“So what made you think I’m an adrenaline junkie?”

Kat angled her head to indicate his feet. “The biker boots. And I saw you in the lobby carrying a helmet. I figure you’re a weekend warrior with a Harley. That, and you never seem totally relaxed even when you’re just making conversation. You’re always scanning the room, and there’s this undercurrent to you, as if you’re spring-loaded.”

Nick shook his head, wondering if he’d chosen the right woman to pursue. She was too observant for his comfort. “You’re good.”

“Not really. I have a talent for finding the one bad boy in a room full of good guys. You might even call it a curse.”

Dear Reader,

I have wanted to write Kat’s story since she emerged as Annie’s wisecracking best friend in Welcome Home, Daddy. To be honest, I felt sorry for her because she had a total loser boyfriend, the latest in a long line of bad boys.

Kat is smart, beautiful and successful. Couldn’t she see she deserved better? And if picking losers was a pattern for her, why didn’t she simply change it?

Many of you are probably nodding and thinking, “That’s just like my friend________.” Yes, we all have a friend like Kat. Heck, some of us are Kat. So why do intelligent, attractive, charming women seem to be drawn to men who are no good?

As Kat’s story unfolds, I think you’ll see why she needs to be needed so badly (although she covers her vulnerability with a smart-ass attitude). And I hope you’ll cheer her on as she fights to let go of the past. Even as dark, intense Tony Perez will challenge her newfound courage to choose differently every step of the way.

As always, I love to hear from readers, by e-mail at carrieauthor@aol.com, or snail mail forwarded through Harlequin Books.

Yours in reading,

Carrie Weaver

www.carrieweaver.com

Once a Ranger
Carrie Weaver

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carrie Weaver is vastly relieved that she no longer shares Kat’s penchant for bad boys…or more accurately, bad men. As the mother of two young men, Carrie hopes her sons are the good guys Kat would have avoided during her loser-chasing days. When not molding the husbands of tomorrow, Carrie loves to write award-winning novels reflecting real life and real love.

This book is dedicated to my friend and fellow reader Carol Cancik, and her amazing daughter, Mary.

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

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

EUNICE TREADWAY DESERVED justice and Tony Perez intended to see that she got it.

Not only because Eunice’s son had hired him, but also because of the there-but-for-the-grace-of-God factor. Tony would want to exact a whole lot more than justice if Will Sterling destroyed his widowed mother.

Tony opened his laptop and placed it on the mission-style table in the breakfast nook of his suite. Booting up, he ran through his notes; there were precious few. It wasn’t that he didn’t have contacts in law enforcement. As a former Texas Ranger, he had plenty. There simply hadn’t been an investigation. Treadway’s death had been declared a suicide, no foul play involved.

Except Tony knew better.

His cell phone buzzed. He checked the number as he went and grabbed a bottled water from the fridge under the minibar. The Phoenix Rising Resort was top of the line, even if it was in the Arizona boonies. He thumbed the button on his phone. “Hey, Teresa, how was your flight?”

“This is Brian, Teresa’s husband.”

Tony’s shoulders tensed. She wouldn’t let anyone take her BlackBerry without a fight. Even her husband.

Tony’s gut told him this case could derail before it had even begun. “Yeah, we’ve met a couple times. Is something wrong?”

“They just took Teresa into emergency surgery. Her appendix was about to burst and the stubborn woman insisted I call you before her family.” His chuckle sounded shaky. “Wanted me to tell you she’s sorry she won’t be able to help you with that case in Arizona.”

“That sounds like Teresa.” Concern for the tough ex-cop warred with the desire to punch something. “Is she going to be okay?”

“Yeah, the doctors caught it before it ruptured. A few more hours and it could have been a different story.”

Tony took a deep breath, determined not to dwell on all the women who could potentially avoid destitution or worse if Will Sterling was put in jail. “Tell her to concentrate on getting better. I’m sure we’ll have the chance to partner up again soon.”

“I will. I gotta go call our youngest at the University of Texas.”

“Take care.” Clicking off his phone, Tony swore under his breath. Without Teresa for bait, luring Sterling was out of the question. Now would be the time for plan B. If he had one, that is.

There was a knock at the casita door. When he opened it, the blond, middle-aged woman who had handled his check-in smiled warmly. “I’m Linda. In case you haven’t had the chance to read your brochure, I wanted to make sure you’re aware we try to keep the dining experience casual. You’re invited to a welcome luncheon that starts in half an hour in the private dining room next to the Copper Dining Room. It’s a small affair for the people who arrived within the past few days.”

“Thank you. But I thought to get some work—”

“None of that. One of the things that sets Phoenix Rising apart from other resorts is that we encourage our guests to shake things up, meet new people, change worn-out patterns. Step outside your box, so to speak. We find that folks who form friendships with other guests are more inclined to participate in activities and are, on the whole, more satisfied with their stay here. After the welcome luncheon, our activities are more on an à la carte basis. There’s a schedule on the credenza in each room.”

Tony figured a con man stalking his mark wouldn’t want to miss the welcome luncheon. That meant Tony couldn’t miss it, either. Especially now that he was solo. And operating without a plan. “I’ll be there, I promise.”

“Good.” She smiled warmly, clearly enjoying her job. “Will your sister arrive in time?”

“No, she just called to say her plans have changed, and she won’t be able to make it at all.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought it was nice for a brother and sister to vacation together. We have two sisters who always stay together at Phoenix Rising, but they’re much older.”

“I was looking forward to catching up with Teresa. But these things happen.”

“I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful stay all the same. Well, I have a few other guests to remind, so I’ll see you at lunch.”

Tony closed the door, calculating the pros and cons of continuing without a partner. His not-so-legal surveillance of Sterling’s credit card charges had shown the man had arrived at the resort day before yesterday.

Tony had monitored Sterling’s accounts regularly and this was the first time in months the weasel had gone anywhere resembling a vacation destination. Since the Treadways said Eunice had met Sterling at a resort in Texas, Tony figured he was planning to target a new victim. Smart man to vary his hunting grounds.

Even without a partner, Tony intended to stop Sterling and collect enough evidence to convince the authorities a series of felonies had been committed. Fraud, at the very least. Legally, Sterling hadn’t murdered Eunice Treadway. Morally, he might as well have administered the fatal dose of pills.

Because Tony had no doubt Eunice would have continued to sing in the church choir, help shuttle her granddaughters to activities and chair a few Red Hat Lady committees if she’d never met Sterling.

KAT MONROE FELT HER reservations fade as she strolled down the gravel footpath to the lodge. The days were cooler up here around Jasper, at nearly five thousand feet, than in Phoenix, where the spring temperatures already topped one hundred degrees.

She watched birds flit from a juniper tree to manzanita shrubs. Tucking her long auburn curls behind her ear, she shielded her eyes from the glare and saw a red-tailed hawk soaring high in the sky.

Feeling the tension ease from her shoulders for the first time in months, Kat was glad she’d splurged on the pricey resort.

It seemed as if June Marsh, her best friend’s mother, had been spot on in her recommendation of Phoenix Rising. Already Kat’s messy life in Tempe seemed strangely removed, as if it had happened to someone else. She sighed, hoping Annie hadn’t told her mother all the sordid details of Kat’s breakup with Zach. It was humiliating to think everyone knew she’d picked the totally wrong guy again. As a thirty-two-year-old, established accountant, she should be well past picking losers. Or allowing them to choose her.

“Beautiful, isn’t he?”

Kat started.

A tall, muscular man leaned against a wooden pole that supported a kerosene-style lantern, his silver hair held away from his face with a leather band. Most men couldn’t carry off the gray ponytail look, but on him it seemed both masculine and…elegant, she decided. His skin was weathered from long hours in the sun, and his eyes were an unusual shade of gray.

