Книга - Callaway Country

Callaway Country
Annette Broadrick


Hello, Father. I'm your bastard son.His whole life, Andrew Malone had been programmed to hate the man who'd abandoned his pregnant mother. But now, watching Robert MacAllister clutch his chest and crumple to the ground, Andrew felt compassion… and guilt. And an overwhelming need to be part of this family that now regarded him as the enemy.Dr. Kara MacAllister was not a blood relation, but she'd dedicated her life to earning the respect and love the MacAllisters had shown a troubled runaway. Now a stranger was threatening everything–everyone–she held dear. Yet even knowing that, she couldn't stop her attraction to the man Andrew had shown her he could be. A good man. A wonderful lover.A skillful liar with a secret agenda?









WHO CAN RESIST A TEXAN…OR A CALLAWAY?


Clay Callaway was suddenly facing his biggest challenge—the one woman who haunted his midnight memories. Pam might have gotten the last word all those years ago, but Clay’s heart was forged with steel now. And things would be different this time around.…

Pamela McCall never would have agreed to take on this case if she’d known her partner would be the one man who despised—and secretly aroused—her. She’d loved him long ago, but in one bittersweet moment she’d been forced to let him go. Maybe this time she’d hold on…forever.

Katie Callaway was a model mother, an unforgettable woman—and a killer? Suspicions swirled around the disappearance of her evil ex-husband and fingers were pointing at her! This Callaway damsel needed a man who believed in her.…

Lieutenant Colonel Sam Carruthers always put duty before desire. But no one had ever tempted him with such passion. Could this military hero unravel an intricate revenge scheme and save Katie…the woman he loved?

“Annette Broadrick’s one terrific writer.”

—Award-winning author Diana Palmer




ANNETTE BROADRICK


believes in romance and the magic of life. Since 1984, when her first book was published, Annette has shared her view of life and love with readers all over the world.

In addition to being nominated by Romantic Times Magazine as one of the Best New Authors of 1984, she has also won the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best in its Series for Heat of the Night, Mystery Lover and Irresistible; the Romantic Times Magazine W.I.S.H. award for her heroes in Strange Enchantment, Marriage Texas Style! and Impromptu Bride; and the Romantic Times Magazine Lifetime Achievement Awards for Series Romance and Series Romantic Fantasy.

Fascinated by the complexities found in all relationships, she continues to write about life and love, joy and fulfillment, and the bountiful gifts that are bestowed upon us as we travel along life’s path. Readers have enjoyed over fifty love stories penned by this talented author. Annette currently lives in the hill country of her native Texas.




Sons of Texas

Callaway Country

Annette Broadrick







www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


This novel is dedicated to

Dr. L. J. Moore

who gave up a secure position in the business world

to follow her dream.…

WAY TO GO, LINDA!!




CALLAWAY FAMILY TREE








Dear Reader,

When my editor suggested that I write a sixth Callaway story, I was curious about the possibilities. Whose story would I tell? My last book in the series, Sons of Texas: Rogues and Ranchers, gave us the story of Cole Callaway’s twin sons, Clint and Cade, as well as one of Cameron’s adopted sons, Matt.

Several fan letters have asked about Cody and his family. Others have been curious about Cole’s daughter, Katie. Eventually I decided to tell two love stories in one—catching readers up on Katie’s life and exploring Cody’s only son, Clay, and his adventure with love.

This, dear reader, was not an easy story to tell. Once Clay and his fiery first love, Pamela McCall, were reluctantly reunited, they became so willful that no one was going to tell them what to do, including me! For an author, when your very own creations assert such independence that you’re simply waiting to see what they’re going to do next…well, it’s frustrating when they back themselves into a corner—and pure magic watching them wriggle their way out.

Thank you for making the SONS OF TEXAS series so popular. I’ve been very touched by your response to the Callaway family.

And now…on with the story.…









Contents


Prologue (#u7969947c-3c3c-552c-9af8-d939e969cd41)

Chapter 1 (#u1b6253a6-5732-5c23-a17f-cfadd7b700f7)

Chapter 2 (#u865500a0-7d10-542c-91fd-80edc2ab783a)

Chapter 3 (#u70d4c87c-6211-55b1-8c3a-e6d08333a54f)

Chapter 4 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)




Prologue


Racing black clouds streamed across the sky, blotting out the little light that came from the sliver of moon. A moisture-laden silence hung over the small Texas border town, occasionally interrupted by the desultory bark of a bored dog.

The narrow streets were empty of traffic. No one stirred outside the tiny houses clustered along the bluff overlooking the Rio Grande, the river that separated Texas from Mexico.

A sudden explosion ripped through the somnolent atmosphere, shattering the sleepy peacefulness of the small community. Fire tore through a huge factory-warehouse on the edge of town. Flames colored the night with an orange glow.

The people poured out of their homes and raced to see what could be done to save the only business in town, a business that had kept the local population from starving. They soon realized there was nothing they could do but watch the business, along with their futures, go up in billowing clouds of black smoke.

At the same time that the factory on the border was destroyed, other explosions occurred—in an office building in downtown Dallas, on an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, and in an oil equipment warehouse in east Texas.

There was only one thing these locations had in common—they were part of Callaway Enterprises, a conglomerate owned and operated by members of the Callaway family.

The message was clear. Someone had declared war on the Callaways.




Chapter 1


When the family decided to throw a party, they went all out, Clay Callaway thought as he paused just inside the doorway of the Grand Ballroom of the Anatole Hotel.

It was the Texas way, after all.

Everything glittered, from the giant chandeliers with their dazzling crystal pendants to the multitude of diamonds and other precious gems draped around the necks and wrists of the glamorous women who were attending the gala benefit in Dallas, Texas.

This little shindig would let the world know that there was solidarity in the family. Whenever trouble struck, the Callaways circled their wagons and unloaded their arsenal.

Tonight was the first salvo.

The melody from the song “We Are Family” kept running through his head as he spotted various members of the clan strategically placed at tables around the mammoth room, brushing elbows with the nationally elite in social, business and political circles. There were more than a few famous faces from the entertainment field, as well.

Clay wasn’t supposed to be there, but someone with a great deal of clout had managed to get him pulled off his overseas assignment with his Special Forces unit. Yesterday, he’d received orders to come to Texas and to be available for this evening. He’d barely managed to get here in time for the benefit and was a little annoyed at the abrupt change in his assignment.

It wasn’t that Clay didn’t want to help out whenever and wherever he was needed. Once he’d been informed of the problems the family was having, he was willing to do whatever he could to resolve the problem.

What ate at him was the fact that circumstances had conspired against him, forcing him to return to his home state. He’d successfully managed to avoid the area for years. Too many memories were triggered whenever he returned home, memories he’d been able to avoid until now.

Clay mentally acknowledged his cowardice in making certain that he did not arrive at the party alone.

“Quite a collection of friends your family has,” his date laughingly said in a seductively low voice.

Clay glanced down at Melanie Montez and grinned. She had no idea how grateful he was that she’d accepted his last-minute invitation to meet him in Dallas tonight.

She was one delectably sexy woman without any effort on her part—and her efforts tonight had his body humming. Granted, he’d been without a woman for much too long, but Mel would have a monk questioning his celibacy vows…and he sure wasn’t a monk.

She glowed with excitement and anticipation. He wished he could feel the same way. Although his appearance tonight was a command performance, he had to admit that Mel would be an enticing consolation prize at the end of the evening.

Clay had met Melanie two years ago in Istanbul during one of his weekend liberties. She’d been there because she’d had a small part in a movie being shot in Europe that summer. They were staying at the same hotel. Once they discovered they were both Texans far from home, the two of them had struck up a conversation that had evolved into a friendship he’d grown to treasure.

Because his available time was limited—as was hers—it was a rare treat for him to be able to see her. As soon as he’d read his orders, he’d called her agent to find out where she was. After he’d finally managed to track her down, he’d been relieved that she seemed eager to be there.

The public who knew her image would never believe that Melanie could have a platonic relationship with a man. She had made it clear to him from the very beginning that she wasn’t interested in a casual affair. She had no desire to live up to her public image in her personal life.

He enjoyed her company—her intelligence, her dry humor and her ability to laugh at her public persona while at the same time using her sexy image to build her career.

He hadn’t been interested in a casual relationship, either, and his spare time when not on duty was too limited to be able to offer any woman a stable relationship. However, when he’d offered to get them a suite at the hotel for the weekend, Melanie had readily agreed to stay with him, which was a first.

Clay knew that he was finally ready to take this relationship a step further. He took her presence there to mean that she wanted to move forward, as well.

“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world, you know,” she added, her eyes sparkling.

“Glad I could tempt you into coming,” he responded with a grin.

She turned and stroked his cheek. “You’re all the temptation I’ve ever needed, something I should never admit to you. You’re cocky enough.”

He took her hand and brought it to his mouth, then carefully kissed each fingertip, nibbling on the smallest one.

Something caught her attention and she looked past him. “Isn’t that Cole Callaway?” Melanie whispered, nodding toward the tall, silver-haired man greeting new arrivals near the door.

Clay was amused at the awe in her voice. His uncle had that effect on people. “Yes, ma’am, it certainly is. Uncle Cole is the head of the clan. The petite lady beside him is his wife, Allison.”

“That is Allison Alvarez, the famous sculptor? She looks too young to have made such a name for herself for so many years.”

“She’ll be pleased to know you think so,” he replied. He took her hand and led her over to the line of people waiting to be greeted.

Melanie’s infectious laugh rang out, causing a few people to glance their way. “Don’t you dare embarrass me by telling her, Clay. You promised to be on your best behavior!”

