“What can I do for you?”

Her eyes darkened to a shade of hunter green. “You can tell me what my dead husband’s brother has to do with you and your children.”

He felt like he’d been sucker punched. “What are you talking about?”

“The rumor is that Billy Bob Adams is the one suing you for custody of the girls…. Is it true?”

She wasn’t going to let it drop. She was going to force him to tell her something that would rock her world.

He let out a long breath. “Okay. You want it straight?”

“That’s what I just said. Why would my dead husband’s brother sue for custody of your children?”

“Because he’s their uncle, Jen. Your dead husband is the twins’ biological father.”

What If We Fall in Love?
Teresa Southwick

www.millsandboon.co.uk

TERESA SOUTHWICK

is a native Californian who has been transplanted to Texas. Having lived with her husband of twenty-five-plus years and two handsome sons, she has been surrounded by heroes for a long time. Reading has been her passion since she was a girl. She couldn’t be more delighted that her dream of writing full-time has come true. Her favorite things include: holding a baby, the fragrance of jasmine, walks on the beach, the patter of rain on the roof and, above all, happy endings.

Teresa has also written historical romance novels under the same name.

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

Epilogue

Chapter One

There was something about a man in uniform. And Sheriff Grady O’Connor was definitely something.

Jensen Stevens didn’t expect to notice. She couldn’t remember the last time a good-looking guy had gotten her attention. But as the sheriff moseyed up the bleacher stairs at the north Texas high school rodeo championships, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. After years in suspended animation her feminine radar suddenly switched on to signal a hunk at four o’clock.

Grady was a local rancher as well as Destiny’s acting sheriff. It was disconcerting that once he’d snagged her attention, she couldn’t seem to disengage. She wondered if he looked as good in cowboy duds as he did in his lawman ensemble. His short-sleeved tan shirt and matching khaki pants with the brown-and-beige stripe down the leg suited him to a T. No doubt about it—he was walking, talking hero material.

This was only the second time she could remember her heart skipping a beat at the sight of a man. The first was a decade ago and she’d married him.

“Hello, Counselor.” Grady sat his long, lanky self down beside her.

“Hello, Sheriff.” A loud crackling came over the public address system. “Sounds like they’re having trouble with the mike.”

“Yeah.”

He removed his dark brown Stetson and ran splayed fingers through his short, military-style brown hair. After propping his boot on the bench in front of him, he rested his forearm on a thickly muscled thigh and tapped his hat against his leg. His uniform looked freshly pressed, in spite of the evening heat and humidity typical of Texas in June. The shirt hugged the contours of his impressive chest and detailed his attention-getting physique. Reflector aviator sunglasses were tucked into one of his pockets.

“Long time no see,” she said.

“Not that long. I saw you four days ago. On the first day of the championships when you rolled back into Destiny in that sweet BMW convertible.”

“Okay. But not since then.” At least, not close enough to stake out her comfort zone. Like now. She’d only seen him from a distance, taking care of rodeo security.

In high school they’d hung out in the same group of kids who rodeoed. Then life intervened and they’d gone their separate ways. Since they’d reacquainted several days before, she hadn’t really thought about him. Apparently distance was her friend. Because now she couldn’t help thinking he was like an allergic reaction. The first exposure had produced a mild warning. The second—watch out.

Grady was not hard on her eyes with his well-shaped nose, nice mouth, soft-looking lips not too thin or too thick. His jaw was square and rugged the way a guy’s jaw should be. He was a man who would turn female heads wherever he went. The rodeo was being held on her sister’s ranch and Jensen had been a spectator every night since arriving. She was grateful that, until now, she hadn’t spectated much of the sexy sheriff.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked.

“Yeah. I like watching,” She cleared her throat. “It’s fun to observe the high school kids interact with each other. I can’t believe I was ever that age.”

“Right. You’re practically ready for assisted living at Leisure Village.”

She laughed, then smoothed her palms over the skirt of her floral cotton sundress that didn’t come close to covering her knees. When she saw him glance in that direction, she very much wished she’d worn jeans and boots.

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah,” he said.

She looked back at the arena where the John Deere tractor was smoothing the dirt for the last three events of the championships.

“I do get nervous for the competitors,” she admitted. “I heard an announcement that sounded like Mitch Rafferty was going to hold a spur-of-the-moment bull-riding seminar,” she said, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten inside her.

“I heard it, too. That event is coming up.”

Jensen met his laserlike blue gaze and knew he was warning her. And she knew why. “Ten years ago tonight Zach won the event.” Then he’d asked her to run away with him and get married.

“Yeah, how could I forget.”

She’d agreed and followed the professional rodeo circuit with the man she had loved. They’d had one year together. Then he’d taken a kick to the head and been killed instantly at a rodeo in Las Vegas.

The following nine years had been profoundly painful. Only work had helped. College classes and then law school had taken the edge off her acute loneliness. Now she just had her memories, and that was enough. She wouldn’t take another chance. She would never hurt like that again.

Grady rubbed his index finger over the crown of his hat. “After intermission there’s pole bending then barrel racing. Last is bull-riding,” he said, studying her intently. “Mitch was national champion. He’s a good one to give the kids pointers—to avoid mistakes that could cause injuries.”

Lord, she hoped that wasn’t pity she saw in Grady’s eyes. She didn’t need anyone to feel sorry for her. Life was a series of trade-offs. She’d lost the love of her life, but she had a career as a family law attorney, even if she would never have a family of her own.

“I haven’t been to the rodeo since Zach died,” she admitted, not sure why she was sharing that piece of information with him.

“Why now?”

“Good question.” She stared into the distance. “Probably motive and opportunity. I’ve been too busy to go out of my way. And I guess I just didn’t want to.”

“Why didn’t you keep his last name?”

“Adams?” She looked at him and thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. Maybe because we were only married a year. Maybe because my folks didn’t approve of us running off. Maybe because I never changed any of my legal documents.”

Because they’d traveled to rodeos all over the country, she’d never bothered to change her name on her driver’s license or with the social security department. And then she’d lost him. It was too late.

“How long has it been since you’ve been back to Destiny?” he asked.

“About six months. I was here for the holidays.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“It seems I never run into you on my visits home. I guess Kasey and Stacey and the ranch keep you pretty busy.”