She returned her attention to the sky. “Yes, it is. Solitary, yet powerful.”

“He’s got a female nesting nearby. Red-tailed hawks mate for life.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“You’re going to the luncheon?”

“Yes. Are you?”

The man pushed away from the pole and shuddered, his eyes sparkling. “Hell, no. The social stuff is more my wife’s domain. You probably met Linda at check-in. I handle the art workshops and drive the excursion van. Don’t miss the glassblowing exhibit after dinner tonight. It’ll knock your socks off. But then again, I’m biased.”

Kat raised an eyebrow, smiling at the affection in his voice. “Linda is your wife?”

“Yes. Don’t look so surprised. She’s not nearly as refined as she likes to pretend. And I don’t always wear flannel shirts and jeans. We manage to go with the flow pretty well.”

Kat realized why he seemed slightly familiar. “You’re Garth Fremont. The brochure says you’re famous for your blown-glass art.”

He shrugged. “I’ve done okay.”

“The next Dale Chihuly, I think Wikipedia said.”

“My wife probably wrote that. She thinks I’m a genius.” He winked. “That’s the secret to the success of our relationship. If she ever discovers I’m just a dumb guy who likes to melt glass, I’m toast.”

Kat laughed. “I seriously doubt that. But I better get to the luncheon or they’ll send out a search party. Your wife said so.”

“She will, too. Tenacious is her middle name. Don’t forget the exhibition tonight.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Kat was still smiling as she rounded the corner to the lodge, realizing it had been a long time since she’d tried something new or done anything besides what her boyfriend of the moment wanted. Now that she’d forced Zach to move out, it was time to discover what interested her, rather than jumping into another doomed relationship. This vacation was her chance to start a whole new way of living. The thought was both exhilarating and scary.

TONY’S STOMACH GRUMBLED as he stepped into the private dining room, a large space decorated in South western style, with a stucco, beehive fireplace in one corner. The smell of food was enough to remind him he’d subsisted on coffee and power bars since hitting the road early this morning, after renting a motorcycle in Phoenix. The Harley was as much for his enjoy ment as it was part of his cover playing Teresa’s brother, a man facing a middle age crisis. His baggy Tommy Bahama tropical shirt was supposed to complete the impression.

He gave the buffet table a longing glance as he passed by to reach one of the two long pine tables, where several people were already gathered. He wished he’d had time to get at least the bare bones of a new plan worked out before meeting Sterling.

“Tony, why don’t you sit there.” Linda gestured toward the far end of the table, where there was a card with his name. There were no chairs, just a long bench on either side. “We’re not formal, just trying to encourage mixing. Starting this evening, you choose your own seat in the main dining room. The round tables there seat eight—it’s a good way to strike up a conversation.”

“No problem.”

See, I’m flexible. I can adapt to not being in charge.

He could almost hear his ex-wife, Corrine, refuting that statement in counseling, where she’d made him sound about as warm and cuddly as Attila the Hun.

“He treats me like one of his rookie officers. As if I should accept his word as the ultimate authority on everything. Having him home all the time during his…career transition…has been eye-opening.”

Apparently so eye-opening that she’d asked him for a divorce after a few short sessions. No, not asked. Demanded. As if she couldn’t stand to be with him one more second. Yet she still called to chat with him or ask for tips on fixing something around the house. He would never understand women. Maybe that was why he hesitated to jump back into the dating scene.

“Excuse me.”

He turned to see a redhead waiting expectantly. She was medium height, her turquoise tank top revealing toned arms and plenty of cleavage. A purple skirt of lightweight crinkly fabric covered her from hips to calves.

Her eyes narrowed and he realized he was staring.

“My seat’s back there.” She gestured behind him, silver bangles jangling on her wrist. “I need to get by.”

“Sure.” He stepped to the side, wondering if he should help her maneuver around the bench. Judging from her stiff posture, he figured probably not.

Two older ladies were already seated at the table. Heads together, they whispered to each other, nodding toward the door, where a distinguished gentleman with silver hair had entered.

So far, no sign of Sterling.

Tony took his seat opposite the two women and next to the redhead. He hated having his back to the room, but didn’t want to draw attention to himself by changing seats.

“Hello, ladies. I’m Tony.”

“Lorraine and Lola,” the one in blue said.

“We’re twins,” the woman in orange said. “Fraternal.” As if that explained everything.

“Nice to meet you.” He turned to the redhead, extending his hand.

She ignored it. “You’re Tony. I heard.”

He raised an eyebrow at her clipped tone. If she thought he’d been ogling her earlier, she was wrong. His ex-wife was tall, thin and blond; his taste hadn’t changed much over the years. He preferred understated women, and the redhead dressed to draw attention. “According to Linda, we’re supposed to be one big happy family. And your name is?”

“Kat.”

“Short for Katrina?” The exotic name suited her.

“Kathleen.”

“Irish?”

She rolled her eyes. “Mmm-hmm.”

Then she turned her shoulder to him as the older guy sat on the other side of her. She extended her hand, her voice warm. “Hi, I’m Kat.”

Shrugging off the snub, Tony glanced around. The driver’s license photo he had of Sterling wasn’t good quality and showed an average-looking man in his mid-thirties—thirty-six if the date of birth was to be believed. Though Tony had seen more than a few average-looking guys in the right age range at the small resort, none of them appeared to be Sterling. What if he’d already departed? Decided some larger resort provided better pickings? Or worse yet, Phoenix Rising was merely a diversion to throw someone like Tony off track, while Sterling went on to his true destination?

Wherever the man was, Tony would find him. He would track Sterling’s credit card purchases as long as it took, to see where the guy holed up.

Linda approached the table. “We’re waiting for three more members of your group. Please relax and take this time to get to know one another until they arrive.”

Tony glanced down the table toward the three unoccupied seats. Two cards, side by side, were decorated with wedding bells. Troy and Angie Birmingham. Unfortunately, the angle was wrong on the lone place card and Tony couldn’t read it without being obvious.

He resigned himself to more waiting. Not his strong suit.

KAT WAS ACUTELY AWARE of Tony sitting next to her. It wasn’t simply the fact that his arm occasionally brushed hers, or the accompanying sizzle. There was something commanding and dangerous about the man. She sensed a leashed energy, as if he was waiting for something to happen. A focused energy that reminded her of the red-tailed hawk, waiting to swoop in on a tasty morsel.

There was no way Kat would allow herself to be any man’s tasty morsel. At least not until she figured out how to avoid picking jerks. And judging from Tony’s earlier fixation with her breasts, he was a grade A jerk.

She heard him speaking to Lorraine and Lola, though what he was saying didn’t register. But the deep, strong timbre of his voice raised goose bumps on her arms.

This was insane. He was the kind of man she knew to avoid—one who came on strong to land a woman, but barely returned a crumb of affection once the novelty wore off.

Kat was done with accepting crumbs. Next time she fell in love, she wanted the whole damn cake.

But a quick glance at his tense jaw and observant eyes had her poised to run. Or throw herself at him.

She began to stand, intent on acting on her first impulse. Because throwing herself at a virtual stranger, while satisfying in the short term, never ended well.

A hand brushed her shoulder. There was no accompanying zing of awareness. Sneaking another glance at Tony, Kat was surprised to see he’d turned to talk to the older man. They appeared to be deep in conversation about the merits of the Dallas Cowboys versus the Phoenix Cardinals.

“Here’s my new neighbor. Kat, isn’t it? We met on the shuttle to our casitas,” a male voice said from behind her.

She turned to see Will standing there, a nice guy in his thirties with an easy, safe smile.

