A Sweetheart for Jude Fortune
Cindy Kirk
MEET THE FORTUNES!
Fortune of the Month: Jude Fortune Jones
Age: 30
Vital Statistics: Broad rancher’s shoulders, blue eyes and oh—those muscles!
Claim to Fame: Falls in love as often as he changes his socks
Romantic Prospects: Excellent. Who can resist his sexy drawl and heartfelt ways?
“I know my reputation. But this time it’s different. From the moment I laid eyes on Gabi Mendoza, I knew I had found my One True Love. I guess it’s true that opposites attract. She’s Miami and I’m Texas. She’s all serious and I’m—well, I’m Jude. But you know what happens when a Fortune and a Mendoza get together? Magic! And I’m not about to let that kind of magic slip away without a fight!”
* * *
The Fortunes of Texas:
Welcome to Horseback Hollow!
A Sweetheart for Jude Fortune
Cindy Kirk
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Cindy Kirk has loved to read for as long as she can remember. In first grade she received an award for reading one hundred books. As she grew up, summers were her favorite time of year. Nothing beat going to the library, then coming home and curling up in front of the window air conditioner with a good book. Often the novels she read would spur ideas, and she’d make up her own story (always with a happy ending). When she’d go to bed at night, instead of counting sheep she’d make up more stories in her head. Since selling her first story to Mills & Boon in 1999, Cindy has been forced to juggle her love of reading with her passion for creating stories of her own…but she doesn’t mind. Writing for the Mills & Boon® Cherish™ series is a dream come true. She only hopes you have as much fun reading her books as she has writing them!
Cindy invites you to visit her website, www.cindykirk.com (http://www.cindykirk.com).
To my longtime friend,
author Nancy Robards Thompson.
Here’s to many, many more years of friendship!!
Contents
Chapter One (#u6436a30e-773f-55db-86b8-3023536893d9)
Chapter Two (#ua56da0f9-76aa-5106-aa99-a32b9eceb312)
Chapter Three (#u01f7c170-3c43-55e8-a2f1-944148c7c3c5)
Chapter Four (#u732307a2-4275-553a-8f66-54a385caab4e)
Chapter Five (#u64a8e455-6f06-5dac-9c70-eecdbdaacfab)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One
Standing on the sidewalk outside the Horseback Hollow Superette on a bright Friday morning, Gabriella Mendoza paused to read a text from her father, sent from his room in a rehabilitation center in Lubbock.
Bath@9. DON’T come b4 10.
Gabi sighed. Since it was barely eight-thirty, even if she chugged down the highway at the speed of a slug, she’d easily make the one-hour drive into the city before ten. This meant she needed to use this stop at the local convenience store to not only grab coffee, but kill time.
OK C U after 10, she texted back, then started toward the store known for carrying a little bit of everything. She was mentally calculating how much time she needed to waste when her phone pinged.
Gabi smiled. Though Orlando Mendoza had recently celebrated his sixtieth birthday, he texted with a fervor normally reserved for teenagers. She’d barely glanced at the incoming message when her forward progress came to a jarring halt.
“Whoa.” The masculine voice held a hint of laughter. Large hands reached out to steady her when she stumbled.
Startled, Gabi jerked her head up and the unsteadiness returned full force. Even if his eyes hadn’t been the color of the Texas sky, the blond-haired Adonis in worn Wranglers and a black Stetson would have caused any red-blooded woman’s heart to race.
“Whoa,” Gabi repeated.
He lifted his hands from her forearms, but the searing heat from his touch lingered. “Are you okay? I plowed right into you.”
“Actually, I think it was me plowing into you.” She flashed a quick, apologetic smile. “I’m one of the rare few who can’t walk and read a text at the same time.”
“Let’s call it a draw.” The cowboy offered up a lazy smile and rocked back on his heels. He made no move to step aside or walk away. It was as if he had all the time in the world to stand in the bright sunlight of this unseasonably warm day in late January and chat with a stranger.
And Gabi was a stranger, not only to him but to most of the two thousand residents living in this small North Texas town. Though she’d been living in her father’s house in Horseback Hollow for the past couple weeks, she had yet to meet his neighbors. Since she’d arrived from her home in Miami, any free time had been spent at the hospital.
When she’d been notified the small plane her father had been flying had crashed, Gabi had hopped the first flight to Texas. With her mother dead and her brothers unable to make the trip for various reasons, she’d come alone.
Gabi hadn’t minded the sacrifice. Her father had always been there for her. All she wanted was him to be independent once again. His transfer from the hospital to rehab yesterday had been a positive first step.
Hopefully with her father doing better, she’d have the opportunity to meet a few people in town. Like now, she could spend a few minutes flirting—er, becoming acquainted with—the handsome hunk who stood before her, without feeling she was neglecting her dad.
Unfortunately, before Gabi could formulate something smart and witty to say, his phone rang. The cowboy glanced at the screen, grimaced and answered.
“Have a fabulous day,” she said softly, regretfully, wiggling her fingers goodbye.
He shot her a wink. Even as he listened intently, phone pressed to his ear, those clear blue eyes remained fixed on her. The scrutiny made her glad she’d taken a few extra minutes this morning to dab on some makeup and curl her hair instead of pulling it back like she’d been doing all week.
As Gabi entered the Superette, she almost called back that it had been nice to meet him. She stopped herself just in time.
They hadn’t met, not really. They’d merely run into each other—literally—and exchanged a handful of words. She didn’t even know his name. Of course, that didn’t mean she hadn’t liked what she’d seen, and it certainly didn’t stop her from hoping he’d be there when she came out.
But, by the time she returned with a twenty-ounce cup of decaf in hand, he was gone. Heaving a sigh of regret, Gabi slid behind the wheel of her father’s boat-of-a-Buick and turned toward the highway leading to Lubbock.
The car obediently settled into a smooth cruise, allowing her brain to shift to autopilot. She’d made this trip to see her father more times in the past few weeks than she could count.
When the landing gear on the plane he’d been flying had failed to engage, the experienced aviator had been forced to belly-land. Most of his injuries had been incurred when the plane broke apart on impact. She’d seen pictures of what was left of the Cessna.
What had the doctor said? It was a miracle he’d survived.
Gabi rolled up the window all the way, suddenly chilled to the bone. But she reminded herself that was the past. Today was her father’s first full day in the rehabilitation center and a cause for celebration.
By the time Gabi pulled into the parking lot of the facility, her mood was as sunny as the cloudless sky. She headed toward the front door of the facility with a bounce in her step.
Once inside, she quickly located the stairs. Seizing opportunities to exercise came so naturally Gabi never considered taking an elevator. She jogged up the steps two at a time, pleased her heart rate remained steady and her breath even.
Six years ago she hadn’t been able to make it across even the smallest room without needing to sit down. Now her heart beat strong in a body as toned as an athlete’s.
The walls lining the hallway leading toward her father’s room were filled with pictures and inspiring stories of rehab center “alumni.” With splashes of bright colors throughout and rooms with state-of-the-art equipment discreetly out of sight, the facility had a cheerful feel.
Doing her best to ignore the faint medicinal scent hanging in the air, Gabi stopped in front of room 325 and gently rapped her knuckles against the closed door.
“Come in,” she heard her father say.
She paused. Did he realize it was her and not a nurse or therapist? Pushing the door open only a couple of inches, she paused. “It’s Gabriella. Are you decent?”
Orlando Mendoza’s deep, robust laugh was all the answer she needed. She pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Her father sat in a chair by the window, wearing a blue shirt with thin silver stripes and the navy pants she’d altered a couple days ago to accommodate his left leg cast. While the past few weeks had added extra streaks of silver to his salt-and-pepper hair, Orlando Mendoza remained a strikingly handsome man.
He lifted his right hand in greeting, drawing her attention to the cast that encased the arm. Seeing it brought back memories of the day in the intensive care waiting room when the doctor had sat down with her and detailed the injuries: fractured left leg and right arm, bruised kidneys, fractured rib, concussion.
But her father was tough. And determined. Perhaps it was the sight of him dressed in street clothes or the bright smile of greeting on his lips, but for the first time since the accident, Gabi truly believed he’d make it all the way back.
“Papi.” She crossed the room, placing her coffee cup on a tray table before leaning down and wrapping her arms around him. “You look like yourself.”
“As opposed to looking like someone else?” he asked with a teasing smile.
She laughed and pushed back to hold him at arm’s length. If not for the arm and leg cast, Gabi could believe her father was simply enjoying a cup of coffee before heading to the Redmond Flight School where he worked. As a retired former air force pilot, flying had been his life for too many years to count.
When he’d gotten the opportunity two months ago to help run a flight school in Texas, he’d been as excited as a graduate landing his first job. While Gabi had been sad to see him leave Florida, she’d also been happy for him. The position was exactly what he’d been looking for since he’d retired from the air force.
And since the crime rate in the area of Miami where he lived had skyrocketed in recent years, she’d found comfort in the knowledge he was now in a small rural community.
“What are you thinking, mija?” her father probed, his tone gentle.
Gabi expelled a heavy sigh. “I thought you’d be safe in Horseback Hollow.”
“He should have been.”
Gabi turned toward the masculine voice to see her father’s two bosses standing in the doorway. Sawyer Fortune had met her at the airport when she’d flown in from Miami after getting news of the accident. His new wife, Laurel, had remained by her father’s side at the hospital.
In the difficult days that followed, they’d been her rock.
“Are you feeling up to company?” Laurel asked Orlando. She was a tall, pretty blonde with long hair pulled back in a ponytail. “If not, Sawyer and I can stop back later.”
