CLUB TIMES

For Members’ Eyes Only

Smooth Operator on the Loose!

While I checked out some vehicles at the used car lot of Lone Star County, my ears perked up at the sound of sweet words. When I looked up, I was staring at the newest hotshot of Mission Creek—Ace Turner Carson—and he’d coated me with a thick layer of honey. Ladies, I’m warning you, this man is lethally charming. Because I’m a sharp woman of a certain sophistication (stop laughing, Ford), I knew Ace was just talkin’ purdy.

Change of topic, isn’t that Crystal Bennett as sweet as can be? She’s done such a bang-up job on the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new maternity wing at Mission Creek Memorial. Of course, I care more about whether or not her red hair is real. While we shared a brioche in the Yellow Rose Café, I asked her if she dyed her hair. Crystal giggled and said, “Don’t be silly.” (In LSCC-speak, this means “drop dead.”)

Having received hot and cold reactions from Ace and Crystal this week, I’m ready for a Jacuzzi with some of Lone Star’s finest (as long as I don’t have to see them in their swimwear). Why don’t you come along with us and cool off at the Lone Star Country Club!

About the Author

MYRNA MACKENZIE,

married to her high school sweetheart, with two (very tall and always hungry) teenage sons, has been blessed by the joys of family. She’s had the chance to be a teacher and to learn all the cool things that kids can teach us about human nature. She’s traveled, hiked mountains, rafted white water and seen bear and elk up close. And, since 1993, when she began writing for Silhouette, she’s also had the privilege of being able to share the stories she loves to write with readers around the world. Winner of the Holt Medallion honoring outstanding literary talent, and a finalist in the Readers’ Choice Awards and the Orange Rose contest, Myrna likes to think of herself as a professional (but hardworking) daydreamer.

Myrna was thrilled when she was asked to be part of the LONE STAR COUNTRY CLUB continuity. The opportunity to work with some of her favorite authors, to be a part of such an exciting and complex story and to have the chance to flesh out characters who were so much fun to work with has been a joy. You can contact Myrna by writing to her at P.O. Box 225, LaGrange, Illinois 60525 or by visiting her Web site at www.myrnamackenzie.com.

Her Sweet Talkin’ Man
Myrna Mackenzie

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Welcome to the

Where Texas society reigns supreme—and appearances are everything.

A sexy playboy and an irresistible single mom get more than they bargained for when a stalker threatens their newfound romance.

Ace Turner Carson: He’s in Mission Creek to claim an inheritance he feels is rightfully his. But spending just a few days with the wealthy Carsons—and a beautiful “little lady”—gives Ace a sense of belonging he’s never experienced…and a family to come home to.

Crystal Bennett: While stuck in a broken-down elevator, a smooth-talking playboy quickly insinuates himself into Crystal’s heart, and she is forced to rethink her ability to trust men. Especially once Ace puts his own life on the line for her child…

A shadow in Mission Creek: The ribbon is cut on the new maternity wing of Mission Creek Memorial Hospital. Everyone who’s anyone attends the ceremony…as does a stranger who lurks in the background with ulterior motives of his own.

To my sister-in-law, Pat—Thanks for umpteen favors, for making my brother a happy man and for hosting all those holiday dinners.

You’ve been a blessing.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

One

“Whoa, this is going to be some family reunion. Especially since the rest of the family doesn’t even know I exist,” Ace Turner Carson said to himself as he pulled his white sedan into the above-ground parking garage of the Mission Creek Memorial Hospital.

No surprise, though, since he himself hadn’t even known his true roots until three months ago when his mother died.

But now he knew. Something he almost wished he didn’t know, he thought with a grimace. And he’d had to take the next step and come to Mission Creek, Texas. His mother had suffered years of humiliation and pain after she’d been abandoned by the man she loved. Ford Carson deserved to suffer a little humiliation in kind.

Who better to engineer that than a hell-raising bad seed of an unwanted son?

“So bring on the family reunion,” Ace whispered. “And let’s make it as public an event as possible. Past time to get in the dance, buddy.”

Besides, Ace had to admit, this could be fun—in spite of all his misgivings about being here in this unfamiliar town where the wealthy Carsons had so much influence, in spite of his reluctance even to meet the man who had given him life. He smiled. Could be real fun. Especially if he hammed things up a bit and worked hard at being an embarrassment to his dear old dad.

“Oh, yes, this is going to involve some intense concentration, Carson. Some single-minded devotion.”

Which was why when he saw a petite, well-curved redhead making a beeline for the parking-garage elevator, which was where he was headed, Ace ignored his automatic response to her undeniably appealing body.

“No distractions,” he reminded himself. “You came here for a reason.”

Yes, but that didn’t mean he’d gone completely numb to the world and blind to the things that made a man a man and a woman a woman. He might be on a single-minded quest, but this was no ordinary woman. And, after all, he wasn’t going to do anything but look, anyway. And maybe flirt—just a bit. An elevator ride didn’t leave a man time for much more.

As she drew nearer and scanned her surroundings, clearly on the alert for thugs and wolves on the prowl, he noted her wide hazel eyes, which held a hint of innocence in spite of the fact that she appeared to be in her early thirties. Interesting. What was even more interesting was that below the hemline of her knee-length ice-blue suit was a pair of the finest legs ever to grace Texas, or even the planet. Her hair was a mass of silk held back with silver clips. The strands practically begged for a man to unsnap those clips and sift through the silk with his fingertips.

Of course, touching her was absolutely out of the question. He wanted to admire her, not distress her. So when an elderly couple turned down the aisle on their way to the elevator, too, Ace grinned at them and moved forward. The red-haired beauty would know she was safe now.

He sauntered toward the elevator, his long legs taking him there ahead of her.

“Allow me to get that for you, darlin”’ he said, stepping forward to push the elevator button. “Looks like your hands are full.”

The lady stopped in her tracks. She had reached out for the button at the same moment he had, and she looked down at his hand, which was just over her own. Her skin nearly met his. He could feel her warmth. He could feel something else radiating from her. Awareness?

“Thank you, sir,” she said. “But I think you’re mistaken about my inability to handle such a simple task. After all, my hands aren’t nearly full. I’m only carrying a clipboard. And I’m truly sorry, but I don’t ever answer to the name darlin’.”

He raised a brow because, after all, she had just answered.

A slight blush turned her cheeks an endearing rose as she realized her mistake. And did he say that her eyes held a trace of innocence? Well, yes, they did, but they could also flash intense green sparks when she was perturbed. And she appeared to be pretty darn perturbed right now.

Ace couldn’t help smiling at the thought—and he couldn’t help being intrigued. That blush and those eyes told him she hadn’t had much experience with men like him, who blatantly spoke their minds or didn’t bother hiding their interest. But she didn’t back away. Her hair swung back when she dared to look up and stare him straight into his eyes. That was fortunate for him, since the movement exposed a neck that was long and pretty and pale. It made him dream of nibbling that tender spot just beneath her ear to see if he could make her sigh and gasp.

His entire body responded to the thought, an overly intense reaction that gave him pause.

Careful, buddy, he warned himself. Easy. She hadn’t revealed her skin on purpose and would no doubt be appalled if she knew that the neat little collar of her suit made him think of peeling back the lapels and letting his fingers brush her flesh. She was obviously a by-the-book, never-break-the-rules kind of lady and he was a prowling alley cat, a man who never, ever touched a woman who hadn’t been born a little wild and who liked things that way. Seeing how she was, however, he should probably just apologize and call the game off.

“You’re right. I misspoke. Excuse me,” he said as the elderly couple and the elevator arrived and he motioned everyone in ahead of him with a slight bow. But then he stepped in behind the redhead, and the orange-blossom scent of her slipped in and caught him unawares. Nothing like the enticing scent of a lovely woman to play havoc with a man’s good intentions.

He moved in just a touch closer to her than was proper. “I’ll let you push this button if it makes you feel better,” he murmured, gazing into her eyes.

Those eyes blinked. “Excuse me?” She turned a delicious shade of pink.

The old man chuckled. His wife smiled but shook her head at Ace as if to reprimand him for his manners.