“Yes, I remember. It’s good to see you again.” Her tone was more effusive than she’d intended, bordering on desperate. Damn.

His eyes widened for a second. “Good to see you, too. You all settled in?”

“Yes. You were the one with the golf clubs, right?”

Grinning, he said, “Yes, that’s me—didn’t want to overdo the exercise. We’ll have to talk later.” He squeezed her arm and moved to his seat on the other side of the table, where he charmed Lola and Lorraine for most of the meal.

And totally ignored Kat.

How was she supposed to see if she could drum up some enthusiasm for a nice guy when he wouldn’t even glance in her direction? And what did he mean by “talk later”?

With Zach, it would have meant a booty call that turned into a three-year live-in arrangement at her place. Unfortunately, the arrangement hadn’t included employment on his part.

“He’s not for you.” Tony’s voice was low, his breath warm on the curve of her ear.

Her shoulders tensed again. Not only at his assessment, but also because she could imagine him tangled in her sheets, whispering her name in the dark.

Her best bud, Annie, would tell her to run like crazy from a man who rang her bells so insistently on the first meeting. Granted, the advice could be construed as hypocritical if her friend didn’t mean so well, since Annie had slept with her husband, Drew, the evening of their blind date.

Steeling herself to make the right decision for once, Kat ignored her reawakened libido and managed a frosty glare for Tony. “I’ll be the judge of what—and whom—is best for me. But thanks anyway.”

With that, she flipped her hair over her shoulder, smacking him in the face with it. Anything to get the man to back off and stay out of her personal space.

Anything.

She managed to ignore Tony all through the meal. And then Linda broke the group into pairs for icebreaker exercises after dessert, circulating a brown paper sack. “It looks like our newlyweds have chosen to forgo the welcoming activities, which is quite understandable. But it means we have a small group. Each of the ladies needs to pick one slip of paper from the bag for your partner’s name. Then follow me to the playground out back.”

Tony groaned.

Kat felt the same way. Especially after she drew his name. For a woman who had recently won the lottery, she would have expected better luck. But then again, she’d had to split her winnings with four other people and contribute a healthy chunk to Uncle Sam.

Some self-destructive impulse prodded her to bait this Tony. “What’s the matter? Chicken?”

In retrospect, it felt an awful lot like the impulse that had told her Zach had potential.

And she knew how well that had worked out.

CHAPTER TWO

THE LIGHT OF CHALLENGE in Kat’s blue-green eyes made Tony reconsider inconspicuously strolling away from this kiddie playground and whatever icebreaker Linda had cooked up. Ex-Rangers did not do party games.

Until Kat made a clucking noise with her tongue that sounded suspiciously like a chicken.

He’d never walked away from a challenge. Folding his arms over his chest, he considered his options now that he knew for a fact Will Sterling was staying at Phoenix Rising. Being seated at dinner with the man had been a welcome stroke of luck.

An adjusted cover was essential, since Teresa wasn’t here to play the role of his wealthy sister. If he appeared to be a man on the make, he would have plenty of reason to mingle with the female guests while keeping an eye on Sterling. And it might just give him the opportunity to befriend the man, one stud to another.

Hitting on Kat would be an easy way to plant that perception right away. And he wouldn’t be risking his hormones getting the better of him, because she wasn’t his type. It seemed like a doable solution.

Tony was distracted watching Will from the corner of his eye. He had been paired with Lola, and they were close enough that Tony could eavesdrop on their conversation.

“If I can do it, you can do it.” Kat’s disdain was evident as she taunted him. Tony had no idea why she’d taken an instant dislike to him, but he intended to change that, and very publicly.

“You’re on, red.”

“I might have to hurt you if you call me that again. My hair is auburn, for your information.”

“Duly noted.”

Linda walked over and handed him a bandanna. “First, I’ll blindfold one person in each pair. Then I want the sighted partner to describe his or her favorite piece of play equipment from childhood, but you can’t name it.”

Tony raised an eyebrow, several locker room jokes coming to mind.

“Keep it clean,” Kat muttered.

“That wasn’t part of the instructions.”

Covering his eyes with the bandanna, Linda knotted it snugly at the back of his head. “Behave yourselves. This is an icebreaker, not the battle of the sexes.”

What had seemed harmless suddenly made Tony want to rip off the offending cloth. It went against every instinct to render himself helpless.

He cursed under his breath.

“I’ll be gentle, I promise.” Kat’s whisper made him want to laugh. She was in over her head.

Tony heard Lorraine—or was it Lola?—giggle nervously as she was blindfolded. Then tell her partner she’d loved to swing as a child.

“Lorraine, you’re making it too easy.” Linda’s tone was patient. “The idea is to give ambiguous clues. And when your partner guesses correctly or gives up, you may lead him to the appropriate equipment.”

Tony was glad he could screen out Lorraine’s conversation now, since she’d been paired with the older man. It was time to work on his cover and get into the spirit of competition. “What was your favorite, Kat? I have you pegged for a tomboy doing death-defying stunts on the monkey bars, showing all the boys you were better than them.”

“Nice guess. My favorite required more imagination, though it was generally a solo endeavor.”

“You were a loner, huh? Your clue’s still too general. That could be anything on this playground, with the exception of the teeter-totter.”

“Okay, my mind whirled with possibilities.”

“The merry-go-round.”

“Wrong again.” Her voice became thoughtful, almost soft. “I could fly through the air…climb the Himilayas….”

“Swings?”

“You’re not concentrating.” Now it sounded as if she was smiling.

He was distracted from his purpose for a moment. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” he accused.

“Immensely.”

“Just remember, paybacks are a killer.”

Her sigh brushed his cheek, smelling of peppermint.

Tony dropped his arms to his sides. “Go ahead, toy with me all you want.” He had to admit she had his complete attention, and he was enjoying himself more than he’d anticipated. It wasn’t just the mystery the blindfold provided. It was her in-your-face attitude.

Fingers snapped near his ear. “Pay attention. All the other partners are already changing blindfolds. Did your mother ever tell you not to judge a book by its cover?” she asked.

“Yes, but I didn’t listen to much she said back then. Now I’m more willing to admit she’s a truly wise woman. How about your mom? Is she wise?”

When there was no response, he asked, “Kat?”

“I heard you. My mother has nothing to do with this. Stay on topic, please, and listen closely. You know, you could take a page from your mother right now.”

“Huh?”

Kat let out a huff of exasperation. “Those were clues, Einstein. Now concentrate—covers, pages, imagination…”

Irritating her was fun. She was like a pesky younger sister. Maybe Linda had something here with the play ground theme.

“Do I need to draw you a picture?”

“It would hardly be helpful, since I’m blindfolded.” He could almost imagine Kat tapping the toe of her turquoise sandal. “Besides, you cheated. There are no books on this playground.”

“I never promised to fight fair.”

That’s when he realized she was every bit as competitive as he was. Her laughter taunted him. But his hearing was acute and the sound revealed her location. He stepped to the right, grabbed her arm and hauled her close. Removing his blindfold, he stared into her startled eyes.

“Neither did I.” He had no idea what to do now that she was so near. After sixteen years of marriage, he had little experience with flirtation.

Kat licked her lips nervously.

Reflex took over and he kissed her quickly on the mouth to give his cover some credibility. And to let her know who had really won.

She spun away and tromped a few steps across the sand before he caught up with her, grasping her shoulder. “Now who’s the chicken?”

The breeze blew her hair across her eyes, but not before he saw a trace of…defeat.

He brushed the curls back from her face. “Hey, I thought we were just playing.”

“That’s the problem. The rules of the game always end up changing with guys like you.”

