Page 97 of The Honorable Texan
“You wouldn’t want me to,” he murmured dryly.“He’s having too much fun being condescending.When the time comes, he’s got a few shocks coming, hasn’t he?”
She laughed softly.“I hadn’t meant to be cloak-and-daggerish.It’s just that it still hurts too much to talk about,” she said honestly.
“Colter told me the circumstances.It wasn’t your fault,” he replied.“Or your father’s.I gather that he drinks because he feels responsible?”
She nodded.“We both dined out on ‘what-if’ just after it happened,” she confessed.“I know that it probably wouldn’t have made any difference, but you can’t help wondering.”
“It doesn’t do any good to torment yourself over things that are history,” Leo said gently.
“I don’t do it intentionally,” she murmured.
“The first step was getting your father into treatment,” he said.“Getting you out of your rut was the second.You don’t have any memories to contend with here.I’ve noticed the difference in you just in the past week.”He smiled.“You’re changing already.”
“I suppose so.”She smiled back.“I’ve never even been on a ranch before.I could love it here.It’s such a change of pace.”
“When you’re back to normal, we’ve got plenty of opportunity around here for your sort of job,” he pointed out.
She chuckled.“Don’t rush me.It’s far too soon to think about leaving Houston.”She didn’t add that she didn’t want to be that close to Rey, considering his opinion of her at the moment.“I’ve only been down here a week.”
“Okay.I’ll let it drop, for now.”He leaned back in his chair and winced, favoring the arm he’d had stitched.“Damned bull,” he muttered.
“Did they give you something for the pain?”
“No, and I didn’t ask for anything.I have over-the-counter painkillers if it gets really bad.So far, it hasn’t.”
“You know, of course, that statistically farm and ranch work have the highest ratio of accidents,” she said.
“Any job can be dangerous,” he said easily.
She pursed her lips and lifted her coffee cup to them.“Your brother’s a walking job hazard,” she said thoughtfully.
“Oh?In what way, exactly?”he asked.
She wouldn’t have touched that line with a pole.She laughed.“He’s abrasive.I don’t think he wants me here.”
“I’ve noticed his attitude.I hope you haven’t let it get to you?”
“I haven’t.Anyway, he’ll mellow one of these days,” she said.
“He could use some mellowing.He’s a disillusioned man.”
She smoothed the lip of the cup.“Did he love her very much?”
He knew she was talking about Carlie.He sighed.“He thought he did.His pride suffered more than his heart.”He hesitated.“I didn’t help matters.I made a play for her deliberately, to show him what she was.That was a miscalculation.A bad one.He’s never forgiven me for it.Now, if I pay any attention to a woman, he tries to compete with me…”
She noticed the way his voice trailed off, and she averted her eyes.“I get the picture,” she said.
“It’s not like that, not with you,” he began.
She forced a smile.“He’s not interested in me,” she said bluntly.“And just in case you’re worried that I might be falling all over him, there’s no danger of that, either.I was outside the door when he was talking to you.I wasn’t eavesdropping, but he was speaking rather loudly.I heard what he said.I’d have to be certifiable to lose my heart over a man like that.”
He grimaced as he read the faint pain that lingered in her eyes.“I wouldn’t have had you hear what he said for the world,” he said deeply.
She managed a smile.“It’s just as well.It will keep me from taking him seriously.Besides, I’m not really down here looking for a soul mate.”
“Just as well, because Rey isn’t any woman’s idea of the perfect partner, not the way he is right now.I love him dearly, but I can afford to.It’s another storyfor any woman who loses her heart to him.”He studied her warily.“Just don’t let him play you for a fool.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said.“Even if I got the chance.”