“I need to get off at the main floor, darlin’,” he directed, his lips twitching as he tried to hold back his smile. His hazel-eyed lady was clearly struggling to prove to the world that she was terribly sophisticated and dignified. He wouldn’t spoil her illusions and announce that he’d seen she was still untutored in the ways of the wild.

Anyone could see that, he thought as she pushed the button for him and then one for the other couple. That prim little telltale voice might have been silent as the elevator descended, but when the doors opened at the next floor and the elderly couple exited, his lady clearly showed signs of common sense and a healthy dose of wariness. She moved to the corner and glanced up at him nervously.

Instantly Ace felt ashamed to know that he was the cause of her fear. He’d teased her earlier because he’d wanted to see what happened to her eyes when her emotions ran away with her. Still, frightening or hurting a woman in any way was just about the lowest thing a man could do.

He stepped away, leaned back against the corner farthest from her and crossed his arms to show her that he wasn’t going to grab her. “You were right to correct my bad manners,” he said. “I apologize. We’re strangers, and you’re smart not to have anything to do with anyone you haven’t been properly introduced to.”

Who in hell in Mission Creek, Texas, would introduce him to anyone? No one knew who he was.

Once they did discover his identity and what kind of man he really was, they sure as Satan weren’t going to welcome him, much less begin introducing him to the women of the community.

The redheaded beauty looked suddenly chagrinned.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re probably here for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new maternity ward. You’re a guest, and you should be treated as such.”

She didn’t look any more at ease with him than she had, but he finally realized that she was wearing some sort of hospital badge. She worked here and felt she had to put up with whatever he dished out. Now that she’d decided he had a legitimate reason for being here, she felt that she had to be kind to him, even to apologize when he had been in the wrong. Sudden fierce anger surged through Ace. Anger at himself for putting her in a position where she felt she had to be gracious to a man who had obviously invaded her comfort zone. Ironic. He knew better than anyone that women often bore the brunt of men’s mistakes, yet here he was making a mistake and dumping the blame on his lovely victim. Hell, he was the one in the wrong. He was here for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but his intentions were anything but innocent.

He shook his head and held up one hand to stop her from humbling herself before him any more.

“Ma’am,” he said, dredging up a trace of charm and humor to at least try to put her at ease. “You were right not to want to talk to me. I’ve got a reputation as a flirt and an opportunistic rover. And a woman these days can never be too careful. Just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s the smartest way to be.”

There. He could almost feel her relaxing.

For some reason that didn’t make him feel good, because he realized that his words were true. A woman couldn’t be too careful. If a man could put her at ease just with a few well-chosen words, then some no-good tomcat could take advantage of her, catch her off guard. But…well, heck, he couldn’t be the guardian of the world. He wasn’t even going to be in Mission Creek that long. Just long enough to kick up some dust, leave an impression and settle an old score. This woman, whoever she was, probably had a husband who could look after her. Besides, this slowpoke of an elevator was almost to the right floor, the main level.

Ace stood straighter, readying himself to get off and meet whatever was to come in the next few hours.

He stared up at the numbers on the digital readout.

Nothing happened.

Silence settled over the car.

The woman looked up anxiously at the numbers, which still didn’t appear to be doing anything.

And then the silence seemed to get deeper. The soft creaking of the car ceased entirely. The lights flickered and then held.

But the car didn’t buck up and continue on its way. There were no sounds of movement. There was just a lot of quiet and waiting. In the void of anything else, Ace could hear the beauty’s breathing. He looked at her and saw her body stiffen. She stared up at the floor numbers as if willing them to move.

“I…I think we may be stuck.” Her soft voice trembled slightly. She pushed the button for the floor, then pushed it again. And again.

Nothing happened.

“Oh, no.” She turned frightened eyes to Ace. She licked her lips nervously. All her cool facade of moments before drained away. “I…I think…” she began, and then stopped as if her mind was a jumble, as if she was too terrified to speak.

“Shh,” he whispered. “It’s all right. I’m sure things will get moving soon.” Although he didn’t know anything of the sort.

No matter. Those big hazel eyes were pools of lost hopes. Her clipboard slid to the floor, and her small hands curled into tight fists.

“I’m…I’m sure you’re right,” she managed to get out, but her teeth chattered in spite of the fact that it was July in Texas and the air-conditioning seemed to have gone out with the power.

Ace took one look at the woe in her face, the way she was struggling to control herself in front of him when she was clearly terrified, and he wanted to take the elevator apart for her, to bodily move the car to the right floor.

“Let’s just try the emergency phone,” he said, dropping his voice to a low soothing tone as he reached for the receiver. Calmly he explained to the security officer who answered that he and another passenger were caught between floors.

“He’s going to get the technicians,” Ace told the woman when he hung up.

She almost visibly took control of herself. Her pretty lips tightening, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and gave a quick nod. “Okay,” she said faintly. “That’s very good.”

But her eyes were just a touch too wide. Ace thought he still detected a faint tremble in her voice.

“We’ll be out of here in no time, sunshine.” He flashed her a reassuring smile. “Or am I not allowed to call you sunshine?”

Something that might have been a smile in other circumstances eased some of the tension around her lips. “I’m really sorry to be acting like such a fool.” Her soft red curls slid against her cheeks as she shook her head. “It’s rather embarrassing to admit but…I’m afraid I’m not very good in small spaces. At least not when I’m stuck in one.”

He wanted to ask why. Had something happened in her past that had brought on these feelings of claustrophobia? But then, he was touchy about his own past. He certainly didn’t ask others about theirs.

“We’ll pretend that we’re not in a small space, then,” he said. “Would you mind if I suggested…that is, why don’t you close your eyes for a bit?”

He laughed as her eyes opened wider. “That isn’t exactly what I meant, sunshine.”

“I know. I just…” She took a deep shuddery breath.

“It’s just so you won’t see where you are, then you won’t think about it so much. I won’t touch you,” he said. “I promise. Here, put your hand on the phone. If I do anything or say anything you don’t like, even slightly, you call for help. I don’t think they’ll have any difficulty identifying me as the culprit once they get us out of here.”

She almost managed a smile. He was glad that by keeping her talking, she was forgetting her fears for a moment. “Close your eyes,” he whispered. And her lashes drifted shut, hiding those gorgeous hazel eyes from his view.

“What now?” she asked.

“How about this? Picture something wonderful,” he suggested. “Someplace really big and open. The ocean.”

She laughed softly, a low husky sound that would have been right at home in a setting that included satin sheets, candles and a man’s fingertips caressing her skin. “I’ve never been to the ocean.”

“Hmm, well, you should go someday,” he said, even though he’d never been to the ocean, either. “You should definitely insist that your husband take you there.” It didn’t hurt to remind himself that she probably was some man’s treasure, and he, Ace Turner Carson, had no business thinking of her in connection with satin sheets, candles or touching.

Her eyes flew open, and he didn’t have to ask why. “No husband,” he deduced automatically. “Well, all right, then. No husband, but you look like a very independent woman. You obviously are a busy and capable woman. You still have that clipboard,” he teased. “And you’ve made it clear that you don’t need any help from a man. You can transport yourself to the ocean. You are a career woman, aren’t you?” he asked, indicating the pin she wore that said Mission Creek Memorial staff. “You probably hate the fact that one of the first things men notice about you is your legs.”

Her cheeks turned a delicious shade of rose. Embarrassment or anger? he wondered. Actually he hoped he hadn’t embarrassed her when what he’d been aiming for was a little indignation on her part. Anger was a good thing at times. It could take a person’s mind off his or her problems. He knew about using anger to run from troubles.

“My legs?” she asked as if she hadn’t heard him right. Maybe she hadn’t when she was so frightened she could barely think, much less hear.

“Absolutely beautiful,” he said, wondering what in hell he was doing and where this was leading.

But just at that moment the elevator began to move again. The beauty gasped. Reality sank in. She smiled in relief, automatically turning to him to share the moment.

He smiled back, entranced by the sheer joy on her face.

And then the elevator stopped again.