“You’re not company.” Orlando motioned them into the room and gestured to the small sitting area near his bed. “Please, sit.”
After exchanging greetings and hugs, Gabi also took a seat and let her father direct the conversation. She could tell it made him feel good to have Sawyer and Laurel stop by on a workday to see him.
She sipped her coffee, offering a word now and then when appropriate. When the talk turned to sabotage, Gabi straightened in her seat. She fixed her gaze on Sawyer. “Are you saying someone deliberately messed with the landing gear?”
Sawyer raked a hand through his brown hair. Though it wasn’t even noon, weariness clouded his eyes. He expelled a harsh breath. “We don’t know for sure, not yet.”
“Who would do such a thing?” Gabi’s voice rose and broke. An accident was one thing, but for someone to deliberately set out to hurt her father... “He just moved here. He doesn’t have enemies.”
Laurel and Sawyer exchanged a glance.
Gabi’s breath hitched. “Does he?”
“We don’t think it’s about him,” Sawyer said finally. “The sheriff thinks someone may be out to get the Fortunes.”
“Your family?” Gabi struggled to recall what she’d heard about the Fortunes. Wealthy and prominent were the only words that came to mind. “Why?”
“Mija.” The endearment slid off Orlando’s lips as he reached over with his left hand and captured her fingers, giving them a squeeze. “The authorities are still investigating. All this is simply speculation.”
The older man cast a sharp look in Sawyer’s direction as if telling him there would be no more upsetting talk in front of his daughter.
Yet, it was Laurel, not Sawyer, who changed the subject. She shifted her attention to Gabi. “Now that you’ve had some time to settle in, what do you think of Horseback Hollow?”
“It’s a nice town.” Out of the corner of her eye Gabi saw her father nod approval. Even if she hadn’t liked it here, she wouldn’t have said otherwise. But she’d spoken the truth. Though she’d never considered herself a small-town girl, so far she was enjoying her stay. “I find it very peaceful.”
Laurel smiled encouragingly. “Tell me what you’ve been doing to keep yourself busy.”
“Well, I spend most of my days with Papi.” Gabi slanted a glance and he smiled. “Since the weather has been unseasonably warm, I try to go for a run once I leave the hospital.”
“To try isn’t good enough. You mustn’t neglect your exercise.” Her father’s voice brooked no argument. “It’s essential.”
Gabi bit back a sharp reply that would have been worthy of a brash fifteen-year-old rather than a mature woman of twenty-six. Instead she smiled. “I’ve gone for a run every day except the day I flew in.”
“I always feel better when I exercise, too,” Laurel agreed, a look of understanding in her eyes. “But I hope while you’re here, you also take time to get acquainted with the people and the town.”
The image of the man at the Superette flashed before Gabi. Yes, getting to know the cowboy would be a pleasure.
“I’ve gotten acquainted with you and your husband,” Gabi said when she realized Laurel waited for an answer. “Now, when I return to Miami and Papi talks of Sawyer and Laurel, I’ll know just who he means.”
Sawyer inclined his head. “Are you planning on going back soon?”
“Not until my father is home and able to care for himself.”
“You have a job,” Orlando protested. “I won’t put your position in jeopardy. Even the most understanding employer can lose patience when days turn into weeks.”
“I took family medical leave,” Gabi told her father for what felt like the zillionth time. “Staying isn’t a problem.”
“My daughter is a manager at Miami Trust.” Pride filled Orlando’s voice. “It’s one of the largest banks in Florida.”
“My boss was supportive of me coming.” Gabi kept her tone soft and soothing. “You don’t have to be concerned.”
“I can’t help but worry.” Orlando lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “That’s how I am.”
It was true. Gabi remembered the lines that had seemed permanently etched between her father’s brows when she’d gotten sick and needed surgery. Her mother’s worry hadn’t been as obvious, but Gabi knew they’d both spent many sleepless nights fearing for her life.
Impulsively Gabi leaned over and hugged her father. “That concern is one of the things I love about you.”
Surprise flickered in his eyes. They’d had some battles in the past over what she’d termed his overprotectiveness, but once he’d moved to Texas, she discovered she rather missed having someone around who cared enough to worry.
Sawyer’s phone trilled. He glanced down then rose to his feet with a look of regret. “I need to go.”
“I appreciate you stopping by.” Orlando’s gaze shifted from Sawyer to Laurel. “Both of you.”
“We want you back at the flight school.” Laurel placed a hand on Orlando’s shoulder, then bent and kissed his cheek. “It’s not the same without you, O.”
“Thanks for that.” Orlando’s cheeks turned a dusky pink before his tone turned brusque. “I’d walk you to the door but it took two nurses just to get me in the chair this morning.”
Sawyer crossed the room to stand beside his employee. His eyes met the older man’s dark brown eyes. “I promise you, if the plane was sabotaged, we’ll get whoever was behind it.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t worry about your job,” Sawyer told him. “It’ll be there waiting for you. No matter how long you’re off.”
For a second, Gabi thought she saw the sheen of tears in her father’s eyes, but when she looked again they were gone. She decided it must have simply been her imagination.
“I appreciate it” was all her father said.
Sawyer shifted those striking blue eyes in Gabi’s direction. “I realize it’s short notice but we’re having a barbecue at the ranch tonight and—”
“We’d love to have you join us,” his wife added with a bright smile. “I know you wanted to stay close while your father was in the hospital. Since he’s now doing so well, I hope you’ll consider coming this evening.”
“Go,” her father urged before Gabi could respond. “I’m planning on watching the ball game tonight.”
“Sawyer’s aunt and uncle as well as most of his cousins will be there.” Laurel’s tone turned persuasive. “They’ve lived in Horseback Hollow all their lives so if there’s anything you want to know about the town or the area, they’re the ones to ask.”
Gabi couldn’t imagine having too many questions about a town that was barely two blocks long.
“I can guarantee good food,” Sawyer said when Gabi hesitated. “My aunt makes the best desserts, and she’s promised to bring a couple of her specialties tonight.”
“My Gabriella doesn’t eat sweets.” Orlando spoke before Gabi could respond. “It’s not good for her. She—”
Gabi shot him a warning glance, and whatever else he’d been about to say died on his lips. Had she really missed his constant worry?
“Like everyone,” Gabi said easily, “my goal is to eat healthy. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy a bite or two of something sweet occasionally.”
Her father opened his mouth then shut it when she fixed her gaze on him.
“Please say you’ll come.” Laurel’s eyes sparkled in her pretty face. “If only for a bite or two of Jeanne Marie’s spectacular desserts.”
Gabi considered. An honest-to-goodness Texas barbecue could be fun. God knew she was tired of hospital food. But this was her father’s first night in rehab. How could she enjoy herself knowing he’d be sitting alone in his room watching a ball game by himself?
“There’ll be lots of handsome men there.” Laurel shot her a little wink.
As handsome as the man outside the coffee shop? Gabi wanted to ask. His eyes had been as blue as Sawyer’s and, like her father’s boss, the cowboy had a casual confidence she found appealing.
“Tonight at seven, O?” a man in a wheelchair called from the doorway.
“I’ll meet you in the lounge,” her father called back.
Gabi lifted a brow.
“The ball game,” Orlando informed her. “Lloyd and I made plans to watch it together when we were sweating to the oldies in physical therapy this morning.”
Gabi turned to find Laurel staring at her with an arched brow.
“Tell me when and where,” Gabi told her. “I’ll be there.”
Chapter Two
As she turned off onto the lane leading to Sawyer and Laurel Fortune’s ranch, excitement quivered in Gabi’s belly. Her first Texas barbecue at a real ranch. She glanced down at her skirt and sweater, hoping she wouldn’t find herself over-or underdressed.
Before Laurel left the rehabilitation center today, she’d assured her the barbecue would be casual. But Gabi had painfully discovered on several occasions that casual meant different things to different people.
Since her Florida attire was too lightweight for even a warmer-than-normal North Texas winter, she’d stopped in nearby Vicker’s Corners on the way back from Lubbock. The small town, just down the road from Horseback Hollow, had a cute little downtown area filled with quaint shops. At a darling boutique that rivaled those in Miami for selection and price, Gabi picked up the skirt, sweater, tights and boots she wore tonight.
The shawl collar of her cherry-red sweater showed very little skin, which meant there was no possibility of her scar showing. She felt like a coward for caring what people thought, but since the horrible pool party incident several months back, she now kept it fully covered.
Gabi drove slowly down the gravel lane flanked by white fence and miles of pastureland. The fact that she hadn’t yet spotted a single cow didn’t surprise her. Sawyer had mentioned their ranch was basically a lot of land with a few horses. Laurel had laughingly added that bovines weren’t their thing.
She wheeled the Buick between two dusty pickups and sat in the car for several seconds. Through one of the brightly lit windows, she caught a glimpse of Laurel, chatting with a guest, a glass of wine in her hand.
She liked Laurel. Liked her a lot. And Sawyer, as well.
Seeing how much her father mattered to them warmed her heart. Even knowing they shared Papi’s passion for flying was a comfort.
After stepping from the large blue car, Gabi cinched the belt of the coat she’d picked up on her shopping trip today tightly around her. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do with the pretty tweed once she returned home, but for tonight, with the wind holding a sharp bite, she was glad she had it.
Experiencing a sudden longing for palm trees and eighty-degree weather, Gabi sprinted to the porch and up the steps. She hunched her shoulders against the wind and punched the doorbell. She immediately shoved her hands into her pockets, regretting she hadn’t thought to pick up a pair of gloves on her impromptu shopping trip.
