Page 52 of The Honorable Texan
He smiled slowly.“We were both a little preoccupied.Both times.”
She flushed.
He laughed.“It was very good.I imagine I could search for the rest of my life and never find a woman who suited me so well, physically.”
She shrugged.“I thought men could find pleasure with anybody.”
“So they say.But I’ve stopped looking.”
The way he was looking at her made her toes curl in her shoes.He seemed to be genuine about his feelings.But he didn’t love her.And she did love him.It would be a poor match.
“I plan to call you, often,” he said.“I’m giving advance notice.Don’t think because I’m agreeing to let you leave, that it means I’m giving up on you.I’m not.”
Her eyes widened.“Oh.”
“And I’d prefer it if you didn’t tell your mother we’re having problems,” he added.“She doesn’t need any more upsets.”
“Yes, I know.I won’t tell her,” she agreed, her head bent over the box.
“There’s a rumor that Duke’s wife may be coming down with their son, for a quick visit,” he added.“It may be for legal reasons, but I think she’s heard about the new lady vet who’s working for Wright.”
Her eyes twinkled.“Jealousy?”
“Who knows?But it would be nice if they couldpatch up their differences.A child needs two parents,” he added firmly, and he wasn’t talking just about the Wrights, Violet guessed.
“Yes.A child does need two,” she agreed.
He moved forward and picked up the box for her.His eyes were solemn.“I should have gone with you, the afternoon you left sick,” he said unexpectedly.“I was going after you when the phone rang and I had to placate a frightened client.”
“You were?”she exclaimed, surprised.
“I was.Open the door.”
She did, and he followed her through to the outside.
* * *
She eased hermother past the fact that she was going back to work for Duke Wright with a simple explanation—she and Blake weren’t getting much work done staring at each other, so she was solving their problem until they got married and settled down.
Her mother gave her an odd look, but she smiled and let it go.
True to his word, Blake called Violet every day.She was shy at first, but he related the day’s happenings and the office gossip, and after a couple of days, it was very nice to have someone to talk to who knew everything that was going on around town.
* * *
But then Janet Collinswas arrested in San Antonio and charged with the murder of Violet’s father.
As he had when the autopsy results on Mr.Hardy came in, Blake didn’t phone Violet.He went to Duke Wright’s house and delivered the news in person.
Violet’s expression wasn’t easily read.“What now?”she asked slowly, her hands poised over the keyboard of the computer.
“Now she gets formally charged with first degree murder.She’ll be arraigned next Monday in San Antonio.”
“Should Mother and I go, do you think?”she wondered, hoping not.It would be an ordeal to have to see the woman who’d killed her father.
“That’s not necessary,” he replied.“Although your mother will probably have to testify at the trial in order for us to get a conviction.”
“What good will that do?”Violet asked miserably.“It will only upset her.She never saw Janet with my father, anyway.”