Ace didn’t give her time even to think about the fact that salvation had been stolen from her. He didn’t want to see what that kind of fear and disappointment could do to her. Instead, he swooped in close, crowding her, knowing that the nearness of his body would be a distraction, although probably an unwelcome one for a woman such as this. “Tell me what that pin is for and why you were carrying that clipboard,” he said, searching for a topic to take her mind off her troubles.

The clipboard was still on the floor at her feet. To see it, she’d have to look down. Her hair would no doubt brush against him, he was that close. Instead, she looked up into his eyes, her own uncertain and slightly lost. She fingered the pin on her lapel. “I’m…that is, I’m the hospital fund-raiser.” She swallowed hard and then squared her shoulders. “You probably already know, but today is a very big day for the hospital with the new ward opening and so many people coming for the celebration. Lots to think about and keep track of. Lots to do,” she said, her voice a soft whisper. After all, he was near. Near enough to breathe in the floral scent of her shampoo. There was no need to raise her voice.

For a minute with this soft lovely woman standing beside him, Ace wasn’t sure he’d be able to speak as the threads of desire wound through his body. But though he had her talking, he was reasonably certain that he needed to keep her talking. Otherwise, she was going to remember where they were. The fear would resurface with a vengeance.

“You’re the hospital’s fund-raiser? Ah, so you are an independent woman, darlin’.”

She lifted her chin, tipping her head back and causing her hair to spill over her shoulders. Some of her former color and life seemed to have returned. “You’re trying to get a rise out of me, aren’t you. So that I won’t think about the fact that I want to physically rip the doors off their tracks with my teeth.”

Okay, so she was on to him. “That would be fun to watch,” he conceded.

“It’s not going to work, you know,” she said. “This isn’t the first time someone has tried to talk me out of this irrational behavior. I can’t seem to control it, hard as I try. You might as well give up. But I do appreciate your efforts…”

“Ace,” he said automatically, though she hadn’t asked his name. Oh, yes, he knew about irrational behavior, because for some reason he wanted to hear his name on her lips.

“Ace,” she repeated, her voice as soft as a whisper in the dark of night. The small space they occupied could well have been a bed. He was close enough to reach out and pull her to him, to taste her lips. He was staring down into her eyes. Her breathing was coming quickly.

But of course her breathing was coming quickly. She was scared to death.

Ace backed away a few inches. “So now you know my name, darlin’,” he offered.

She let out a laugh. “I get your point, and you’re right. I’ve already told you my occupation, one of my deepest fears and revealed the fact that I’m not married. It’s silly to keep my name from you, when I assume you’re here for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and I’ll be in front of the crowd.” She looked toward the darn buttons.

“Soon,” he said. “You’ll be in front of the crowd soon. Would you like me to call again?”

He could tell that she wanted to say no, that she wanted to appear strong. “Yes, please,” she said in a very small voice.

“Any word on our condition?” Ace asked the security guard on the other end. “Ten minutes?” It wasn’t long, but the lady was clearly hoping for something more like ten seconds.

“I’m okay with that,” she assured him rather unconvincingly. “And my name is Crystal. Crystal Bennett.” Her words came out in a rush.

Ordinarily he would have offered his last name, too, but today wasn’t a day for the ordinary ways. And revealing his last name to Crystal Bennett would fill her with questions that would probably take her mind off their situation, but would simply complicate other things. The Carsons had supplied a fair share of the money for the new wing. He’d heard that from every gas-station attendant and convenience-store clerk he’d spoken to in the course of getting directions around the city. The largest donors to the new wing and the hospital’s chief fund-raiser would, out of necessity, have a good relationship. Revealing his identity to Crystal would only lead to questions about his intent, and that just wasn’t a good idea right now.

“Crystal’s an exceptionally pretty name,” he said, instead, meaning it.

Another blush kissed her cheeks. Ace couldn’t remember ever spending time with a woman who actually blushed. The women he consorted with were completely foreign to the concept of innocence, and pretty much nothing embarrassed them. He ought to view this as a sign. A huge red stop sign.

“How long have we been in here, do you think?” she asked.

A few minutes, but he knew what she meant. It seemed longer, and it was beginning to seem longer still when Ace looked down at the shining crown of her hair and breathed in deeply. The floral scent of her hair mingled with something that smelled suspiciously like soap. Whatever it was, it was sexy as hell, and suddenly he was very aware that she was all soft skin and big trusting eyes. Oh, yes, that was trust he was seeing there.

“We’ll be out soon,” he said again, fighting to keep the husky note from his voice.

She nodded and bit her lip. “I wish I’d borrowed someone’s cell phone. I promised my son I would come and see him before the ceremonies began. He’s in the day-care center. He’s too young to tell time, but once things get started, he’ll hear the music and know that things are starting.”

“You have a son.” Ace forced the words through his lips. She had a son. And no husband. This probably wasn’t something he wanted to know.

For the first time he surprised a genuine no-holds-barred smile from her lips. “Timmy,” she said, and it was clear from that one word that her entire world circled around her little boy. “He’s just three.”

“Does he look like you?” Ace asked. Anything to keep that light in her eyes.

“No, like his father.” She dug into her purse and found a picture. She handed it to Ace. There, smiling back at him, was the cutest little dark-haired, big-eyed munchkin he’d ever seen.

“You’re wrong,” he said. “He has your eyes.”

“Well, maybe,” she conceded, “but nothing else.”

“You’ll give him other things,” Ace said with the confidence of a man who knew what he was talking about. “Does his father live nearby?” Why had he asked that question?

A question he obviously shouldn’t have asked, since the smile on Crystal’s lips died. “Timmy’s father never wanted to be a part of his life. He took off as soon as he knew the baby was on the way.”

A knifelike and familiar pain sliced through Ace.

“His loss,” he said tensely.

“Exactly,” she said with great feeling. And their eyes met. They shared a commiserating look. For long seconds Ace’s gaze held her gaze. He studied her. She had the most beautiful expressive mouth, he couldn’t help thinking. A mouth made for deep slow kisses that went on and on and led to better things. He could almost see how Timmy’s father had lost his head and ended up fathering a child because he, too, had a strong urge to step close to Crystal and pull her into his arms. And with a woman like this, that kind of thing could only lead to other things.

Most likely me getting my face slapped, he thought with a smile.

“Ace?” Crystal asked, and he realized that she was probably wondering why he was grinning.

“You probably don’t want to know, but I was thinking about how tasty your lips look,” he said, and he heard her sharp intake of air. Well, hell, he had always been known for speaking his mind. No doubt, this would have been one time when he should have stifled his speech and his thoughts.

“But I meant what I said before, Crystal. I don’t force myself on women. You’re safe with me.”

She studied him for a minute. Suddenly the elevator began moving again, and it continued to move until it reached the main floor and the doors opened.

Ace held out his hand, motioning for Crystal to exit the elevator in front of him. She turned to go, then turned back. Her small hand touched his sleeve, and she looked up at him.

“You made me feel safe,” she said. “I know you were trying to distract me to keep my mind off things. You’re a kind man, Ace. Thank you.”

He simply stared down at her, then watched as she walked away. She might think he was a kind man now, but what was she going to think later today when he publicly embarrassed one of the hospital’s biggest benefactors?

Crystal moved out into the sunshine where tables and booths and a podium for speeches had been set up. A wide blue-and-white ribbon cordoned off the new and shiny maternity wing, which had taken so much time and effort from so many. She had spent the past two years of her life working toward this day, yet now that it was here, all she could think about was the man she’d met in the elevator.

A small smile lifted her lips. He’d certainly been handsome with that wavy black hair and those blue eyes. And that smile. Her heart flipped at the memory.

“Stop it,” she told herself. “You know darn well that a man like that has used that smile on a million women. He’s slid into a hundred women’s beds just because they couldn’t resist that devilish grin and all that sweet talking.”

She’d been barely able to resist, either, but barely was the operative word here, because she was darn well going to resist even thinking about the man. If there was one woman in all of Mission Creek who knew better than to fall for a pair of let’s-make-love-darlin’ blue eyes and a rogue’s smile, it was her.

No more handsome heartbreakers for her, now or ever. She had Timmy to think of. And that was all the reminder Crystal needed.