Thankfully, the door opened before the chimes made it through a single stanza. Laurel stood in the doorway with her husband at her side, broad welcoming smiles on their lips. Gabi breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Sawyer wore jeans and a chambray shirt. Laurel’s skirt and sweater mirrored Gabi’s own attire.
“Come in,” Sawyer urged, ushering her into the warmth. “It’s freezing out there.”
“I’m glad you made it.” Her hostess took both of Gabi’s hands and gave them a squeeze.
“Considering the weather, I wasn’t sure you’d go through with the barbecue.” Gabi resisted the urge to shiver. “I swear the temperature dropped twenty degrees in the past hour.”
“We were forced to make a few adjustments.” Laurel waited while Gabi handed her coat to a young woman dressed in black pants, white shirt and fire-engine-red cowboy boots. Then she looped her arm through Gabi’s and ushered her farther into the house. “The barbecue is now indoors, centered around a crackling fire.”
Happy to hear she wouldn’t have to brave the wind and cold, Gabi took a moment to survey the interior of the large—and comfortably warm—house as they walked.
“You have a beautiful home.” Gabi admired the open-beamed ceilings and dark shiny wood floors. Found the gilt Regency mirror above a Chippendale sideboard backed by timbered walls to be an appealing contrast.
“Thank you.” Sawyer slipped an arm around his wife’s waist. “We haven’t lived here all that long, but it feels like home.”
The words had barely left his lips when door chimes sounded. Laurel turned, but Sawyer gave her hand a squeeze. “Take care of Gabi. Introduce her around. I’ll get the door.”
“Don’t worry about me—” Gabi began.
“It’s my pleasure.” Laurel sounded sincere. “We want you to have a good time this evening. You and your father are special to us.”
Gabi let her gaze linger on the pretty, self-assured woman who’d been such a good friend to Papi. “I appreciate all you’ve done for him.”
“Orlando is a great guy,” Sawyer said, returning from the door.
“He’s part of our family now,” Laurel added.
“The Fortunes are a big family,” Sawyer said. “But there’s always room for one more good man.”
Gabi blinked back unexpected tears. This connection was what she hoped her father would find when he’d moved so far from family. She swallowed against the lump in her throat and glanced around the room. “Are there a lot of Fortunes here?”
“My aunt and uncle and their children—my cousins—are with us this evening,” Sawyer responded, before he turned to respond to a young boy’s tug on his sleeve.
A big family. Children. Gabi had once thought that would be part of her future. Until the doctor had sat her down and laid out the risks....
“Most of the guests are back here.” Laurel led her to the edge of a great room.
The line of windows flanking the back of the home gave an open, airy feel to a room that was even more spacious than the one they’d passed. A buffet table topped with a red-and-white-checkered cloth along one wall drew her eye.
Mason jars tied with red bandannas sporting yellow daisies were strategically placed between platters of barbecue pork, smoked ham and Texas beef brisket. From where she stood, Gabi could see bowls of baked beans, black-eyed peas and Brunswick stew.
On the hearth of a massive stone fireplace, galvanized washtubs filled with ice, bottles of beer and cans of soda beckoned.
At the moment Gabi couldn’t decide if she was more interested in eating, drinking or socializing. The food looked terrific, but the laughter and chatter filling the air called to her. As she swept the room with her gaze Gabi noted all ages were represented from a baby held in the arms of a pretty young woman with long, tousled blond hair to a man and woman who appeared to be in their sixties. She wondered if they were Sawyer’s aunt and uncle.
Despite considering herself a fairly social creature, Gabi liked having Laurel at her side. The sight of so many loud and boisterous individuals in one room was a bit overwhelming.
A burst of laughter sounded by a bar set up in an alcove had Gabi turning toward the sound. Her breath caught in her throat.
It was him. Her handsome cowboy from the Superette.
He might be standing with his back partially to her, but she’d recognize the disheveled dark blond hair and muscular build anywhere. Even dressed simply in jeans and a long-sleeved Henley, he looked every bit as yummy as he had that morning.
As her gaze lingered, the air began to sizzle. As if slapped alongside the head by a ball of charged molecules, the cowboy broke off what he was saying and shifted his stance.
When his eyes met hers, everything in Gabi went weak. She barely heard what Laurel said. Something about introducing her around?
With great effort she pulled her attention away from those mesmerizing eyes. “I’d like that.”
Would Laurel introduce her to him? If not, from the gleam of interest she’d seen in his eyes, she knew her mystery man would make sure their paths crossed this evening.
Their first stop was in front of an attractive older woman with pale blue eyes and long silver hair fastened in a low bun. Her turquoise jewelry accentuated the Southwestern flavor of the simple flowing dress she wore. Despite the fact she wore flats and Gabi’s boots had three-inch heels, the woman was still several inches taller than her five-two.
The look in her eyes was kind, her smile warm, and Gabi liked her instantly.
“This is Sawyer’s aunt, Jeanne Marie Fortune Jones,” Laurel was saying, “and her husband, Deke.”
Gabi widened her smile to include the rugged man with a thatch of thick gray hair.
As Laurel introduced her to the older couple, mentioning her connection to Orlando, the woman took her hand and pulled Gabi close.
“I’m so sorry about your father.” Jeanne Marie’s low soothing voice was a thick balm on Gabi’s tattered spirit.
The solace she’d found in the woman’s arms made Gabi realize just how much she missed her mother. Like Jeanne Marie, Luz Mendoza had been a demonstrative, affectionate woman who dispensed hugs freely and often.
“It’s not right.”
Gabi turned to Deke, surprised at the anger in his voice.
His eyes flashed. “Sabotage doesn’t happen in this community.”
“They don’t know if it was sabotage. My father says the NTSB is still investigating.” Gabi repeated what Orlando had told her. “It may have just been an unfortunate accident.”
“More likely someone who doesn’t like the Fortunes,” Deke said loudly.
“Now you just hush.” Jeanne Marie put a hand on her husband’s arm. Her tone might be light but her eyes were steady and firm.
“Laurel mentioned your children are here tonight.” Gabi spoke, eager to change the subject and ease the sudden tension in the air. “How many do you have?”
“Seven.” A pretty young woman with a spray of freckles across her nose and tousled blond hair, who Gabi had noticed earlier, strolled up and answered for Jeanne Marie, then extended her hand.
“I’m number six, aka Stacey Fortune Jones.” She gestured to the young woman next to her, so similar in appearance Gabi knew they must be sisters. “This is Delaney, the baby of the family.”
Gabi introduced herself as Laurel stepped away to consult with the caterers and Jeanne Marie and Deke were pulled away by another couple.
“Stacey.” Gabi tilted her head. “Are you by any chance the Stacey who administered first aid to my father after his accident?”
The woman nodded. “I stayed with him, did what I could until the rescue squad arrived.”
Her father had called the nurse an angel sent from above. Gabi grasped Stacey’s hands and emotion surged, clogging her throat. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. We lost my mother a couple years ago. I—I don’t know what I’d have done if I’d lost him, too.”
Gabi’s voice broke. She paused, took a steadying breath.
Stacey’s eyes, as blue as her mother’s, filled with understanding. “I was happy to help.”
“Since my mother died it’s just been me and my dad. My brothers aren’t around much.”
“Brothers?” Light danced in Delaney’s pretty eyes. She stepped forward like a hound catching a scent. “How many do you have?”
“Four.” Gabi counted them off on her fingers. “Matteo, Cisco, Alejandro and Joaquin.”
“Older? Younger?” Delaney pressed.
“All older.”
“We’ve got you beat.” Delaney glanced at her sister. “We have five older brothers. Then our parents’ luck changed.”
“I broke the curse,” Stacey said modestly.
“I arrived a year after Stace.” Delaney flashed a smile. “They saved the best for last.”
Gabi chuckled. “I always wanted a sister. Brothers can be nice but—”
“They can be a real pain,” Stacey and Delaney said at the same time then laughed.
“Mine used to do all sorts of horrible things.” Gabi shuddered, remembering. “Matteo once dropped a frog down my shirt. And Joaquin put a snake in my bed.”
“If you think that’s bad—” Delaney went on to share some of the trials she’d endured at her brothers’ hands with Stacey chiming in with another long-ago incident her sister had forgotten.
“The strange thing is, now that they’re grown and gone, I miss them,” Gabi said, feeling a bit melancholy.
“We don’t have a chance to miss ours.” Delaney expelled a long sigh. “They’re all still around.”
Across the room a baby’s voice shrieked with the gurgling laughter of the very young.
Gabi pulled her brows together and fixed her gaze on Stacey. “Didn’t I see you holding a baby earlier?”
Stacey smiled. “That’s my little girl, Piper. Colton has her now.”
“Her fiancé.” Delaney emphasized the word, gesturing to where a slim man with brown eyes and brown hair stood, holding the baby and talking to Gabi’s mystery man. “Isn’t he handsome?”
Gabi pulled her gaze from the cowboy she’d begun to think of as hers to Stacey’s fiancé. “He is a cutie.”
“I think so.” The older sister’s red lips curved. “But then, I’m partial.”
“Colton isn’t just good-looking, he’s super nice.” Delaney shot her sister a warm smile of approval.
“Who’s he speaking with?” Gabi asked in what she hoped was a casual tone.
“That’s Jude.” Delaney rolled her eyes. “One of our crosses to bear.”
Gabi inclined her head.
“A brother,” Stacey clarified. “Number three of our seven. I’ll introduce you.”
Before Gabi could respond, Stacey called out, “Colton. Jude. Over here.”
The two men turned together. Gabi swore she saw a light flare in Jude’s eyes. Jude. She rolled the name around on her tongue, liking the feel of it.
He crossed the room with a rolling, confident gait and a lazy smile on his lips.