“Those girls could use a full-time bodyguard,” he agreed. “But the fact that I haven’t seen you, at least in a professional capacity, is good news. That means I never had to run you in for disturbing the peace.”

He grinned suddenly and she was grateful to be sitting down. The humor transformed his face, chasing away the frown lines and seriousness. Oh, my. Cool, calm and detached, he was attractive enough to earn the attention of card-carrying man haters. But the amused expression he wore now made him downright devastatingly gorgeous.

She swallowed the sudden thickness in her throat. “As an officer of the court, getting arrested for anything wouldn’t be good.”

“True enough. So how do you like being back? What do you think of the changes Taylor’s made on the Circle S?”

Question number one translated: Do you still have feelings for Mitch Rafferty, the guy you dumped before marrying Zach? Subtext of question number two: Do you resent the fact that your little sister has turned the family ranch into a Texas-style bed-and-breakfast?

She decided to ignore number one and go to question two. “I’m so proud of Taylor I could just bust. She’s done a terrific job. There’s no doubt in my mind that the dude ranch will be very successful for her.”

After their father’s death from a heart attack, her younger sister had taken on a mortgage to buy out Jensen and their mother, financing her retirement to Dallas. To pad her profit margin in case of natural disasters or a drop in beef prices, Taylor had followed her dream of taking in guests to show them the joy and excitement of the Western lifestyle. Based on advance reservations, she was going to be wildly successful.

“What about Mitch?” Grady’s eyes held a gleam of interest.

Jensen wanted to forget how young and stupid she’d been when she’d selfishly hurt Mitch. But he and Mitch were friends. Of course he would care.

“We talked the day I arrived and worked everything out. I apologized for my youthful stupidity and he graciously accepted. Then I gave him my blessing to court Taylor and welcomed him to the family.”

“Why?”

“Does the word duh mean anything to you, Sheriff? I think your powers of deduction need some fine-tuning.”

“Could you be more specific?”

“Mitch is in love with Taylor.”

“No…”

“He always has been.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Cross my heart,” she said, doing just that. “I know what I’m talking about. He had a chip on his shoulder when we dated, but he could always talk to my sister. I think they’ve had a thing for each other since way back when. If I hadn’t handled things so badly all those years ago, he might not have left town. The two of them would have gotten together a lot sooner.”

“They’re not together now—”

A loud crackling noise over the public address system interrupted him. Then the weirdly echoing sound of an obviously open microphone filled the stands.

“I love you, Mitch.”

Jensen raised an eyebrow. She couldn’t see the two, but she recognized her sister’s voice.

“Now the damn mike works.” The voice was definitely Mitch’s and more than a little exasperated. Then there was a click and the PA system was shut off.

Jensen couldn’t resist flashing a smug smile at Grady. “That was Taylor and I rest my case.”

“You win, Counselor.”

She wouldn’t call herself a winner—especially in love. But she couldn’t be happier that Taylor had finally declared her feelings for Mitch. It was way past time for her to get it right with the man she’d loved since she was fourteen years old.

Grady studied the beautiful woman to his right. Jensen Stevens was a male fantasy in a floral cotton sundress. She was a tiny little thing, five foot two if she was an inch. Her red-highlighted brown hair tickled her shoulders with every lively movement of her head. Big, expressive green eyes regarded him in a completely self-satisfied way and for the life of him he couldn’t work up the will to care.

Grady followed her gaze as it shifted. She was looking down at Mitch and Taylor, who were strolling off by themselves, talking earnestly, with their arms around each other’s waists as they stared deeply into one another’s eyes.

“They win,” she said wistfully.

“I guess so.”

If Jen was right, Mitch and Taylor had been in love for a long time. Grady hoped his friends would find couple happiness, even if he didn’t believe it existed. He’d never experienced the emotion himself.

“I saw your twins earlier. Kasey and Stacey are completely adorable. You must be very proud of them.”

He thought about his girls, and a warm feeling filled him. They were his life. So he stood corrected. He knew deep-down, put-your-life-on-the-line love, just not the romantic kind.

“Yeah. I think I’ll keep them around.”

“You may be peeling them off the ceiling tonight.” Jensen clasped her fingers together in her lap.

“Why?”

“I fed them cotton candy, red punch, red vines and red hots.”

“You have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right, I’ll know who to blame. You fed them sugar and red stuff at the same time?”

“Guilty as charged.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “Because they wanted it.”

“Do I need to read you your rights before I run you in?”

“On what charge?”

“Contributing to the hyperactivity of minors.” He snapped his fingers. “I believe in making the punishment fit the crime. Why don’t you come over and help me put them to bed?”

“Ooh. You are devious,” she said. “The perfect father for future teenage twins.” Her teasing look faded and was replaced by pensive. “How do you do it?”

“What?”

“Raise them alone. You must miss Lacey.”

Lacey Miller O’Connor. His wife. She’d died right after the twins were born—complications of childbirth. He rested his other boot on the metal bleacher seat, then twirled his hat in his hands.

He thought about how to respond. “She was my best friend.” That didn’t exactly answer the question, but it was all he wanted to share with her.

“Didn’t you live with her family for a while?”

He nodded. “They took me in after my folks died.”

“Car accident, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“It must have been devastating for you. I can’t even imagine what that must have been like. But you and Lacey?” She smiled. “Friendship, love, then marriage.”

“We hardly had time to know what being married meant.”

“If anybody knows what that feels like, it’s me,” she said. “I often wished that Zach and I had had a child together. At least you have your girls.”

“Yeah.”

And that was his secret, he thought.

“Have you considered marrying again?” she asked.

“You applying for the position?”

Why had he said that? Deflect the question? Put a stop to personal questions? Or was there a deeper, more wishful reason?

Her green eyes widened and she tugged at the hem of her cotton skirt. “Objection,” she said, as if she were addressing the court.

“Overruled. Are you interested in the job?”

“Job? So marriage to you would be a chore? A duty? An assignment?”

“Heck, no. I’m a swell guy.”

“Then why haven’t you remarried?” She zeroed that green-eyed gaze on him. “And don’t tell me no one’s been interested.”

One corner of his mouth rose. “Is that a compliment?”

“Are you fishing for one?”

“Always.”

“Okay. Let me shoot your ego full of steroids. You’re a nice-looking man.”

“Nice-looking? That’s the best you can do?”