She pulled free, turned and followed the path to the casitas.

He started after her, but Linda called to him.

“Let her go.” She moved to his side. “I’m guessing she needs to sort some things out. Things that have nothing to do with you or that kiss.”

“I didn’t mean to—”

Linda snorted. “It looked deliberate to me. Now that you know Kat’s not as strong as she pretends, consider very carefully how you treat her.”

Tony glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone else had noticed. They all seemed to be immersed in their own games. Though there was plenty of laughter, none seemed remotely romantic. Even Will seemed to be dividing his time equally among the sisters and the older guy, Howard.

“That was one hell of an icebreaker, lady,” Tony said to Linda. “It ought to come with a warning.”

She tilted her head. “In the five years we’ve been holding these exercises, I’ve never seen things transpire quite like that. You guys ought to be very interesting new additions to our guest list.”

WILL GLANCED UP as Lola settled herself on the swing.

He noticed the young redhead, Kat, stalk off the playground. Her partner, Tony, started to follow, but Linda stopped him.

Odd.

Will’s first impression of Kat had been that she was a nice, energetic woman. He frowned, wondering what had upset her. His instinct was to see if there was anything he could do to help, but just then Lola said, “Push me.”

Her carefree, girlish tone reminded him why he did what he did. It made him feel like king of the world to bring joy to a woman. And there were so many neglected women needing his attention.

He put Kat out of his mind and focused on Lola. Placing his hand at the small of her back, he gently pushed to propel the tiny woman on the swing.

She rewarded him with a wide smile.

With the sun warm on his face and Lola’s approval, Will thought it was a very good day.

AFTER LEAVING THE playground, Kat took a long walk around the grounds, avoiding the other guests. She considered leaving the resort and turning the rest of her break into a staycation at home.

But her hefty deposit was nonrefundable and the accountant in her protested the waste, despite her recent six figure lottery windfall. Especially since meals were included in the package. If she left now, she’d have to fill her empty refrigerator at home, essentially incurring food costs twice.

Besides, Tony had been out of line. She shouldn’t give up her well-earned trip because he was being a jerk. Truth be told, she didn’t really want to leave, because she’d so looked forward to her time at the resort. Leaving now smacked of defeat.

She returned to her casita determined to stick it out for at least the rest of the week. But how was she going to face the guests who had been in her group at dinner? How was she going to face Tony? By holding her head high, just as she did every other time she screwed up. At least she would never see these people again.

Cheered by the thought, she unpacked her suitcases, hastily arranging her clothing on hangers in the small closet.

The very act of unpacking brought her dad to mind, because of the hundreds of times she’d watched him unpack after a business trip. He would usually bring back a trinket for her, something he’d purchased at an airport gift shop. Kat could still recall the beautiful bottle of Chanel perfume he’d brought home when she was about eight. She had found it in his suitcase before he’d had the opportunity to unpack. She’d squealed with delight, but her mother had been furious at him for buying Kat such an expensive, grown-up gift.

Shaking her head, she realized she hadn’t heard from her father recently. She opened her laptop and booted it up. Checking her sent mail folder, she saw that her last correspondence with him had been nearly a month ago. Her In folder revealed nothing new from him. Frowning, she started to worry. It wasn’t like her dad to be out of touch that long. She relied on their contact, superficial as it was. In the excitement of her lottery win and vacation plans, she’d pushed it to the back of her mind.

Wazzup? The subject header for the message she composed was intentionally lighthearted. Her dad had always been particularly sensitive to anything he construed as an effort to keep tabs on him. Particularly after his divorce from her mom.

Kat constructed a few casual lines that belied her unease. After she sent the message, she wrote a quick e-mail to her mother.

There was a knock at the door, and Kat spied Will through the security peephole.

Reluctantly, she opened the door.

His grin was warm and friendly, without any underlying subtext. “I saw you leave the playground and you looked kind of upset.”

It was a relief to be around an attractive man who wasn’t trying to manipulate her into bed. Kat tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Thank you. It was sweet of you to check on me. I’m fine. Just…tired, I guess.”

“That’s what I figured. But I didn’t want you to miss out on all the fun, so I thought I’d let you in on my favorite dorky playground toy. You know, kind of level the playing field, so to speak.”

Kat returned his grin. “Would you like to come in?”

“No, I can’t stay. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

He hesitated.

“What was your favorite playground toy, Will?”

“The monkey bars.”

“I imagine most boys liked that one best.” A trace of sarcasm had crept into her voice. She distinctly remembered Adam Reynolds standing below and teasing her about her pink panties in the first grade.

“Probably. But for me, I wanted to help the girls who weren’t strong enough to get across on their own.” His eyes shone with sincerity. “I enjoyed feeling part of their sense of accomplishment.”

A boy that sensitive might have been considered girlish back in the day. Probably the same logic that had Kat chasing bad boys later. She was sorry for having misjudged him. “Wow, that’s really perceptive for a kid. I give you credit for being so selfless at that age.”

“No, not selfless. I got satisfaction out of it.” He touched her elbow lightly. “I’d better go. Maybe I’ll see you at dinner tonight?”

Kat opened her mouth to say she was eating in her room, but then changed her mind. There really were good guys out there, and she couldn’t allow a few bad apples like Zach and Tony to color her perception of all men. She needed to broaden her horizons, change her way of thinking.

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Smiling, she closed the door and leaned against it for a moment. Maybe she could have a relationship with a nice guy like Will. Anything was possible, right?

She’d just returned to unpacking when there was another knock at her door. Kat was still smiling when she opened it. “Will—”

“Will I what?” Tony leaned in the doorway, his hands tucked in the front pockets of his jeans.

“I thought you were Will Sterling,” she snapped.

He raised an eyebrow. “It appears you’re recovered from your emotional outburst earlier.”

Kat’s hackles rose. He might as well have said she’d had an attack of the vapors. Or the ever-popular “female problems.”

“Yes, I’ve recovered.” She started to close the door, but he stopped it with his hand.

“I came to apologize. I shouldn’t have kissed you. It was…unacceptable that I acted on an impulse. I guess I didn’t realize you’d be so upset.”

Kat should have been relieved by his apology, but it simply made her angry. Why did the macho guys always think she was just waiting for their attention? Not that Tony was strictly macho. He was also confident, good-looking and charismatic. The kind of man who didn’t need a woman.

Frowning, he said, “I was out of line. I guess I got too caught up in the spirit of fun. I hope you’ll let me make it up to you later.”

“Not hardly. Why should I? You made me sound like a hysterical female.”

“Because you’re intrigued, even though you won’t admit it.”

He winked and walked away, whistling as he went.

CHAPTER THREE

TONY SHOOK HIS HEAD as he walked the perimeter of the buildings. Glancing around as if enjoying the desert landscaping, he located casita number eighteen, right next door to Kat. He’d overheard Will tell Lola his suite number as he’d pushed her on the swing.

Tony didn’t like Sterling being close to the mercurial Kat Monroe, but he doubted she was the con man’s mark. Too young, too sharp and not nearly as liquid in assets as beer heiresses Lola and Lorraine.

He nodded at a middle-aged couple strolling hand-in-hand in the opposite direction. After glancing over his shoulder to make sure they’d walked around the bend, he veered off the path and went behind the casitas to check egress. Yes, there was a glass Arcadia door leading to a private patio, bordered by a three-foot stucco wall. Several large windows also faced the back. If worse came to worst, Sterling’s suite could be accessed without much trouble.

Quickly returning to the path, Tony was relieved to find no one in sight.

He categorized the flora and fauna as he walked, noting many plants similar to those in Texas. A few minutes later, he came upon two large stucco buildings. One had a discreet bronze marker saying Art Studio, the second Athletic Facilities.