Besides, today was a workday. People were relying on her. And there was a ton of things that still had to be taken care of, a fact that became clear as she neared the area where the ribbon-cutting ceremony was due to begin shortly and her employees flocked around her with tales of minor crises and questions that needed to be answered.

Crystal took a deep breath and plunged in. Her last thought of Ace was that he would make a great lover, but a very bad husband. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t even slightly interested in a husband.

And she was certainly going to keep her distance from Ace if he should show up at the ceremony.

Two

Real impressive, Ace thought as he surveyed the lawns that surrounded the new maternity wing of the hospital. Lots of white damask tablecloths, polished silver, yellow and blue blossoms and champagne. Pretty expensive, very classy. A bit more formal than he was expecting. The Carson money that was supporting this fandango was clearly evident. Of course, his little redheaded fund-raiser was probably also responsible for procuring a great portion of that donation. He could just picture her opening those big hazel eyes wide. In two seconds flat all those rich lecherous Carson men would have been fighting each other and everyone else to be the first to pull out their wallets. Not that she would use flirtation to get her way. That was clearly not her style at all, Ace reminded himself. That didn’t mean that his half brothers wouldn’t want her, though. Any man would.

He’d been wandering around the room while the speeches went on, observing the crowd. Now he wondered how well his half brothers knew Crystal, if they were the type who could charm women into their beds, and if they’d view a woman alone like Crystal as fair game. He’d heard that his siblings were married, but then, there were plenty of men who didn’t view marriage as a deterrent to their pleasure, and plenty of wives who were willing to look the other way. No doubt all the Carson men were charming. His mother had told him that his father was.

And the rest of the Carsons had a few things Ace didn’t have. Money. Success. Respectability.

Oh, no, he wasn’t the least bit respectable and he never tried to be. If there was one prime rule he lived by it was Never pretend you’re something you’re not. Never be a wanna-be. He’d learned that lesson very well, had had it impressed upon him at an early age.

“So just get every thought of Crystal Bennett out of your mind,” he told himself. “Time to go to work, Ace.”

He moved across the springy grass toward the crowd. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Crystal, her head bent toward a young man who was gesticulating wildly with his hands and holding up what looked to be a spoon. Crystal gave the man a long soulful look, said a few words, and then the young man’s face broke into a smile before he moved away.

“Looks like one crisis averted,” Ace said with a chuckle. Now to his own situation. It appeared the presentations were over, and people were starting to mingle on the grounds and attack the food. It was time to begin meeting his new temporary neighbors.

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” he said to a large sixtyish woman wearing a hot-pink dress and lots of clanking bracelets. “Nice party, isn’t it? Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Ace Turner Carson. Lovely dress you’re wearing. That color most definitely brings out the pretty roses in your cheeks.” He tilted his head and smiled at her.

She giggled. “Thank you, sir, and yes, it is a nice party. Ace Turner Carson, did you say? Not one of our Carsons?”

Ah, she’d asked the right question.

“I hope you’ll consider me yours,” he said with a wink.

The woman giggled again and almost fluttered her eyelashes, wishing him well as he moved on through the crowd. Glancing around the room, Ace looked over people’s heads and located Crystal. She was looking his way, but when his gaze caught hers, she quickly glanced away.

Just as well. He didn’t know why he was so aware of her presence, anyway. It wasn’t right. He hadn’t come to town to connect with anyone, and when he was done here, he planned to move on. Quickly. No looking back. So it was best if he stopped looking around for the lady right now. She had those vulnerable eyes, and he was a man who would only hurt her, especially considering his feelings about dating women with children. Children needed contact with responsible adults. Responsibility wasn’t exactly one of his strong suits, either. Best to remember that, he thought with a frown.

Wandering near a group of men debating the merits of opening the new maternity wing, he started to pass them by, then thought better of it.

“The old hospital was what we had for years and it was just fine,” one man said. “All this money spent for nothing.”

Ace cast him an amused look, which caught the man’s attention.

“What does that look mean?” the man asked, bristling.

“Not a thing,” Ace said, holding out his hands in a gesture of innocence. “Just that I was thinking that having a new maternity wing probably means room for lots more babies, and there’s only one way I know to get more babies. Can’t imagine why a man would be complaining about that.”

The rest of the men in the group chuckled, and finally the bristling one shrugged sheepishly and laughed along with them. “Bet you’ve had your share of women wanting to make babies, too,” he shot back. “You new around here?”

“I sure am. Name’s Ace. Ace Turner Carson. No babies to my name, but I do like all the activities that lead up to them,” he said, slapping the man on the back and moving away before anyone could ask him about his name.

That was the point for now. To get just a few people buzzing and wondering. Could he be related to the mighty and well-respected Ford Carson?

“Oh, yeah,” Ace whispered to himself. The great Ford Carson wasn’t quite as respectable as everyone thought. After all, he’d fathered an illegitimate son and then left the son’s mother to fend for herself. Not such an exemplary character, after all, was he? And neither was the son. In fact, he could be quite a thorn in a person’s side, if he wanted to be.

He definitely wanted to be.

The buzz behind him grew a bit. He heard the name Carson mentioned once or twice. He moved on, staying to himself for the most part, but now and then stopping to plant a seed.

“Not too fast, Ace,” he told himself. “We want to stretch this out. Let it bloom and grow over weeks. Let the doubt and the questions begin to build slowly.”

He saw several men glance his way. They looked a lot like the pictures he’d seen of his half brothers, but he wasn’t ready to meet them yet, and he knew how to evade someone when he wanted to. He moved on.

And then he looked up and saw Crystal again, her pretty hair slipping over her shoulders. He practically willed her to look up at him, and she did. He could almost hear her sharp intake of air. He could almost see the delicate blush that covered her cheekbones and no doubt all of her honey-and-cream skin as well.

For half a second he held her gaze, but she quickly turned away.

Ace felt a slight twinge of anger at himself. He wanted her to look at him. Longer. More meaningfully. With desire in her eyes and on her lips. Actually, he wanted her to come closer. Close enough to touch.

She was a vision in pale blue, surrounded by men in suits, all looking at her as if they’d offer her the world if she’d just smile at one of them.

But then, some men didn’t have the world to offer. They just drifted from one thing to the next, rootless, and liked it that way. Liked it very much.

Ace forced himself to look away from Crystal.

“Ace Carson,” he said to a man he met a few minutes later. A doctor from the hospital by the looks of things. “Nice town you have here. Nice hospital, too.”

“Glad you like the place. We do, too. My name’s Jared Cross,” he said, holding out his hand. “I work here. Child psychiatry. Family planning.”

“Family planning? Then you’re involved in this new wing?”

“I have a definite interest, yes,” the man said. “We have a well-known fertility clinic here. It all ties together. I’m really pleased Mission Creek Memorial pulled this off. It was quite a feat. Lots of work and dedication.”

The man’s comments confirmed what Ace had begun to suspect. For such a little thing, Crystal had a big impact on people. She took her work seriously. Again Ace scanned the room for her. Finally he located her, holding court in the middle of a crowd of obviously wealthy benefactors. He relaxed and turned back to find Jared grinning.

“She’s something, isn’t she?” Jared said.

“I wouldn’t really know. I just arrived in town. But yes, she is intriguing,” he said, unwilling to let on just how intriguing he found her. And how unnerving it was to find himself lusting after a woman he had no business lusting after. It was obvious she was not only a serious innocent, but he was beginning to learn that she had major ties to the Carsons through this hospital and also through Fiona Carson Martin, his little half sister who was also involved in fund-raising. He’d heard it whispered that they were friends.

“So the woman’s intriguing?” Jared repeated with a knowing grin. “In my opinion, the woman is a wonder. She’s fervent about the need for this wing, and it shows in everything she’s said and done to make this project work. She probably had people fighting to be the first to get in the door with their money.”

The obvious admiration in his voice didn’t escape Ace’s notice. Neither did the fact that most women would find Cross’s black hair and green eyes irresistible. A powerful surge of something possessive streaked through Ace, and he frowned slightly.

“You have an interest in the lady?” Ace couldn’t stop himself from asking, even though he cursed himself for doing so.

Jared raised one brow. “Of course. A purely professional one.” He frowned. “What did you say your last name was? Carson? Does that mean you’re related to the Mission Creek Carsons?”