The glaring spotlights overhead clearly showed the blush that crept into her cheeks. For the life of him, he couldn’t seem to let her off the hook. He was deliberately baiting her.

“Words are my life, Sheriff. And no, that’s not the best I can do. However, it’s all I’m willing to say. But my point is, and I do have one, that women must notice you. Is there a problem?”

“Yeah. Two. Their names are Kasey and Stacey.”

“What do the twins have to do with it?”

“Everything. Either I meet someone they like who would be a good mother to them but doesn’t do a thing for me, or I find a woman I like and they make gagging noises when I mention her name.”

“Gagging noises? Those sweet angels I saw just a little while ago?”

“Angels?” He put the palm of his hand to her forehead, as if to check for fever. A teasing gesture. Not meant to be more. But the arc of electricity the touch produced put a lie to that and he quickly pulled back. “Those two could make a career out of duping innocent folks. Their favorite trick is switching identities. Most people can’t tell them apart.”

“Yes, angels. They gave me the cheat sheet.”

“The what?”

“The cheat sheet for who’s who.”

“They must like you.”

“Of course they do. I plied them with red vines, red hots and red punch. What’s not to like? Besides, all that red dye works better than truth serum.”

He shook his head. “I still say they must like you. I can’t get them to cooperate after that much junk. Mostly they’re devils disguised as angels.”

“Those girls are beautiful little cherubs.” She grinned, showing straight, even teeth and a beautiful smile that made her green eyes sparkle like precious gems.

“Okay. Eighty percent of the time they’re as good as gold. But they have their dark side.”

“No,” she said, exaggerating the word.

“Everyone does, Jen.”

He wasn’t thinking of the twins now, but her husband. He wasn’t the man she’d thought. But there was no reason to speak ill of the dead, and worse, destroy her illusions. And she did have them, or she wouldn’t have stayed single all this time mourning the creep.

“I know that, Grady. I’m not naive,” she scoffed. “In my line of work, I see the best and worst.”

“I suppose that’s true. So do I.”

“Tell me again why you haven’t remarried?”

“You’re like a dog with a favorite bone on that subject.”

Her eyes widened. “Geez, I’m sorry. I guess questions are what I do. But I don’t usually badger my friends. Really I don’t. Maybe I’m a little tense. Because of the next couple of events. Maybe I should go…”

He put his hand on her arm. “No. I don’t mind distracting you. I guess I haven’t remarried because I can’t find someone I like.”

“We’ve already established that hordes of women are on your trail. Aren’t you just a tad picky?”

“We haven’t established anything. And if the counselor would let me finish my thought…”

“By all means,” she said, with an expansive hand gesture that told him he had the floor.

“If I was looking, it would be for a woman I was attracted to who would also be a good mother to the girls.”

She tapped her lip with her index finger. “If? You’re not looking?”

“That would be a waste of time and energy.”

“Why?”

“Because it doesn’t exist.”

“It? You mean love? Relationships?”

“Either or both—yes.”

“Hmm.”

He looked at her. “What does that mean?”

“Just that you’re very cynical. I’ve heard that men who love once are likely to find it again. So why would you think it doesn’t exist? You loved Lacey.”

And there was another secret he would keep. “Has anyone ever mentioned that you ask a lot of questions?”

“Yes.”

“I guess that goes with the territory. Being a lawyer and all.”

“I guess.”

“So what’s your story? Why isn’t a pretty lady like you married by now with a couple of kids?”

When her sunny expression faded, Grady could have kicked himself from here to kingdom come. He’d only wanted to sidestep her questions, not take the smile from her face.

“I already had my chance at love.”

“So women get just one chance? It’s only men who are likely to find it again?”

She shrugged. “I had one perfect year with the love of my life. I won’t ever find that again and, like you just said, looking is a waste of time and energy that could be put to better use.”

Grady wished he could tell her the truth, because the man she’d loved hadn’t been worth the time and energy she’d wasted on him. Along with Mitch, Dev Hart and Jack Riley, he’d spent a lot of years keeping the hurtful information from her. If she learned the facts, what would be the point? It wasn’t only Zach’s memory that was keeping her single. Jensen had been busy with college, law school and pursuing her career. She was made for love, and when the time was right it would find her—whether or not she knew the ugly truth about the jerk she’d married.

Right now Grady had better things to do. Like putting the stars back in her eyes. “Okay. So let me see if I’ve got this straight. You’re a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do kind of gal?”

“Of course not.” Her gaze narrowed on him.

No stars yet, Grady noted, but the shadows were gone. “But you think I should marry again, and it’s not in the cards for you?”

“You have two girls who need a mother. I just have me,” she pointed out.

“All the more reason you should be a touch more open-minded about finding someone. I’m not alone.”

She lifted her chin slightly. “Being alone is nothing to be ashamed of. I happen to like my own companionship. The company is always agreeable—quite witty and stimulating, in fact,” she said, her eyes twinkling.

Almost there, he noted. But he wouldn’t let up until he coaxed a smile from her. “I’d like to try that sometime.”

“Being alone?” she asked.

“Considering Kasey and Stacey are nine and talk like a couple of magpies, being alone sounds like a small slice of heaven. But that’s not what I meant.”

It looked as if she was struggling to hold back a laugh as she caught the corner of her lip between her teeth. “Then what did you mean?”

“You said you like being alone. I’d like to be alone with you, too.”

Eyes wide, she stared at him for several moments. Son of a gun, he’d rendered the legal eagle speechless. Not a bad night’s work. On top of that, he’d made her smile, or would have if she’d just let go. And the stars were definitely back in her eyes, along with a blush on her cheeks.

Before he could figure out what to say next, a busty, dark-haired, approximately thirty-year-old woman stopped on the bleacher stair beside him. “Sheriff O’Connor?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, putting on his hat as he stood. “What can I do for you?”

She pulled an envelope from the large denim bag slung over her shoulder and handed it to him, then started back down the bleachers. She looked back and said, “You’ve just been served.”

Chapter Two

As Grady studied the summons, Jensen named every emotion that washed over his face—surprise, shock, anger, then fear. She swore he turned white beneath his tan. Standing, she put a hand on his arm.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Nothing.” He quickly folded the papers and shoved them back in the envelope, then tucked the packet into his shirt pocket.