Clay attempted his innocent look but knew she wasn’t buying it. “You are aware, are you not,” he drawled, “that you will be meeting my parents tonight? My father will definitely demand to know your intentions toward me.”

She blinked her wide green eyes, her long lashes quivering, and replied in a throaty voice, “Well, honey, I’ll just have to explain to him that they are—and always have been—very dishonorable.” She almost purred the last word, which caused him to burst into laughter.

The couple just ahead of them moved away and Clay was face-to-face with Cole. His uncle grinned. “I’m pleased to see you’re already enjoying yourself, Clay.” He shook his hand. “Glad you could make it tonight.”

Clay nodded in response. “Oh, I don’t think there was ever a doubt about that, was there?”

He had no idea how his uncle had managed it, but Clay had no doubt the man in front of him had something to do with his being there tonight.

Cole smiled. “We need to get together a little later this evening—if you can spare the time,” he added with a sidelong glance at Melanie.

“Of course, sir. I’m looking forward to it.” He drew her closer to his side and said, “I’d like you to meet Melanie Montez. Mel, my aunt and uncle, Cole and Allison Callaway.”

Allison smiled and took Melanie’s hand. “I’m delighted to meet you. I believe I read that you’re originally from Texas, is that right?”

Melanie nodded. “Yes, from a small town in south Texas that nobody’s ever heard of.”

“I’m so pleased that you were able to join us tonight,” Allison said. “I understand you have a new movie coming out in a few weeks.”

Clay watched as his aunt managed to charm yet another person into opening up and sharing her life. Allison never ceased to amaze him. Cole was lucky to have her.

He slid his arm around Mel’s bare shoulders and said, “I’m starving. Let’s find a table somewhere and hit the buffet.”

Allison chuckled. “I believe your mother expects you to sit with them tonight,” she said, nodding to a table across the room from the entrance.

“Great,” he said, slowly moving his hand along Melanie’s shoulders and down her arm to her hand. Taking it in a firm grasp, he said, “Let’s go meet the folks, gal. Hope you’re up for this.”

He started across the crowded room with the sound of Allison’s laughter ringing in his ears.

Melanie said, “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were nervous about seeing your folks tonight.”

“Not nervous, exactly. It’s just that they’ve been trying to get me to come back home for years and I’ve never made it until now. I generally meet up with them somewhere during their travels.”

“Ah. So they’re going to be surprised to see you here tonight?”

He knew his laugh sounded a little hollow. “It seems I’m the only one who’s surprised,” he said, glancing back at Cole. “Sometimes I forget the kind of power this family can wield.”

Cody, Clay’s father, stood when he spotted them approaching the table. His grin lit up the room. “Glad you could make it, son,” he said, grabbing Clay in a bear hug. “Somehow I expected you to show up in your uniform.”

“I took time to shave and change into my tux at the airport. You wouldn’t have wanted to see what I looked like coming off that plane this evening.” Then he leaned over and hugged and kissed his mother, Carina. “I swear, Mom, you get younger-looking every year.”

He introduced Melanie to his parents.

Carina said, “Clay’s sisters will be thrilled to death to meet you, Melanie. They should be arriving any time now.” She gave Clay a quick glance that spoke volumes. “We had no idea that Clay knew you.”

With commendable poise, Melanie chuckled and said, “I’m just one of his many deep, dark secrets, don’t you know?”

Clay thought it was time to change the subject. “Have you two been to the buffet yet?” he asked his parents.

“Actually, we thought we’d wait until the line thinned down a little,” Carina replied.

“Obviously you haven’t skipped as many meals as I have getting here,” Clay said. He looked at Melanie. “How about it, Mel? Think you can force yourself to eat something?”

She held up her fist in a mock threat before turning to his parents and saying, “Let’s see if feeding him will calm this unruly beast, shall we?” She led the way to the buffet, giving Clay the opportunity to admire her figure, showcased in a flaming red dress that clung to every curve.

As soon as they reached the line in front of the buffet Clay caressed the small of her back. “Have I mentioned how exotic you look in that dress?” he whispered in her ear.

She leaned against him slightly and glanced over her shoulder at him. “I was beginning to think you hadn’t noticed,” she replied with a saucy grin.

“I may be suffering from severe jet lag at the moment, but I’m not dead.”

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, causing her body to enticingly rub against him. “Mmm. So I notice.”

He laughed outright. “How long has it been since I last saw you?”

“Not that I’m counting, but it’s been close to eight months…four days…and, oh, six-and-a-half hours?”

“Unfortunately it’s going to be several more hours until I can get you alone, I’m afraid. I have no idea how long this meeting will last tonight.”

“It must be important for him to have it this evening.”

“Oh, it’s important, all right. Otherwise he wouldn’t have gone to the trouble to get me here.”

The line moved ahead of them, and Melanie straightened and picked up a plate. “I’ll be waiting for you whenever you can get away.”

He smiled at her, placing his fingertip lightly against her bottom lip. “I’m counting on it.”

Pamela McCall sat at one end of the ballroom watching the milling crowd, wishing she were anywhere else but at this big benefit bash. It felt a little strange to be back in Texas socializing with many of her father’s constituents. She’d made a point of avoiding the political life he’d embraced for years.

However, she’d responded to the invitation out of a sense of loyalty toward the Callaways, particularly Cody and Carina Callaway. Her childhood would have been dismally lonely if Carina hadn’t stepped into her life and filled in the empty space left when Pam’s mother had died.

Pam knew that it was time for her to attempt to repay part of the debt she owed them, despite her personal feelings in the matter.

Ostensibly the party tonight was a benefit to raise money for various charitable causes, but anyone who knew the Callaways was aware this gathering was a bold statement made by the family: Don’t Tread on Me.

Her father, a U.S. senator from Texas, had sent one of his staff members, Adam Redmond, to be her escort for the evening. Pam had made her own way in life and jealously guarded her independence from her domineering father, but she saw no reason to be rude to Adam, who was a nice guy. He was tall, dark, handsome and charming…and only those close to him knew that he was gay.

He was also a dear friend.

She glanced at Adam and smiled. “I’m so glad you’re here, Adam. I can’t imagine anything worse than coming to something like this alone.”

Adam looked around the room before he said, “I thought you knew some of these people, especially the Callaways.”

“Oh, I do. In fact, I was practically raised with Cody and Carina’s children from the time I started grade school. Their daughters are like sisters to me.” She continued to scan the room. “Speaking of whom, I haven’t seen them yet. I—oh, no,” she murmured.

“Is something wrong?”

Pam tried to make light of the moment. “Not really. I just hadn’t expected to see him here tonight,” she said, deliberately turning away from the room and facing Adam once more.

Adam chuckled. “Him? He doesn’t have a name?”

She attempted to hang on to her sense of humor as well as her emotional balance. “Sorry,” she said with a forced smile. “His name is Clay Callaway, the only son of Cody and Carina.”

“Why wouldn’t you expect him to be here? You’re the one who pointed out earlier that the Callaways had turned out in force tonight.”

She shook her head. She didn’t want to discuss Clay Callaway with anyone. Not even with a man as understanding as Adam. She should have expected him to be here, but as the years had passed without hearing anything about him, she’d managed to put him out of her mind. Or so she had told herself.

The twelve years since their last meeting seemed to have vanished as she noted the changes in him.

He’d been a nineteen-year-old boy back then.

He was all muscular, mature male now. She closed her eyes briefly. Seeing him again after all this time would not be a problem. She would not let it be a problem.

When Pam didn’t say anything more, Adam asked, “Which one is he?”

She nodded to the buffet table. “See the man standing next to the blond bombshell in red? That’s him.”

“Hmm. They make a very attractive couple,” Adam said amicably enough.

She watched Clay and his date leave the buffet line with loaded plates and thread their way through the crowd to a table she hadn’t noticed before. Cody and Carina were there, which meant she’d have to go over there some time tonight to say hello.

She took another sip of champagne and decided to postpone that particular meeting for as long as possible.

“Are you ready to get something to eat?” Adam asked several minutes later.

With a renewed determination to enjoy herself, Pam smiled gratefully at him and said, “Sure, let’s go.”

After eating more than was strictly comfortable, Clay could feel himself relaxing into a mellow mood. The drink that kept getting refilled also contributed to his overall sense of well-being. He and Melanie danced several times before someone came to the table to ask her to dance.

Clay smiled his acquiescence and moved over a chair so that he was now next to his mother, who had just returned from the ladies’ lounge.

“You look upset,” he said in a low tone. “Anything wrong?”

She shook her head. “Oh, not really. I just get so angry sometimes at the way things work out.”

“Such as…?”

“I happened to see Katie in the lounge. You know that louse, Arthur Henley, is still giving her a bad time, even though the divorce has been final for over six months.”

“Are you talking about Cole’s daughter, Katie?”

“Yes.”

“I hadn’t heard about the divorce. What happened?”

“She finally found out about all his extravagant spending, the other women, his many mistakes at work. Once she filed papers against Arthur, Cole fired him because so many of his management decisions had ended up costing the company a bunch of money.

“Arthur blamed Katie for losing his job, of course. I think he considered himself invincible, from the way he liked to live, throw his weight around, and in general be totally obnoxious. Your dad said the joke in the company for several years was that Arthur was only a divorce away from bankruptcy. I guess it never occurred to him that eventually Katie would get her fill of his behavior and toss him out on his ear. From what she was telling me just now, he’s doing anything he can either to harass and annoy her or to play on her sympathies.”

“Why’d she marry him in the first place?”