Ace shrugged. “I never knew my father. Do I look like a Mission Creek Carson to you?” He chuckled, flipping open his jacket to reveal the frayed dark blue lining.

“I get your point,” Jared said. “The Carsons own a substantial chunk of the town.”

“I guess I don’t qualify, then. Pleased to have met you, though.” He shook Jared’s hand and began to move on, his gaze sweeping the room.

“She’s over there,” Jared said with a grin, indicating Crystal’s new location.

Ace chuckled. “Okay, I’m more than intrigued,” he admitted as he nodded to Cross and moved away.

He also admitted that he had probably done enough for tonight. The framework of what he intended was in place. He ought to be pleased. People were wondering who he was. They were finding out that he was a bit of a flirt, a bit of a tease, illegitimate, possibly a fly-by-night but amiable rogue, and they were beginning to wonder if he couldn’t, in some way, be related to Ford Carson.

Ace glanced around at the men he’d identified earlier as Carsons from the descriptions he’d been given. Matt, Flynt. Ford didn’t appear to be here. At least not yet.

No matter. He had time and patience.

He scanned the room, looking to see if his target was arriving, but at that moment he saw Crystal again. She was standing in a corner, nearly against a wall, and a thin man with dirty-blond hair and a goatee was watching her from across the lawn. Somehow, unlike the other men who had surrounded her earlier, this one didn’t look as if he was waiting for her to smile. He didn’t look as if he’d even noticed that the lady had soft pink lips made for kissing again and again. He looked extremely upset.

Moreover, he looked as if he had business with Crystal. Not good business, either, Ace surmised, as the man began to take quick, deliberate steps toward her.

Just then, a woman came up to Ace and started talking to him. Ace listened with only one ear.

But while he listened he had a feeling that, wise or not, he was going to end up speaking to Crystal Bennett again.

Soon.

He only hoped he would remember she was a lady, a vulnerable lady, and he was a man she wasn’t going to like for very long. Not if she liked this town and the true Carsons.

Crystal could feel Ace’s eyes on her. Every time she’d looked up, it seemed, he had been grinning, flirting with the women gathered here, who were all beginning to fan themselves whenever he drew near.

Not that she could blame them. He was tall enough to make a woman feel faint, his blue eyes promised long nights of raw pleasure, and his mouth…well, just thinking about that slash of a mouth made her stomach flutter.

She’d had to keep reminding herself that she was here to ensure a smooth party and a flawless ceremony. Besides, she didn’t go near good-looking flirts anymore. She’d had more than her share of them in so many ways. But oh, my, Ace was going to fuel some very powerful fantasies tonight. Not just hers, either. She bet that half the women in the room were going to dream of him in their beds tonight, dropping feverish kisses on their naked skin.

She fanned herself with a program.

“Well, look here what I’ve found. If it isn’t little Crystal Bennett still looking like the slut she is.”

Crystal gave a start at the familiar, raspy voice from her past. To her chagrin, her first move on hearing the ugly accusation was to look down at her suit. Although her outfit ended just above her knee, it was very demure, a plain skirt and short-sleeved jacket that were neither too snug nor cut too low.

She forced herself to look up, despite the fear spiraling through her, nearly choking her. Branson Hines stood before her, his lank dirty hair disheveled, his black eyes slightly crazed. He was staring at her jacket as if he could see right through it.

Automatically, she raised her hand to cover herself. She reminded herself that she was in a crowded gathering, even if she was standing in a rather deserted area at the moment, beneath the shadow of some trees. Besides, she was a grown woman now. She didn’t have to let Branson intimidate her anymore.

“Branson,” she said as smoothly as she could manage, pretending he had said nothing out of the ordinary. “I hope you’re enjoying the ceremonies.” She didn’t hold out her hand as she would have to anyone else. “But I’m afraid I have business to attend to now. If you’ll excuse me.”

She tried to move around him to head back to the relative safety of the more crowded area.

He put one hand across her path. She changed direction and he grabbed her wrist.

“You don’t like being called a slut, Crystal? I don’t see why not,” he said. “After all, that’s what you are, isn’t it? Your son is a bastard, isn’t he? You let his father into your bed when you weren’t married. How many men have there been since then? Or do you just say yes to every man who wants you?”

Panic and fear rose in her throat. His grip on her wrist tightened as he leaned close enough for her to smell his sour breath. His grimy fingers cut into her skin.

“Let me go, Branson,” she said, trying to sound calm. She would not make a scene or allow him to ruin the proceedings for the maternity wing. Branson was not a huge man. Surely she could get away. Years ago there had been another day when he had made ugly remarks to her, but he had never actually tried to hurt her. At least not physically.

“Oh, I don’t think I’ll let you go just yet,” he said, reeling her in. “You share your favors with other men you’re not married to, but I’ve never even touched you. I always wanted to touch you.”

She opened her mouth. To order him away or to scream, she wasn’t sure which.

But he yanked her hard and pulled her up against him. A cry ripped from her throat as she shoved at him and tried to keep his lips from getting near hers. Her wrists were burning as he twisted them and held fast, shoving his face into hers.

“Please. No,” she said. “Don’t.”

“I never even had a kiss,” he said. He pressed his wet lips to hers. She fought the blackness that threatened to envelop her as he tried to hold her still and she struggled to pull away. His laughter mocked her pitiful efforts.

And then she was free, the cool air rushing over her face. Branson was kicking at someone. She blinked to clear her eyes and saw that Ace had Branson’s arm pulled up behind his back.

“You don’t want to touch a lady who hasn’t invited you,” Ace said, his voice low and cold. “That’s not exactly the way to win points with a woman. It’s definitely not a gentlemanly thing to do, now is it?”

Branson swore and tried to wrest his arm free. “She’s not exactly a lady in my book.”

Ace spun Branson around, shoving him up against a tree, his arm lodged against Branson’s windpipe, leaving him barely enough air to breathe, judging by Branson’s choked gurgling. “Then maybe you’ve been reading the wrong book, buddy. Now, I’m going to ease up on you real slow, and I want you to tell the lady you’re sorry you touched her, that you’re sorry you even dared to come near her.”

Ace eased the pressure on Branson’s throat, and the man muttered an even fouler word. He tried to break free.

With barely a shrug, Ace slammed Branson up against the tree again, hard enough to send a few leaves fluttering to the ground. “Let’s try this again, shall we, buddy?” he said, leaning in to apply more pressure. “You want to reconsider that apology?”

Crystal didn’t want an apology from Branson. She just wanted him gone. But there was such steel in Ace’s voice and he was so focused on what he was doing that she didn’t want to distract him for fear Branson would pull free and strike out, catching Ace off guard.

“I’m really starting to lose patience with your lack of good manners. You ready with that apology yet, pal?” Ace asked.

Branson raised dark, hate-filled eyes to Crystal. “Sorry,” he said, the word clipped and barely audible.

She gave him a curt nod just as a security guard approached. “Thanks, man. We’ll take him off your hands,” he told Ace. “Ms. Fiona saw that something was happening and sent us over, Ms. Bennett. We’ll get him out of here right away,” he promised.

“Thank you,” she breathed.

But her words were nearly drowned out by Branson’s sudden shouting as the security guard removed a pair of handcuffs from his belt.

“You tramp, Crystal, you’re gonna pay for this. I know how you operate. I know who and what you are. You’re a backstabber. You promise things and then don’t deliver. But I know that, and I’ll be back. I’ll be lookin’ for you. You and your kind took something I wanted. Now maybe I’ll take something you want, and I do know what means the most to you. Don’t think I don’t.”

His words were spewed out, dark and ominous. He lunged furiously, nearly dragging to the ground the security guard, who had only Branson’s right wrist cuffed. Finally another security guard grabbed Branson’s other arm, and together they cuffed his hands behind his back and pulled him from the area.

The silence that followed was like a thick choking smoke. Crystal’s heart was beating frantically. What had he meant? What was he going to do?

She surprised herself by raising her gaze to Ace as if just looking at him could calm her. He was standing nearer than she’d expected. When her eyes met his, he moved closer and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Go ahead. Lean on me,” he whispered, then looked up at the small crowd who’d gathered.