“I’m a lawyer, Grady. Someone else might buy that it’s nothing, but I know better. You’re being sued. What I want to know is by whom and what for?”

“It’s just a pain-in-the-neck suit. No big deal.”

“If you tell me not to worry my pretty little head…”

“Would I do that?” He smiled, but it was strained.

She knew this, even though they hadn’t seen each other much in the past ten years. But they’d been friends once; she didn’t believe he’d changed all that much. So two things were clear to her—he was shook. And he wouldn’t admit it. Why?

It was obvious—he was a man. A lawman. It all boiled down to testosterone and training.

“I’d be happy to read the papers and advise you,” she offered. “You can’t turn down free legal advice.”

“Watch me. Thanks, but no thanks.” He snapped out the words like pistol shots, sharp and shocking.

Before she cross-examined him, common sense prevailed. It was none of her business. She’d offered help and he’d turned her down. End of story.

“I have to find the girls,” he said quickly, and there was a hint of desperation in his voice. “I need to get them home.”

“Yeah, it’s getting late.”

Before he could answer, there was a metallic galumphing on the bleachers. Kasey and Stacey, followed by their best friend, Faith Benson, hurried toward them. The three nine-year-olds were a study in contrasts. Faith was blue-eyed and fair skinned with a cap of dark, curly hair. The twins were tan, blond and brown-eyed. They took after their mother, and were identical. But they’d confided to Jensen how to tell which was which. Stacey had an almost invisible scar at the edge of her hairline caused by a run-in with the corner of a table when she was a toddler. S for Stacey and scar. With bangs over it, no one could see, or tell her from her sister.

“Hi, Jensen,” they said in unison.

“Hi,” she answered, folding her arms across her chest.

“Hi, Daddy,” the two girls said together.

“Hey, you two.” He pulled them close, one on each side of him. “Hi, Faith.”

“Daddy, we have a completely brilliant idea.”

“Beyond brilliant,” Kasey added.

“Is that right?” He sat down on the bleacher bench and settled the girls, one on each knee. Their friend stood watching.

“Dad, you’re squishing me,” Stacey complained.

“Me, too,” said her sister, squirming.

“Sorry.” The sheriff loosened his grip slightly.

Jensen studied him with his children. Was it just her imagination, or was he hanging on to them for dear life? As the girls chattered, she noticed that he scanned the crowd like a secret service agent protecting the president of the United States. This behavior was a complete contrast to the laid-back lawman he’d been a few minutes before receiving the papers.

If she was a betting woman, she’d wager that summons had something to do with his children.

“So that’s why we think it would be a good idea for us to spend the night at Faith’s house,” Kasey finished.

“What?” he asked, turning his attention to the eager little girls.

“Weren’t you listening, Dad?” Stacey brushed her hair off her forehead. “We want to spend the night at Faith’s house.”

“No,” he said sharply. “I want you home.”

Identical faces creased with disappointment. “But why?” they said together.

“My mom said it was okay,” Faith added.

Jensen studied the girl and somehow knew that the little schemer was fibbing. She couldn’t be sure whether or not it was a conspiracy.

“That’s right,” Kasey said. “We asked Maggie and she said it was okay with her if it was okay with you.”

“She did, Dad,” Stacey piped up. “Honest.”

Aha, Jensen thought. Collusion. With malice aforethought, if the knowing glances exchanged by the three amigos were anything to go by. He was being tag-teamed big-time. She recognized the technique because she and Taylor had done the same thing to their father until tutoring from their mom had wised him up. Did Grady have a clue what they were doing?

“I’ll just go talk to Maggie and see what she has to say.”

A superhero, able to leap conniving kids in a single bound. That was refreshing. Or maybe dealing with crackpots and criminals gave him the edge of cynicism he needed to keep their feminine wiles-in-training from overpowering him.

“Kasey, Stacey,” Faith said, “I’ll see you guys in a little while. I hafta go check in with my mom.” Before Grady could stop her, she turned and raced down the stairs.

The twins started to wiggle off his lap, but he held on.

“Not so fast.” He checked the arena, then looked at Jensen. “The final events are about to start. I have to go make sure that my staff is in place. It’s been nice talking to you. I’ll take the girls with me.”

“Aw, Dad. We can take care of ourselves. It’s so dumb hanging out with you when you’re working. We’ll die of boredom.”

Which twin was it? Jensen wasn’t sure. The speaker brushed her hair off her forehead and she identified Kasey.

Grady looked at the girl and tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. “Kase, I don’t want you unsupervised. There are a lot of strangers here.”

“So.” The girl looked around. “We talked to a nice man just a little while ago. Remember, Jensen?”

“What man?” Grady asked sharply.

Jensen shrugged, trying to recall. “I was sitting here with the girls feeding them junk and braiding their hair and a man walked up to us.”

“What did he say?”

“Small talk,” she said. “He wanted to know if the girls were mine. He asked about you, where you were.”

“What did you tell him?” he asked, frowning.

“That you’re Destiny’s sheriff.”

“Anything else?”

Jen shook her head, but she’d been around the legal system long enough to know when she was being officially questioned. “You joined us right after that and he disappeared. I haven’t seen him since.”

“I want you guys to stay with me,” he told the girls.

“Aw, Dad…”

“There’s too many wackos and weirdos around,” he said sternly.

“Dad, this is Destiny. Nothing bad happens here,” Kasey said.

A muscle in his jaw contracted, but when he spoke, his tone was calm. “Mostly that’s true. But sometimes stuff happens even here.” He looked at each of his daughters in turn.

“We could hang out with Faith and Maggie,” Stacey suggested.

Grady shook his head. “Maggie’s busy with her booth. If she doesn’t have customers, she’ll be packing up. I can’t take a chance.”

Interesting choice of words, Jensen thought, noticing that the worry creases in his forehead deepened. What was going on?

Identical pairs of brown eyes focused on her. “Can we stay with Jensen?”

“I can’t ask her—”

“Of course I’ll keep an eye on them,” she volunteered.

“Awesome,” the two girls said together.

“Wait a second. I didn’t give the all clear,” he reminded them.

“But you’re gonna. Right, Dad?”

He met Jensen’s gaze. “You don’t have to do this. I don’t think boredom killed anyone yet.”