Carina smiled. “You know Katie. With her exuberance for life and her need to take care of everyone she meets, she fell headlong into the idea of helping Arthur meet his full potential. Let’s face it, the man is very charming when he wants to be, as well as highly intelligent. He played into her need to be needed, portraying a courageous man working to overcome his impoverished background. I swear he wanted to make Katie feel it was her fault that he’d come from such a poor family. I remember how she used to make all kinds of excuses for him, based on his miserable childhood. Eventually, even our optimistic Katie had to give up. I say that, sooner or later, a person has to take responsibility for himself, instead of looking for others to blame.”

“I’ve lost track of time. How old are Trisha and Amber now?”

Carina’s face softened. “They’re five and absolutely adorable. They remind me so much of Katie when she was at that age…so full of life.”

He glanced around the room. “Where’s Katie now?”

Carina looked around. “I think she’s sitting with her folks tonight. I found her crying in the lounge. I guess Arthur dropped by just long enough to upset her and try to ruin her evening, then left. Being Katie, she was fighting mad that she’d allowed him to get to her that way.” She spotted Katie making her way through the tables across the room and nodded. “There she is now.”

Clay excused himself from the table and wound his way through the crush of people to his cousin.

He hadn’t seen her in years. Her hair had darkened from the reddish-blond color he remembered to a soft auburn, and her beautiful eyes had lost their sparkle. He’d never met Arthur Henley but decided on the spot that the man should be horsewhipped for making Katie miserable.

“Hi, cuz’, how about a dance?” he asked as soon as he was close enough to be heard.

Katie, looking his age rather than the ten years older he knew her to be, glanced around at him in surprise. “Clay? My word, I can’t believe it! You grew up on me when I had my back turned.”

He led her out on the dance floor. “It’s good to see you again, Katie. Where are you living these days?”

“In Austin.”

He was surprised when he took her in his arms to discover that she was tiny. Because of the age difference, he’d always remembered her as being one of the “big kids” in the family. Time certainly had a way of changing a person’s perspective. She barely came to his shoulder, even though she wore high heels.

“You’re looking smashing tonight. Black definitely plays up your beautiful coloring,” he said. It was true. Her fair skin, amber eyes and dark red hair were all enhanced by the midnight color of her gown.

Her eyes filled with tears. “You’re good for my ego, Clay,” she whispered, and looked away.

“I can’t believe the twins are already five. I remember hearing about their birth. Guess I’ve been away for longer than I realized. Maybe I’ll get to see them while I’m home this time.”

She glanced at him in surprise. “Don’t you have to get back to your assignment right away?”

“Actually, I’m on a thirty-day leave, so I’ll be hanging around for a few weeks.”

She brightened. “Well, then. Why don’t you plan to come see us next week? I know the girls will be delighted to see their handsome cousin.”

He wanted to ask her about Henley but decided not to bring up a subject that would be a reminder of all she’d been through. Instead, he kept the conversation lighthearted and teasing. By the time the dance was over, she was laughing with a hint of the old sparkle in her eyes.

He escorted her to the table where her parents held court, bowed over her hand and thanked her for the dance with suitable intensity—causing her to laugh again—then returned to his own table.

Once again, Melanie was dancing. Since his dad was in deep conversation with someone Clay didn’t know, he held out his hand to his mother. “Would you like to dance?”

She grinned. “Taking care of all us neglected women, are you?” She hopped up and took his hand. “I’d love to.” He swung her out onto the dance floor. “Do you know how long you’ll be here?” she asked after they circled the floor once in silence.

He glanced at her and shrugged. “I’m officially on leave for thirty days, but I understand there’s more to my being here than that. I’m to meet with Cole later tonight and will probably find out what’s expected of me.”

“They’re all really worried, Clay. And they aren’t certain who they can trust. Whoever was behind those attacks has money and power. Your dad feels they probably already have their fix in with those in authority.”

“I wonder what they think I can do to help?”

“Your dad says you’ve developed useful skills during your stint in the military that would assist in the investigation to find out who’s behind the assault. Once we have that, Cole will be able to handle it from there.”

“I’ll do whatever I can. You know that. I’m curious why he didn’t ask his own son? Clint’s working in clandestine operations and has more experience in that type of investigation than I do.”

She smiled. “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Cole.”

Clay turned them around on the crowded dance floor so that he was now facing in another direction. His attention was drawn to a woman dancing nearby. She was tall and held herself proudly. The high-necked, long-sleeved silver dress she wore was provocative in its simplicity, subtly drawing the eye to her sleek lines. She wore her blond hair drawn up in a classic style that emphasized the pure, aristocratic planes of her face.

She looked like a princess to Clay.

Suddenly she looked his way and he got a glimpse of her eyes. He’d only known one person with eyes so blue they were almost purple. His worst fears had just been confirmed. She had shown up for the benefit. On some level he must have known that he would see her there tonight. However, nothing had prepared him for the sight of her after all these years.

She’d been an attractive teenager. She’d become a stunning-looking adult.

“What is Pamela McCall doing here? I would have thought she’d be too busy with her social life in Washington.” He looked around the room. “Is her father here as well?” He studied the man dancing with her. He was as dark as she was fair. They made an attractive couple.

Not that it mattered to Clay, of course.

“I don’t think the senator was able to come. Allison mentioned that he sent his regrets.”

“And his daughter. Is that her husband?”

Carina glanced around. “I don’t think so. I don’t believe she ever married.”

“Now, why doesn’t that surprise me?” he muttered, turning so that he was no longer facing in Pam’s direction.

“All of that happened years ago, Clay,” his mother said in a gentle voice. “Don’t you think it’s time you forgave her? You’re both different people now.”

He could feel his heart pounding at the sudden shock of seeing her after all of these years.

“You’re right,” he agreed smoothly, fighting to control his reaction. “She means nothing to me.”

“She and Kerry have been friends since they were small girls. I know how hard it was for you to—”

“It’s all right, Mom. Really.” He turned once again before he said, “So tell me what you and Dad have been doing since I saw you last November.” For the rest of the dance he concentrated on his mother’s conversation and ignored the other people on the dance floor.

When the dance was over, Clay escorted Carina back to the table. Melanie had returned moments before. He sat down and draped his arm on the chair behind her. “Having fun?” he asked, leaning over and playfully nipping at her ear.

She chuckled. “Actually, I am. This kind of party has all the ingredients of some of my childhood fantasies. To be rubbing shoulders with all the rich and famous families of Texas is something to be savored.”

He straightened. “Ah, now I know why you showed such an immediate interest in me when we first met.”

She coyly batted her lashes at him and gave him a simpering smile. “But of course, sugar. My attention was in no way swayed by your sexy good looks and fantastic bod. It was only the name Callaway that appealed to me and fed all those girlish fantasies.”

“That’s good to know. I wouldn’t want to think we were taking this relationship to a new level of intimacy for any other reason than to fulfill your fantasies.”

Her laugh rang out, full-bodied and infectious. “Gee! And all this time I thought you were hanging out with me to get your face plastered across all the tabloids as the mysterious male in my bed and in my life.”

“Darn. My secret is out.”

He heard a slight rustle behind him and glanced up to see his mother smiling at someone behind him.

Carina held out her hand and said, “Pamela. Come join us and give us a chance to catch up. Kerry was here a few moments ago. She and Connor should be back shortly.”

Clay fought to remain expressionless as Pam eased past him and sat down in the empty chair between him and Carina. “Hello, Mama Cee,” she said in her husky voice. A wisp of a floral scent wafted around him from her passing. “It’s so good to see you again.” She slowly turned her head and said, “Hello, Clay.”

He noticed that she didn’t add how she felt about seeing him again. At least she wasn’t being a hypocrite.

Clay nodded. “Pam, I’d like you to meet Melanie Montez.” He turned to Melanie and said, “This is Pamela McCall, the senator’s daughter. She’s been a friend of the family for years.”

Pam smiled at Melanie. “Hello. I feel a little tongue-tied at meeting you in person. I’ve really enjoyed your work.”

Clay watched Melanie’s face as she quickly took in the woman’s appearance. He wasn’t sure how Pam managed to look classical as well as seductive, all without baring any part of her body. Melanie smiled at Pam and said “Thank you” without losing her poise.

He hadn’t realized it until right now, but there was a strong physical resemblance between the two women—both blondes, both tall, and both with eyecatching figures. He hated the thought that he might have been attracted to Melanie because of her resemblance to Pam.

He turned to Melanie. “I haven’t had a chance to dance with you in a while. Shall we?” he asked smoothly, standing.

Melanie took his hand and rose. She looked over at Pam and said, “It was nice meeting you,” before following Clay out on the dance floor.

Once dancing, Melanie asked, “What was that all about?”

Clay pulled her closer so that their bodies touched from chest to knees. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She leaned back in his arms and looked into his eyes. “Now, that’s interesting. You’ve never been evasive with me before. One of the things I’ve most admired about you is how you are so direct with me.”

He sighed. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“I want to know what’s between you and Ms. McCall. The tension between the two of you was undeniable. If it’s none of my business, just say so, but don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“You’re right. I was avoiding answering you because she isn’t one of my favorite people. However, my family thinks the world of her. She grew up as part of our household. She probably spent more time with us than at her own home.” He moved slowly across the dance floor before adding, “And the truth is, we used to date in high school until she made it clear she was no longer interested in a relationship with me.”

“Ah. You must have been quite serious about her or it wouldn’t still bother you today.”

“I was just a kid back then and it doesn’t bother me to see her today. Not really. I haven’t thought about her in years.” He knew that was a lie as soon as it came out of his mouth. He’d worked hard not to think about her and most of the time he’d succeeded. Determined to put his past where it belonged, he added, “I’m much more interested in the future than I am the past.” He knew that statement to be a hundred percent true.

“She’s very attractive,” Melanie said musingly, as though discussing a painting.

He nibbled on her ear. “Maybe, but I’ve only got eyes for you, sugar.”

