Texas Smoke Screen by Jessica R. Patch

Author:Jessica R. Patch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-10-04T22:57:13+00:00

* * *

After checking the weather app, Vera dressed in jeans, thick socks, her knee-length leather boots and a jade sweater that gathered in folds around her neck. The shade matched her eyes. She left her hair down, used an iron to create some beachy waves, then she grabbed her brown leather coat that matched her boots and glanced once more in the mirror.

She wasn’t a spring chicken. Lines formed around her eyes and her lids weren’t as smooth. She’d said goodbye to pencil eyeliner two years ago. But if she kept her sleeve on her right arm down far enough on her hand and her collar in place, no one would know she’d ever been touched by fire.

Not until they looked closer. That, she wasn’t allowing.

Besides, this wasn’t a date. He’d made that clear, and so had she. It was a nice thank-you and reprieve from the stressful circumstances. Her mind knew this fact well. Her heart was having a little trouble with it.

Being here on the ranch with Brooks and Katie had unlodged a piece she’d tucked down deep. Brooks had always been an amazing man, but seeing him as a father, too, had made a mark on her. And there was just enough of him in Katie that she didn’t have to wonder what it would have been like to have a child with him. Regret at putting off kids with Danny was hitting her hard.

She stepped into the hallway the same time as Brooks and his light cologne wafted toward her. Her stomach dipped and her chest tightened. He wore a blue-, gray-, and-black-plaid shirt with a black cardigan over it and dark dressy jeans and boots.

Whoa, he cleaned up nice.

His sight settled on her and a slow grin spread across his face. “You look amazing. How is it you don’t age?”

“You know what they say about flattery,” she said in a flat tone, but inside she was giddy. Too much time had passed since she’d received a compliment like this from a man.

“It gets you everywhere?” His blue eyes held mischief.

“Exactly.” She winked and he held out his arm. For not being a date, it felt like one. She slipped hers through the crook of his and he escorted her into the living room where Tracey, Andy, Katie and her cameraman Ryan huddled on the couch, discussing what movie to watch. That seemed odd. But she didn’t live here and had no idea if Ryan hung out often with them or not. Brooks didn’t seem confused or surprised.

“Whoa, Miss Vera,” Katie said. “You look like a model.”

Vera could hug this kid and never let go. “Your dad says flattery gets you everywhere.”

She frowned, unsure of Vera’s meaning, but Brooks chuckled.

“You look pretty dapper yourself, Brooks,” Tracey said and wiggled her eyebrows at Vera.

“I clean up pretty good.” He brushed invisible lint from his shoulder and grabbed his wallet off the table by the front door. Vera had already noticed he wore his gun under the cardigan.

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