When he looked like that, she wondered how she could say no to anything he asked. It bothered her until she remembered he hadn’t asked. The girls had. But when she saw those two sweet, eager little faces, she couldn’t say no to them, either. Like father, like daughter. She couldn’t resist him—them. She meant them. He wasn’t irresistible. She wouldn’t let him be.

“I’d like spending time with the girls.”

He smiled, and the tension in his face eased a bit. “Okay. I’m going to take you at your word. If you’re sure—”

“I am.”

“No more junk,” he warned.

She put her hand over her heart. “I swear.”

He kissed both of the girls, then left.

“Jensen, my French braid came out.”

“Can you do my hair that way, too?”

“I would be happy to,” she agreed. “I am woman—I can multi-task. But two at once would take more than my two bare hands. So one at a time. Okay?”

“Okay,” they said together, giggling.

As she worked on twisting Stacey’s hair into the intricate style, Jen scanned the arena. The final events had started. She wasn’t sure who should be more grateful to whom. Grady to her for watching the girls while he worked. Or her to him for giving her a distraction against the onslaught of awful memories brought on by the imminent bull-riding competition.

And then there was the question of what was in that lawsuit that Grady O’Connor wouldn’t talk to her about.

After the medical transport chopper left and he dispersed the milling crowd in the arena, Grady hurried into the stands to find his girls and Jensen. Ronnie Slyder was semiconscious after a run-in with the bull he’d ridden to win the competition. The teenager had been airlifted to a hospital twenty miles away. Hannah Morgan, the doctor who was filling in for Doc Holloway at the rodeo and in his office, had gone to the facility with Dev Hart to make sure everything medically possible was done for the kid. As Grady surveyed the area, he noted that the crowd had all but cleared out.

He wasn’t sure whether or not that reassured him. Some creep was suing him, then he’d found out that a stranger had approached his girls and was asking questions. He didn’t like this one bit. All he wanted was to get the girls home.

That was all he wanted until he took one look at Jensen’s tense white face. No matter what he thought of the guy she’d married, Jensen had loved him and he’d been killed in an accident similar to the one tonight. Even though it was ten years ago, she would have to be a robot not to be shook.

He pulled the hand radio from his belt and pushed the button. “Deputy Haines?”

“Yeah, Sheriff?” a voice asked through his receiver.

“Meet me in the bleachers.”

“Right.” There was a click and the line was silent.

Grady walked up the stairs and greeted the girls. “Hey, you guys. Doin’ okay?”

Two identical pairs of solemn brown eyes and one-of-a-kind serious green ones regarded him.

“Is Ronnie going to be okay, Daddy?” Kasey asked.

“I sure hope so, honey. I’m going to check on him as soon as I make arrangements to get you two home.”

They both nodded and he was relieved that he wasn’t going to get an argument. He’d had about all he could deal with tonight.

Deputy Haines walked up the several steps and joined them. He was young, just twenty-one, with black hair and blue eyes and a face that barely needed a razor. But he was trustworthy and would put himself between the girls and trouble. Grady would stake his life on it.

“What’s up, Sheriff?”

“I want you to take my girls home and stay with them until I get there.” He looked at them and noted the big yawns that meant there wouldn’t be any arguments about bedtime. “Kasey, Stacey, I want you guys in bed, and don’t give Deputy Haines any trouble. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” they said, their voices sleepy.

“I’ll take good care of them, Sheriff.”

“I know.”

Grady watched the three as they walked down the stairs. At the far end of the arena a black-and-white SUV belonging to the sheriff’s department was parked, and the three got in and drove away.

With a sigh, he sat next to Jensen. She still hadn’t said a word. “You okay?” he asked.

“Fine.” She reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Her hand shook, putting the lie to the single word.

“Really?”

“Of course,” she said, clamping her teeth together when she started to shiver.

Since the night was far from cold, he knew she was beginning to react. It was as if she’d held it together for the kids. Now that she was no longer responsible for them, she was letting go. Her whole body was trembling. He was really concerned about her.

Grady put his arm around her, pulling her against him. “It must have been awful when Zach died.”

“Yeah. Awful.”

“Tell me.”

“N-no.”

Grady had a strange sort of déjà vu feeling. The past was knocking up against the present. He wasn’t sure why, but he was creeped out. First Mitch had come back and made things right with Taylor. Now Jen was here. The summons to answer a lawsuit that he’d received tonight. The bull-riding accident had obviously reminded her of losing the man she’d loved—and still did, if the look on her face was anything to go by.

That bothered him, and right now he was in no shape to analyze why. But one thing he knew—as much as he didn’t want to hear anything in hushed, reverent tones about the jerk she’d married, he couldn’t just walk away from her.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he urged, tightening his arm around her.

She looked at him with huge, haunted eyes. For a moment he thought she was going to refuse. Then she nestled against him and sighed.

“It was in Las Vegas. I hadn’t seen him all day. We were supposed to meet before the rodeo, but…”

“What?” he prompted.

She hesitated and he waited for her to tell him that the creep had stood her up. That she’d seen him with another woman. That he’d made some lame excuse to avoid his responsibilities. All typical things he’d done when Grady had known him.

Then Jensen shrugged. “It’s not important. I was in the stands. Like tonight. He had a good ride. The next thing I knew, he was on the ground as still as a stone.”

A shiver shook her and he drew her into his arms, holding her against him, willing his warmth into her. He waited for her to speak again.

“I raced from the stands to the arena, but when I got there, he was already gone. They told me later he died instantly.” She leaned back slightly and he loosened his hold. “It all came back tonight when I saw that boy lying there. Is he going to be all right, Grady?”

“Hannah said—”

“Hannah?”

“Dr. Morgan. She said his vital signs were strong but without diagnostic equipment that was all she knew.”

“At least he was still alive. But…” Her expression was stricken.

“How about if I walk you up to the house and we’ll call the hospital. See if they can give us any information on his condition.”

“Okay.” She started to stand, then hesitated. “You don’t need to baby-sit me, Grady. I appreciate the shoulder to lean on, but I’m fine now. The twins need you, and I’m sure you’re anxious to get home to them.”

“Yeah. And I will.” He stood up. “After I see you home and check on Ronnie.”

“But…”

“I trust Deputy Haines. The girls are in good hands. They need to get some rest. In the morning we’ll have a talk about it. I’ll probably have some good news by then on Ronnie’s condition.” He held out a hand to her.