As he approached, he saw a familiar redhead jog around a curve in the path. Tony stepped off into a stand of brush so she wouldn’t see him.

When she entered the gym, he headed back to his casita by the most direct path, grateful he’d brought plenty of workout clothes.

What better time than now to check out the exercise facilities?

KAT STARTED TO SWEAT in the short run from her casita to the gym. The higher elevation made her work harder.

Good. She intended to sweat Zach and Tony right out of her system. Exercise had a habit of taking the edge off her anger, too. Hadn’t she sworn off drama for the duration of her trip? Hopefully, she would return home in two weeks reenergized, with a whole new attitude. She was so tired of being mad. And even worse, feeling like a victim.

The blast of air-conditioning was a welcome reprieve when she entered the gym. The large, open space was light and airy, with state-of-the-art equipment. Nothing shabby here, and enough variety for the average fitness enthusiast. Since the resort was small—around fifty casitas and rooms—she wondered if the owners used Phoenix Rising as a tax write-off. Though the rates were steep, it would still be difficult to turn a profit. Especially since Phoenix Rising hosted a camp for at-risk kids for a month during the off season.

Her breathing slowed as she checked out the white-board for class information. Tai chi might be relaxing, but Pilates was probably more in line with what she needed to keep her butt from sliding down her thighs.

“Hi, I’m Brooke.” A svelte blonde with rock-hard abs and toned biceps extended her hand. She looked to be all of twenty. “I’m the fitness instructor and also provide personal training.”

“I’m Kat.” She’d already established a workout that suited her, though the blonde would probably think it wimpy. “Looks like you’ve got a pretty good setup.”

“My mom and dad believe in a balanced lifestyle, and we try to provide that to our guests while they’re here.”

“Your mom and dad? Linda and Garth Fremont?”

“Yes. I’m working for them while I finish up my bachelor’s degree online.”

“Linda doesn’t look old enough to have a daughter your age.”

Brooke laughed, showing off straight white teeth and a dimple.

Kat wanted to hate her, but couldn’t.

“I’ll tell Mom you said that. It’ll make her day. Do you want me to show you around?”

“You have some of the machines and weights I’ve worked with at my neighborhood gym. I may touch base with you later, if that’s okay?”

“Absolutely. Enjoy your workout.”

“I will,” she murmured, trying not to notice that everything on Brooke was perky. Kat decided to spend a little extra time on her glutes today.

Inserting her earbuds, she lost herself in the routine of warming up on the treadmill, then moving on to the weight machines. She switched her music to a favorite heavy metal track as motivation. As Green Day’s latest hit energized her, she focused on her breathing and her reps.

When she opened her eyes several minutes later, she was startled to see Tony looming over her. He was every bit as ruggedly handsome upside down as right side up.

She reluctantly removed her ear buds. “How long have you been watching me?”

“Not long,” he drawled in a Tommy Lee Jones way, probably aware it was sexy as hell.

“You’re breaking my concentration.”

“Sorry.” He seemed anything but sorry as he handed her a sheet of paper. “Brooke asked me to give you this revised class schedule. She said the testosterone’s getting thick in the kickboxing class and she’d love for you to attend. I hear it really works the glutes.”

Kat couldn’t decipher his deadpan tone. Was that a lame come-on? Or was her butt genuinely that saggy? Then a truly horrifying thought occurred to her. What if he was drumming up business as a way to curry favor with the svelte Brooke?

He grinned, sauntering off.

Glaring daggers at his retreating back, Kat was determined about one thing. No kickboxing for her. Unless it meant kicking his ass…

AFTER SHOWERING AND shaving, Tony arrived at the dining room a few minutes late, a fact that irked him. He prided himself on being early.

Linda smiled as she came around the hostess stand. “Even though you’re now in the main dining room, I’ve taken the liberty of assigning seating one last time. Howard’s great-grandchild was born today and he’s cutting his stay short to return home. I thought the guests who’d met him might want to wish him well. Lola and Lorraine in particular seemed quite attached to him. I’m afraid he’s the only single man in his age group here right now.”

“Sure, no problem.” And it wasn’t. Tony would be seated at the same table as Sterling.

“Follow me.” Linda led him to the appropriate table. The Southwestern decor was the same as in the Copper Dining Room, but this space was much larger, with round tables and crisp white tablecloths. He figured it probably maxed out at a hundred people, though not all the tables were occupied.

Gesturing at an empty chair, she said, “Right over there between Lola and Lorraine.”

He raised an eyebrow.

Leaning close, she whispered, “I split them up to encourage them to mingle more with other guests. They spend plenty of time together as it is. Bicker like crazy, but seem devoted all the same.”

Nodding, Tony took his seat. He located Sterling, sitting on the other side of Lola. And on Sterling’s right, Kat.

She nodded, her gaze frosty.

Her ambivalence would work perfectly for Tony. He could pursue her without having to worry about actually catching her. He had his ethical limits.

The waiter served his salad, which Tony, never a fan of green leafy stuff, moved around with his fork. Vegetables had their place, but he preferred something more…substantial.

He felt someone come up behind him and he turned his head to find Brooke leaning close. “Thank you for helping me out today,” she murmured.

“It was nothing.” He felt the tips of his ears burn, and hoped no one noticed. It wasn’t as if he was unaccustomed to women hitting on him. They did, fairly regularly. Not that Brooke was hitting on him. She’d told him about her boyfriend, who wanted to become a cop, and Tony had given her some Web sites to help him prepare for the exams.

No, his discomfort had more to do with Kat’s smirk, as if he’d confirmed some suspicion she had.

Sterling complimented Lola on her dress, and she preened like a junior high girl at her first dance. Lorraine, however, was unusually quiet, studying Sterling when he wasn’t looking.

Tony wondered if one of the older women would become Sterling’s next victim. He would have to find out more about them.

Howard leaned close to Lorraine. “My granddaughter’s husband sent me this picture of the baby.” He opened his phone and fiddled with the buttons for a minute or so, until he pulled up the photo. “See? Strapping boy.”

“He’s gorgeous,” Lorraine gushed.

“Beautiful,” Lola concurred, passing the phone to Sterling.

“Um, great kid.” Will handed it on to Kat.

Tony watched her eyes cloud for a moment before she smiled. “He’s great, Howard. You have every right to be proud.”

She slid the phone toward Tony, past the two empty spaces where the elusive newlyweds were supposed to sit.

Picking it up, Tony saw a newborn with eyes squeezed tightly shut and brown fuzz for hair. “Handsome boy, just like his great-grandpa.”

“Always nice to know,” Sterling said, “there’s family to carry on after we’re gone.”

“Our father would have dearly loved for Lorraine and I to have lots of children, but it wasn’t to be.” Lola’s lips trembled, but Will smiled at her and she rallied.

Tony sipped from his water glass, acting unconcerned with the interplay.

A waiter brought bread baskets and set them on the table, before moving on to the next.

Sterling grabbed one, peeling back the napkin to present the rolls to Lola with a flourish. “Ladies first.”

“Why, thank you, Will. You’re a lovely boy.”

“You’re a lovely woman.” When she had chosen her roll, he selected one for himself. “Your husband must be very proud.”

“I’ve never married. I had a fiancé once, but he left me at the altar for another woman.”

Sterling touched her arm. “I’m sure he was sorry later. He had to have been an idiot.”

“He was killed during a thunderstorm, drowned in a flash flood. His wife was left a penniless widow. Of course, I would not have been penniless. And I might have had children to carry on the family business.”

Tony watched Sterling closely, but the only emotion he saw was concern for his dinner companion as Will said, “Your father probably appreciated having two daughters. I’m sure he knew you would take care of the business. Didn’t you say you’re in the restaurant trade?”