“Hey, pretty lady,” Jude said immediately upon reaching her side. “Can a cowboy buy you a drink?”
Delaney and Stacey looked at each other and burst into laughter.
“With lines like that, no wonder you’re not dating anyone,” Stacey teased.
Delaney made a gagging noise, worthy of any younger sister.
Jude ignored them both, keeping his eyes firmly focused on Gabi.
“I wouldn’t mind a ginger ale,” she told him.
“Be right back,” he said with a wink.
“He’s got you in his crosshairs.” Delaney spoke in a theatrical whisper.
“Run,” Stacey urged, her eyes dancing, “while you still have a chance.”
Colton shook his head. “Women.”
“Hey!” Stacey gave her fiancé a playful punch. “You’ve got two women in your life now, remember. Me and Piper?”
He brushed his lips across her cheek. “And I’m extremely glad of it.”
Jude returned with a beer in one hand for himself and a ginger ale in the other for Gabi.
“Thank you.” Gabi took the glass, her hand brushing his. Electricity traveled up her arm at the contact. But if he’d experienced a similar jolt, it didn’t show.
Once again, Gabi suffered through introductions and expressions of sympathy for her father.
“I wouldn’t have left him in the rehab center alone,” Gabi explained, “but he’s watching the ball game with another patient.”
“I bet it makes him feel good to know you’re out enjoying yourself.” Colton looped an arm around his fiancée’s shoulder when she moved to his side.
“I hope so,” Gabi said, then made a fuss over Piper, rather than focusing on Jude, which is what she wanted to do. Though she was definitely in the mood for a little fun flirting, there was no need to be obvious.
She’d barely lifted Piper from Colton’s arms when several more handsome cowboys stopped over. None of them made her pulse skip a beat like number three of seven but Galen, Liam, Toby and Christopher Fortune Jones were all fine specimens.
When Piper began to fuss, Gabi handed the baby to Stacey. Without missing a beat, Jude took Gabi’s arm and announced he was giving her a grand tour of the buffet.
Before she knew what was happening, she was halfway across the room with the charming cowboy.
“A grand tour of the buffet?” Gabi slanted a playful glance in his direction. “Seriously?”
“Improv isn’t my strength.” Jude looked faintly embarrassed. “But sometimes there’s only so much family a man can take. I’d like us to get better acquainted. We can’t do that with everyone listening to our every word.”
“Or your sister making gagging noises?”
He laughed. “That can be a deterrent.”
“It’s strange.”
“What is?”
“Running into you this morning.” She kept her tone light. “Now here.”
“Fate,” he said.
“Perhaps.” She traced a finger around the rim of her glass and watched his eyes darken.
Without a word, he took her elbow, maneuvered her around several older couples sharing appetizers and conversation.
By the time he spoke again, the darkness in his eyes had lifted. “How is your father?”
“Much better,” she told him. “Thank you for asking.”
“It was a sacrifice for you to come all the way to Texas to be with him.”
It was a statement, not a question.
“Nothing could have kept me away.”
“As it should be” was all he said.
The conversation shifted to her life in Miami. Gabi kept it brief when telling him about her job at the bank. Though she enjoyed her work, she’d learned real estate lending wasn’t all that interesting to those outside of the industry. She sipped her ginger ale. “What is it you do, Jude?”
“I have a ranch not far from here.” Jude took a pull from his beer. “I do whatever needs to be done.”
Though he shrugged, the pride in his voice told her he was one of the lucky ones who’d found his passion.
She’d opened her mouth to ask about his duties when one of his brothers—Christopher?—walked by and deliberately pushed Jude against her.
Jude’s arm shot out, slipping around her, steadying them both.
For a second Gabi thought she heard Christopher laugh, but then the outside world disappeared as she gazed into Jude’s eyes.
“Sorry ’bout that,” he said, his gaze never leaving hers.
She swallowed and found her voice. “I’m not.”
He grinned. “Hell, I’m not, either.”
Yet she noticed he took a step back.
Gabi tried to collect her rioting thoughts. Say something, she told herself, get the conversation back on safe ground. She found herself blurting out the first thing that came to mind. “You grew up in Horseback Hollow?”
“I did.” A twinkle filled his eyes, as if he could read her mind and found her unsteadiness amusing.
“Do you plan to stay?” Her tone held a hint of coolness. Gabriella Mendoza drooled over no man, at least not so he could notice.
“I like it here.” He took a barely perceptible step forward. “Lubbock is close and with the recent growth in Vicker’s Corners, there’s enough to do.”
“I guess I’ll have to take your word. I haven’t had the chance to do much exploring.”
“I’d be happy to show you around.”
She gave a little laugh, took another sip of her drink. “I wasn’t hinting for a tour guide.”
“I know.” His eyes met hers and then slid downward to linger on her mouth. “But since I’m already taking you on a tour of the buffet, why stop there? Let’s take it a step further.”
Gabi arched a brow, touched the tip of her tongue to her lips and watched his eyes change. “A step further?”
“Have dinner with me tomorrow night.” Although his eyes burned, his smile was easy. “I’ll introduce you to Horseback Hollow’s culinary delights.”
“I appreciate the offer.” Gabi hesitated, sorely tempted. While it would be fun to spend time with Jude, the reason she was in Texas was to be with her father.
For a second the cowboy looked nonplussed. She guessed he wasn’t used to being turned down. Not that she’d said no. She just hadn’t said yes.
“You have to eat.” His tone turned persuasive. “Surely you can spare an hour to become better acquainted with our town?”
With me.
Though he didn’t say the words, Gabi knew what he was asking. She had to admit the short time she’d spent with Jude had only whet her appetite for more.
It wasn’t as if she had to spend every waking second at her father’s bedside, Gabi reminded herself. Taking a bit of time to get better acquainted with the town where her father lived might be a good idea.
But when she smiled and gave Jude Fortune Jones her answer, it wasn’t getting acquainted with the town on her mind, it was getting better acquainted with her Texas cowboy.
Chapter Three
“I’m going to marry her,” Jude told Liam, pointing across the room with his bottle of Dos Equis. “She’s The One.”
His older brother glanced out over the crowd, settling on...Delaney. “Uh, you’re marrying our sister?”
“Not her.” Jude spoke through gritted teeth. “The one next to her.”
“The pretty Latina.” Interest filled Liam’s eyes. “She’s a looker, all right. I wouldn’t mind getting her between the sheets—”
Jude punched his brother in the shoulder. Hard. “Watch it. That’s my future wife you’re talking about.”
Liam snorted. “Heard that one before.”
“Heard what?” Sawyer sauntered up and handed Liam a beer.
“Jude says he’s found The One.” Liam laughed. “More like The One This Week.”
Sawyer looked perplexed, but Jude saw no need to enlighten the cousin he’d only recently met. By the gleam in Liam’s eyes, his brother didn’t feel the same constraints.
“My brother here—” Liam gestured with his head toward Jude “—falls in love with every pretty filly that crosses his path. And just as quickly out of love. A guy could get whiplash watching him.”
Obviously intrigued, Sawyer cocked his head. “Who is it this time?”
“Gabriella Mendoza.” Jude let the name roll off his tongue. The name was as pretty as the woman. “I’m going to marry her.”
“Ah, didn’t the two of you just meet tonight?” Sawyer asked cautiously.
“Actually we ran into each other at the Superette this morning.” Jude smiled, recalling how pretty she’d looked with the sun glinting off her walnut-colored hair. “Love at first sight.”
“It’s a little faster than normal,” Liam informed Sawyer as if Jude wasn’t standing right there. “I’m figuring it’s the hearts and flowers in the air, what with Stacey getting engaged and Valentine’s Day drawing near.”
“Scoff all you want,” Jude told his brother. “She’s The One.”
“She’s a nice woman,” Sawyer said cautiously. “And very attractive.”
“I’m taking her to dinner tomorrow.”
Surprise flicked across Sawyer’s face. “You move fast.”
“I figure why waste time?” Jude took a long pull of beer. “When you know what you want and you find it...you go after it.”
* * *
Gabi spent most of the next morning at the rehabilitation hospital, observing her father’s therapy sessions. With an arm broken on one side and a leg broken on the other, it was difficult for Orlando Mendoza to even get up from the chair much less manage what the nurses called his ADLs—activities of daily living.
But her dad was tough. A man didn’t survive all those years as an air force pilot and raise five kids without survival instincts. Gabi had lunch with him in the dining room down the hall from his room. Apparently the nurses believed in keeping the patients out of their rooms as much as possible.
“This is tasty.” Gabi glanced down at the grilled chicken breast, brown rice and asparagus spears.
“It’s exactly what you should be eating.” Orlando spoke in the fatherly tone he took on when he was poised to lecture. “I hope you didn’t have alcohol last night.”
Gabi thought of the blended margaritas, the fine wine, even the bottles of Dos Equis. She shook her head. “You know I don’t drink.”
“You had a cup of coffee with you when you came yesterday.”
“It was decaffeinated.” Gabi held on to her growing frustration with both hands, reminding herself that her dad had a lot of time to worry. Even when he’d been busy, worrying about her and her health had been his favorite pastime.
“Oh,” he said. “Good.”
“I know how to take care of myself, Papi.” She kept her tone gentle as she brought her hand to her chest. “This heart was a precious gift. I don’t take it for granted.”
“You were so sick.” Her father’s dark eyes took on a distant look. “Your mamma and I thought we were going to lose you. Barely more than a baby and we thought we would lose you.”
Those dark days had occurred when Gabi was nineteen, hardly a baby by anyone’s standards, unless by overprotective parents.
“You always pushed yourself too hard.” He shook his head. “I told you many times to slow down but you wouldn’t listen.”
