Texas Bride. Kate Thomas

deep velvet tone made her want to accept Josh’s help, to lean on his strength.

      She couldn’t allow herself to be tempted. Much as her heart might wish desperately to love again, to trust and share again, Dani couldn’t afford the risk. Her heart wasn’t hers any longer. It belonged to her son. And Michael needed it whole. “I appreciate your help, Mr. Walker, but I think it’s time for us to leave.”

      He said a word Dani hoped her son never learned, then Josh’s jaw went into granite mode as he spun on his heel and headed for the connecting door. Reaching it, he stopped but didn’t turn around. “You should at least have lunch first,” he said evenly, as if nothing had upset him.

      Dani stared at his rigid back. How could he just cap his feelings like that?

      “And by the way,” he added just as calmly, “I saw Sheriff Lopez this morning. He wanted to know when we’d be heading home.”

      “What...” She had to push the words past frozen tonsils. “What did you tell him?”

      Josh turned. “I said—” Something simmered in his blue orbs, though his tone remained cool. “Well, it doesn’t matter now, does it? I should have known you’d never leave Texas.”

      With a shrug, he disappeared into his room.

      Dani’s knees gave way and she sank onto the bed. If the sheriff was asking questions, it was past time to move on. So get going. Make some plans, she told herself, but her mind stayed blank.

      She wouldn’t contact Jimmy’s parents. She couldn’t give up her son. Not without a fight. And today, she couldn’t fight a wet kitten to a draw.

      She needed more time!

      Josh’s last sentence echoed in her head. Could that mean—

      Dani stood and twitched her shirt into place. Right now, no possibility was too remote to consider, no action too desperate to contemplate. Of course, he probably didn’t mean anything by it, but for Michael’s sake, she’d ask.

      Maybe she should redo her braid before—“Oh, just get in there and beg before you lose your nerve,” she commanded herself. Self agreed, but her feet took a little more convincing. “I’ll pay him back,” she promised. “Every penny. And I won’t cause him any trouble.”

      One foot moved. The other refused. “And I won’t do anything stupid.” Like believe in fairy tales again.

      Her second foot released its deathgrip on the floor.

      Checking that Michael was content for the moment, she marched into Josh’s room. It looked like the aftermath of a bomb blast, she noted, but refused to let the thought divert her from her mission. Feet slowed, though, as they approached the bed where Josh sprawled. In all his tawny, masculine glory.

      I must have been mistaken. But the worst he can say is no. And then I’ll—Lifting her chin, Dani addressed the howling coyote print above Josh’s head. “What did... You said something about me never leaving Texas?”

      Tinny applause erupted from the TV, then Josh touched the remote control and silenced reigned. He crossed his arms over his chest before answering in that same unreadable tone, “Dr. Ravjani said you need at least six weeks of rest. I’m willing to—” His jaw turned to titanium this time. “To see that you get it, but I have a life, too. And it’s not in Texas.”

      Surging hope asked a dumb question. “Wh-where is it?” She didn’t care if it was on the moon, as long as it was far from the Caldwells’ influence.

      “Fallsboro, Virginia. That’s about thirty miles from Washington, D.C.”

      And plenty of miles from Lufkin. Dani chewed her lip. “And you...you’re willing to take me and Michael with you? For six weeks?”

      Instead of responding right away, Josh tucked his hands further out of sight under his arms and gazed around the room. “Yes,” he said finally. “I was going to offer you...a place to stay until you’ve gotten your strength back.”

      “Did... What changed your mind?”

      Josh’s eyes glowed like faceted aquamarines in full sun as they found her face. “Nothing.”

      Dani licked suddenly dry lips. He was offering her the one thing she needed: time.

      But she wasn’t a naive kid any longer who believed in fairy god-hunks and wishes coming true. “Why?”

      Which wasn’t no. Josh clenched his hands tighter against his sides. If he moved a single muscle, he’d do something explosive to release the tension coiling inside like a mad rattlesnake. He couldn’t afford to frighten her. Not now. Not this close.