Page 7 of Texas Temptation

“I was the last time I looked. But obviously not the one you were expecting. Never knew there were two of us.”

She closed her eyes, tears seeping from between the lids.

“Can I get you something?” Cade asked, wondering who Jordan Carhart was, and why she was looking for him—or rather, some man who had the same name.

She shook her head. “I’ll be out of your way in a minute. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I thought—I saw an article in the Dallas paper that reported your donation to the Children’s Last Wish Foundation. I thought I’d found the man I’ve been looking for for years. I mean, I thought you were Cade Cullen Everett. My Cade Cullen Everett. Actually, not mine, exactly. But I’ve been looking for him for five years. I thought I’d finally located him.”

“You came a long way based on a newspaper article. Your son said you live in Florida.”

“I tried writing, calling, but you never responded. I was desperate.”

“Because?”

Cade sat on the chair flanking the sofa. Before Jordan could say another word, his Aunt Amelia swirled into the room, her lacy dress more suitable for a garden party than the ranch house. But he was used to it. Fancy feminine dresses were her standard attire.

He sighed. Another complication he did not need.

“Oh, nephew, I’m so pleased you knew to call on me in case of an emergency. I’m happy to help in any way I can. Is this the poor dear? Oh, she looks ill.”

Jordan stared at the elderly woman, delicate in statue with soft white hair curled around her face. Her dress reminded her of southern parties and gentile living. Feminine and flighty, Jordan summed up in one thought. And a bit out of place in the room, which had a strong southwest decor.

She glanced at the rugged man, who looked pained for a split second at the arrival of the older woman. He quickly schooled his features.

Could they really be in the same family? She’d called him nephew, but he looked too large, too masculine to be connected to this ethereal woman.

“How do you feel, dear?” She fluttered over and patted Jordan’s cheeks. “Oh, you are burning up. Cade,” she looked at her nephew, “she’s burning up. We need to give her something for the fever. Aspirin. I think aspirin would be fine. And fluids. Plenty of fluids. Clear like apple juice or water.”

When Jordan began coughing, Amelia raised her handkerchief to her cover her nose and mouth, still fluttering around.

“Oh dear, that cough is terrible. Cade, we must do something about that as well. Bed rest will help. Should she have the lilac room or the rose? Lilac, I think, it’s so soothing, and the rose will confuse the issue about her fever, don’t you think? She’s flushed enough without pink from the walls.”

“What?” Cade looked at his aunt. What issue?

“The rose room will make her skin look rosy. How will we tell if the fever’s gone?”

“If she were staying, we could use a thermometer,” he said, standing. “But the issue won’t arise because she’s not staying.”

“Cade, you can’t send an ill woman out into a storm like this. I won’t hear of it.”

“Aunt Amelia, she’s a total stranger. I know nothing about her. She came here from Florida. I’m sure she can make it as far as town, where she can get a motel room.”

“I’ll be on my way. I’m sorry for the problem I caused.”

Jordan tried to stand, her knees feeling like soggy spaghetti noodles. She fell back to the sofa with a soft plop.

“See?” Amelia said triumphantly. “She can’t possibly travel. If you don’t wish to put her up, I will. It’d be crowded in the cottage, of course, but I won’t shirk my duty to the less fortunate by sending a sick person out on a day like this!”

Cade suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the familiar dramatic flare his aunt was famous for. He nodded once. He’d speak to Rosita for calling his aunt. If she hadn’t arrived, he could have sent the stranger and her child on her way with no compunction.

Now he’d be stuck with her for at least a day. Hopefully, by tomorrow she’d be better and could head back to Florida.

“Then I’ll leave her in you capable hands, Aunt Amelia.”

“I’ll take care of everything, Cade. You go on back to work. Ask Rosita to help me, will you?”

“She’s busy right now with the little boy.”

Amelia’s eyes grew wide as saucers.

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