Pam watched them dance together for a moment before turning to Carina. “He’s changed a great deal, hasn’t he?” She knew the regret she felt was echoed in her voice.

Carina patted his hand. “First loves are always hard to get over. He managed, just as you did. It was a tough time for you both.”

“But he’s never forgiven me. That’s obvious.” Pam didn’t know why she should feel so much concern after all these years that she had made an enemy of Clay, but the truth was that it hurt. She’d been such a child back then, so caught up in her own pain and turmoil, that she hadn’t faced what her behavior had done to him.

Carina nodded her head toward Clay. “He’s done very well, you know, and loves his career, working in the Special Forces unit of the army. I don’t think he has any regrets. It was just a surprise to see you here when he wasn’t expecting it.”

Pam watched him in silence for several minutes before she said, “I want him to be happy. I figured his ego might have been bruised for a while, but I suppose I hoped that eventually he would realize I saved us both from a serious mistake.”

“Waiting until the night before your wedding to tell a man that you no longer want to marry him takes its toll, honey. Yes, you were both too young. I thought so at that time, but no one was listening to what I had to say then. But it was very hard for Clay. He dealt with it the best way he knew how.” Carina studied her for a moment before briskly saying, “Let’s put all of that in the past where it belongs, all right? What I want to hear from you now is how you’re enjoying your job with the FBI, not to mention hearing about that delectable-looking young man you’re with.”

When the music stopped, the band announced a short break. Melanie paused in the middle of the dance floor and asked, “Do you have any idea how much longer we need to stay? I’m really tired.”

Clay glanced at his watch. “In that case, why don’t you go on upstairs? I’ve got that meeting with my uncle and I don’t know how long I’ll be, but you don’t have to wait around for that.”

“If it’s really all right with you, I think I will get some rest,” she replied, leaning against him.

He gave her a quick kiss and said, “I seem to have gotten my second wind, but when this last rush of adrenaline is gone, I’m going to be ready to collapse, myself. I can’t remember the last time I managed to get more than a nap during the past few days.”

“If you’re sure you don’t mind…”

“No, you go on. Oh! And you’d better tell me the room number. I never thought to ask when I called you from the lobby.” They walked out of the ballroom during their conversation and paused in the hallway outside.

“It’s a suite,” she said, “just as you requested. It’s really very nice. Number 973. Keep knocking so I’ll hear you, in case I fall asleep.”

“Better yet, I’ll get another key at the desk.” He kissed her again, this time with a little more heat. “I’ll enjoy waking you up once I’m lying beside you.”

Clay watched as Melanie walked down the hallway toward the lobby. He wished he was going with her now, but she was the reward he had to look forward to once he was through with this meeting. He turned and went back into the ballroom, determined to concentrate on the future he hoped to build with Melanie and erase the past from his memory.




Chapter 2


By the time Clay returned to the ballroom, Pam was no longer at the table where his mother and dad sat with two of his sisters and their husbands. He felt the tensed muscles in his neck and shoulders relax as he returned to his family’s table.

Well, he had finally seen Pam after all this time. He was irritated to have to face the fact that most of his reluctance to return to Texas had been due to the memories of her that surfaced whenever he came home. They were adults with other interests now. The fact that she wasn’t married didn’t surprise him. She’d made her opinion of that hallowed institution clear a long time ago.

He was greeted with warm welcomes from his sisters when he sat down with the family and explained that Melanie had decided to call it a night. He lost track of time while he caught up on family news and was surprised some time later when Cole stopped by the table and said, “Carina, I hope you’ll forgive me for borrowing your husband and son for a short while.”

She smiled. “Not at all, Cole. I would say the evening has certainly been a success. You had a great turnout.”

Cole looked around the room. Although many people had left, there was a solid group of dancers who showed no sign of stopping. “Allison is pleased. Frankly, I’ve decided I’m too old for this sort of thing. All I want to do is find a comfortable bed for a few hours.”

Clay and Cody followed him across the ballroom.

“Sorry it took so long to have this meeting,” Cole said. “The man heading up the group just arrived. We could have waited until morning but he was eager to meet with us for a few minutes, and since you were still here, I thought we could get the deal going.”

He paused in front of a door and opened it, standing back so that first Cody, then Clay walked through.

Two men stood at the end of the room talking. Clay immediately recognized his uncle, Cameron Callaway, who was second in command of Callaway Enterprises. However, it was the other man who made him stop in his tracks.

Cole closed the door and walked to the small conference table. “Sit down, everyone, and let me introduce you to Lieutenant Colonel Sam Carruthers, who is here to explain the reason for this meeting.” He glanced at Clay and smiled, as though amused by the look of shock that Clay figured must have registered on his face. “As well as your presence here, Clay,” he added.

Cole nodded to the man dressed in casual clothing and said, “Sam, these are my brothers, Cameron and Cody.” With a deliberate pause, he added, “I believe you know Clay.”

Even though neither of them was in uniform, Clay fought the reflex to salute a superior officer. He vaguely heard Cole say, “I’ll let you take over this meeting,” to the colonel.

Sam Carruthers was a wiry, tough-looking man of medium height. There was nothing about him to draw attention. Clay knew that was intentional. What in the hell was Colonel Carruthers doing there?

Carruthers looked around the small room and said, “Sit down, gentlemen, let’s get down to business. I’ll try to make this meeting as brief as possible.”

Each of the men quickly found a chair and sat down.

“First of all, I want to apologize for my delay in getting here. I’ve just come from a meeting with the deputy director of the CIA; the deputy director of National Security; and General Allred, head of Army Intelligence. We’re all concerned about the recent trouble you’ve had with several of your installations.”

He looked around the room, making eye contact with each man. “For the past five years, one of your companies has been working on a top-secret fuel for the military. As you’ve discovered, certain oil wells here in Texas have a tendency to develop a very high-octane fuel that the government has been interested in testing in our rockets and missiles, as well as possibly developing for tank and jet fuel.

“The recent attacks on your various facilities around the state have us very concerned, gentlemen. I’ve been assigned to head up my own team to investigate.” He looked at Clay. “When I was going through the roster of possible men to choose for this particular mission I came across your name. I remembered you from our training sessions at Fort Benning.”

Clay would never forget his training in Georgia, or the fact that Colonel Carruthers was the toughest of all the instructors he’d had.

“I decided to make you a part of our group,” Carruthers continued. “It was easy enough, given the circumstances, to arrange to send you home. I figured you’d want to be in on this mission since it affects your family. Am I right, Captain?”

“Yes, sir!” Which was the truth, of course, but they both knew there was only one correct answer to the colonel’s question.

Carruthers permitted himself a brief smile. “That’s what I figured. Of course, that leaves us with the dilemma of why you’re back home. We certainly don’t want it known that you’re on temporary assignment.”

“I’m on leave, sir. I was overdue for one and was told that I had no choice but to take it now.”

Carruthers nodded. “That will work for us. It goes without saying that no one must realize that the government has a private investigation going. I’m sure all of you understand that we’ll need to keep a very low profile. Therefore I’ll be working this mission undercover as well, so you can start thinking of me as Sam for the duration of this investigation.”

“Yes, sir. Uh, Sam.” Clay felt like a fool when the other man smiled slightly.

“I don’t happen to agree with the government’s position on this, Colonel,” Cole drawled. “Our security has been too tight on the fuel testing. Outside of the offshore drilling rig and its oil exploration, none of these explosions had anything to do with our government ties. I’m hoping that your investigation will also include a check for someone with a grudge against the family or some other kind of personal vendetta.”

“Yes, your theory was brought up at the meeting today. As thorough as you are, I take it you’ve done background checks on all your employees.”

Cameron spoke up for the first time. “We’ve had that system in place for several years, sir. This isn’t the first time our family has been the target of terrorism. I doubt it will be the last.”

“I understand your point,” Sam replied, meeting each man’s gaze. “As it happens, I decided to borrow one of the FBI’s best investigators to run a series of profiles on anyone who might be interested in harming the family. Pamela McCall informs me that she knows the Callaway family and she has the added bonus of having lived a large portion of her life in Texas. She said she’s looking forward to working on this project.”

He turned to Clay, who felt as though he’d just been slugged in the middle of his chest with a fist. The air seemed to have been knocked out of him with the colonel’s words.

“Clay, you and Pamela will be paired off on this mission. Our other man won’t arrive until early tomorrow morning. I’ll arrange a meeting for the whole group once he arrives. In the meantime, I think we could all use some sleep.” He looked at Cole. “On behalf of the government, we want you to know that we appreciate your concern and cooperation in this matter and we intend to get to the bottom of it quickly.”

“We appreciate the help, Sam.”

Carruthers nodded and stood. “Thank you for your time, gentlemen. Sorry to have this meeting so late, but as I said, we do what we must.” He shook hands with the three older men before turning to Clay. “I’ll call you in the morning and arrange a time to meet for breakfast. I take it you’re staying in the hotel?”

Clay had taken in little of the conversation after Pam’s name had been mentioned. When he realized the colonel was speaking to him, he forced himself to focus on his question.

“Uh, yes, sir.” He paused to recall the room number Melanie had mentioned earlier in the evening. “It’s room 937, sir. I’ll wait to hear from you.”

Clay left the room, his mind reeling. Sam Carruthers had requested him for this assignment. He still couldn’t believe it.

Carruthers had made a name for himself in Special Forces. Clay had the greatest admiration and respect for the man. Carruthers didn’t suffer fools gladly, and Clay was grateful he’d never been at the receiving end of one of Carruthers’s tongue-lashings.

He also knew that he would not make any points with the man if he asked not to work with Pam. However, he couldn’t fathom being paired with her for the duration of the investigation. So what in the hell was he going to do?