“You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”

“Nope.”

She put her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet.

A short time later they were standing on the front porch of the ranch house. When they’d arrived, Grady had found Mitch on the phone to the hospital. Ronnie was undergoing tests, but he was conscious and all the signs were good. Hannah had told him that tests were done as much to rule out problems as find them. She was optimistic that the teenager would be just fine.

Finally Jensen had insisted he go home to his girls and had walked him outside. The front porch was lit up like the town square at Christmas. He could see the shadows lingering in her eyes.

“Thanks for walking me home, Grady. I appreciate it. Tell the girls hello and give them a kiss for me.”

He stared into her beautiful face for a moment, then before he thought it through, he leaned close and lowered his mouth to hers. First he tasted surprise on her lips and slid his arm around her waist to draw her closer. Fully expecting her to pull away, he wondered why she didn’t. Then he stopped thinking at all and gave himself up to exploring the perfection of her mouth.

Lips as full and soft as clouds met his own. He tunneled his fingers into her hair, gently urging her to make the contact more firm.

She smelled so good. Her hair was like silken strands tangled in his fingers. The sound of her rapid breathing heated his blood as it raced through his veins. Her soft femininity lured him into a sensuous haze and he never wanted it to clear. Suddenly the front door opened, spilling more light onto the porch.

“Oops,” Taylor said. “Sorry, Grady. I’ll catch you later, Jen.”

But Jensen instantly backed out of his arms. Then the light disappeared and a soft snick told him they were alone again.

Jen ran a shaky hand through her hair. “Why did you do that?”

The words, wrapped in her breathless, sexy voice, burrowed inside him, and all his nerve endings went on tactical alert. If he’d known the answer to her question, he would have answered it. But he didn’t have a clue why he’d kissed her. More important, he didn’t want to examine his motivation too deeply.

“I just wanted to take your mind off what happened tonight,” he said lightly. “Give you something else to think about.”

“Replace a bad memory with a good one?”

“Is it a good one?”

“You’re fishing for compliments again, Sheriff.”

There was a trace of teasing in her tone, but it was forced. He could tell. In spite of the fact that she’d been married, there was an air of innocence about her. Hell of a quality for an attorney. But innocent best described her as far as he was concerned.

“Nope. Not me. Just trying to do a good deed.”

“You’re quite a combination of knight in shining armor and the guy in the white hat, aren’t you?”

“It’s a gift.”

“Well, let me return the favor.”

“Yeah? How?”

“That summons has something to do with the twins. Let me take a look at it so I can help.”

Chapter Three

After making the statement, Jensen put some distance between herself and the sexy sheriff. She leaned her back against the front porch support and folded her arms over her chest, letting the evening breeze cool her hot cheeks.

Why had he kissed her? She didn’t completely buy his selfless, good-guy act. On the other hand, she would rather believe he was chivalrous as opposed to attracted. Because she was infatuated enough for both of them, and that was so not what she wanted. If she let it, their meeting of mouths could be a life-altering experience and she had no reason to want her life altered in any way, shape or form.

He’d told her earlier his bachelor status was based on attraction and approval. He needed to be attracted to a woman that his girls approved of. So far that hadn’t happened for him. Tonight she’d gotten along pretty well with the persnickety O’Connor twins—meaning one hurdle crossed. After that kiss, she issued an all-points bulletin to her heart—do not under any circumstances approach the suspect with the intention of apprehending his heart.

With that directive uppermost in her mind, bantering with him after that earth-moved-under-her-feet experience was the hardest thing she’d ever done. Her first legal argument in front of the toughest judge in Dallas had been a walk in the park by comparison.

Bringing up the summons he’d received earlier was the only thing she could think of to take the heat off herself and put it squarely back on him where it belonged.

She let out a long breath. “So what do you say, Grady? Want to talk about who’s suing you and why?”

“No.”

“Just like that? No? I thought you law-enforcement types were trained in methods of negotiation.”

“You’re thinking of the FBI.”

“But don’t they teach you how to interrogate perps, how to meet them halfway to get the information you want?”

He shrugged, and the shoulder movement did things to his body that made her knees weak. “It’s not worth wasting your time.”

“As an officer of the law you should know better. Anyone can bring suit. It’s up to a judge to decide whether or not it has merit. That’s where I come in.”

She watched him rest a hip against the porch railing beside her, one booted foot grounding him, the other dangling back and forth. Very masculine. She made a conscious effort to inhale deep, calming breaths. If he was a couple of inches closer, she would be able to feel the heat from his body. The thought made her shiver, and she stepped up those deep, calming breaths.

After clearing her throat she said, “It’s my job to convince the judge that whoever is suing you has no merit to his case.”

“I can handle it.”

“The worst thing you can do is be casual about this, Grady. It’s about your children.”

In the moonlight she saw him frown and the lines of his face tighten. “I never take anything about my children for granted. And don’t look now, Counselor, but I haven’t confirmed your guess that it has anything to do with them.”

“It’s more than a guess.”

“How can it be?”

“The fact that right after getting those papers you were holding on to the girls so tightly they could hardly breathe. Then you sent them home with an armed guard. It couldn’t have been more clear if you’d taken out a billboard on Interstate twenty.” The worry lines between his eyebrows deepened. “You went from teasing to terrified in four little words—You’ve just been served.”

“Okay. You win.”

“Yes, I do. More often than not. Every time I go into court I’m prepared. I’ve done my homework and try to make sure there are no surprises. I’m very good. So what gives, Grady?”

“Someone is suing me for custody of the girls.”

The grim look on his face told her he was serious. Even though she’d had a feeling it was something like this, his confirmation of her suspicions surprised her. Only a relative would have a prayer of obtaining custody. Grady didn’t have anyone else.

“Who would do something like this? Lacey’s folks?” she asked.

“Her parents are both dead. There isn’t anyone else. If that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Actually I was thinking there’s a name on those papers you received, and sharing it would be a big help.”

“Not important,” he said.

“Okay. If you won’t tell me who, at least explain why.”

“How should I know?”

She straightened away from the porch support and jammed her fists on her hips. “For a smart man, you’re acting like a moron.”

“Don’t sweet-talk me, Jensen. Tell me how you really feel.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“That was sort of a rhetorical comment,” he said wryly. “I didn’t realize you’d stoop to calling me names.”

