Page 3 of The Texan's Secrets

Paris’s tone rose with increasing enthusiasm. “The contest matches also get an invitation. The TCC is big. It’s grand. It’s opulent as all get-out. I’ve seen pictures. I’d love to see it in person.”

“I’m sure you’ll love it.” Emilia opened the fridge.

She knew Paris would love mingling with the who’s who at the k!smet IPO launch party. Paris would also love winning a free date—which Emilia now intended to ensure she won, even if it meant engaging in a few hacker shenanigans to make that happen.

Emilia spied a pitcher of a telltale pale green liquid and her interest perked up. “Margaritas?”

“Yes, they are. Have one. Or have two. Then we’ll come back to your intransigence.”

Emilia coughed out a laugh as she extracted the pitcher. “You won’t change my mind.”

“Don’t sell me short.” Paris retrieved two glass tumblers from a cupboard and brought them forward.

Emilia set the pitcher on the counter and went for the freezer, dropping handfuls of ice cubes into the glasses while Paris held them out.

“Did you plan dinner?” Emilia asked, thinking margaritas on an empty stomach were a bad idea, especially while Paris was trying to talk her into something.

Paris shook her head. “We can order a pizza.”

“Pineapple and sausage?”

“Heathen. So long as we can add pesto and dried tomatoes.”

“You don’t think dried tomatoes are redundant?” Emilia closed the freezer while Paris poured the margaritas.

“No such thing as redundant vitamin C.”

Emilia lifted and contemplated her drink. “You really want to do this?”

“Drink margaritas?” Paris joked.

“The free date. You really want the free date with who-knows-who?”

“I’m a gal on a budget.”

“And I’m a gal who’d rather stay home.”

Paris heaved a disappointed sight. “Okay. You win. I won’t sign you up.” She clinked her glass against Emilia’s. “Here’s to both of us getting what we want.”

Emilia hid a calculating smile. “Here’s to that, then.”

Nico Law had been skeptical about coming home to Royal, Texas. His sister, Misha, hinted, then nagged every time they’d spoken on the phone—which was daily. He’d finally given in. Royal was an up-and-coming tech hub, and he’d decided his company would fit in perfectly. But he’d known it would be hard to keep a low profile in the place. But, so far, he’d succeeded, with very few Royal citizens figuring out he’d come back home. Fewer still knew he was growing a tech company right here in their midst.

His local friend Rafe Cortez-Williams understood Nico’s burning desire for both freedom and privacy. So, the two men spent countless hours enjoying Rafe’s vast family ranch. Horses didn’t care if a man had a criminal record. And few people outside the Cortez-Williams family ventured into the hills and valleys of the cattle range.

“I’m serious,” Nico said as the two men rode side by side down the gradual slope of a trail next to the river that bisected the family ranch. He’d replaced his usual nondescript beanie with a Stetson and his khakis with a pair of jeans. “You’ve all treated me like family. It’s about time I contributed.”

“It’s not like we have a shortage of horses. You don’t need to buy your own.”

“That was just one idea. Or I could pay for a new barn or something.”

Rafe laughed. “We don’t need a new barn.”

“An extension on the house. Wouldn’t your mom like a brand-new kitchen?”

“Don’t you go messing with Mom’s kitchen. She loves it just the way it is.”

“Then, you tell me.”

---