“I tell you, some people just shouldn’t even go to parties,” he said, addressing the group. “That one there looks like he started drinking early and needs to sleep it off. I guess he just didn’t like it when Ms. Bennett suggested he leave and get some rest. But it was a pretty good demonstration of the security at Mission Creek Memorial, though, wasn’t it? You can all rest easy knowing you’ll always be safe here. Makes you feel good seeing this hospital is on the job protecting the people staying here, doesn’t it?” He smiled reassuringly on that last note, and everyone began to murmur among themselves and drift away. One or two of them gave Crystal a worried look, but somehow she managed to follow Ace’s lead and paste on a smile. In spite of the fact that her heart was still hammering.

Slowly, almost without her noticing it, Ace walked her into the deeper shelter of some trees where some small benches were positioned. He eased her down on one, and she realized that her legs had been a bit shaky and she’d been leaning on Ace, an almost total stranger.

She glanced up at him, wondering what he really thought about what had happened back there. Especially since she herself wasn’t quite sure what had happened. She hadn’t seen Branson in years.

But Ace’s expression was unreadable. He bore no sign of his struggle with Branson other than one disheveled lock of black hair. He looked like a man who was used to fighting and didn’t let it bother him. It bothered her that he had been forced to come to her rescue.

“I seem to be causing you a great deal of trouble today,” she said.

He ignored her concerned tone and gave her a slow sexy grin. “Don’t apologize. I’m rather partial to trouble. Been in the thick of it all my life.”

She gulped at the look in his eyes. It was the look a man gives a woman who interests him, at least physically. Her pulse began to trip over itself. This just wouldn’t do. It wasn’t that she didn’t find him amazingly attractive. She did, and more than that, she was grateful for his help and his kind attention, more grateful than she could say. But he was obviously the worst kind of man. The kind that flipped through women like the pages of a magazine. The kind she never went near, not anymore.

“Well, then, all I can say is thank you for your help. I’m indebted to you,” she said. “If I can ever repay you…” She hoped that didn’t sound as bad to him as it did to her.

He shook his head. “For what? I told you, I welcome trouble.”

Oh, she’d just bet he did. She’d bet he caused it, too. Which meant the only smart thing for her to do now was to get as far away as possible from the attraction he held for her. “Thank you, anyway,” she said. “But I guess I should get back and make sure everything is running smoothly.”

He nodded, but the long look he gave her held her as immobile as Branson’s death grip. “You want to tell me what that was all about back there?”

Three

Crystal blinked. No, she didn’t want to talk about what had happened with Branson. She didn’t want to talk about it or even think about it. But Ace stood there waiting, his blue eyes studying her, his stance loose, almost relaxed.

As if he could wait forever for her to speak.

“I don’t exactly know,” she finally confessed. “Years ago, when I was in high school, I dated Branson. He seemed like a quiet shy boy at first. After we’d gone out once or twice, though, he…well, I could tell that he wasn’t always operating under the same rules as the rest of the world. Little things upset him a lot more than they did most people. He would get unreasonably angry if he forgot his textbook at home, angry enough to throw things. If I didn’t say ‘Goodbye, Branson,’ instead of just ‘Goodbye,’ he would rant and rave. After just two dates I told him that I didn’t think I was right for him and that he should find someone else.”

She stared into Ace’s eyes. She was embarrassed, and her first instinct was to look down, but she’d done enough of that in her life and so she forced herself to hold his gaze.

Instead, he was the one to glance down. Just once. Just a quick look. She realized she was twisting her hands together. So much for appearing poised and calm.

“I take it Branson wasn’t exactly happy with your decision.”

She wasn’t sure she could say the next part. She wasn’t sure why she was even considering saying anything, but there was something very compelling about Ace’s unreadable expression. It was the sort of expression a cop might wear. Just the facts, ma’am, he seemed to be saying. And she realized she’d never really told anyone about what had happened between her and Branson. Maybe because all of them thought they already knew and no one wanted to talk about it.

“Branson blew up. He screamed and yelled. In the end he begged. I was…I was frightened, but I knew that it would be worse giving in than going forward. I left. Soon after that, the whispers started. Someone started a rumor that I was easy, that I would let anyone do anything, that I would sleep with any male who asked, that I was a tramp. Branson told them that I’d done things with him that I’d never done. Most people didn’t believe him, but a few did. That hurt so much that I went into hiding, which was the wrong thing to do. People took it as an admission of guilt. It took me years to win back my self-esteem. And then I met John. I had Timmy out of wedlock. The rumors started again, only this time I stared them down. The Carsons found me a good job here at the hospital, and I hold my head up high.”

“No reason you shouldn’t,” Ace said softly.

She realized that she’d made her last statement somewhat defensively, but that Ace hadn’t seemed to notice.

“Anyway, that’s my story, such as it is. I haven’t had contact with Branson for years. He’s spent a lot of time in and out of jail. He did have some conflict with the hospital once in the not-too-distant past. His wife had experienced complications of childbirth due to alcohol abuse, and the doctors were unable to save the baby, which was premature. Branson tried to sue, unsuccessfully. For the past year, he’s been in jail for burglarizing an auto parts store, so I have no idea what brought him here today or why he chose to approach me. What I do know is that I really had better get back to work now.”

Ace gazed down at her. She stood up and he stepped aside to let her past.

“Thank you for stepping in to help me,” she said, holding out her hand.

He stared down at her hand, and for a moment her palm tingled. Then he closed his fingers around hers. His hand was large and warm, but she didn’t feel threatened the way she had with Branson. Instead, she felt a desire to stay there connected to him. Quickly she withdrew her hand and turned away.

He fell into step beside her.

She glanced to the side and frowned. “I know I’ve twice looked like a helpless boob today, but I assure you that I can take care of myself.”

“I know that.” He continued walking by her side.

“I really don’t think he’s going to come back and bother me again.”

“Probably not.”

“The security officers took him away. He’s gone.”

“Looks that way.”

“Ace, you don’t need to escort me. I’m not going to get in any more trouble.”

He raised one lazy brow and she held back a smile. She couldn’t really blame him, considering the way the day had gone.

“I’m not normally this catastrophe-prone,” she promised, and this time she wasn’t sure whether she was talking to him or to herself.

He stopped, turning to face her, and took both her hands in his. “Everyone knows that. I can’t tell you how many total strangers have told me that you are the one responsible for this new wing. I believe the way they put it was ‘Crystal Bennett can turn on that smile and talk you into donating money you haven’t even started to earn yet.”’

She laughed. “Well, I’m not that bad—or that good—but we really did need this maternity wing.”

“The hospital didn’t handle births?”

“Of course they did, but everything was old, kind of cold and sterile. It’s very…well, it’s frightening when you have your first baby. Lots of the mothers are young. They’re scared. They need to know that their babies are going to get the best care and that they’re going to be born into a warm welcoming world. This new wing is designed to make having a baby much safer and less distressing.”

Ace gazed down at her with fierce blue eyes. “Is that how it was for you? Frightening?”

Oh, no. She hadn’t meant to bring out those protective instincts in him again. Even though she had been frightened giving birth to Timmy alone.

“I was a lioness,” she managed to say with a straight face.

He chuckled and brushed a finger across her cheek. “I’ll bet you were,” he said. “Now come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“I’ve been watching you all afternoon. It’s getting late, and you’ve been so busy that you haven’t eaten.”

“I’ll eat,” she promised, “but I’m still working. When it’s over, I’ll definitely be fed,” she said, lifting her chin as he gave her one of those I-don’t-believe-you looks. “Don’t worry about me. Like I told you, I know how to take care of myself. I’m used to it and I like it,” she said firmly.

“Oh, but it’s not nearly as much fun as having a gorgeous man take over for a while, Crystal.” A soft teasing voice sounded at Crystal’s shoulder and she turned to see Fiona Carson Martin smiling at her and Ace.

“Fiona,” Crystal said with a smile. “I’m glad to see you could make it. Is everything all right?”

Fiona laughed. “Yes, very all right. I’m sorry I was late, but I was almost ready to slip my dress on when…well, my husband can be quite a distraction.”