He glanced at his watch. He didn’t want to go back to the ballroom, so he headed for the bar. He ordered a double bourbon, then took it to a back corner and slid into a chair.

Pamela McCall.

With her appearance here tonight his past had reared up before him and slapped him in the face. Surely the intervening years would help him to deal with the present situation. He’d been tested by everything the army could throw at him, and he’d survived. In fact, he’d thrived. He enjoyed what he did. He served an important function in the military, dealing with terrorists. It made sense that these attacks fit that category.

He was honored that the colonel had asked for him, and he wanted to show him that his trust had not been misplaced. Between now and tomorrow morning Clay had to come to terms with his feelings regarding Pamela McCall.

Part of the problem was that she had been a part of his life for as far back as he could remember. By attempting to erase her from his memory, he’d also blocked out years of warmth and laughter that he’d shared with his parents and sisters. He’d realized earlier tonight how much he’d missed, such as his sisters growing up and marrying without his being there. The periodic visits with his parents hadn’t been adequate, as he’d faced tonight.

He’d associated his family with Pam’s presence in their midst. While he’d been in grade school he’d treated her as a kid—as a nuisance, in fact—the same way he’d treated his sisters. He’d spent his recreational time hiding from all of them back then, considering all girls to be pests.

Clay’s mind drifted back over the years, back to the time when he’d been a young boy with three sisters determined to make his life a living hell.…

Clay successfully eluded all the females around his house and headed toward the grove of trees a few hundred yards from the hacienda-style home where the family had lived since he was born.

He climbed to the top of one of the huge live oak trees, then settled into a comfortable position straddling a massive limb and raised his dad’s binoculars to his eyes.

He could see for miles and no one knew he was watching.

Boy, was he tired of females bugging him. At twelve, he’d discovered that he had to stay alert not to get in trouble when his sisters were around. Sherry Lynn wasn’t too bad. She was two years older and ignored him most of the time. But Kerry and Denise, ten and nine, always wanted to know what he was doing in his room, or they’d follow him around when he went outside.

But not today. Today they were playing with Pam, who’d shown up about an hour ago with her suitcase and a sad face. Her dad had to go out of town again because he was a very important man and he was needed to help run the country.

It was always easy for him to spot Pam when she played with his sisters. All of them had dark hair like Mama and her family. Pam’s blond hair made her look very different.

Clay lost track of time as he scanned the hills, watching deer feeding as well as cattle and sheep. When he paused to get a drink out of the canteen slung over his shoulder he saw furtive movement near the house.

He immediately raised the glasses and saw Pam standing very still next to the house. While he watched, she carefully looked around the corner, then ran across the driveway to the barn, slipping inside and out of sight. He drew back to get a wider angle and saw her leave the back of the barn and follow the trail to the creek.

Where was she going? Whenever she came to visit, Pam stayed with Kerry, sleeping in her room, playing dress-up and other dumb games. He looked back at the house. No one stirred. He looked back at the path. She’d disappeared into the trees.

Clay decided to follow her. He crawled down out of the tree very carefully, making sure he didn’t damage the binoculars since he didn’t exactly have permission to use them. Of course, his dad didn’t need to know he’d borrowed them if he put them back where they belonged before Dad got home tonight.

Once on the ground, he pretended he was tracking game, moving silently along the path. He stepped off into the underbrush when he reached the creek and stealthily lifted his binoculars to scan the area.

When Pam’s face suddenly filled the viewer, he jerked, startled to see her so close. He peered over the brush and saw that she had stopped at the edge of the creek. She’d found a large rock to sit on and sat staring into the stream.

He figured there was no reason to hide from her. He peered into the high-powered glasses once more before stepping out on the path. That’s when he realized she was crying. Silent tears slid down her face while she stared into the creek bed. The water wasn’t all that deep, but he wasn’t sure if she should be alone out there. What if she slipped and fell? Maybe hit her head and was knocked out? Then maybe she would drown and nobody would know.

He convinced himself that he needed to find out what was wrong before he went back to looking for wildlife.

She didn’t hear him until he was a few steps away. By then it was too late for her to hide the fact she was crying. She quickly scrubbed her face and said, “What are you doing here?”

He noticed that she’d changed clothes since she’d arrived at the ranch. When he’d spotted her getting out of her father’s car, she’d been wearing a dress. Now she had on shorts and a T-shirt with sneakers. The only thing that looked the same was her expression. She still looked sad…as well as irritated that he’d shown up.

He could certainly relate to that. Clay started to leave but he hated leaving her out here alone like that. So he came closer and said, “You wanna look through these binoculars?”

She turned and looked at him, her face still streaked where she’d hastily dried her cheeks. “Does your daddy know you have them?”

He shook his head. “So now you can get me in trouble if you want.”

She looked surprised. “Why would I want to do that?”

He shrugged. “How should I know, but that’s what Kerry and Denise seem to enjoy doing the most.”

She looked away, then back at him. “I know you get mad at your sisters but you should be glad you’ve got them.”

“You think so? It’s obvious you don’t have sisters or you wouldn’t say that. They’re always messing up my things, tattling, getting me in trouble. You’re lucky you don’t have to put up with all that.”

Whoa. That had obviously been the wrong thing to say, he decided. Tears started rolling down her cheeks again.

“Why are you crying?” He knew she’d probably get mad at him for mentioning it, but it was dumb to pretend he hadn’t noticed.

“Why don’t you just go away?”

He sat there for several moments, trying to think of something to say. Something smart alecky, maybe, or offhand. Nothing came to mind. So he decided to try the truth.

“Because I hate to see you so sad. And I thought that…well, maybe talking about it might help.”

“Talking about it doesn’t change a thing,” she said angrily, refusing to look at him.

“Don’t you like coming out here to see us?” he finally asked, trying to figure out what had her so upset.

“It’s not that. Not really,” she finally replied softly.

“You miss your dad?”

A sob escaped. “I just wish I had a family like yours. You don’t know how lucky you are. I see how your mom and dad are around each other, laughing and teasing, and the way they are with you and your sisters. And it makes me hurt inside.”

“Do you remember your mom?”

She shrugged. “I was six when she died. And she’d been sick for a long time. I never heard her laugh, or my dad joke with her. Now he’s gone so much. Paulette tries to do things with me, but she’s just the housekeeper. She and Carl are paid to live there and look after things. They don’t do it because they like to.”

“You can be a part of our family, if you want.”

“Not really. I don’t look anything like you. Nobody would believe I’m a Callaway.”

“You don’t have to look like us. Some of our cousins have your color hair, or close.”

She almost smiled. “Just what you need, Clay. Another sister.”

He thought about that for a while. “Well, maybe that would be okay. I mean, we could talk about things—like we’re doing today. And I could show you some of the places I’ve found on the ranch that I’ve never told anybody about—an old log where I found a nest of raccoons once. And some caves that I think coyotes live in. You could pretend I’m your brother, couldn’t you? Someone to talk to when you’re upset or mad or something?”

She thought about that for a long time. “I don’t care what Kerry says about you,” she finally said. “I like you, Clay.”

“Well. Good. I like you, too, Pam. And I’m glad you stay out here on the ranch with us. Heck, you’re practically family already.”

After that day, he made a point to keep an eye on Pam, both when she was visiting the ranch and at school. As he grew older he found it easy to talk to her and tell her about things at school, fights he had with his sisters, and the time he got sent to the principal’s office.

She in turn told him about her teachers and things she liked to do and the classmates she worked hard to avoid. He learned to trust her…and she trusted him.

He could still remember his junior year in high school when he’d successfully intercepted the pass for the winning touchdown. Pam had been the first one there when he walked off the field, fighting her way through the other players to reach him. She’d thrown her arms around his neck and given him an enthusiastic kiss that rocked him back on his heels.

Until that moment, Clay had considered Pam a very special friend who patiently listened when he discussed his frustration with other girls, his struggle to bring his English grades up, and what he wanted to do in college.

Now he found his arms wrapped around a delectable female. He discovered that he didn’t want to let go of her. Instead, he responded to the kiss with wonderment, only letting go of her when his teammates started making catcalls and whistling.

Nothing was ever the same after that.

For the next two years he and Pam were a pair. His parents were amused, remembering his grousing as a young boy about all the girls at home. Now he didn’t mind it a bit when she stayed over at the ranch for a weekend or longer, when her father was gone for long periods of time.

By his senior year he’d decided to join the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University. The corps was the largest uniformed body of students outside military academies. Organized like the military, it was a student organization and it provided cadets the opportunity to receive a commission in the United States Armed Forces.

Pam had another year before graduating from high school, and she was already planning to go back east to one of the universities there.

It was the night before Clay left for college that everything changed between them once more.…

“Where would you like to go tonight?” Clay asked as soon as he picked Pam up in his ancient pickup. He was nervous and on edge. Of course he was glad to be going off to college. It had been his dream for years. What he hadn’t counted on was this hollow deep within him at the thought of not seeing Pam every day.

She looked down at her hands, clasped in her lap. With a small shrug, she said, “I don’t care.”

“Well, gee, you don’t have to sound so enthusiastic about seeing me tonight.”

She turned and stared at him in the shadowed interior of the truck. “Well, excuse me for not being excited about the fact that you’re leaving!”

He slid his hand beneath her hair and rubbed the nape of her neck. “I know, honey. But this is hard on me, too.”

“How can it be? You’ve got a whole new life to look forward to. I’m the one who has to keep going to school in the same place, only without you.”

He pulled her closer and softly kissed her. “I’ll be with you, don’t worry. I’ll always be there anytime you want me.”