“It was a virus. From the stomach flu,” Gabi reminded him. “It didn’t have a thing to do with my college schedule or my extracurricular activities.”
The virus had attacked her heart. She thought she was on the road to recovery after a particularly bad few days of a GI bug that was making its way across campus until she became short of breath. The next day she landed in the ICU.
She almost died. That’s what her parents told her. The doctors said her heart was so badly damaged a transplant was her only hope. Because of her grave physical condition she’d moved to the top of the transplant list.
Miraculously a heart had come her way. Now a heart that had once beat in another young person’s chest pumped in hers. She meant it when she told her father she didn’t take it for granted. Not for one second. When her cardiologist had told her no drinking, smoking or caffeine, she’d listened.
She knew other transplant patients who rebelled against the restrictions, but Gabi felt best when she ate right, exercised and followed doctor’s orders. Still, her parents worried. Now that it was just her father, he worried double.
“I love you, mija.”
The emotion so evident in his voice, in his eyes, melted away the annoyance. “Ditto. Now, if you’re not going to eat that green Jell-O, hand it over.”
Her father laughed and pushed the gelatin in front of her. “Hopefully they’ll have red this evening. That’s my favorite. And yours, if I remember correctly.”
Gabi paused, a forkful of chicken hovering just outside her mouth. “About tonight. I plan to stay most of the day, but I won’t be eating dinner with you.”
Her father lowered his glass of milk.
“I’m going to check out The Horseback Hollow Grill this evening,” she told him.
“I’ve eaten at The Grill,” Orlando said slowly.
“What’s it like?” Gabi kept her tone light and offhand.
“Like King’s,” he said, referring to a hamburger and hot dog place not far from his home in Miami. “Their specialty is grilled cheese sandwiches. I like them with jalapenos.”
“Guess what I’m wearing will be good enough.” Gabi glanced down at her jeans and sweater. As her father continued to stare, she forced a chuckle. “I’m excited about the prospect of becoming better acquainted with Horseback Hollow. That way, when I go back to Miami and you talk about different places, I can visualize them.”
The tight set to her father’s shoulders eased. “That makes sense. But eating alone can’t be fun for you.”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t eaten alone since moving here?”
“I have,” he grudgingly admitted. “Perhaps Laurel could—”
“Laurel is busy with her new husband and the flight school.” Gabi spoke quickly before her father could pull out his phone and call his boss. She lowered her fork to the plate. “Besides, I’m not going alone. Jude Fortune Jones, Sawyer’s cousin, generously offered to show me around town.”
For several long seconds, accompanied by the thumping of her heart, Orlando said nothing. He chewed, swallowed then took another sip of milk. “I’ve met Jude.”
Gabi lifted a brow. “And?”
“He appears to be very popular with the ladies.”
The sharp stab of jealousy that struck Gabi took her by surprise. But she merely smiled. “Good. Then he should be an excellent dinner companion.”
“I don’t want you getting involved with him.”
Her father’s vehemence surprised Gabi. “Why? Is there something you haven’t told me?”
“You have a job in Miami. A good one.”
“That’s true,” Gabi agreed. “And once you’re better, I’ll be returning to that good job. In the meantime, I’d like to do a little exploring. With someone local.”
Gabi finished her lunch and stayed for several more hours, watching her father work with the physical therapist on transferring from the bed to the chair. She listened as the occupational therapist showed him ways to use his left hand to do everything from getting toothpaste on his toothbrush to slipping on a shirt.
By the time the OT left, her father’s eyes were drooping and his primary nurse suggested a nap.
“I’ll be back after dinner.” Gabi brushed a kiss across his leathery cheek and felt a surge of love.
“Lloyd and I have a date to play poker,” he told her. “There’s no need to drive back tonight. Enjoy your evening.”
“Are you sure?”
“You spent all day here,” he said. “Besides, I need to win some money off Lloyd, and I can’t do that with someone breathing over my shoulder.”
Gabi smiled. “Okay, then.”
“Don’t have the grilled cheese.” This time the fatherly tone brooked no argument. “Too much fat in it.”
Gabi simply smiled, gave a little wave and left him to his nap.
* * *
The knock on the front door of her father’s small home sounded at precisely 6:00 p.m.
Gabi smiled. Apparently, the man was not only pretty to look at, but punctual, as well. Popular with the ladies. Some of her pleasure dimmed before she shoved the thought aside.
It didn’t matter to her if Jude dated a different woman every night. This was simply dinner and conversation. She didn’t expect more. Didn’t want more.
When the knock sounded again, she sauntered across the room. After glancing through the peephole, she pulled the door open.
“I appreciate a man who’s on time.” With a welcoming smile she waved him inside.
Dressed simply in jeans, chambray shirt and a battered leather jacket, he whipped off his Stetson when he stepped through the doorway then thrust out one hand. “These are for you.”
“Thank you.” She glanced down at the bouquet he offered. Startled surprise quickly gave way to sweet pleasure. “Daisies are one of my favorite flowers. Have a seat. I want to put them in water before we leave.”
She took the flowers into the small kitchen at the back of the house. Instead of sitting in the living room as she’d directed, he followed her.
“Nice place.”
Gabi tried to see it through his eyes. White painted cupboards, grey Formica countertops, speckled linoleum flooring. Perfect, if a person was into retro decor. “My father feels at home here,” she said. “Our home in Miami was bigger, but since it’s just him, he doesn’t need much space.”
“The fact it’s not large and all on one level should make it easier for him when he comes home.”
“Good point.” She rummaged through the cupboards, finally pulling out a red vase. “This will be perfect.”
Her mother had collected red glass, and this little cylindrical vase had been a favorite. She quickly filled it with water then took a second to arrange the flowers.
“You have a knack,” Jude commented from where he stood with his back resting against the doorjamb. “My mother does, too. If it were me, I’d stuff them into a vase and call it good.”
Gabi took a step back and gazed in satisfaction at the arrangement. “They’re too pretty to treat in that manner.”
“They’re pretty.” Jude’s husky voice did strange things to her insides. “But not as pretty as you.”
She smiled. Oh, yes, he was a smooth one.
“Do I need a coat?” she asked, looking at his leather jacket.
“It’s in the forties, so I say definitely.” He paused. “Do you have one?”
“I didn’t,” she told him. “There was no need in Miami. But I went shopping recently in Vicker’s Corners and picked one up.”
In fact, that’s where she’d purchased the crimson sweater and black pants she wore now. From all signs, the small town in between Horseback Hollow and Lubbock was experiencing a growth spurt. She’d seen signs advertising new condominiums and touting luxury estates for sale.
“What’d you think of VC?” he asked as they moved to the living room, where she retrieved her coat from the postage-stamp-size closet.
“I liked it.” She thought of the cute little business district with all the eclectic shops lining the main street. “But Horseback Hollow is nice, too.”
“If I had to compare the two—” with well-practiced ease, Jude took the coat from her hands and held it up “—I’d say Horseback Hollow is the Jones family while Vicker’s Corners is more like their gentrified relatives.”
“Would those gentrified relatives be the Fortunes?” Gabi tried to ignore the brush of his knuckles against the side of her neck as he helped her slip on the coat.
“Bingo.”
“Your mother recently found out she was related to the Fortunes, isn’t that right?” Gabi tried to remember what her father had said, but the comment had been something he’d tossed out in passing and she hadn’t given it much thought.
“That’s right.” He waited for her to pick up her purse then opened the front door and stepped to the side.
Good-looking. Manners. A powerful combination.
As she passed him, Gabi caught a faint whiff of his cologne. First he brought her flowers, now he wore the scent that had tantalized and enticed her last night. Jude Fortune would be a difficult man to resist.
Which she would, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy his company and the way he smelled. “You added Fortune to your name.”
“My mother asked.” Jude lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “She doesn’t ask for much.”
Gabi walked by his side to the truck parked in the driveway and tilted her head, thinking of her father. “What did your dad think? Mine is so proud of the Mendoza name that I can’t imagine him being happy if any of my brothers decided to make a change.”
Jude waited to answer until she stepped inside the truck. “Like most of us, he finds it difficult to deny her anything.”
As he rounded the front of the massive vehicle, then got behind the wheel, Gabi thought of her mother. Her dad had loved his wife totally, completely. If there had been something important her mother had asked of him, he’d have gone along.
Jude slanted a sideways look. “Red is definitely your color.”
A ripple of pleasure passed over Gabi. “I like your style, Jude.”
He grinned and backed the truck out of the driveway. “Tell me about Gabriella.”
On the short drive to the café, Gabi filled him in. She talked about her brothers and what it was like growing up as the youngest and the only girl. When he pressed for more, she told him she’d had a love for the business world since she’d opened her first lemonade stand at age five and made ten dollars.
“It didn’t sink in until years later that my only customers had been relatives and close neighbors.” Gabi chuckled. “I thought it was this great spiel I had going that drew them in.”
“You enjoy your job.”
“I do. Though the banking industry has taken some hits, the one I work for has done well.” Gabi rolled her window partially down and let the fresh air waft into the cab of the truck. “It smells so fresh here.”
“I bet this has been a bit of culture shock for you.”
“Since I haven’t seen a bodega or a palm tree in weeks, I’d say that’s an accurate statement.” Gabi wondered how she could feel so relaxed around a man she’d just met. She’d been on plenty of first dates, and they were usually awkward, tense affairs. “Still, something about this place feels like home. I had difficulty understanding when my father told me how much he liked it here. Now it makes sense.”
Jude wheeled the truck into an angled parking spot and cut the engine. “I hope dinner tonight only solidifies that impression.”