“We own Nash Brewery.”

“Oh, yes, that’s it.” Will turned to Howard. “And you were a postal carrier, weren’t you?”

“For forty years. I invested well before I retired.”

“And what is it you do, Will?” Kat asked.

“I’m a life coach. I help people develop positive patterns to become more successful in life and relationships.”

“That sounds fascinating,” she said. “Much more interesting than the number crunching I do. I’m a CPA.”

Tony almost did a double take. Kat seemed more the wild, artistic type.

“Kat, dear, tell them about your lottery win. I’m sure everyone will be most entertained. It’s such a cute story,” Lorraine said.

Everyone turned to Kat and waited expectantly.

She hesitated.

“Come on, Kat. You’ve got to tell us now,” Sterling prodded.

“Well, it happened about a month ago. I’d…broken up with my boyfriend and I have this breakup tradition. I buy lottery tickets, and the numbers I use are all the special numbers from the relationship. Our first date, his birthday, my birthday, things like that.”

Lola sighed, obviously a dreamer. “How tragic. And romantic.”

“It gets better,” said Lorraine. “Tell them the rest.”

“I bought tickets the day Zach moved out. And, well, I won with our special numbers.”

Clapping her hands, Lola pronounced, “Then Zach will come back to you. It was meant to be.”

From the way Kat had said her boyfriend’s name, Tony suspected she was well rid of him.

“More likely it means you did the right thing to kick the guy to the curb. Kind of like the universe smiling on your decision,” he said.

Kat selected a roll, taking her time tearing off a piece and slathering it with butter. “Fate is overrated. I think it means the little white balls simply dropped in that order.”

“Lorraine was right, it’s a great story.” Sterling beamed at Kat, his gaze warm. “We’re honored to have a millionaire in our midst.”

“Three millionaires,” Lola crowed.

Lorraine elbowed her sister, giving her a meaningful look.

Lola didn’t seem to notice. Tony wondered if she’d always been so guileless, or if a small stroke at one time had affected her judgment. Or it could even be the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

Kat held up two fingers. “Just a pair. After the jackpot was split among five winning tickets, and Uncle Sam took his chunk, I received a lot less than people think.” She blotted her mouth with her napkin. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fabulous thing and I’m extremely grateful. But I’m not likely to join the millionaires’ club anytime soon.”

“Still, it’s a nice windfall.” Lorraine leaned forward. “If you need the name of a top-notch investment firm, I can refer you to the one we use. Our advisor has been very helpful in growing and safeguarding our assets. A single woman can never be too careful.”

“No brothers to help?” Sterling asked her. “Or nieces and nephews?”

“No.” Lorraine’s voice was tinged with loss. “We had a younger sister, but she died as an infant.”

Tony could almost see the wheels turning in Sterling’s head. Him selecting a new victim meant Tony might find evidence. But it also meant the Nash sisters would get hurt.

Will leaned forward. “Tony, what is it you do?”

“I’m a security consultant.”

“I bet that’s fascinating work. Foiling corporate espionage and all that?”

“Yes. But because of the spread of identity theft, more and more of my work is securing client information. It’s become a real liability issue.”

“I can imagine. I’ve been meaning to update the security software on my computer to make sure my client files don’t fall into the wrong hands. Do you have a card?”

Removing his wallet from his back pocket, Tony pulled out a pseudo business card. “I’ll give you a discount, since you’re a friend.”

“Great. I’ll call you after I get back from vacation.” Sterling slid the card into the breast pocket of his button-down shirt.

The thought of getting his hands on Sterling’s computer practically made Tony salivate. It was the easy kind of lie that cons used to bond with people, but still…

Lorraine and Lola regaled them with tales of their youth until their meals arrived.

Tony had selected the top sirloin with mixed seasonal vegetables from the Phoenix Rising garden. A footnote on the menu had indicated guests’ help in the garden was always welcome.

“These vegetables are wonderful,” Kat exclaimed. “Why can’t I cook them this way?”

“My guess is they taste so good because they’re fresher than a lot of grocery store produce,” he answered.

“You cook?” She seemed intrigued in spite of herself.

“Not much, but I’m learning. My ex-wife was big on buying locally grown, organic. I don’t cook when I’m working long hours, but now that I have my own business I sometimes have slow times.”

She tried to turn to Sterling, but he was deep in conversation with Lola.

“Do you garden?” Tony asked Kat.

“No, I’ve always been busy, too. But I’m realizing just how close to burning out I was. It’s not good for me to work sixty hours a week and never take vacations….” Shaking her head, she said, “I don’t know why I told you that. My life is fine the way it is.”

Tony was curious. On one hand, Kat seemed independent, with a streak of wildness, on the other she was solid and dependable.

He sipped his wine. “Sure, we all think our lives are fine right before we crash and burn.” He winced at the bitterness in his voice. Where in the hell had that come from? Striving for a more casual tone, he asked, “If there was one thing you could change about your life, what would it be?”

Man, he’d been spending too much time listening to marriage counselors.

She hesitated. “I’d quit expecting other people to make me happy. I’d do more things that were good for me, without considering what anyone else thought. All those activities I’ve dreamed about over the years, but said I didn’t have time for. Maybe learn to cook. Grow a few vegetables and flowers in a garden. I don’t know, it’s something to consider.”

“Sounds like a win-win proposition.” He shook his head. “Don’t tell my ex I said that, though. She was always after me to have more balance in my life. Less work, more play and relaxation.”

“You don’t impress me as the relaxed type.”

The waiter came and refilled their water glasses. Tony was tempted to elbow the guy out of the way so as not to lose the headway he’d made with Kat. At the same time, he tried to follow the conversation between Will and the sisters.

After Kat thanked the waiter, she turned to Tony, raising an eyebrow. “Well, am I right? You’re an adrenaline junkie?”

“Hey, I can be as relaxed as the next guy,” he protested. “But when I’m involved in something, I’m involved one hundred percent.”

“I can relate.” She picked up her water glass and stared into it for a moment before taking a sip. “I’m that way in my relationships. I’ve been told it leaves very little room for the other person…to contribute.”

The last thing Tony wanted to do was contemplate his failed marriage and whether he’d contributed enough. Because, hands down, Corrine had done the lion’s share. At the time it hadn’t been so obvious. Or maybe he simply hadn’t wanted to know.

Shaking his head, he forced his thoughts to the present. “So what made you think I’m an adrenaline junkie?”

She nodded at his feet. “The biker boots. And I saw you in the lobby carrying a helmet. I figure you’re a weekend warrior with a Harley. That, and you’re always scanning the room as you talk, plus there’s this undercurrent to you, as if you’re spring-loaded.”

Tony wondered if he’d chosen the right woman to pursue. She was too damn observant for his comfort. Never a good thing in undercover work.

“You’re sharp,” he said.

“Not really. I simply have a talent for finding the one bad boy in every room. You might even call it a curse.”

CHAPTER FOUR

KAT COULDN’T BELIEVE she’d called Tony a bad boy. Or admitted her Achilles’ heel.

She watched out of the corner of her eye as he cut a piece of steak, speared it with his fork and shoveled it into his mouth.

He wiped his mouth with the cloth napkin and asked, “You had this talent long?”

“Since puberty.”

A smile twitched his lips. “I see.”

“No, I don’t think you do. I’ve decided to use my talent, as you call it, for good rather than evil. I’ve promised myself I’ll run like hell next time I zero in on the bad boy.”

“Darlin’,” he drawled, “you’re mistaken about one thing. I’ll admit to my share of bad moments. But I haven’t been considered a boy by a beautiful woman since I reached puberty. I’m one hundred percent man.”