She threw her arms around his neck and hung on to him. “Oh, Clay. I’m sorry for ruining your last night home, but this is so hard for me! You’ve been my very best friend for years and now you’ll be gone.”

“You know I’ll come home every chance I get. It isn’t that far. Just a few hours. And you can come see me.”

She sighed. “I know. I’ve known I’d have to face this day for months. It just got here too fast.”

He chuckled. “Fair enough. So why don’t we watch some funny movie, then get the richest concoction of ice cream and syrups made and forget about tomorrow for a little while?”

“Something with chocolate ice cream…and chocolate syrup.”

“Man, you drive a hard bargain, but okay.”

It was barely eleven by the time they got back home that night, but Clay was pleased to see that Pam had enjoyed the movie and the huge, custom-made banana split.

As soon as he pulled up in front of her house, she said, “It’s too nice a night to go inside. Why don’t we sit out in the gazebo for a while, unless you need to go?”

“Sounds good.” He helped her out of the truck, took her hand, and together they wandered into the large backyard of the McCall family home. The gazebo could not be seen from the house, giving them the illusion of being alone in a night filled with stars.

“You promised to write,” she reminded him.

He made a face. “Or call. You know how much I hate writing letters.”

They sat down on the padded cushions of the gazebo. Pam began to tell him about her memories of growing up with the Callaways. They laughed at some of the silly things that had happened—the water pistol fights, playing dress-up with the old clothes found in the attic, telling ghost stories late at night. Finally, she said, “I hate to think what my life would have been like if I hadn’t known all of you.”

He hugged her to him. “Well, just think about this time next year when you’ll be the one leaving, going out of state. Time seems to fly by so fast.”

He kissed her. He loved kissing her, loved the way she gave herself up to him, returning his kisses with enthusiasm. Only tonight their kisses had to last for weeks and weeks. When he realized that his control was getting away from him, Clay straightened and pulled away from her.

“Don’t leave,” she whispered.

“I have to,” he replied, his shaky voice revealing how much his body trembled.

But he didn’t. Even now, so many years later, Clay couldn’t remember exactly what had caused them to lose the control that had always been in place before. They’d been innocent kids, dreading the idea of not seeing each other for a while, wanting to express the love they each felt for the other.

By the time he left her that night, they’d made love—awkward, fumbling, terribly uncertain, neither of them knowing what to expect. He’d been scared, and later worried about the fact that he hadn’t used any protection.

They’d lucked out, and from that time on, he was never without protection. For the next year, whenever they could be together, they explored this new realm they had discovered. They learned what gave each of them pleasure and they talked about the time when they would marry—after both of them finished college and were settled in their careers.

Their futures were planned…until the night Senator McCall found them together in the gazebo wearing nothing but moonlight, and demanded an immediate wedding.

The rattle of ice against the glass brought Clay back to the present. He glanced at his watch and was surprised to discover it was almost two. He had actually forgotten about Melanie waiting for him upstairs. What did that tell him about his frame of mind? He shook his head. He’d been awake too long, had crossed too many time zones, and had had too much to drink.

It was time to go upstairs; even though at the moment the most appealing aspect of the idea was that he could get horizontal for a few hours and pass out.

He left the bar and checked at the concierge desk for his bag. Once he had his belongings, he stopped at the front desk and asked for a key to the suite.

He was given a card that was programmed to unlock their room and took the elevator to the ninth floor.

At this time of night, very few people were stirring. His footsteps made no sound as he walked down the hall and paused in front of his room. He let himself into the suite without making any noise. Faint light glowed at the windows and he spotted the open door to the bedroom without need of further illumination.

Melanie had no doubt been asleep for hours.

He couldn’t help but be relieved. Too many things had happened to him tonight to be able to deal with his feelings for Melanie. If anyone had asked him yesterday, he would have said that he was ready to make a commitment to her. However, at the moment he was battling ghosts from the past that weren’t fair to bring into their relationship.

He probably should get another room for the night, but the truth of the matter was, he was too tired to go many more steps without some sleep. Melanie would be perfectly safe with him tonight. He’d make his apologies tomorrow and go from there.

By the time he reached the doorway to the bedroom he’d already removed his jacket and tie. His shirt and belt soon followed, leaving a trail of clothing into the darker room. He felt his way to the bed and gingerly sat down on the side.

Melanie didn’t stir.

He quickly removed the rest of his clothing except for his briefs, then slipped between the covers with a silent sigh. The pleasure of feeling a bed beneath him was all he needed to drift into a deep sleep.

He and Pamela were in the gazebo. It was dark, with only a sliver of a moon to cast a soft light over the area. This wasn’t the Pamela he remembered from his teenage years. This was the Pamela that he’d seen in the ballroom…still wearing the shimmering silver dress.

“I didn’t expect you to be here,” he said, reaching out to touch her hair.

“How could I not come, Clay? I wanted you to know that I…” Her voice trailed off.

“What, Pam? What did you want me to know?”

“That I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’ve never wanted that. I’ve loved you for years and years. You were my first love…my only love.”

She shivered and he slipped his jacket off and draped it over her shoulders. “I find that hard to believe, given the circumstances,” he replied.

“I wish I’d been better equipped to explain. How does an eighteen-year-old find the words, the maturity, to tell you that she’s fighting for her life? There was so much I wanted to accomplish before we were ready to discuss marriage.”

“Yeah, and that was my fault. I couldn’t keep my hands off of you.”

“It was what we wanted, Clay. It wasn’t just you. Once I’d actually made love to you that first time, all my fantasies were about doing it again.”

“We were such kids back then. I thought my dad was going to kill me for touching you.”

She stroked his jaw. “We’re adults now, Clay. No one will interrupt us.”

He stared at her in shock. “You want to make love with me?”

She reached behind her back and caught the zipper that slid down her spine. The dress fell away from her, leaving her standing in a lacy, see-through bra and matching panties. “Very much.”

“I don’t know, Pam. So much has happened to both of us since those days. We can’t just—” Somehow he couldn’t keep his mind on what he was saying as she unfastened his pants and slid them down his legs.

As soon as she touched him, his body responded. She cupped him, crooning her admiration and satisfaction.

He scooped her up and laid her on the padded bench, rapidly disposing of the remaining items of clothing they both wore. He slipped his hands through her hair, removing hairpins until it fell like a veil around her head.

“Do you have any idea how many dreams I’ve had of you, dreams of making love to you, dreams of you looking at me in just that way?” he whispered.

“Show me, Clay,” she responded, placing her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her.

He knelt between her legs, resisting the urge to plunder. Instead, he wanted to take his time and explore her. He leaned down and licked the hardened tips of her breasts, one after the other, smiling when she shivered.

“Are you still cold?” he asked.

“No. Oh, no. I feel as though I’m burning up inside, waiting for you to take care of the fire.”

He rewarded her honesty with a kiss that represented all the years of missing her, loving her, grieving for the loss of her in his life. Then he began a trail of kisses down her body, wanting to memorize her with his mouth and tongue.

She cried out when he touched her through her thick curls. He savored her for a moment before trailing kisses down her inner thigh and the back of her knee. He glanced up at her as she lay with her eyes closed and her neck arched slightly, her body glowing in the dim light from the moon.

He moved to the other knee and began his slow way back up, pausing once again at the apex of her thighs, giving her the pleasure he denied himself.

She groaned out his name, her breathing uneven. No longer able to lie quiet, she undulated, silently begging him to enter her.

He could no longer ignore her plea. In one long stroke of possession he moved inside her, fighting to maintain his control until he brought her to the very peak they both sought.

She wrapped her legs around him, holding him tightly against her, and met each thrust with her own. She chanted his name with each movement, placing hot kisses on his mouth, his cheeks and his jaw.

It had been so long—too long—but he could no longer hang on to his control. Instead, he increased his pace, moving faster, his rhythmic movement driving them both onward. He felt her tension increase until her involuntary spasms signaled that she had gone over the edge, taking him with her.

When he felt his own body release he cried out her name as he tumbled into the darkness of oblivion once more.

The persistent br-ring of a nearby phone drifted into Clay’s consciousness, forcing him out of an almost unconscious state. Without opening his eyes he fumbled for the receiver and pulled it to his ear. “H’lo,” he mumbled.

“Rise and shine, Callaway. We’ve got work to do.” Sam’s rumbling voice was like a shock of cold water.

“Yes, sir,” he responded automatically.

“Meet me downstairs at the coffee shop in twenty minutes.” Sam hung up the phone.

Clay let the receiver drop back into the cradle with a groan. He felt as though he’d just fallen into bed. He forced his eyes open to a squint in order to see his watch. It was almost eight o’clock. He hadn’t gotten to bed until after two, but he was thankful to have gotten at least a few hours of rest.

He rolled over onto his back and only then remembered that he was sharing the bed with Melanie.

Melanie. Had he made love to her last night? Or had he dreamed it? He couldn’t remember what was fatigue-induced fantasy and what had actually happened. He definitely recalled dreaming at one point, but not about Melanie. He’d been dreaming about—

He sat up in bed and pushed the covers away. He had to get downstairs right now. This was the day he was officially assigned to work with a woman he’d hoped never to see again.

He glanced over his shoulder and met the horrified gaze of the woman in bed with him.

He closed his eyes, convinced he was hallucinating. Melanie’s eyes were a gorgeous black. The eyes staring at him were a pansy-blue. There was only one woman he’d ever known with eyes that color.

Pamela McCall.




Chapter 3


Clay stared at the woman in his bed in complete and total shock.

“What are you doing here!” they both said in unison.

Clay leaped off the bed as though he’d been stung by a swarm of hornets and then realized that he was buck naked.

