Bachelor Available! by Ruth Jean Dale

Author:Ruth Jean Dale
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-05-27T00:00:00+00:00

She drove straight to Terry’s apartment, where he’d put her up for the couple of days between shipping her things to San Antonio and her own departure. Laurie might bad-mouth Terry, but he’d always been supportive where his cousin was concerned.

It was late in the afternoon when she knocked on his door. He opened it and broke into a wide grin. “Emmy, this is a nice surprise. Come in and tell me what you’re doing here.”

She entered, carrying her overnight case. Just as she opened her mouth to explain, the door to his bedroom opened and a woman walked out. A very pretty woman with long dark hair and a wide smile. “Damn, Terry,” she said cheerfully, “aren’t you even gonna let me out the door before you replace me?”

“Oh, but I’m not...” Flustered, Emily glanced at her cousin for help.

Terry just laughed. Tall and angular and thin-faced, he had an easy way about him that put many people off their guard. “This is my cousin, Emily,” he said, gesturing. “Emmy, this is Carmen Rivera, a friend of mine.”

A close friend, apparently. “I’m happy to meet you,” Emily said.

“Same here.” Carmen crossed to the coatrack on the wall near the entryway. “Terry tells me you’re one of his ‘secret agents’ for the big Valentine’s Day story.”

Emily frowned, unpleasantly surprised to think her cousin had been talking about her to his girlfriend. “I wouldn’t exactly call myself a secret agent.”

Carmen laughed. “That’s nicer than calling ourselves spies.”

“Ourselves? You mean you . . . !” Terry had even conned his own girlfriend into participating?

Carmen nodded, pulling on a bright red wool jacket. “It was a real kick. I loved doing the video, didn’t you? I got matched with a really great guy.” She gave Terry a sidelong glance. “If Terry doesn’t treat me right, I can always go back to him.”

Terry laughed and dropped a kiss on her cheek. Emily got the distinct impression that her cousin was not all that concerned. He opened the door and Carmen gave Emily a little wave.

“Don’t go on my account,” Emily said quickly. “I should have called first.”

“Don’t be silly. I know how close you and Terry are. I was leaving anyway.”

Terry closed the door behind her, then turned to Emily with concern on his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Does something have to be wrong?” Setting her case on the floor, Emily shrugged out of her jacket.

He took it and hung it on the rack where Carmen’s had been. “Thanksgiving was yesterday,” he reminded her. “That’s normally when family gets together. I’d say the fact that you’ve driven all this way the day after is a dead giveaway that something’s not right.”

“I hope you don’t mind.”

“Emmy, you’re always welcome, you know that. You wanna stay here tonight?”

“If you don’t mind.”

“Not a bit.”

“I’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”

“No rush.” He followed her into his tiny and cluttered living room. Books, magazines and newspapers covered every available surface and most of the floor. A great housekeeper he wasn’t. “So what’s on your mind, Cuz?”

Emily moved a pile of magazines off the end of the couch and sat down.

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