Seconds later, Gabi stood in the doorway of The Horseback Hollow Grill, affectionately called The Grill by locals, and felt the first twinge of unease. Although clean, the tiled flooring had more than a few cracks. Artificial flowers in hammered coffee pots sat on tables. The tables reminded Gabi of the type you’d see in old-time diners, rounded edges encased in silver metal.
Jude inhaled deeply. “It always smells good in here.”
Gabi could almost see onion rings swimming in a grease pool and hamburgers being flipped on the grill. Her head may have told her to run to the nearest deli for a turkey sandwich on whole wheat—hold the mayo—but her stomach had other ideas. It growled. Loudly.
Jude grinned. “Someone is ready to eat.”
“I may be a little hungry” was all Gabi said as the hostess directed them to a booth by the front window.
“I can vouch for the burgers.” Jude waited until she’d slid into the booth before taking a seat opposite her. “Half pound of pure Angus. My sisters are especially fond of the grilled cheese sandwich, which is a specialty.”
Because of her heart, Gabi limited the amount of red meat she consumed as well as avoiding fried foods. She could already see there wasn’t much on the menu that would get a cardiologist’s seal of approval. Tonight she’d simply have to wing it.
Jude kept the conversation light and entertaining until the pretty blonde waitress arrived to take their orders. He seemed oblivious to the young woman’s attempts to flirt. Fixing his eyes on Gabi’s, he smiled. “Have you decided?”
“I’ll have the hamburger.” Gabi shifted her gaze to the blonde. “Well-done, please. May I substitute a salad for the fries?”
When the woman nodded, Gabi smiled. “Vinegar and oil for the dressing, on the side.”
Jude ordered the hamburger and fries. When the waitress left, he told Gabi, “You can have some of my fries. They’re the best.”
“I might take you up on that offer,” she said, relieved to have made it through the ordering without a lot of explanation. Though she wasn’t ashamed of having had the transplant, she’d noticed that people often treated her differently once they knew. “I told you everything about me on the drive over. Now it’s your turn to dish.”
“I hardly think you told me everything,” he said, “in a five-minute drive.”
Though his tone was teasing, Gabi froze. She hadn’t thought her father had mentioned the transplant to anyone, but she didn’t know that for sure. “What did I leave out?”
“You didn’t say anything about a man in your life.” He took the iced tea the waitress gave him while Gabi slipped a straw into her ice water.
“That’s because there is no man in my life,” Gabi said honestly.
“I find that difficult to believe.”
“It’s true.” Gabi thought back to Tony, the IT manager from the bank, and the horrified look on his face when he’d seen her scar. She shrugged. “Work takes most of my time.”
“Their loss is my gain.” Jude reached across the table and took her hand, bringing it to his lips. The feel of his mouth against her skin brought a rush of desire as unexpected as it was pleasant.
Gabi wasn’t a neophyte, though she was hardly experienced, either. During her twenty-six years she’d only had two lovers: her high school boyfriend on prom night and a fellow business student in college.
The prom night had been a disaster. A car was not the place for lovemaking.
The relationship with her college boyfriend had taken place over most of her freshman year. He’d been fairly experienced, but looking back, Gabi could see now that he’d been more concerned with his own pleasure than with hers. Still, she’d enjoyed their time together and had believed he cared about her.
Then she’d gotten sick. He’d come a couple of times to the hospital, but by the time she was feeling better, he was out of her life.
“Tell me about Jude.” Gabi fought to keep her voice steady, no easy task since her body had begun to vibrate.
“Not much to tell.” He lowered her hand to the table and casually laced his fingers through hers. “I got my BA from Tech and I’ve worked on the ranch since I was old enough to hop on a horse.”
“Have you ever thought of moving away? Trying something new?”
His blue eyes grew thoughtful. “A few times. But like my daddy, I love what I do. I like the variety and being my own boss. Horseback Hollow might be small, but it’s a cohesive community and Lubbock is just down the road. Vicker’s Corners is even closer.”
“Sounds like we’ve both chosen the right path...for us.” He continued to hold her hand, and the feel of his warm skin against hers sent her thoughts careening down a road she had no intention of traveling. Gabi was relieved when the waitress appeared with a mountain of food and he sat back.
“Oh, my.” She gazed at a burger as big as her plate and a salad big enough for three to share.
Jude grinned. “I told you the food here is the best.”
Gabi carefully considered for a moment then removed the hamburger from the sesame bun.
“Wimp.” Jude stopped, looked stricken. “Sorry.”
“No worries.” Waving a dismissive hand, Gabi stole one of his fries. “I simply prefer to enjoy the meat.”
In the end, she ate half of her burger and a third of the salad and sat back, satisfied.
“They have great sundaes here.” Jude spoke in a persuasive tone when the waitress had cleared their plates.
Though she wouldn’t mind having a spoonful, she doubted her stomach could handle even one more bite. “I’m so full you’re going to have to roll me out of here as it is. But, if you’d like dessert, go ahead.”
“I’ve had enough to eat,” he said. “But I wouldn’t mind taking a walk. Are those boots you’re wearing—”
“They’re very comfortable.” Gabi brightened at the realization Jude didn’t seem in any hurry to have the evening end. “I’d love some fresh air.”
Gabi pulled out her wallet to pay her share of the tab, but Jude had already handed the waitress several bills and told the blonde to keep the change.
“I can pay for my own.”
“You could.” He slid from the booth. “But tonight is my treat.”
Gabi slipped out from her side, and when she stood, he was right there, holding out the coat that she’d hung on a metal hook at the edge of the booth.
He took her arm as they stepped out into the cool night air. They walked down the sidewalk, the full moon hanging like a large golden orb in the clear sky overhead.
“Thank you for the dinner,” Gabi said again.
“You didn’t eat much.”
“It was good.” She gazed into his eyes and had to resist the urge to reach up on her tiptoes and plant a kiss on those full lips. “I enjoyed it.”
His eyes locked on hers. She saw them darken. Held her breath as he took a step forward and lowered his head to hers.
Chapter Four
Jude slipped his arms around Gabi’s slender frame and watched her eyes close. His mouth skimmed the edge of her jaw, testing the sweetness of her skin. He nuzzled her neck then found himself shoved off balance from behind.
Irritation spiked. Jude whirled. If Chris was screwing with him again, his brother wouldn’t find him so understanding this time.
“Sorry ’bout that, dude,” the young shaggy-haired cowboy called over his shoulder as he lurched down the sidewalk, laughing with his friends, all three men obviously intoxicated.
When Jude turned to Gabi, he discovered she’d taken a step back. Just a small one, but enough to tell him the moment had passed. Still, the heat simmering in the air practically guaranteed there’d be another moment, another opportunity, before the night ended.
“There are so many out tonight.” Gabi gestured toward the business district. People stood in front of the Superette, the saloon and The Grill. They talked, flirted, and one couple kissed as if no one else in the world existed.
The same way he’d felt only moments ago, Jude realized.
“I didn’t know this many people lived in Horseback Hollow,” Gabi said.
“It’s Saturday night and unseasonably warm.” Jude raised a hand in greeting to several ranch hands then refocused on Gabi’s beautiful face. “Most of the cowboys from nearby ranches come into town to eat, drink and dance.”
Her eyes went round as quarters. “Dancing? Really? Where?”
“The Two Moon Saloon,” Jude said, mentioning the business adjacent to The Grill. “The owners bring in bands on Saturday nights. In fact—” he glanced at his phone “—the party should be getting started anytime now.”
“I like to dance.” A wistful look crossed Gabi’s face. “Salsa mainly.”
“We mostly two-step around here.”
She inclined her head, her brown eyes thoughtful. “Is it difficult to two-step?”
The way she looked at him told Jude she could be persuaded to prolong the date...if dancing was part of the package.
“Naw.” He took her arm. “Easy. Want to give it a try?”
After a second’s hesitation, she nodded. “Sure. Sounds like fun.”
He looped an arm companionably around her shoulders as they walked. “Have I told you I like a woman with an adventurous spirit?”
Gabi simply laughed, the moon scattering light on the dark hair that hung past her shoulders.
As Jude expected, the place was packed. He’d hoped to find a quiet table in a corner where he and Gabi could be alone when they weren’t on the dance floor. But the second he walked in and saw friends and relatives scattered throughout the bar, he knew there would be no alone time. Not this evening.
They ended up at a table with two of his brothers and several ranch hands. When one of the cowboys kept talking to Gabi, Jude gave the guy a dark glance, making it clear the lady was with him.
But was she? Though Gabi didn’t flirt with the other men, she also didn’t cling to him. It was almost as if they were buddies, out for a night on the town together.
If that’s the way she wanted it, he’d be her buddy. In time, they’d be more. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d told Liam and Sawyer she was The One. The moment she’d run into him, he recognized her as the woman he’d been waiting for his whole life. Corny, but true.
When the band began to play a current country classic, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the dance floor. As predicted she picked up the steps easily. Two quick. Two slow.
“You’re doing great. That’s it.” Approval mixed with the encouragement in his tone. “Let your feet glide.”
Gabi had a natural sense of rhythm. Her lithe but curvy body surprised him with some great moves within the simple step. As they danced, her cheeks flushed with color and her smile flashed often.
The band took a brief break, and he and Gabi were on their way back to the table when they ran across Sawyer and Laurel. While Gabi chatted with them, Jude excused himself.
When he returned, her head jerked up at the Richie Ray tune that the band had begun to play.
“That’s salsa music.” Delight filled her eyes even as they narrowed suspiciously. “Did you have anything to do with this?”
“Do you want to stand here and talk?” he asked then held out a hand. “Or shall we dance?”