Son of a—He didn’t finish the thought, but he knew he was in trouble, big-time. He had gone to bed wearing his boxer shorts. There was only one reason for him not to be wearing them now.

The dream he remembered was a hell of a lot more real than he wanted it to be.

He flipped the sheet back on his side of the bed and scrambled for his shorts, almost groaning out loud as he discovered them at the bottom of the bed.

He jerked them on before he turned back to her. She sat up in bed, her hair tumbled around her shoulders, clutching the sheet to her chest. Pam looked thoroughly loved and sexy as hell. Her eyes, however, told a very different story.

“I want to know what you’re doing in my room,” she said grimly.

“I—uh, well…” He shoved his hand through his hair. “Damn it, I don’t know! I thought this was my room. You don’t think I deliberately came here last night to—” He spluttered to a halt, unable to put into words what had happened.

“I don’t know what to think, Clay. You practically looked through me all evening and then you—you—well, you crawl into my bed and…” She paused, apparently unable to give voice to what had happened.

“I know we need to talk about this,” he finally said when she didn’t say anything more, “but frankly, I don’t have the time right now. I’ve got to get downstairs.” He almost told her why, but if she didn’t know about the planned meeting and that he was going to be working with her, he did not want to be the one to break the news to her. The situation was volatile enough as it was.

He hastily gathered his clothes from the floor, retracing his trail from the night before. Hell, he scarcely remembered coming into the room, much less undressing and getting into bed.

How could he have made such a stupid mistake?

He found his bag, opened it and pulled out the first clothes he could find, which happened to be underwear, a pair of well-worn jeans and a faded knit shirt. Without looking toward the bed, he retraced his steps and went into the bathroom. He quickly showered before getting dressed.

He returned to his bag and grabbed a worn pair of running shoes and put them on. Then he left the room. What in the hell had he been doing in Pam’s room? Hadn’t Melanie told him room 937?

He stopped in the middle of the hallway and rubbed his aching head.

Or had she said 973?

Damn.

He must have gotten the room numbers confused. And of all the people that he might inadvertently end up spending the night with, why did it have to be Pamela McCall?

When he spotted room 973 on his way to the elevators, Clay impulsively paused before the door and knocked. Within a short time the door opened. Melanie stood there in a filmy negligee, her expression puzzled.

For a very good reason.

“Good morning, Clay,” she said, taking in his casual dress, a far cry from the tuxedo he’d been in the last time she’d seen him. Instead of commenting on his clothes, she lifted an eyebrow and drawled, “When you said you were going to be late getting to bed, you weren’t kidding.”

He leaned his hand against the doorjamb and scrubbed his face with his other hand. “This has been one hell of a get-together. I’ll explain everything after I get back from another meeting.” He straightened, trying to think of something to say, something believable, something—forgivable?

“I know when you hear my story, you’ll be able to see the humor in it, but right now—” He shrugged. “I’m already late for a meeting and—”

“Your meetings are definitely getting in the way of our reunion,” she replied, eyeing him with a wary look.

“As soon as we’re through, I’ll be back to see you. I promise.”

“It’s a good thing I haven’t been holding my breath for you to keep your promises, Clay.”

He shook his head. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am,” he murmured, aware of the terrible truth of that statement. He gently squeezed her hand. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He hurried to the elevators and pushed the button. He glanced over his shoulder and watched as Melanie closed the door.

The pinging sound of the elevator caught his attention. He stepped inside and pushed the lobby button, glad that at least for the moment he had the car to himself.

What in the world was he going to do? How could he possibly explain to Melanie what he couldn’t fully explain to himself? Plus, he still had to face Pam.

The doors opened and he crossed the lobby in long strides toward the coffee shop. He spotted Carruthers at the last booth, sitting with his back to the wall, as soon as he stepped inside the room. Clay wondered how the man could look so polished and alert in his casual clothes this early in the day. Sam wore a light blue T-shirt the same shade as his piercing gaze. Clay walked past the row of booths and paused at the last table. Another man sat across the table from Sam.

The two men stopped talking when he approached. Sam glanced up at Clay, picked up the carafe near his elbow and poured coffee into a third cup on the table.

“Sit down,” he said with a half smile. “You look like you could use this.”

The other man moved over and Clay sat down beside him. He propped his elbows on the table and dropped his head into his hands. “You have no idea,” he muttered, wishing he could redo the past twenty-four hours.

Sam cleared his throat and said, “Clay Callaway, I want you to meet Joe Chavez. Joe’s from Florida, one of the best reconnaissance men I’ve ever worked with. He kindly volunteered to help us out here.”

Clay raised his head and looked at the man beside him. Dark eyes bored into him before Joe offered his hand. “How’s it going?” Joe murmured politely.

Clay heard himself chuckle with a sense of disbelief that he could exhibit any sense of humor. “Believe me, you don’t want to know.” He briefly shook Joe’s hand. “A volunteer, huh?”

“The colonel has a fine sense of humor,” Joe replied with a deadpan expression.

“No titles here,” Sam said. “We’re on a first-name basis on this little party. No need to be too formal since we’re supposed to be army buddies enjoying a little R and R.”

Joe rolled his eyes, making Clay feel better by the minute. So he wasn’t the only one commandeered to work this job.

Sam checked his watch. “I finally reached Pamela McCall. I left a message for her when I arrived last night but she didn’t return my call. Since I didn’t have her room number, I had the hotel put my call through a few minutes ago. She said she’d be down as soon as possible, but not to wait on her for breakfast.”

The waitress came and took their orders. As soon as she left, Sam said, “Joe’s been briefed on what’s happened here recently. We’re agreed that it would be a relatively simple matter to set explosives on land, but it took some tough professionals—some-one trained as we were—to do the underwater demolition work on the offshore rig. So it’s possible we’re going to find that Uncle Sam trained whoever did this.

“My biggest concern was to pick investigators that I could trust absolutely in any given situation. That’s why you two are here. You work well alone, you’re damn good explosives men, and you can put yourselves in the perp’s head to figure out how it was done.

“It’s up to us to find out why, as well. We’re going to do just that, which is why Ms. McCall is part of the group. She knows how to analyze records and do background checks, which will relieve us of that much.”

“Does she know who she’ll be working with?” Clay could no longer resist asking.

Sam shook his head. “Most of the time she’ll be working alone gathering information. Clay, I’m assigning her to you because she may need to do some fieldwork. I know she’s a trained operative, but most of her experience has been in the office. I’d feel better knowing you were with her in case we run into unexpected trouble. We’re also going to need to set up a command post that’s centrally located.”

Clay said, “The families have condo units in Austin we could use. There are several of them in one building. There shouldn’t be a problem with our staying there.”

Sam nodded thoughtfully. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll speak to Cole about that as soon as we finish here. Plus, we’re going to need some transportation,” he added, looking at Clay. To Joe, he said, “You’ve got the rental car you picked up at the airport for your use.”

Once again Clay spoke up. “My dad has a couple of pickup trucks we could borrow.”

Sam smiled. “I intend to rent a car, but I may wait until I get to Austin. Cole said something last night about having the company plane available for our use. He suggested we meet in the lobby at noon. By then, he’ll have arranged transportation for us to the airport where his plane is located. I figure that’s how we’ll go to Austin.” He looked at both of them and asked, “Do either of you have any questions?”

Chavez took a sip of his coffee. “What are the local authorities saying about this series of events?”

“They’re scratching their heads,” Sam replied. “I’m not much into trusting local authority. We’re going to be working independently, and we’re not going to be sharing anything we get with the locals.”

Chavez nodded.

After a moment, Sam said, “We’ve got a man who’ll get hired on at the offshore rig. He’ll be able to report anything he finds there. We’ve got to know quickly if this was an inside job or not. Chavez, you’re going to be covering the border area in south Texas, and your story is that you’re looking for family members. It will be a good cover for asking questions.” He paused while the waitress placed their orders in front of them. Once she was gone, he said, “Callaway, you and Pamela will be working with me in the central Texas area.”

He glanced past the men and stood. “Good morning, Ms. McCall. Glad you could join us.” He held out his hand and shook hers before motioning for her to sit down next to him.

Clay reluctantly looked up. She wore a pair of soft green tailored slacks and a cream-colored long-sleeved silk shirt. She’d woven her hair into a single braid pinned in a coil at the nape of her neck. She looked pale this morning, which wasn’t surprising, given the circumstances.

She also looked calm, very cool and ultrasophisticated.

“I want you to meet your teammates, Pam. This is Clay Callaway and Joe Chavez. Pamela McCall.”

Clay had to give her credit. If he hadn’t been watching her carefully he wouldn’t have noticed the slight tightening of her facial muscles as she nodded to each of them.

“Gentlemen,” she said quietly, sliding across the bench seat and folding her hands together on the table. Her gaze didn’t quite meet his.

Sam filled the last empty cup on the table with coffee and handed it to her. She took it gratefully, lifting it to her mouth without looking at either of the men across from her.

The waitress returned to the table. When she looked at Pam for her order, Pam shook her head and said, “Coffee’s fine for me.”

Sam glanced at her and almost said something, then shook his head. The three men quickly made short work of the meal in front of them while Pam had a second cup of coffee.

After he finished eating, Sam refilled his cup and looked at Pam. “I was just telling them that we need to keep our cover story simple. Clay’s on leave. I’m retired and visiting old friends. Joe is looking for extended family members. I was told that you know the Callaway family. I thought it would make sense to have you and Clay paired off. I doubt that anyone would think anything of seeing you together as a couple.”

She cleared her throat. Without meeting Clay’s gaze, she said, “Is that really necessary? My work doesn’t call for me to interact with another person. My guess is that Clay will be needed more in the field.”

