Page 22 of A Fortunes of Texas Christmas (Fortunes of Texas)

The older man nodded. “Yeah...it’s been big news in this town for a while. Looks like he turned his back on his old life as Jerome Fortune. I’m not sure anyone really knows why but him. But the secret kind of set down the pattern for a dishonest life, I reckon. He married Charlotte and had a family and managed to have several kids with other women. Like that Englishman who married that waitress from Lola May’s... Francesca something... Keaton Whitfield is his name. I think he’s added the Fortune name onto it now.” Cliff frowned. “And then there was that Elliott girl...” His voice trailed off. “Can’t remember her first name, though.”

“Chloe,” Veronica supplied. “She’s a lovely young woman. She works as a counselor at Pete’s Place. She got married recently, remember?” she prompted. “To that tall cowboy. You know him, don’t you, Robin?”

Robin rolled her eyes a fraction. “Chance Howell.”

Veronica clicked her fingers. “That’s him. I think he works at Pete’s Place, too. It seems like Gerald Robinson’s illegitimate kids are coming out of the woodwork. It’s like I always say, no good can ever come of lies and deception.”

Amersen felt the stain of his conception creep over his skin. He nodded vaguely and shrugged. “Yes, I imagine you are right.”

Veronica looked toward Amersen. “So, tell us a little about your family.”

He glanced at Robin, saw her smile and then replied quietly. “Mother, father and a younger sister named Claire.”

Veronica nodded again. “I suppose your business with Kate will mean you’ll be spending more time in Austin over the coming months.”

As far as interrogations went, it was pretty mild. Still, he suspected that if he spent too much time in the Harbins’ company, they would soon be asking him about his intentions toward their daughter. Upon reflection, he suspected his own parents would do exactly the same thing in regard to his sister, had she unexpectedly brought a man they didn’t know home for dinner.

“Possibly,” he replied.

They finished their meal, and Robin offered to do the dishes. Within seconds her parents were out of the room, having taken up Cliff’s suggestion to watch television. Amersen collected a few plates and walked toward the counter.

“Damn,” she said, grabbing the plates.

“Damn?”

“They like you,” she said.

“Glad to hear it,” he quipped. “But I’m not sure how you can know that.”

“I know my folks,” she replied. “They mostly let me live my own life, but they still like to give their stamp of approval on my...friends.”

His brows came up. “We’re friends now?”

“I’m not sure what we are,” she admitted.

He stopped what he was doing and came around the counter. “Really?”

She stilled and turned, propping her hip against the counter. “Really. And I apologize if my dad’s suggestion about me showing you the sights of Austin made you uncomfortable.”

He laughed. “Wasn’t that the purpose of the invitation...to see me squirm around your parents?”

She shrugged, not denying it. “Epic fail, though.” She sighed lightly. “Doesn’t anything faze you?”

“Not so far,” he said and reached out, cupping her cheek.

“You know, I don’t think I’ve met a more arrogant, cocky and self-assured man in my life.”

“Thank you,” he said, unashamedly turned on by her words. “Would you like to come back to my hotel tonight?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Can you deny that you want to?”

“What I want,” she said and stepped back, “and what I’ll do are two very different things. Look, I know women have probably been falling for your good looks and charm since you hit puberty, and I’m not going to deny that I’m tempted. But I’m also a realist. Once you leave Austin, I’ll probably never see you again, and you’ll probably forget that we ever met. And frankly, I don’t want to be someone that gets forgotten so easily. I’ve had that recently, and it sucks. So, good night, Amersen. And thank you for an...interesting couple of days.”

She stepped farther back, and he dropped his hand. He admired her honesty, even if he didn’t want to hear her words.

“Good night, ma chérie,” he said, feeling the space between them grow wider as she took another step backward. “Please say good-night to your parents for me and thank them for their hospitality.” He gestured to the clothes he wore. “I’ll see that these are returned.”

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