Page 88 of If I Didn’t Have You

“I should haul you in for disturbing the peace, Clara.”

“Maverick, do not flirt with me.”

A low chuckle left his lips as he held up a finger to JR. “Not flirting. Just letting you know it’s working.”

“And what would that be?”

“Clara, you know exactly what you’re doing, though I suspect your husband does not, based on the scowl on his face.”

“Well, he started it.”

“Did he?” Mav shook his head, snagging his beer from the bar top. “I don’t know about that one. Enjoy…whatever this is,” he laughed, walking away.

“He’s right,” Lizzy chuckled. “You really did start this.”

“In what way?”

“Well, you started going to the gym.”

“To make myself feel better.”

“And this is the result,” she nodded to me. “Momma, face it. You’re hot, and everyone’s noticing. Do you really think that isn’t driving Daddy wild? Do you think he’s just sitting back, not wondering at all why you’re suddenly doing this?”

“I would think that would be obvious.”

“To who?”

“Whom,” I corrected before I could stop myself. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. This isn’t about getting his attention. This is about showing him what he’s missing.”

“That’s the same thing.”

“It isn’t at all. Do you know he’s been flirting with River Ainsley?” I hissed.

She burst out laughing, quickly clapping a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I saw it with my own eyes. He was showing off his muscles for her.”

“First—Eww. I do not want to think about Daddy showing off anything. And second, how can you be so sure he was flirting with her?”

I rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of the statement. “Are you serious? Of course he was flirting with her. That’s what men do when they flex their muscles for women.”

“Momma—”

“I’m not stupid, Lizzy. I know when a man is flirting with someone else.”

She held up her hands and walked away, leaving me alone to sip whatever concoction she shoved in front of me. After my last night out, I wasn’t so sure I should be here drinking at all. I wasn’t exactly on friendly terms with alcohol, but a few sips should be fine. I just had to keep my wits about me.

I sat there for a good five minutes all by myself. No one approached, and I didn’t feel the heated gaze of my husband’s eyes on my back. I was beginning to think I’d worn this ridiculous dress for nothing.

And that’s when CPR Charlie walked over and took the stool beside me. “Clara Parker. You look damn fine this evening.”

“Charlie,” I winked, taking a sip of my drink.

“Is there a reason you’re dressed up like that?”

“I just wanted to get out and feel good about myself.”

“Well, you’re about to give half the men in here a heart attack. Don’t you know it’s dangerous for a man to see a woman as fine as you sitting at the bar?”