Crystal felt the warm color climbing her cheeks. She tried not to look at Ace, but couldn’t seem to help herself. He was smiling at her.

“Speaking of distractions, Crystal, why don’t you introduce me to your young man? He seems to be causing quite a stir. The family sent me over to find out his story. They all feel very protective toward you, you know.”

Honestly, could a woman get any warmer or pinker? “Mr.—Ace is a new acquaintance,” Crystal replied. “Fiona Carson Martin, meet Ace…” She looked up at him expectantly, waiting for him to fill in his last name.

For a moment there was silence. She thought she’d seen a muscle twitch in his jaw when she introduced Fiona, but that must have been her imagination. Nothing had fazed Ace today, not being trapped in an elevator or fighting off a violent lunatic. Why should he mind being introduced to a beautiful woman? For a second Crystal felt a pain in her heart. A ridiculous pain, she assured herself. Of course she didn’t care how Ace reacted to Fiona or any other woman.

She looked up at Ace, who still hadn’t spoken.

His frozen expression relaxed into a smile, almost as if he had willed it to please her. “Sorry, you caught me a bit off guard there,” he said. “My name’s Ace Carson, son of Ford Carson. Perhaps you know him?”

Suddenly Crystal couldn’t breathe.

Fiona blinked and looked as if she couldn’t think. But then, true to character, she managed to smile.

“Well, my goodness, isn’t this an incredibly interesting turn? And yes, I might know Ford,” she said. “You and Daddy talk often, do you?”

Her voice issued a challenge.

Ace gave her a long, slow and very cold grin. “Never met the man.”

Fiona nodded. “I see.”

“I don’t think you do.”

“You’re probably right.” She studied him for long seconds. “Just out of curiosity, how old are you?”

Crystal focused her attention on her friend, who looked as if her expression had frozen in place.

“Thirty-six,” Ace finally said, clipping off the words.

A bit of life flowed back into Fiona’s face and she shrugged. “Older than my oldest brother, Flynt. I guess that makes it all right. If it’s true.”

Ace didn’t respond to that. Crystal could see, though, that it didn’t make it all right with him. His eyes were hard, his jaw tense. Fiona could probably see that, too. She never missed much.

“Would you like to meet Daddy?” she asked softly.

For a minute Crystal thought Ace wasn’t going to answer. Then he shrugged. “I’ll meet him.” Which wasn’t quite the same as saying he’d like to meet him, Crystal couldn’t help noting.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you,” Fiona offered. “He’s not here today. He’s been a little under the weather these past couple of days, and since he could only manage one party today, he chose to attend the one at the country club, his home away from home. It’ll be starting in just a few minutes now that things are winding down here. Crystal, I know you were planning on attending. Do you want to come along with us?”

No, she didn’t. Now more than ever, she knew that Ace was dangerous. Dangerous in ways she didn’t understand. And he was really still a stranger, even more so now. A handsome, intriguing stranger who made her knees weak, who filled her with desire she didn’t understand and didn’t really want to acknowledge.

And now he appeared to be here for some reason known only to him. He was a man of mystery. Not even remotely safe.

Above all, she wanted a life filled with security and safety.

She didn’t want to follow Ace Carson anywhere.

But he was obviously facing a few difficult moments, and she just didn’t seem to be able to stop herself.

“Let’s go see Ford,” she said. And for some reason she couldn’t understand, she reached out and took Ace’s hand. She did her very best to ignore the foolish feeling that she wanted that hand sliding down her back someday, urging her close.

Because right now she had a feeling that Ace just needed a hand to hold, and that he wasn’t used to feeling that way.

Tomorrow they were both going to regret this moment. But right now she had today to contend with.

She’d become very good at never looking at tomorrow, at the possibilities or disappointments the next day might bring. Now she had to work at it even harder.

Now there was Ace.

Temptation.

She wondered if she was strong enough to resist the pull of him. Above all, she didn’t want to wake up alone in bed one day soon with the imprint of a man’s body on her sheets and his license plate fading away in the distance. Not again. Never again.

But she wouldn’t think about that now.

“Are you really Ford’s son?” she whispered.

Blue eyes met hers. She shivered.

“Afraid so,” he said. “And I’m real sorry about all this.”

Crystal closed her eyes. The last time a man had said something like that to her, he had been leaving. And her life had never been the same.

“So are you really related to us?” Fiona asked Ace a few minutes later.

He nodded and looked down into Fiona’s inquisitive green eyes. “You don’t look very surprised,” he said.

She laughed. “You don’t look like any Carson I’ve ever met before. Besides, surprised or not, I’m good at hiding things when I have to. And maybe I just don’t believe you.”

“Fiona,” Crystal said, and he swung his gaze to the woman who had grasped his hand as if trying to protect him, the lady who had been the focus of his attention all afternoon, despite his every effort to ignore her. Her hazel eyes were clouded with worry, and her grip on his hand was tight and cold. He gave himself a mental kick for letting her get caught in the middle of this charade between him and a family who, until now, hadn’t known he even existed. He knew so little about her.

Only that some man—no, make that two men—had treated her badly.

His grip on her hand tightened, and she gave a soft gasp.

Immediately he released her. “I’m sorry,” he said, “and don’t go worrying about me. I’m not upset because Fiona thinks I may be lying.” He wouldn’t tell her that it was she he worried about. She’d already assured him several times today that she was fully able to manage her affairs. He wanted to smile at the memory of how hard she’d argued her case, but he refrained from doing so. He knew she was capable. Everyone had told him so, but if she thought there was a man in the world who wouldn’t want to champion her whether she welcomed it or not, then she didn’t know much about men. And she had been threatened tonight. He couldn’t forget that. He didn’t think she could either, even though she was doing an admirable job of trying. He supposed a woman alone did a lot of that. No, he knew a woman alone did a lot of that.

Plus, he had a feeling that, mother or not, Crystal Bennett did not know very much at all about men. She brought out a protective side of him—the urge to keep her close enough to watch over her—that he didn’t like admitting to. It just didn’t fit into his plans, plans he’d been making for three months. Maybe plans that had been born thirty-six years ago. Not the kind of thing he could let go of just because he was worried about one small, brave, fierce woman.

“So should I believe that you’re really related to me, that my father sired you?” Fiona asked him, breaking into his thoughts. “And if I should, why should I?”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t if I were you. After all, you seem like a smart lady. You probably already know the rules. Never believe anything a man tells you.”

She studied him for a second, then exchanged a disbelieving look with Crystal. “Even my husband?”

He smiled at her patient tone. “You’re right, ma’am. I stand corrected. Never trust a man, unless he’s proved himself by putting a ring on your finger.”

“So once a man puts a ring on your finger, he becomes instantly trustworthy?” Crystal asked, crossing her arms and staring at him incredulously.

Ace blinked. He almost smiled at her combative stance. “Why do I feel like I’m caught in the sights of a rifle with the two of you firing the questions? But yes, I get your point, and you’re absolutely right. Some men never do become trustworthy, ring or no ring.” Like him, he supposed. Wasn’t he here to disrupt the lives of people she no doubt cared about?

“Hmm, I’m offering to take you to meet my family, and you’re telling me that you can’t be trusted?” Fiona raised a brow.

“That’s right,” he said softly.

To his surprise, she suddenly smiled. “I think I like you, Ace. You’re direct, no pretense. That’s a Carson trait, you know.”

Ace nearly groaned. He didn’t want to have any Carson traits. The less he had in common with his so-called relatives the better.

Crystal seemed to sense his consternation. “Are you all right?” She gazed up at him with her pretty, worried eyes. For a moment he couldn’t look away.

Fiona chuckled.

Immediately Ace and Crystal turned to her. “Something funny, little sister?” Ace asked.

“Just enjoying myself,” she said. “You know, I had expected this event to be rather dull, in spite of all Crystal’s hard work. How nice to find out I was wrong. Lots of surprises today.” She looked pointedly at her friend, and Ace didn’t miss Crystal’s blush.

“Shall we go?” he asked. “No time like the present to meet up with the past.”