“You can salsa?” Delight filled her voice.
In answer, he led her to the dance floor and proceeded to show her some of his moves.
The night passed quickly. Jude couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun or danced to so many songs. By the time she grabbed his arm and pulled him from the dance floor, his breath came in short puffs.
Gabi’s own breath wasn’t all that steady. “I think I’m going to call it a night.”
Her cheeks were pink and her lips reminded Jude of a plump, ripe strawberry from his mother’s summer garden. She looked so pretty, and he wanted her so badly that he almost kissed her right then, in front of half the citizens of Horseback Hollow.
Then he remembered what Sawyer had said about her father being overprotective. If Jude Fortune Jones kissed Orlando Mendoza’s daughter on the dance floor of the Two Moon Saloon, news would be all over town by morning.
And even some sixty miles away in Lubbock, before Orlando finished his breakfast, someone would mention the incident to him. There was no reason to get the man stirred up when he was trying to recover. Besides, the way Jude saw it, what happened between him and Gabi was personal. That’s how he preferred to keep it. For now.
Gabi paused at the edge of the dance floor, leaning close to ensure he could hear her over the twang of the steel guitar. “My father’s house isn’t far so—”
“Hey, Jude.” A leggy redhead he’d dated last summer sidled up to him, her fingers traveling up his sleeve. “I got the band to promise they’d do the electric slide next. Told them it’s our song.”
“Sorry, Lissa.” He put his hand on the small of Gabi’s back. “We were just leaving.”
Gabi opened her mouth as if to protest, but he closed it with a brief, hard kiss.
His pretty Latina’s long lashes fluttered, and when he pulled back, she appeared slightly dazed.
“Oh.” Lissa frowned, her gaze shifting between Jude and Gabi. “I saw you dancing, but I didn’t realize you two were together, together.”
“We are. Great seeing you, Lis.” Without giving the redhead a chance to respond to his pronouncement, he took Gabi’s arm and propelled her out the front door.
Once they reached the sidewalk, Gabi dug in her heels. “Stay. Dance with your friend. My father’s house isn’t far. I can walk myself home.”
“Not alone.”
The flat quality to his voice must have raised red flags. Concern filled her eyes. “Isn’t it safe?”
“It’s not that.” No matter how much Jude wanted her to stay with him and not take off on her own, he refused to lie. “You’d be perfectly safe. The fact is, I’m not nearly ready for the night to end.”
“Oh,” she said, then again. “Oh.”
“Unless this is your way of saying it’s been fun but it’s time for me to get lost?”
Gabi slowly shook her head and the tight knot in his belly dissolved. She rested her hand on his biceps. “I enjoy being with you.”
“Good.” He tucked her fingers more firmly around his arm.
In no particular hurry, they strolled down the sidewalk, soon exchanging the noise and lights of the downtown district for an occasional barking dog. Still warm from the dancing, Jude let his coat hang open.
Gabi kept hers firmly cinched around her waist. Thin blood from the hot Florida weather, he decided.
Jude gently locked his fingers with hers. Their hands swung slightly between them as they walked. For a second, he could see his parents strolling down the lane in the evening after supper, holding hands in companionable silence.
He and his siblings had thought it strange. For the first time, though, he understood that contentment. Feeling the warmth of Gabi’s hand against his, seeing her face bathed in moonlight, he was happy sharing this moment with her, simply being with her.
They were almost to her father’s house when out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her lips twitch. “Something funny?”
“Just remembering my high school days.” She gave his hand a squeeze and smiled. “Back then my father would be waiting up for me with the porch light blazing.”
Her dad didn’t sound much different than the fathers of some of the girls he’d dated in high school. “I bet he’d miraculously appear on the porch just as you and your guy reached the steps.”
Your guy.
Jude didn’t like the sound of that, then reminded himself that while someone else may have been the first to kiss her, to caress, to make love with her...he would be the last.
“He wouldn’t immediately appear.” Gabi offered a wry smile. “Once the car hit the driveway, I had, oh, thirty seconds to get inside before the light began to flash. If I ignored that warning, he’d come outside.”
“Half a minute doesn’t give much chance to say good-night,” Jude observed.
“Any good-night kissing had to be done before I got home.” Gabi grinned then sobered. “Not that I dated all that much.”
“That surprises me.”
“Why?”
“You’re pretty,” he said honestly, knowing the word didn’t do justice to her beauty. Long, dark, wavy hair and big brown eyes. A slim, compact body with curves in all the right places. A smile that arrowed straight to his heart. “I’d have thought the boys would be flocking around.”
“Two words.” She exhaled a sigh and wiggled four fingers. “Older brothers.”
Jude thought of Stacey and Delaney. He and his brothers had considered it their mission to protect their sisters from predatory males. “I can relate.”
“I bet you can.” Gabi rolled her eyes. “Because of my brothers and my dad, most guys ended up dropping me off in front of our house and speeding away.”
Cowards, Jude thought with disgust. “I’d have insisted on walking you to the door.”
“Then you’re one in a million, Jude.”
“I’m happy you recognize my worth.” He shot her a wink as they climbed the stairs of her father’s porch. “Seriously, my brothers and I were taught it was our responsibility to see our dates safely to the door.”
When she stopped and turned back to him without opening the door, Jude’s heart slammed against his ribs. Stealing a quick kiss in the saloon was one thing. But with those unreadable dark eyes staring up at him now...
Jude had been dating since he was fifteen. So why did he feel as unsure as he had when he’d been about to kiss a girl for the first time? It made no sense. Other than Gabi was different and he didn’t want to screw up.
The air grew thick, so thick he had difficulty breathing. The world around them faded away. All that existed was her. All that mattered was her.
Take it slow. Don’t rush her.
The warning in his head stemmed from good, cold logic. She wasn’t going anywhere, at least not soon. Her father had only recently been moved to rehab. They had plenty of time to build a relationship. For her to see, to accept, to embrace that he was her future husband.
Yes, he decided, he should take a step back. He’d been impulsive in the saloon. He needed to keep his desire for her under tighter control. There would be other opportunities, other nights for another kiss. A lifetime.
Dropping hands to his side, Jude kept his gaze on her eyes and away from those luscious lips. “I had a good time tonight.”
Something that looked like disappointment flashed in her eyes. Her brows pulled together. “Do you have something against kissing?”
He stared, nonplussed. “No. Do you?”
“Not if I like the guy.” She gave him a long stare that fried every brain cell he possessed. “Not if he likes me.”
“I like you.” The second the words left his lips, Jude realized he had reverted back to his teenage self. Except he’d never been this lame.
“Happy to hear it.” Her arms wound around his neck. “For a second I wondered if I’d lost my appeal.”
“Oh, darlin’.” Jude wanted so much to pull her close, to fit her hips against his. He settled for resting his hands on her shoulders. “That’s never going to happen. But I don’t want to rush you.”
“You kissed me in the saloon,” she reminded him.
“Impulse.” He shook his head. “Not very gentlemanly.”
“I believe—” She brought a finger to her lips and pretended to consider. “No, I’m certain. Being a gentleman is highly overrated.”
Jude brushed a strand of hair back from her cheek with the back of his hand. “I doubt Orlando Mendoza would agree with that sentiment.”
She laughed, a silver tinkle of a sound that relaxed the tight muscles in his shoulders.
“True.” She gazed up at him from beneath lowered lashes. “But he’s not here, is he? Besides, I make my own decisions.”
She was right. What her father wanted didn’t matter. With the moon illuminating her face, her eyes shining, all that mattered was her and him and the moment.
Jude lowered his mouth and touched her lips with his. She tasted like spearmint candy. He loved spearmint. He moved his hands down her arms then settled them on her waist.
“I like you, Gabi.” He let the word hum between them. Her brown eyes darkened to black in the dimness, but he didn’t need light to read her expression. Leaning over, he kissed the base of her jaw.
She brushed her lips against his cheek.
“I like you a lot,” he murmured, twining strands of her hair loosely around his fingers.
“Jude.” She spoke his name then paused, as if not sure what she wanted to say.
When her gaze met his, their eye contact turned into something more, a tangible connection between the two of them. Time seemed to stretch and extend.
Then she ran her hands up the front of his coat and leaned toward him.
He made a sound low in his throat then folded her more fully into his arms, anchoring her against his chest as his mouth covered hers. His hand flattened on her lower back, drawing her more tightly against the length of him.
He loved the way she smelled, an intoxicatingly sweet mixture of perfume and soap. Loved the way she tasted. Spearmint.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered into her ear right before he took the lobe between his teeth.
Shivers rippled across her skin.
“You’re soft,” he continued as he kissed her below her ear, then down her throat.
“The scent of you drives me wild.”
The honking of a car horn and wild teenage laughter with a loud male voice yelling, “Get a room,” had Gabi jumping back and Jude stifling a curse.
They’d already been interrupted a couple of times this evening. Enough, Jude thought, was enough. But he reined in his irritation as the night took on a sudden chill. “Gabi—”
“The porch light has flickered,” she said with a rueful smile. “It’s time for me to go inside.”
Damn.
Jude shot a murderous glance at the disappearing taillights. Then he staunched the emotion and met her gaze. “I want to see you again.”
“It’s a small town,” she said in a tone he found a little too cavalier. “It’s inevitable.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. Firmly met her gaze. “I want to see you again.”
Her cheeks went a little pink. “I don’t do casual affairs, Jude. I won’t be in town long enough for anything more.”
Jude wasn’t interested in a casual affair, either. He wanted the more, would have the more, but it was much too early for that discussion.
“I enjoy spending time with you,” he said again, firmly. What had his father once told him, Begin as you mean to go on? “I’ll be calling, asking to see you again.”
