Nothing But Trouble. BEVERLY BARTON

out before she thought about what she was saying. Peyton didn’t seem to approve, did he?”

      “Peyton Rand would like nothing better than to see the last of me.” Tallie pushed open the door marked Women, then held it for Pattie. “Stay, Solomon.”

      “Peyton talks about you all the time, you know.” Pattie waited in line with Tallie.

      “Yeah, I’ll bet he does. He probably tells you what a holy terror I am and how he’s always having to get me out of trouble.”

      “I think Spence and I know almost everything about Tallulah Bankhead Bishop. From the time you were a kid following your big brothers around, to your recent arrest for shooting a man with birdshot. You’re Peyton’s favorite subject, and the strange thing is, he’s not even aware of it.”

      “Don’t you get sick and tired of hearing about me?”

      “The question is don’t you think Donna Fields would be sick and tired of hearing about you after three months?”

      “What makes you think he talks to her about me?” Tallie asked.

      “I’d bet my last dime he does.” Pattie smiled at Tallie. “If Donna thought she and Peyton had a future together, she’d have every right to be terribly jealous of you, and she isn’t. Didn’t you notice?”

      Just as Tallie started to reply, two women emerged from the stalls, leaving them free for Tallie and Pattie. By the time they came back out and washed their hands, the bathroom had cleared and they were its only occupants.

      “She’s not in love with Peyt, is she?” Tallie dried her hands on brown paper towels.

      “Donna told me that she thinks Peyton is a wonderful man and she enjoys his company.” Punching the air dryer, Pattie rubbed her hands together. “But no, I don’t think she’s in love with him. She’s a widow, you know, and I believe she has some unresolved feelings for her dead husband.”

      “Do you think Peyt’s in love with her?”

      “No.”

      “Then why...I mean...well...”

      “Why have they become an item?” Smiling, Pattie sighed. “Peyton is thirty-six and considering running for governor, so it’s only natural that he’d think about needing a wife. He hasn’t realized yet that although he and Donna are good friends, they’d be terrible as lovers.”

      “Then Peyt and Donna aren’t...I mean...”

      “Donna Fields is not your competition, Tallie.”

      “What do you mean? If I’ve given you the impression that I’m interested in Peyton, in that way, then—”

      “There’s no need for you to lie to me,” Pattie said, opening the rest-room door.

      Following Pattie outside, Tallie signaled to Solomon. “I guess I’ve wanted Peyt since I was sixteen and realized I was in love with him. But I’m the worst woman in the world for him. He’s told me himself that all I am to him is trouble.”

      “I’m not so sure about that.” Pattie walked beside Tallie and Solomon as they made their way back toward the ball fields. “Considering what Peyton’s told me about you, I admit that you might prove a liability to a politician. On the other hand, you’re a champion of some very popular causes, and people seem to like you.”

      “I can’t believe this conversation.” Stopping abruptly, Tallie turned to the other woman. “I dreaded meeting Donna because I knew she’d be everything that I’m not, that she’d be perfect for Peyt and that I’d hate her because she’d be such a haughty, nose-in-the-air snob. But I like her, and now you’re telling me that she isn’t my competition, that she and Peyt aren’t lovers, that—”

      “I’m trying to convince you that you’re the right woman for Peyton Rand?”

      “Hush, Pattie, don’t say that out loud.”

      “Why not?”

      “Because it isn’t true. After meeting Donna tonight, I know she really is perfect for a man like Peyt and I most definitely am not.”

      “There’s only one problem. Peyton and Donna are not in love. She may be perfect for a man like Peyton, but not for Peyton.”

      “Peyt and I are like oil and water, you know.” Tallie caught sight of Eric Miller’s hulking frame moving toward her at a rather rapid pace for an overweight man who was weaving around like a toddler just learning to walk. “Oh, no,” Tallie groaned.

      “What’s wrong?” Pattie asked just as Eric staggered up between them, his big body accidently shoving into Tallie, unbalancing her momentarily.

      “Hey there, sexy gal. You interested in going out to my truck with me for a little drink?” Eric swayed toward Tallie, his breath reeking of alcohol.

      “I think you’ve had one too many little drinks,” Tallie told him.

      Slipping his arm around Tallie’s waist, Eric pulled her up against him. “I don’t know why you keep saying no. It ain’t like you’ve done got a man.”

      Struggling against his powerful hold, Tallie glared up at Eric. “Let me go, you damned fool. Don’t you know Solomon would rip your throat out if I gave the order.”

      As if on cue, Solomon snarled, baring his sharp teeth. The hairs on his back bristled.

      “I ain’t scared of no damned dog. I could probably break his neck.”

      “Tallie, I’ll go get Peyton and Spence,” Pattie said, walking away hurriedly.

      “No, don’t,” Tallie called, but Pattie didn’t respond. “Eric Miller, you’re a menace to society.”

      “You ain’t gonna sic that dog of yours on me, and we both know it.” Eric squeezed Tallie so fiercely, she cried out. “If you’re gonna be mine, sexy gal, you’d better learn to like it rough.”

      Tallie counted to ten. He held her so tightly, she could barely breathe. If only she could manage to loosen his hold on her, she could aim her knee at his groin. He was right, she didn’t want to sic Solomon on him, but if she couldn’t free herself, she might have no other choice.

      “Look, you overgrown baboon, if you don’t let me go, I will sic Solomon on you!”

      Eric lowered his face downward until his nose touched Tallie’s. “Give me a little taste of what I want.”

      That was it. She’d had all she was going to take. Just as she opened her mouth to give Solomon an attack order, she felt Eric’s hold on her loosen. Glancing behind Eric, she saw Peyton Rand, his big hand gripping Eric’s shoulder.

      “Let the lady go.” Peyton’s voice held a cold, deadly edge.

      Eric lumbered around, glaring at Peyton as he jerked himself out of the other man’s hold. “Who the hell are— Oh, yeah, you’re that fancy-pants lawyer Tallie’s so hung up on, ain’t you?”

      “I’m the man who’s telling you that if you ever lay a hand on Tallie again, you might not live long enough to regret it.”

      Eric chuckled, the sound loud and filled with nervous bravado. “Are you threatening me?” Eric puffed out his chest, his big gut only inches away from Peyton’s firm midsection.

      “I’m stating a fact. Leave Tallie alone or, if I can’t put you behind bars, I’ll handle you personally.”

      “Yeah, you and what army?”

      Tallie stood there staring at Peyton as if she’d never seen the man before in her life. What was he doing? Did he even realize the implication of what he was saying? It wouldn’t look good if the papers picked up this story: Potential Gubernatorial Candidate Threatens Man’s Life Over Woman.

      “You didn’t have to come running