“If the shoulder holster fits…” She finished her statement with a shrug. “Look, Grady, I’m trained for this and I want to help. We’re friends. Why won’t you let me?”

“You don’t have to take on the world’s problems.”

“I’m not. Just yours—”

“Where were we?” he interrupted. “Oh, yes. I was trying to replace a bad memory with a good one until your sister so rudely interrupted us.” He put both boots on the wooden porch and took a step toward her.

She backed away and made a cross with her index fingers to ward him off. “A blatant attempt to sidetrack me and it’s not going to work.”

He grinned. “How will you know unless we try?”

If he continued to smile at her like that she would try anything and probably forget her own name. “Knock it off, Grady. This is serious. And you’re not as charming as you think.”

“Yes, I am.”

Yes, he was. But it didn’t quite distract her enough. She found it odd and disturbing that he wouldn’t tell her anything about the lawsuit. Granted, they hadn’t been close friends for years. But he’d seen how shaken she was when the teenage bull rider had been injured, and had stayed with her. A trusted deputy had taken his girls home. Even with the problem that had been dropped on him just that night, he’d flatly refused to leave her.

Her heart skipped at the thought and warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with a June evening in Texas and everything to do with how sweet and thoughtful Grady O’Connor was. After all these years on her own, his warm, supportive presence was like a light at the end of a long black tunnel. She just hoped the beam wasn’t attached to a speeding locomotive.

“I’ll take your silence as agreement on my charm,” he said.

“I’m immune to charming men.”

“Oh? Let’s test that defense.”

He put his arm around her waist and loosely settled her against his chest. Cupping her cheek in his big, warm hand, he started to lower his mouth to hers.

“I’m fine. I don’t need the distraction.” Jensen stepped away from the circle of his arms. “And you can’t afford to take this situation lightly.”

“It’s just a nuisance suit.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his khaki pants.

“Probably. But if you don’t take it seriously now, it could become more than that. Let me help. I can put together a strategy to convince the judge that the case is without merit and get it thrown out before it snowballs into something big. It’s my job, and I’m very good.”

“I’m sure you are. But you’re good at it in Dallas, and I live in Destiny. I intend to seek legal counsel, but I’ll get someone local to handle it. Besides, you’re here on vacation.”

“Not so fast, Sheriff. You know what they say about assuming something.”

“What’s that?”

“It makes an ass out of u and me.”

He laughed. “In my case it’s probably no more than the truth. But it would be less than gentlemanly to agree with that—about you.”

“I’m not just here for a vacation. My firm is considering opening a branch office in Destiny.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s so. Business in the area is expanding outward from the Metroplex. Growth brings jobs, people, housing. Because I know the area, the firm sent me here to handle it.”

“So your offer to help is testing the waters of legal expansion?”

“Of course not. I genuinely want to do what I can to advise you—legally. I’ve seen you with the girls. You’re terrific.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“I didn’t say that to flatter you. It’s just the truth. I can’t conceive of a good reason for anyone to initiate a suit like this. Tonight I saw for myself the love, discipline and just plain common sense of your parenting skills. We’ve already established it’s not a relative of yours or Lacey’s who’s behind this. It would be a crime to take them away from you. No one could love them the way their biological father could.”

She saw the frown return to his face and missed the teasing look and the warmth it generated. What had she said? She’d sincerely meant the compliment.

“I’m grateful for the vote of confidence.”

“Look, even if I wasn’t heading up the law office here I could handle this long distance. I can—”

“Look, Jen, don’t think I don’t appreciate the offer. And from one of the finest Dallas attorneys, too. But you’re not the right lawyer for this case.”

This case? It was right up her alley—her specialty, so to speak. In the past few hours since he’d invaded her personal space, she’d seen firsthand his protective streak. First with the twins, then with her. Was he refusing her offer because he was trying to protect her? From what? What could anything about his twins have to do with her?

“Why am I not right?”

“Look, I’ve got to get home to the girls. Are you okay now?”

“I’m fine.” Thanks to him.

“Good.” He walked to the steps and glanced over his shoulder. “See you around.”

“Okay,” she answered, bewildered. “’Night.”

The echo of his footsteps faded. Unfortunately her bad feeling didn’t. If she were smart, she’d let this go. She should be grateful he’d pushed her away—saved her from herself, so to speak. He didn’t want her help. She didn’t want to be attracted to him. Even-Steven.

Now she could get back to life as she knew it—on her own. But why after spending time with the sheriff did that seem so lonely?

The next day Grady walked in the front door of the sheriff’s office, and Deputy Phoebe Johnson looked up.

“Hey, boss.” Behind the counter, she leaned forward and rested her forearms on it.

“Hey. Everything quiet?” he asked her.

She nodded. “How was lunch?”

“I ran into an old friend. Jack Riley.”

“I heard about him. Good-looking military type. He went into This ’n That and didn’t come up for air till lunch. Something going on with him and Maggie?”

Maggie Benson was the owner of Destiny’s gift shop.

“Hard to say,” he answered.

“Why? You had lunch with them.”

“So?” Grady stood in front of the counter separating the waiting area from the two buddy desks behind it. Computer equipment and paperwork littered the tops of the work spaces.

“So, put your legendary detective skills to work and tell me your observations.”

The pretty, young, auburn-haired deputy met his gaze with a speculative one of her own. Her eyes were the color of Texas bluebonnets—somewhere between blue and lavender. She filled out the uniform better than any deputy he had. But wild horses would never get him to say that out loud. He treated her just like everyone else and that’s just the way she wanted it.

At twenty-three, Phoebe was dedicated, smart and ambitious. Grady figured she was after his job. She’d probably have it someday, but not until he was ready to give it up. He was acting sheriff while elected sheriff Warren Drummond was on medical leave after a heart attack. But he would probably retire early, since his health was unlikely to permit him to return to the demanding job.

“My observations are that Maggie and Jack are friends.”

Phoebe shook her head and slid him a pitying look. “If that isn’t just like a man.”

“You want to elaborate on that?”

“No.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Let me rephrase. What does that mean, Deputy?”

“It means you wouldn’t know a romance in progress if it sashayed up and hit you in the head with a two-by-four.”

He grinned. She had a way with words and didn’t mince any of them. Not unlike a sassy brunette he couldn’t seem to get out of his mind. Thoughts of Jensen had kept him awake tossing and turning.