To seal the promise, he kissed her again.
Chapter Five
Gabi swore her lips still tingled when she arrived at the rehabilitation center the next day to see her father. The newspaper lay on a dining room table when she walked in.
Her breath hitched when he gave her a big smile. Love flowed through her. Though she adored her brothers, they’d been a unit of four. She’d spent most of her time with her mother. And when her father was home, she’d been a daddy’s girl.
“You’re looking chipper.” Gabi slid into the chair on the other side of the table.
“I could say the same about you.” He studied her thoughtfully. “You’ve got color in your cheeks.”
“I’ve been spending more time outdoors,” Gabi admitted, thinking of the early-morning run she’d taken as the sun painted the sky shades of pink and orange. “Though I’ve had to bundle up. It’s definitely not as warm as Miami.”
Her father laughed. “Not yet anyway, but I hear it’s supposed to hit sixty today, which is really good for this time of year.”
“Actually, I like the cooler weather. And Horseback Hollow is a great little community,” she told him. “I understand now why you’re so happy here.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d be able to see it.” Orlando appeared pleased by her admission. “There’s not much for young folks to do.”
“I enjoyed the barbecue Friday night.” Gabi decided to avoid any talk of last night’s activities with Jude. “I got to know Sawyer and Laurel better. Deke and Jeanne Marie seem like very nice people.”
“Their daughter Stacey is the one who stayed with me until the rescue squad got there.”
“I remembered you telling me that and made sure to thank her.”
“Good girl.” He gave an approving nod then his gaze grew shrewd. “You haven’t mentioned how your date went last night.”
“It wasn’t a date.” Gabi resisted the urge to squirm in her seat. She could have cheered when her tone came out casual and offhand as she’d intended. “We went to dinner at The Grill then did a little dancing at the Two Moon Saloon.”
Her father took a sip of coffee, inclined his head. “Dinner. Dancing. Sounds like a date to me.”
“We had a nice evening.” Gabi lifted one shoulder, flashed a smile. “I learned how to two-step.”
The nurse came in before Orlando could begin a full interrogation. By the time the RN finished checking his vital signs and administering his medications, the talk turned to family. Apparently Gabi’s brother Cisco had called that morning, and he and Orlando had enjoyed a lengthy and pleasant conversation.
“Stacey and I were chatting about older brothers at the barbecue,” Gabi said, then wondered if bringing up the Fortune Jones family was a mistake. “I believe she and Delaney had it worse. They had five older brothers. I just had four.”
“Your mother loved her boys.” A smile lifted Orlando’s lips ever so slightly. “But she cried with happiness when she finally had a daughter.”
Gabi’s heart swelled. “I miss her.”
“I do, too.” He reached over and patted her hand. “It can’t be easy for you now, being the only woman in a family of men.”
“It’s not that—” Gabi’s phone began to play a catchy Latin tune. She shot an apologetic look at her father. “Sorry. I thought I’d put it on vibrate.”
“Get it,” Orlando urged. “It may be important.”
Without even glancing at the readout, she answered the call. “This is Gabi.”
“Good morning, Gabi. This is Jude.” The rich baritone sent a flood of warmth surging through her veins. “How’s your day going?”
“It’s good.” Before she could check her reaction, her voice took on a slightly breathless quality. “I ran four miles this morning, did some housework, and now I’m going to have lunch with my father.”
“How’s he doing?”
Gabi slanted a glance at her father and found him unabashedly staring. In spite of his injuries, he looked strong enough to hop into a plane and soar into the wild blue yonder. Or stride onto a porch and stand between her and anyone of the opposite sex. “Better every day.”
“Glad to hear it.” Jude paused. “I won’t keep you, but I plan to inspect the fence on the southern border of our property tomorrow. I’d like your company. We can take the horses out. The weather is supposed to be good.”
When Jude had called her adventurous, Gabi considered that to be the supreme compliment. She’d been given a second chance at life. She was determined to embrace that life, to live to the fullest each and every day.
“Well, ah—” Gabi glanced at her father. Still staring. “I’ve never ridden a horse before.”
“No worries.” Jude chuckled. “We have a mare, Sweet Betsy, who’s so gentle a two-year-old would be safe on her. I’ll have her saddled and ready for you. Is nine too early for you?”
Gabi considered her father’s schedule. Most of his therapies were in the morning when he was fully rested. If she and Jude were back by noon—and she couldn’t think why they wouldn’t be—she could come straight to the hospital and have lunch with her father.
“Nine works.”
“I’ll be by your house at—”
“There’s no reason for you to drive into town to pick me up,” Gabi told him. “I’ll meet you at your place at nine.”
“Actually, why don’t we meet at my parents’ ranch?”
“Sounds good.” Gabi found herself smiling as she ended the call. She’d always wanted to ride a horse. It looked like now she was going to have that chance.
“You’re riding a horse?”
Gabi’s back automatically stiffened at the disapproval in her father’s tone. For a second, she’d been so caught up in making plans she’d forgotten he was sitting there, sucking in every word.
“It should be fun.” When the scowl on her father’s face deepened, she added, “I bet most of the women around here ride.”
“You’re not from this area,” he said pointedly. “And you have to be extra careful.”
Gabi told herself not to go there, to simply let the subject drop. But her mouth seemed determined to open and get her into trouble. “Are you worried I’ll fall? If you are, don’t give it a second thought. Jude plans to saddle up Sweet Betsy for me. Supposedly this horse is so mild-mannered a two-year-old could ride her.”
“Yes, I’m worried about you on a horse. You’re a city girl.” Her father spoke through gritted teeth. “But I’m even more worried about you falling for a man like Jude.”
Gabi counted to five. Lifted a brow. “A man like Jude?”
“He’s got a rep.”
Without taking her eyes off her father, she leaned back in her chair, forced a casualness at odds with her hammering heart. “Tell me more.”
“He likes women,” Orlando said as if that explained it all.
“I’d say that’s a good thing.”
Her father made an impatient gesture with his good hand. “From what I’ve heard he goes from woman to woman, doesn’t stick.”
A knife sliced into her belly and twisted. Jealousy, she realized. Ridiculous, considering she and the handsome cowboy had only recently met.
“Why would that be a problem?” Gabi lifted a brow. “I live in Miami and I’m not looking to relocate.”
“I don’t want to see you hurt.”
The look in his eyes was one of love, and Gabi felt her irritation subside. “Papi.” She covered his hand with hers. “Jude is simply being nice, showing me around the area. He’s not looking for anything more than companionship. I’m not looking for more, either.”
Her father narrowed his gaze. “Does he know of your condition?”
The quick, hot surge of temper took Gabi by surprise. “I don’t have a condition,” she snapped. “I’ve had a heart transplant. I’m all better now.”
Or close enough. She was down to only two meds.
Not surprisingly, Orlando didn’t back down. “Does he know?”
“This may surprise you, but I don’t shout my medical history from the rooftops of every town I visit.” Gabi pushed back her chair with a clatter and rose to her feet. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t, either.”
She bent, kissed his leathery cheek and spoke briskly. Lunch would have to wait for another time. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours. I’m going to run some errands, pick up a few things while I’m here in Lubbock.”
“I love you, Gabriella.” He grabbed her hand before she could move away. “Sometimes my love makes me a little overprotective.”
“A little?” She paused. Sighed. “I love you, Papi, but you need to remember I’m a grown woman. I handle my own affairs.”
“But your heart—”
“My heart—” Gabi spoke slowly and distinctly so there could be no misunderstanding “—is strong and healthy and all mine. You don’t have to worry about me giving it away to a stranger and getting hurt.”
The truth was she didn’t plan on giving her heart away to any man. Not even one who was handsome as sin and wore a black Stetson.
* * *
Jude ran into Sawyer in Vicker’s Corners, just as he finished loading supplies in the back of his pickup. When his cousin crossed the street, Jude shut the tailgate and lifted a hand in greeting.
“Looks like you’re going to be busy.” Sawyer gestured with his head toward the truck. “Don’t you know Sunday is the day of rest?”
“Not on a ranch.” Jude kept his smile easy. Although he didn’t know Sawyer well, so far he liked what he’d seen. He appreciated the way Sawyer and his wife had looked out for Gabi’s father. How a boss treated those who worked for him said a lot.
“Past lunchtime. Have you eaten?”
Jude took off his Stetson and raked a hand through his hair. “Not yet. It’s been one of those days.”
“Me, either.” Sawyer gestured toward a family-style restaurant on the corner. “Got time to grab a quick burger?”
Though there was plenty of work waiting for him back at the ranch, Jude didn’t hesitate. A man had to eat, after all.
Because it was nearly two, the after-church crowd had cleared out long ago and the only people in the place were a couple of grizzled old cowboys playing checkers at a corner table.
The hostess led them to a table by the window.
“How’s Orlando?” he asked, after Arlene, a retired schoolteacher-turned-waitress, had taken their order and brought the drinks.
“You’d know better than me.” Sawyer leaned back and relaxed against the vinyl seat, downing a good portion of his iced tea in one gulp. “I was surprised to see you with Gabi last night.”
Jude smiled and changed the subject. “How’s the accident investigation coming? Is sabotage still on the table?”
Jude had heard all about the anonymous letters received at the post office. Letters alluding that what happened to Orlando could happen again if the Fortunes didn’t pull up stakes in Horseback Hollow. He was grateful neither his brothers nor the ranch hands had brought up the letters at the bar when he’d been with Gabi.
Sawyer waited to answer until the waitress had set the food in front of them and was out of earshot. “The NTSB is still investigating. Until they file their report we won’t know for sure.”
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