His voice was nearly expressionless, and Fiona winced. “Maybe I’d better go ahead. Daddy’s heart might need some warning of what he has in store. Can you make sure that Ace gets there in one piece, Crystal?”

Crystal laughed. “If you knew how my day had been going, you wouldn’t be asking that. Still, I think Ace will probably manage to get us all there intact.”

“All?” he asked.

“I’m sorry, I should have said something. I need to pick up my son. Will that be a problem? If it is, I know any number of other people who are going to the Lone Star. I’m sure it would be no problem to find someone to escort you there.”

He gazed down at her totally trusting expression and felt something he didn’t want to feel. Guilt? The lady didn’t know what he had in mind. She was good at talking people into doing things, as evidenced by this stunning addition to the hospital she’d managed to procure funding for. She would just as easily obtain passage for him to the country club. He’d warned her that his intentions couldn’t be trusted, and yet she was planning to help him find a ride to the country club, anyway. She was prepared to take on more work in finding him a ride. Because she was afraid that he would object to sharing a car with her little boy? What kind of a man would run from a child?

But he knew the answer. Any number of men. The boy’s father. His own father.

“I’d like to meet Timmy,” he said, even though he knew this was dangerous territory. The woman was enticing. He needed to keep his distance, and he had absolutely no business at all bringing another innocent into his mess. Especially a child.

No question, he was going to have to be careful where Crystal was concerned.

Maybe he’d better start thinking about that seriously right now, instead of thinking that he’d like to fold her into his arms and take anything that she was willing to give.

Four

“Hey, partner, that’s a pretty neat hat you’ve got there,” Ace said.

Crystal took her eyes off the road for a minute and looked at Ace. He was turned halfway in his seat, studying her son who was strapped safely into the back seat. From the corner of her eye she could see Timmy fingering the cowboy hat he’d been wearing lately. The quick shy smile on his little face nearly split her heart in two. He had so few dealings with men that he was always eager for their attention.

He stuck his feet straight out as far as he could.

“Got new boots,” she heard him say as she turned her attention back to the road.

“Yep. Nice shiny ones,” Ace agreed. “Your mom pick ’em out?”

Crystal didn’t hear anything, which probably meant that Timmy was shaking his head.

“No? You did that all by yourself, wildcat?” Ace’s voice was properly weighted with admiration.

Timmy giggled at the nickname, and she could tell that he liked it. “Mr. Ford picked ’em. New boots for me and us all.”

Silence slid into the car. Uh-oh, she hadn’t thought Timmy would even remember where the boots came from. It was true, though. Ford Carson frequently liked to spring surprises on the kids at the day-care center. For half a second she wondered if it was because of some lingering guilt over a son he’d fathered thirty-six years ago. Immediately she felt her own guilt. She liked Ford, and she refused to question his motives.

“For all of you?” Ace finally said. “Your mom, too?”

“Mommy? No,” Timmy said with a laugh. “Ony kids.”

“Mmm, I see.”

But Crystal knew that Ace didn’t. “It’s just the kind of thing Ford does now and then,” she said. “He drops by and asks the teachers at the hospital day-care center if there’s anything that any of the kids need. If one of them needs a hat, they all get hats.”

But once again she wondered what it had been like for Ace. When he had needed a new hat or boots, who had provided them? She couldn’t help looking over at him.

“Don’t do that,” he said. “I know what you’re thinking. It’s not why I’m here. I’m not three years old anymore. I’m not here for revenge for me.”

He glanced back at Timmy and she was grateful that he had at least considered her son’s presence, that he didn’t want to scare a child.

Still, she hadn’t missed the intonation in Ace’s statement. He was obviously here for revenge for someone, judging by his words. And in spite of what he’d said, the fact remained that Ace did not look like a man who was looking forward to a reunion. If Ford truly was his father, then with or without the intent of revenge, things were not going to be easy tonight.

For anyone. When Ford Carson was upset, the whole Carson clan was upset. Fiona had seemed amused by Ace’s presence, but then, Crystal knew what Fiona had been thinking. She’d been viewing him as a convenient new man in town—a match for Crystal. Fiona was always doing that kind of thing. Fiona had been purposely avoiding the obvious problems with her family. Maybe she just didn’t want to think about them. Maybe she knew she couldn’t stop what was going to happen and so had decided to simply get things over with.

Crystal hazarded a glance at Ace. His jaw was set. Tall and strong, he radiated masculinity and power even sitting down. He seemed to fill up the space of her small car. He was a man you couldn’t miss in a crowd, a man no woman would want to miss…unless she was a woman who had a problem with men.

Like me, Crystal thought.

She wondered if Fiona wasn’t making a mistake in inviting Ace to this gathering where Carsons would be so prevalent. No Carson was easily forgettable, and it looked as if Ace Carson fit the mold perfectly.

She doubted that this would be something anyone could simply get through quickly. Ace Carson was here to make a difference.

A shiver ran through her at the thought.

“You all right?” he asked in that low sexy voice.

She smiled.

“What?” he said.

“I was just thinking how that should have been my question. Are you all right with this? With going to the Lone Star Country Club? The Carsons and the Wainwrights run it, you know.”

“I know.”

“Are you…hoping to become a member of the family?” Immediately she regretted the words. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that. It’s none of my business.”

“Don’t be sorry. You’ve got a right to ask. I invaded your celebration. It’s obvious my only reason for being there was to check out the Carson clan. As for wanting to be accepted, that’s the last thing I want. I have no interest in being a part of the family.”

Then what? she wanted to ask, and her very interest in Ace troubled her. She shouldn’t be here with him. But then she remembered how he’d soothed her on the elevator, how he’d protected her from Branson, how he’d noticed Timmy’s hat and boots and drawn a smile from her reserved child.

“I can’t tell you what I’m going to say to my father when I finally meet him, but…well, you probably shouldn’t be here with me,” he said.

“You’re not going to… You wouldn’t hurt anyone, would you?”

He chuckled. “My mother’s ghost would rise up and smack me good if I did. That’s not what this is about,” he assured her. “I don’t beat up aging men.”

But that aging man had once been a very young man, a dashing young man who apparently had seduced Ace’s mother.

Crystal glanced at Ace and wondered how many women had fallen under his spell.

“I won’t hit anyone,” he promised. “I never intended that. And I would not subject you or Timmy to that.” He nodded toward her little boy who had gotten bored with the grown-up talk and fallen asleep in his car seat, his cowboy hat slipping off his head to lie half-crushed beneath his chubby pink cheek.

She parked the car outside the massive structure of the country club in the large lot west of the main building, climbed from the car and circled round to free Timmy from his car seat. His body was heavy with sleep, his arms and legs rubbery, his head flopping over.

“I’ll carry him,” Ace said, and he took her son from her.

He held him reverently, her fatherless child. But Crystal also noticed that Ace stiffened slightly whenever the boy moved. And when she led him past the gardens, across the enormous porch, into the building and back to the nursery, he looked relieved to be divested of his package. It was obvious that though he seemed to like her child, he still wasn’t comfortable with the thought of having one of his own.

She shouldn’t have felt that sharp little pain at the thought. After all, she’d already walked this route. But then, this was her son. She wanted everyone to want him.

Not everyone would, though, she knew. It was just a fact of life, one she still struggled with.

“All right, ready to meet the family?” she asked, striving for brightness.

He placed a restraining hand on her bare arm, sending warmth and awareness straight into her. “Not a chance I’m going to drag you into this.” His expression was stern.

She couldn’t help the look of confusion that crossed her face.

He shrugged and smiled. “What I mean is, thank you for the ride, but I accepted because Fiona said that you were going, anyway, and because I wanted to make sure that the jerk who attacked you earlier didn’t follow you. He hasn’t. But now that we’re here, I’m not dragging you into this any deeper. The Carsons are obviously your friends. Furthermore, they don’t have any more reason to like me than I have reason to like them. In fact, they have every reason to be suspicious of me and to order me out of here. I might as well tell you that their suspicions would not be without grounds. I’m not a violent man unless someone’s being threatened, but I’m not likely to feel too kindly toward the family that made my mother’s life a joke and a humiliation. So you and I part ways for now. Go circulate, Cinderella. Just be careful. Not all men—”

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