“I seriously doubt that there’s anything going on between Jack and Maggie. Like I said, friends.”

“That’s not what Ginger Applewhite said.”

Ginger clerked at Charlie’s Tractor Supply for her owner husband. “What did she say and how did she know?”

Phoebe sighed. “She told me Jack O’Hunk stuck like gum on a boot heel to Maggie at the high school championships last night. Then today he shows up in town and disappears inside her shop. When they come out, he’s not carrying a bag, which means he didn’t purchase anything. So it was personal. Then they wind up having lunch together. What would you call that?”

“Circumstantial evidence.”

“Not to me. It’s love, plain and simple.”

“There’s nothing plain and simple about love.”

Jensen was walking, talking, curvaceous, sexy proof of that statement. He didn’t believe in love, but she’d spent a lot of years pining for a guy who wasn’t worth the powder it would take to blow him to hell. What was plain and simple about that? Or the fact that Grady couldn’t seem to get her out of his mind.

He might have been able to—at least, he’d have had a fighting chance if he hadn’t been dumb enough to kiss her. What was that all about? And could he take it back?

But there was something about the way she’d looked standing on the porch in the moonlight. Something about the vulnerability peeking through the tough outer shell around her when she’d told him about the night Zach died. Something sad and brave that had tugged at him and made him want to fix what ailed her. Even though she’d tried to shrug it off, he knew the bull-riding accident had shaken her up.

He knew it as surely as he knew staying far away from her should be his modus operandi. Hard to do, considering her determination to help. He wished she would just leave it alone.

Phoebe tipped her head to the side as she studied him. “Is that experience talking? Macho baloney? Or are you just a confirmed bachelor?”

“The latter.”

She nodded. “Yeah. Me, too.”

“You? By gender definition you can’t be a bachelor. Besides, I thought your motto was So Many Guys, So Little Time.”

She smiled, a dazzling display of full lips and straight white teeth. “You heard that, huh? It’s not that so much as my life is steady and on course. I don’t need a—how can I put this? A nasty speed bump.”

“Me, either.”

Her gaze swung past his shoulder as she looked out the big window on downtown Destiny’s main street. “Don’t look now, but here comes one. A speed bump, I mean.”

Grady half turned and heard a car horn honk as he spotted Jensen hesitate while she waited to see if the truck would stop for her. When it did, she hurried across the street. There was no hesitation as she opened the door to his office and came in. Her green eyes held anger, betrayal and confusion.

He straightened and went to her. “What’s wrong, Jen?”

“I need to talk to you.”

He took her arm and studied her. She was wearing a short-sleeved, light blue denim shirt tucked into jeans. He’d seen her legs in last night’s sundress and somehow covering them seemed even more sexy, hiding her curves yet outlining them at the same time. After the way he’d left her last night, he hadn’t expected she would voluntarily seek him out. His gut tightened and a knot of apprehension pressed on his chest.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I’m so not okay.” She looked at Phoebe.

“Jensen Stevens, this is one of my deputies, Phoebe Johnson.”

The redhead nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

Jen’s polite smile was strained. “Same here.” She looked up at him. “Is there somewhere private we could have this conversation?”

He put his hand at the small of her back. “Let’s go in my office. Hold my calls unless someone’s bleeding or on fire,” he said to his deputy.

“You got it, boss.”

He guided Jen down the hall and felt her trembling. What in the world was wrong? They passed three offices. When they reached the fourth, he turned her inside and closed the door behind them. His gray metal desk was littered with files and scattered papers. The computer monitor was on, displaying data from an unsuccessful search he’d initiated just that morning into the background of Billy Bob Adams. Unfortunately he’d turned up nothing of any use, which was why he’d asked for Jack Riley’s help earlier at lunch. His old friend had been in the army—Special Forces. And a computer expert. Grady figured he could go places a small-town sheriff like himself couldn’t. Especially with equipment from the Stone Age—relatively speaking.

“Sit down, Jen,” he suggested, indicating one of the chairs in front of his desk. The metal frames with plastic-covered seats and backs didn’t invite visitors to stay long. But it was all he could offer.

“I don’t want to sit.”

“Suit yourself.” He took off his hat and placed it on the paperwork strewn across his desk. Then he rested a hip on the corner and folded his arms over his chest. “What can I do for you?”

Her eyes darkened to a shade of hunter green. “You can tell me what my dead husband’s brother has to do with you and your children.”

He felt as if he’d been sucker punched. “What are you talking about?”

“I hope nothing more than Destiny gossip.”

“You’re going to have to be a shade more specific.”

“Someone overheard you talking to Jack Riley at the Road Kill Café a little while ago.”

“Small-town communication system strikes again,” he said grimly. “What about it?”

“The rumor is that Billy Bob Adams is the one suing you for custody of the girls.”

He would feel less cornered if he’d been pinned down by the Hole in the Wall gang. A million things came to mind that he would rather do than have this conversation. With a little two-stepping and a bucket of grease maybe he could slide out of it. “And?”

“Is it true?”

“It’s hearsay, Jen. Not permitted in a court of law.”

“Don’t patronize me, Grady. I know what hearsay is. I also know something felt weird from the time you got those papers.”

“I’ve never been sued before. Of course I acted weird.”

She wasn’t going to let it drop. She was going to force him to tell her something that would rock her world. It was like drop-kicking a kitten, and he was going to hate himself forever for doing it to her.

“Don’t you dare put your cop face on.” She glared at him and tension starched every line and curve of her body. “Billy Bob is Zach’s brother. Only a blood relative would have a chance of success in a case like this or no lawyer worth his salt would waste time with it. I need the truth, Grady. I need to know what’s going on.”

He let out a long breath. “Okay. You want it straight?”

“That’s what I just said. Why would my dead husband’s brother sue for custody of your children?”

“Because he’s their uncle, Jen. Zach is the twins’ biological father.”

Chapter Four

Jen felt as if a tornado had dropped out of the sky and caught her up in the funnel of its spinning power and destruction. A fissure opened up in the foundation of the life she’d created. She wanted to collapse in the chair he’d offered her a few moments ago, but she’d trained herself not to show weakness.

“I was his wife,” she said, her voice hardly more than a whisper no matter how much steel she tried to put in it. “I never heard anything of the kind. How could you say that?”

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