“Me too.”
Morgan turned right onto a highway heading toward the uppity end of Oakview, where all the oil field money lived.
A strange emotion twisted inside her. It must be connected to the idea of Danielle as a mother, but she couldn’t quite identify it.
There was no relationship between them for this to complicate anything.
No reason the reveal should have any effect at all on Morgan.
Yet there was this tiny uneven shape of warmth resting deep inside her.
“What’s her name?”
“Lila,” Danielle said with a lightness to the word.
“That’s a pretty name.”
Morgan wanted to ask more. To know more. But none of that was her information to have. They were barely friends. Acquaintances, really. Acquaintances who were going to a wedding together.
Sheesh. What kind of mess had she gotten herself into?
“Her dad lives in Texas.”
“Oh, I didn’t—”
“I know. It’s okay,” Danielle said. “It’s not like it’s a secret or anything. We haven’t been together since right after Lila was born. We were both ridiculously young, and it just wasn’t a good fit for either of us.”
“So you’re bi?” she asked. “Or pan?”
That certainly wasn’t any of her business. But apparently she couldn’t stop her mouth from running that afternoon.
“Bi, yeah,” Danielle said. “But, like I said that night we talked, I’m not dating, anyway.”
“Right.” Morgan turned into the parking lot and tried not to feel disappointed by those last words.
“And now you know why.”
When Morgan turned, she found a big smile on Danielle’s full, glossy nude lips, which confirmed that anything with this woman was off-limits.
Danielle was happy devoting all of her time to her kid, and even if Morgan wanted to break her own no-dating rule, she wouldn’t want to inadvertently mess anything up for them or make Danielle’s life any more difficult than it probably already was.
The last thing she wanted was to ever make that smile disappear.
Morgan nodded her head toward the building. “You ready to check out some clothes?”
Danielle squinted at the small raised building that looked like a little blue house with a tiny sign hanging from the porch.
“I didn’t even realize this place was here.” Danielle turned to Morgan. “You shop here a lot?”
Morgan chuckled to herself at that. Even funnier was what Danielle must have been thinking about the mismatch of Morgan in her tattered jeans and T-shirt with combat boots paired with the image of this place.
Then again, she had seen Morgan in one of her nicer outfits at the recommitment ceremony. So maybe it wasn’t that much of a stretch for her to be here.
“Not anymore,” Morgan said. “This used to be the one-stop shop for all things political butt-kissing.”
“Your mom, right?” Danielle shook her head. “Sorry. That’s not my business.”
“Totally fine,” Morgan said. “You told me about your kid, so you get to know whatever you want. Not that I wouldn’t have told you.”
Danielle smiled wide. “That’s fair.”
Morgan was suddenly acutely aware that they were just sitting in the parking lot with the car still idling.
Her arm twitched with the urge to shut it off and let her feet take them inside the shop.
But her heart wanted to sit in that car and talk with Danielle for as long as she could. All afternoon, if possible.
Which was a very bad idea.
“So yeah, my mom,” she said. “Helena Romero.”
She couldn’t hide the disdain in her voice even if she tried. And she didn’t try.
“Wait.” Danielle drew out the word while her brain caught up. “The Helena Romero? Senator Romero?”
“The one and only.”
Thankfully, there was only one of her.
“I remember you saying you have some issues with your family. I can see why being a conservative senator’s daughter could be rough.”
“Beyond rough,” Morgan said. “Let’s just say we don’t speak anymore.”
Danielle’s expression was pained, but a small laugh escaped. “I’m sure me being at your sister’s wedding will make all of that better.”
There was such a lightness to everything Danielle said. Every movement. Every breath. She could make even this topic seem lighter somehow.
Morgan’s brain decided it was time to let her heart stop running the show. Because things were getting out of hand. Fast.
She turned off the car.
“Speaking of the wedding and making things better,” she said. “Let’s get you something to wear.”
“Only if you let me pay for it,” Danielle said. “Otherwise, I’m staying in this car.”
It was Morgan’s turn to smile. This time, with satisfaction. “I already called ahead. They’re going to put it on my card, and don’t even think of trying to persuade them. These people have dealt with the pushiest women in this town. You don’t stand a chance.”
Danielle shook her head, but amusement danced in her eyes.
“You sneak.”