Sam nodded. “That’s true. But you’ll need to stay in constant contact with each other. I don’t want you sneezing without his knowing about it. This thing is going to take long hours because we’re going to be thorough. If you have a problem working with Callaway, you need to tell me now.”

Pam darted a quick glance at Clay. He smiled at her, daring her to tell the colonel about their shared past. He knew he sure as hell wasn’t going to mention it.

“Whatever you want to do is fine with me,” she replied, absently nibbling on her bottom lip. Clay was immediately reminded of his erotic dream last night—the dream that had become immensely real. He remembered touching her soft lips. He remembered doing all kinds of things he now wanted very much to forget.

“All right,” Sam said. “Here’s what you need to know about my background. I’m from Virginia. We met some years back. I’m retired from the army—currently keeping an eye on the family farm. I’m here visiting friends.” He looked at Clay. “You heard I was in town and invited me to visit you.”

“Uh, yes, sir. And my reason was…?”

Sam’s lips quirked. “You wanted to see me again, perhaps? Maybe renew our friendship?”

Clay leaned back in his chair and looked at Sam. “I guess that works,” he replied. He looked at Pam. “Is that what we’re doing…renewing our friendship?”

Pam glanced quickly at Carruthers before replying, “It doesn’t really matter, does it? The most important thing is to get to the bottom of this situation as quickly as possible and get on with our lives.”

“Exactly,” Sam said, nodding. He looked around the table. “Any other questions?” When no one answered, he said, “Then that should do it for now. Chavez, you’d better take off. You’ve got a long drive ahead of you.”

“Yes, sir.”

Clay stood to let Joe get out of the booth.

Sam continued. “You’ve got the number to my cell phone. Call me any time and we’ll get onto a secured line.”

Chavez nodded and walked away.

Clay turned to sit down when he heard a feminine voice behind him say, “I thought that was you.” With the way his luck was running this morning, Clay froze and apprehensively glanced over his shoulder.

Katie Henley paused beside their table. “Oh, I was hoping I could join you for breakfast, but it looks like I’m too late.”

Clay, wondering what to say, glanced around at Sam and was startled by the look on Sam’s face. He was staring at Katie as though the Christmas tree angel had come to life right before his eyes.

Sam had immediately stood as soon as Katie first spoke. “By all means, join us,” he said with a warm smile. Clay stared at Sam, amazed at how his warm expression thoroughly changed his looks.

Clay allowed Katie to slide into the seat recently vacated by Joe before he sat down again. He introduced her to Sam, and using their new cover explained that they had met a few years ago when Sam was still in the army and that he was visiting the area.

Katie smiled at Sam. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said, before allowing her gaze to rest on Pam. “It’s so good to see you again, Pam. I never managed to get over to your table last night to say hello.” She leaned against Clay and playfully nudged his shoulder. “It’s wonderful to see you two together again.”

Sam quirked a brow. “Again?”

Katie looked a little uneasy, suddenly realizing she might be putting someone in an awkward position. “Clay and Pam grew up together. In fact, I think at one time there was talk about a marriage, but they were so young back then—still in school. I guess it was called off…” she finished.

Clay was glad his talkative cousin had caught herself before the hole she was digging for him buried him alive.

Sam looked at him with speculation in his eyes, but came to his rescue nonetheless. “If I’d known that Clay had a cousin as beautiful as you, I’d have come to visit him long before now,” he said, his eyes gleaming.

Katie actually blushed at Sam’s compliment, Clay noticed with surprise. She was much more animated this morning than she’d been last night. This was the Katie he remembered when he was growing up. He was glad that meeting Sam had been able to put some color back in her cheeks. He could almost forgive her for bringing up the past at a very delicate time.

“You’re very kind,” she managed to say.

Sam chuckled. “Me, kind? I’m sure Clay would agree that that description doesn’t fit me at all.”

Memories of some of the situations this man had dreamed up for the recruits flashed in Clay’s mind. No. Kind was not the word that first came to mind when he thought of Lieutenant Colonel Sam Carruthers.

He knew there would be no more discussion in front of Katie. Taking a chance on irritating his superior officer, Clay said, “If you will excuse me, I’ve got some errands to take care of before heading out of here.”

Katie laughed. “Don’t let me run you off, Clay.”

Pam spoke up. “Actually, I need to go as well.” She looked at Clay. “I believe we need to finish that discussion we started earlier, don’t you?”

Clay glanced at Sam, who moved so that Pam could get out. “I’ll stay here and visit with you,” Sam said to Katie, “if that’s all right. No sense in you having to eat alone.”

Katie looked up at Pam and Clay before glancing uncertainly at Sam. “If you need to go, of course I’ll understand.”

Sam shook his head. “I’m in no hurry.” He nodded at Clay and Pam. “I’ll see you guys a little later, I’m sure.”

As soon as they left the coffee shop Pam said, “Did you arrange this, Clay?”

He glanced down at her. “What? Having Katie show up?”

She shook her head. “No. That Sam would have the two of us work together.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I didn’t know until last night that you worked for the government or would have anything to do with this assignment.”

“Oh.”

“How long have you been with the FBI?” he asked as they crossed the lobby to the elevators.

“Five years. Why?”

“No reason. What were you doing before then?”

“Getting my education. I spent some time working overseas with a humanitarian group before I returned to the States and applied for the position I now hold.”

They reached the elevators and stepped into the open door of one.

“Which floor?” she asked.

“Ninth. I need to get my bag out of your room.”

“By the way, what happened to your date last night? Does she know where you ended up spending the night?”

He looked at her without smiling. “I’ll deal with Melanie. Don’t worry about me.”

She looked away without speaking.

When the elevator doors opened they stepped out together and came face-to-face with Melanie Montez.

Sam Carruthers sat across the table from the vivacious Katie Henley, feeling like a middle-aged fool. The truth was, he’d never had much time for women. At forty-two, he had long ago decided that his bachelor status would stay intact indefinitely.

The last thing he’d expected was to come to Texas on an assignment and turn to mush because of a killer smile and expressive, extremely vulnerable golden eyes.

He scarcely noticed when Clay and Pam left the table. They’d finished their meeting for now. Katie held his attention to the exclusion of all else. Had a terrorist burst into the coffee shop, he doubted that he would have noticed.

Katie gave her order to the waitress before she said, “Thank you for allowing me to join you. Are you sure I’m not keeping you from something?” she asked, her gaze dropping as though struck by a bout of shyness.

He grinned, feeling lighthearted. “Not at all. Tell me, do you live in Dallas?”

She shook her head. “Austin. In fact, I’ll be leaving for home as soon as I finish breakfast and check out of the hotel.”

An alarm suddenly went off inside his head, and he quickly glanced down at her hands…and her bare fingers. “I, uh, suppose a woman like you is married,” he muttered, feeling completely out of his depth.

Her smile faded and her eyes no longer sparkled. “I was, Sam. I’ve been divorced for about six months.”

The surge of relief he felt at her admission made him pause. What the hell was going on with him, anyway? He’d just met this woman and he was already damned possessive of her. His stomach knotted at the thought—much the same way it did before he made a jump.

Not a good sign.

When he didn’t say anything, she continued. “I have five-year-old daughters who manage to both help me keep my sanity as well as convince me I’m on the verge of losing it.” Her smile widened. “Do you have children?”

“Uh, no, ma’am. I’ve never been married.”

“Really?” She tilted her head and looked at him as though trying to solve a puzzle. “Don’t you miss having a family?”

He smiled. “Oh, I have a family. I was the oldest of several kids. We had a tough time surviving on the farm. I did whatever I could to make sure we all had enough to eat. I figured no woman would be willing to live that way if she could help it.”

Katie looked down at her hands folded on the table. “I suppose you have little use for people like me, who never had to go through something like that.”

He grinned, amused by her attitude. “Not at all. I don’t wish that kind of life on anybody.” He knew he needed to get going, but he hated to leave her without getting some kind of signal that she might want to see him again. Since he didn’t have a clue how to do that, Sam continued to sit there feeling helpless, staring at her.

The waitress soon returned with her order. Sam sipped on his coffee while she ate. He asked her casual questions, hoping to learn more about her.

She mentioned a much older brother—almost sixteen years’ difference in their ages—plus twin brothers three years younger. He got her to tell him about growing up in Texas, about meeting her husband while she was in college and getting married not long after her graduation.

Before he knew it, he was also answering questions about his early life. She seemed to be sincerely interested. So he told her what it was like being the oldest of six children, about losing his dad when he was nine, and doing what he had to do to hang on to the farm and make sure his mom and the children were taken care of.

He didn’t tell her that his biggest reason for joining the army was to be able to send his money home to the family.

When Katie glanced at her watch and announced the time, Sam was surprised to discover how long they’d been there.

“I really need to be going,” she said with what he hoped was regret coloring her voice. “Thank you for letting me join you this morning.”

He picked up her ticket. “Let me get your breakfast for you.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” she said, obviously flustered.

“I want to, Katie. I hope to see you again.”

“Are you planning to come to Austin?”

“As a matter of fact, Clay invited me to spend some time at the family’s condos in Austin.”

“Oh!” She smiled with obvious delight, causing him to swallow hard. “Well, in that case,” she said, digging into her purse, “Let me give you my phone number. Be sure and call and I’ll have you out to my place for dinner some evening.”

“A home-cooked meal sounds like something I only dream about.”

Katie laughed and handed him a card that she’d hastily written on. After he took it, carefully inserting it in his pocket, he stood with her, took her hand and shook it, causing her to blush.

He felt as if he’d received an electric shot, himself. Reluctantly he let go and watched her turn away. She gave him a little wave before she hurried out of the restaurant.

Sam tossed some money on the table for the waitress and went up to the cashier to pay for the meals.





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