Page 17 of The Honorable Texan
“Tomorrow, at one,” Kemp added before he walked away with Calhoun.
“Tomorrow,” she replied.
* * *
Curt had toask her twice if she was ready to leave.She hadn’t had the opportunity to talk to Kemp any further,and he’d been called away suddenly to meet with a man who’d just been arrested.Before he left, he’d looked back at Violet with pale blue eyes that absolutely smoldered.She was still tingling an hour after he’d gone.
“What?”she asked abruptly, facing Curt.She flushed when he grinned.“Sorry,” she began.
“Oh, I’m not upset,” he replied, chuckling.“I’m glad to see that your ex-boss finally realized what he was missing.”
She flushed even more.“It’s not like that.”
“I’m a man, Violet,” he reminded her as they walked out to his car after making their goodbyes to their host.“I know a smitten man when I see one.Kemp’s got it bad.”
“Do you really think so?”she asked hopefully.
“I think so.Just go slowly,” he advised.“He’s pretty much a loner and he doesn’t play around.”
“I knew that already.”
He turned toward her, serious for once.“What I meant,” he said softly, “is that he’s more vulnerable than a man who plays the field.And everybody knows he’s not a marrying man, at least not visibly.You just step carefully, okay?”
“I will.Thanks for the advice, Curt.”
He shrugged.“Story of my life.I’m always someone’s big brother.”
She grinned.“One day some lucky girl will carry you off,” she promised.
He smiled back.“I hope it’s a few years coming.I’m no more ready to settle down than your friend Kemp is.At least he’s got a profession.I’m still drifting.”
“Libby said you wanted to open a feed store.”
He nodded.“It’s the dream of my life.”
“I hope you get to do it, Curt.I mean that.”
He opened the door for her.“So do I.You’re a nice girl, Violet.”
“You’re a nice man.”
He chuckled.“Well, I’m accommodating, at least.Calhoun had quite a crowd today,” he added when he’d climbed in under the wheel of his and Libby’s old pickup truck.
“A big one.And some big money, too.I think he just may beat Senator Merrill for the Democratic nomination.”
“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised myself.”
* * *
Violet told hermother about Kemp’s invitation, and Mrs.Hardy grinned from ear to ear.“And how long have I been telling you that Mr.Kemp had more interest in you than a boss in his secretary?”she asked.
“It’s only to eat a trout,” Violet replied.
“He can eat trout by himself,” her mother said sagely.“It’s also interesting that Mr.Kemp, who never advertises his political affiliations, suddenly turned up at a campaign meeting.”
“He likes Mr.Ballenger.”
Mrs.Hardy pursed her lips.“I think somebody told him you were going to the meeting with Curt Collins.”