If it was coming from another guy, Kat might have challenged this cocky statement. But she had no doubt Tony could live up to his self-anointed title given half a chance.

She resisted the urge to fan herself with her napkin and gulp her ice water. The room temperature had to have ratcheted up at least twenty degrees.

Tony leaned back in his chair and sipped his wine, all confident male.

Raising an eyebrow, she said, “While bad boys have a certain amount of charm, bad men are downright creepy. If they’re not in jail, that is. Then they’re wards of the state. And if they’re bad old men, they’re just pathetic.”

He laughed, showing straight white teeth and a dimple. His brown eyes sparkled.

Kat caught her breath, surprised by the intensity of the connection she felt with him. It was almost tangible, and transcended the fact that she couldn’t stand him.

A high-pitched laugh from the other side of the table reminded her they weren’t alone.

“Aren’t you two just the cutest thing,” Lola said, still laughing. She reached across Will to jostle her sister’s arm. “They remind me of that bartender, Sam, and the cocktail waitress, Diane. All that frustrated banter when you know they just want to tear each other’s clothes off.”

Lorraine reluctantly turned from Howard. “Who? Sam and Diane from Cheers?”

“We have our own Sam and Diane—Tony and Kat. Isn’t it fun?”

Kat felt her cheeks warm and wished the ground would swallow her up. She’d found Lola’s almost childlike views charming until this moment. It made her wonder if Lorraine was the older twin by seconds, and as such, had always kept an eye out for her younger sibling.

A responsibility Kat had been spared when her baby sister, Nicole, had gone to live with their mom after the divorce. They might have had a stronger bond if they’d at least lived in the same household.

Tony, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the attention. “Now, Lola, we were only kidding around. You’re going to embarrass Kat. See, she’s blushing.”

The older woman leaned forward, her voice a stage whisper. “That’s because she wants you.”

Just then a commotion at the other side of the table had Will jumping to his feet.

“Oh, my,” Lola said.

“I’m so sorry.” He dabbed ineffectively at her lap. Her wine goblet was overturned on the table in front of her.

“I have to change my skirt and treat this stain before it sets.”

“I’m such a klutz. Let me walk you to your casita, Lola. It’s the least I can do.”

Kat could have kissed him. She suspected he had created the diversion to save her embarrassment.

Lorraine gazed longingly at Howard for a few seconds before she stood. “I’ll walk my sister back to her room.”

“No need to bother yourself. I’m the one who made the spill. I should make it right,” Will stated.

“Really, it’s—”

“I insist. Sit down and enjoy your dinner. I’ll ask the waiter to keep our plates warm in the kitchen.”

Lorraine slowly sat. “I would hate to miss a moment of Howard’s going away dinner. Are you sure you don’t need me, Lola?”

“Positive,” she replied. There was a spring in her step as she left the table with Will, who cupped her elbow.

Kat turned and noticed Tony was watching them, too, his eyes narrowed.

TONY LEANED BACK in his chair as dinner was cleared, trying to appear relaxed when he was itching to find out what Sterling was up to.

Before they could begin to break up, Linda came by their table. “I wanted to invite you all to a special demonstration in the art studio in twenty minutes. In honor of his new great-grandson, Howard has commissioned my husband to create a glass sculpture to present to the proud parents. Garth won’t allow an audience when he’s working on the actual piece, but he’s going to make a special ornament to commemorate the baby’s birth. I’m sure Howard would love it if you would join him. Garth might take some requests from the audience, too, if you have special occasions coming up. Cake and coffee will be served afterward.”

“Oh, dear, Lola wouldn’t want to miss it.” Lorraine’s hand was tucked in Howard’s arm, her dilemma clear.

“How about if you two go ahead,” Tony suggested, “and I stop by your suite to tell her? That way you won’t miss any of the demonstration.”

“Thank you, Tony. We’re in casita number eight.”

“No problem.”

Kat eyed him speculatively. “What, not an art lover? Trying to duck out of the demonstration?”

“On the contrary.” He opened the double door for her. “But Lola’s been gone an awfully long time. I’m kind of worried about her.”

“She’s with Will, so I’m sure she’s fine. But it’s…unexpectedly nice of you. And should set Lorraine’s mind at ease.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Yep, that’s me—nice, pathetic, old bad man.”

“No, you haven’t quite reached the old and pathetic stage. That’s what makes you so dangerous.”

Kat thought he was dangerous? He’d obviously failed in his attempt to seem harmless. Her powers of observation might end up being a problem down the road. He would have to remember not to underestimate her. “That’s a relief. Save me a seat?”

“Maybe.” She rose. “Or maybe not. I’d hate for you to think I was predictable.”

“No worries about that.”

They left the restaurant in a group.

“I’ll go check on Lola,” Tony called to Lorraine as he took the side path that looped around to her unit.

He was halfway there when he saw Lola and Sterling headed in his direction. Covering the ground between them, he said, “There you are. Linda wanted me to tell you that there’s a special demonstration tonight in the art studio, followed by cake for Howard.”

“Thanks for letting us know.” Sterling tucked Lola’s hand in his arm. “You go on ahead. That way you won’t miss the start.”

“I’ll walk with you two. I don’t mind missing a few minutes.” He wanted to see how the con man worked. Maybe Sterling would let something important slip.

“Nonsense, Tony. These old legs of mine move too slowly,” Lola said. “Will promised to be my devoted servant for the rest of the evening.”

A devoted servant with his hand in her pocket.

But Tony didn’t want to raise Sterling’s suspicions by overstaying his welcome. “If you’re sure?”

Will smiled. “Positive. I’ll see that this lady arrives safe and sound.”

“Okay, I’ll tell Lorraine you’re on your way.”

Lola waved him off as she started telling Sterling a story about the time she’d met an Arab prince.

Tony turned and followed the path to the studio, catching up to Kat on the way. She stood in the path, gazing up at the sky.

“What’d I miss?”

“Bats.” Her voice was tinged with awe. “You can see them in the moonlight.”

“What’s so fascinating about bats?”

“We don’t have many in Phoenix. It amazes me that things can change so much only a hundred miles from the city. I saw a red-tailed hawk this afternoon.”

“You need to come to Texas then. We have more hawks and bats than you’d ever believe. You grew up in Phoenix? Let me guess—you were a rebel in high school?”

She shook her head and started to walk down the path again. “No way,” she said over her shoulder. “I was president of the chess club, then did a stint in debate. The science club, too.”

He caught up to her in two strides. “You? A nerd?”

“I preferred to think of myself as an intellectual.”

“A fiery intellectual then.”

“Save the compliments for someone who cares.”

“Ouch. I was sincere.”

Her tone was light when she said, “That’s what all the bad men say. Where in Texas are you from?”

Grasping her arm, he pulled her to a stop. “Shh. See, over there under that cedar tree? It’s a mama javelina and her baby out for an evening snack.”

“Wha— Oh, I see,” she whispered. “They’re so dark I almost couldn’t make them out—smaller than pigs I’ve seen at the fair. How sweet.”

“Yes, but those mamas get mean if you get too close to the babies.”

They started walking again and the javelinas trotted off into the brush.

“You never answered my question about where you’re from. Are there javelinas in Texas?”

“I was born and raised in San Antonio. And yes, we have javelinas, too.”

“You’ve never wanted to live somewhere else?”

He shrugged. “My family’s there, my friends…. And an ex-wife.”

“Why am I not surprised you’re divorced? How long were you married?”

“Sixteen years.” He glanced around as they walked. “No kids, though.”

“Did you want kids?”

“Enough about me. Have you been married? Want kids?”

