Page 60 of Texas-Sized Secrets

In more ways than one. Staring up into cool-green eyes, she could forget everything else around her. But another man had died and she was running out of suspects to question. “Yeah. I’m all done.” She pushed against his chest and stumbled to her feet. “We have to get to Les and Wayne.”

“You’re not going tonight.” He blocked her escape from the bedroom door. “You have to have sleep.”

“I can’t risk losing my last two sources of information.”

“You have to rest.”

Impatience surged inside. She planted her fists on her hips, prepared for battle.

Reed used a weapon even Mona couldn’t resist. Guilt. “If you won’t rest for yourself, do it for the baby.” He reached out and touched the swell of her belly, the concern in his expression forcing her to consider his request.

As if responding to his voice, the baby kicked against his hand.

Mona gave in. “Okay, but first thing in the morning, we’re going to have a talk with Les and Wayne.”

“Agreed.”

She just hoped they were still alive to answer questions. The way things were going, they’d be gone too. Then what?

* * *

REED LAY AWAKEhalf the night, listening for Mona, afraid she’d try to go see Les and Wayne by herself in the middle of the night.

She hadn’t asked him to sleep with her and he hadn’t pushed the issue. Their night in the cave might as well have been a dream to Mona.

Not to Reed. Every time he rolled over in the sheets, he wished he had her to roll up against, her body spooned against his, her dark hair spread across his pillow.

Around two o’clock in the morning he rose and took a cold shower to calm his galloping libido.

When sunrise finally graced the Texas skies, Reed didn’t bother pretending to sleep anymore. He got up.

As he suspected, Mona was exhausted. She slept past her usual six o’clock. Not until eight did she rustle around in her bedroom, finally emerging wearing her signature jeans and baggy blue shirt.

How any woman could make the saggy, sloppy outfit look good, Reed didn’t know. After thinking about her all through the long night, he just wanted to pull her into his arms as soon as he saw her. Instead, he handed her the plate of eggs and toast Rosa had prepared.

She pushed his offer away. “I don’t have time to eat. I overslept and I want to get to Les and Wayne first thing.”

He didn’t give her a choice, he lifted her hand and set the plate in it. “Eat first, then we’ll leave.”

Mona sighed and sank into the chair proffered. “Where’s Catalina?”

“Gone to work.”

“To work? But she’s barely out of the hospital.”

“She insisted and actually, she looked all right. Plus, she wants to go in to Amarillo to check on Jesse when she gets off work.” He smiled. “She said something about setting a few things straight.”

Her head tipped to the side as Mona stared at Reed. “Did she say what she wanted to straighten out?”

He lifted his shoulders. “No. But she looked pretty determined.”

“After we talk to Les and Wayne, we can swing by Dee’s.” Before long, Mona had cleaned her plate, eating every last bite.

Reed smiled. “Where do you put it all? You’re not any bigger than the dog I had growing up.”

Mona rolled her eyes and stood, carrying her plate to the kitchen. “Oh please, don’t overwhelm me with your compliments. That’s the second time you’ve likened me to a dog. A girl can only take so much.” When she returned from the kitchen, she wiped her hands on her jeans and said, “Okay, let’s go.”

The streets of Prairie Rock were busy at nine o’clock in the morning. Dee’s Diner had cars parked around the block, the salty scent of bacon frying drifted through Reed’s open truck window.

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