She hesitated, then gave him a withering glance. “Don’t bother trying to get me to talk about myself so I’ll let my guard down. I’m not interested in you, so sharing my history would only be a waste of time.”

“Ouch. Prickly much?”

She snorted. “Only with assholes.”

He threw back his head and laughed. Damn, he enjoyed sparring with her. She tried so hard to compensate for her vulnerability. He’d already figured out that her family and babies were sore topics for her.

The baby thing wasn’t hard to figure out. He could almost hear her maternal clock ticking from a couple feet away.

What was it about her family she didn’t want him to know? Tony filed the question away for future reference.

“Laugh all you want, just leave me alone. I’ll wait for Lola.”

CHAPTER FIVE

KAT COULD NOT BELIEVE Tony’s arrogance.

He’d called her prickly simply because she didn’t fall for his obvious come-ons. Because she saw through him and understood he was the type of man she should avoid.

Sixteen years? A man married that long should seem solid enough. Except that Tony hadn’t said he’d been faithful for all that time. Or that he’d been a decent husband.

Take her dad, for instance. She remembered her mother yelling at her father after his return from a business trip to Vegas. She’d been sorting his laundry and found a slip of paper with the name and phone number of a woman.

It was only the second time Kat had heard her parents fight. They’d announced their divorce a short time later.

A familiar sense of loss hit her hard. Her eyes misted as she wondered if that fight had marked the end of their family as she’d known it. And wondered why the memory had been buried all this time….

“Dear, is everything all right?”

She turned to see that Lola and Will had caught up with her.

“Oh, um, yes, everything’s fine. I…got something in my eye. I’ll be along shortly.”

“We don’t want to leave you out here by yourself, do we Will?”

He glanced at the studio, then grinned. “No, we don’t.”

That’s when Kat remembered they hadn’t even eaten dinner yet.

“I’ll be fine. It’s perfectly safe out here. You two go along, I’ll be there in a minute.” She stepped off the path to let them by.

“If you’re sure…” Lola’s gate was stiff and slow. It would have been hard for her to stand for very long. It had been sweet of her to offer, though. “Positive.”

Linda was waiting inside the door when Kat arrived a few minutes later. “We’re out back near the kilns. Unfortunately, we have to keep the studio doors locked because some kids from town vandalized Garth’s work last year. It was so sad. They smashed several pieces to bits.” She locked the front door behind them and led the way through the studio.

“Oh, how horrible,” Kat said.

Glancing around, Kat was immediately impressed by Garth’s art, displayed on lit pillars of different heights and shapes. There were large bowls with fluted edges in greens and blues. A more whimsical one had yellow polka dots. The pieces seemed to shift and flow with the light, as if they were undersea creatures. It had to be an optical illusion.

“I haven’t seen too much handblown glass, but even I can tell his work is special.”

“Yes.” Linda fairly beamed. “You’ll be even more amazed when you see all the work that goes into a piece. But Garth makes it seem effortless.”

“I’ll have to come back and look more closely another time.”

“Please feel free. The hours are posted near the front door. There are also several pieces for sale in the gift shop.”

The temperature rose at least ten degrees when they walked outside. Two large kilns were situated on a detached, covered patio, the roof and poles of which were made of some sort of metal. It was a strictly utilitarian area, in contrast to the display inside.

Kat recognized Garth from meeting him earlier, when he’d pointed out the hawk to her. The artist was perched on a tall metal stool in the center of the courtyard. He wore faded jeans and a long-sleeved chambray shirt.

To her right was an assortment of metal chairs arranged to make an impromptu viewing area, like some ragged, independent theater production.

“Go ahead and sit down,” Linda directed, pointing. “There’s a chair over there.”

Kat stifled a groan. She might have known, the only seat left in the house would be right next to Tony. Could this evening get any better?

She squeezed by several people she didn’t know to get to the seat.

But Tony didn’t even seem to notice, he was so focused on Garth.

TONY WAS BARELY AWARE of Kat sliding into the seat next to him. He’d been refining a short-term plan for his investigation while watching the glass artist work his magic.

Sterling and Lola had arrived a few moments ago. Lorraine had saved only one seat for her sister, so Will had been relegated to sitting next to the newlyweds. If he was irritated, he didn’t show it. He came across as a laid-back, genuine kind of guy.

Except Tony knew better.

He’d decided against breaking into Sterling’s casita unless there was no other option. Becoming buddies with the con man seemed his best bet for gaining information and staying on the right side of the law. And the law was still important to him.

Garth’s demonstration interrupted his thoughts, as the artist explained the variables in temperature, air pressure and materials. Tony soon realized why each piece was unique.

It was fascinating to watch the man twirl molten glass on a long tube while his twenty-something male assistant blew into the other end of the tube. Before Tony’s eyes, a vaselike shape emerged, but not apparently to Garth’s satisfaction.

He opened the door to the kiln and placed the vase, tube still attached, inside, rotating it skillfully. Seconds later, he withdrew it and resumed the process.

“Amazing,” Tony murmured.

“Not nearly as amazing as your ego.” Kat shifted, crossing her arms over her chest.

“What’s my ego got to do with it?” He didn’t look her way. The glass cooled so quickly Garth had to work at a rapid pace.

“How dare you call me a bitch,” she whispered.

“I didn’t call you that.”

“You might as well have. Prickly is the same thing.”

He risked a glance in her direction. He’d learned to recognize a storm brewing as a kid, when his normally smiling mother had worn a similarly tight expression. Usually because she was pissed at his dad, but would snap at Tony for leaving the milk on the counter or tracking in mud. He didn’t mess with her when she was in that state. “You aren’t really upset about that, are you? There’s something else.”

“Of course not.”

He sighed, frustrated that she wouldn’t own up, but added, “You may be right.” That was the only helpful phrase he’d picked up in counseling.

Kat snorted. But at least she was quiet after that.

Still, he felt as if he’d failed some important test. Kind of like retiring from the Rangers at Corrine’s request and being served with divorce papers a month later. He’d done what she’d asked, sacrificed a career he’d loved, but it still hadn’t been enough.

“Mr. Birmingham,” Garth asked, “what’s your favorite color?”

The young husband, who had finally joined the group, managed to stop kissing his blond bride long enough to reply, “Blue.”

“Ah, I can see that. Your wife has blue eyes.”

She giggled.

The groom raised her hand to his lips and kissed her palm, adoration smoldering in his eyes.

Kat made a strangled noise.

“What’s wrong now?” Tony whispered.

“How can they be so young and so in love?”

He shrugged. “We all were, once….”

Garth did his thing with the molten glass while everyone watched.

But despite Kat’s relative silence, Tony had a hard time concentrating, his attention drawn by Sterling and the need to figure out the man’s next move. Was Lola his target? How would he manage to separate her from not only her sister, but her trust fund?

“A gift for you, from the staff at Phoenix Rising.” Garth presented the newlyweds with two beautiful champagne glasses in swirls of blue layered upon clear glass.

Impressed and clearly touched, the pair thanked Garth. A few minutes later, they ducked out hand-in-hand. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to realize they would fall back into bed the minute they arrived at their casita….

Kat bumped Tony in the arm as she shifted in her seat.

“Do you ever sit still?” he asked, irritated that the newlyweds made him nostalgic.

“I can sit still fine when I enjoy the company.” Her sniff told him she wasn’t likely to forget his prickly remark.

WHEN KAT ARRIVED in the dining room for breakfast the next morning, she scanned the room and found Tony’s dark presence at a table on the left. So she swerved right.

Even though the other half of the large room had been closed off by a temporary divider, she felt conspicuous and exposed. It appeared that far fewer people showed up for breakfast than for dinner.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

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