belongings and moved to Kona, Hawaii, to become a part of Youth with a Mission the previous year. It worked out nicely for Jacqueline that she could use it for her time in the States. Checking her appearance in the rearview mirror, she decided she looked presentable enough, even though her hair was a little windblown from walking around on the land. She pulled her camel knit moto jacket around her, adjusted her blue-and-white bandanna scarf and stepped out into the brisk January air.
She greeted Ella seated on her perch at the front desk. After Jacqueline settled her things into her makeshift station, Ella tearfully sent her back to Mac’s office with a cup of coffee. “You might as well do it!” she said, blowing her nose into a starched white handkerchief.
As she walked down the hall to Mac’s office, Jacqueline hoped she hadn’t been wrong to wear jeans to work. At least her embroidered leather boots coordinated with the flowers embellishing her jacket, which she’d left on over the gauzy white blouse. It hadn’t been possible to change in time to get to work after meeting with Buddy King out on her parents’ property.
“Hey there.”
Mac looked up from his desk and instantly smiled at her. “Good morning!”
“Want some fresh coffee?”
“You bet I do.” He took the hot mug out of her hands. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” She waited to see if he needed anything else, but he didn’t say anything. He simply stared at her. “Sorry about the jeans. I had to meet with the real estate agent at my parents’ place before work.”
Mac grinned in a way she might describe as wicked, if he were anyone else. But Mac was too professional and too straight-laced to be wicked. Then he said, “Jeans are fine. I wear them all the time. We’re in Texas, remember?”
She nodded. “Cool.”
“How did it go? With the real estate agent, I mean.”
“Okay, I suppose. He wasn’t very encouraging about selling it, but I guess we’ll see.”
“Who’d you decide to use?” Mac took a sip of his coffee.
“Buddy King.”
“Ah. He’s a character, isn’t he?”
“Yes. He is.” Jacqueline swept a few unruly hairs out of her face. “I could always try to sell it myself online, and maybe I should, but I thought I’d give a local person a try first. I listed it for three months with him.”
“Well, he is the king.” Mac grinned.
“Do you think it was a wise choice? Should I have used someone else?”
“I think he’s fine. They all do a lot of networking, anyway.”
Jacqueline turned the turquoise ring she was wearing on her middle finger. “Nothing against you, and being here and all, but I sure hope he can sell it in three months. My parents need the money.”
Mac’s brows knitted above his glasses, even though his eyes seemed kind, concerned. “Surely there are other ways they can make money. Maybe we can put our heads together, come up with some new ideas.” He sighed. “I sure don’t want to see you leave.”
His words were as sweet as the look in his honey-colored eyes. Jacqueline felt heat rising in her cheeks. Why was he so intent on her staying? And why did it mean so much to hear him say it?
“SO, TELL US about your new assistant, Mac.” Cullen forked a bite of the sixteen-ounce T-bone the server had set down in front of him moments before. It was Thursday night, and the Brotherhood, as the four Temples affectionately called themselves, was in session for its monthly meeting at the Wild Horse Saloon. Even Hunt, who was a five-star chef, admitted the honky-tonk joint’s steaks were hard to beat.
“She’s nice. Smart.” Mac adjusted his glasses. “Very good with numbers.” He was suddenly very interested in studying the intricacies of his loaded baked potato.
“I think what Mac is trying to say is that she’s smoking hot!” Hunt clapped Mac on the back, rattling the table.
“Really?” Joiner piped up. “Jacqueline Aimes? The bookworm? Are we talking about the same girl I knew in high school?”
Mac took a deep breath. “That’s the one. But as Hunt has so eloquently stated, she’s not exactly the same girl we all remember.” He blushed in spite of his best efforts to appear cool.
The brothers hooted and hollered as if they were back in high school themselves. Or maybe junior high.
Mac shook his head. “You guys are so mature.”
“Spill the beans!” Joiner insisted. “I’ve been meaning to pop by and say hello ever since you told me you hired her.”
“When you go, don’t forget you’re a married man,” Hunt cautioned. “I’m just sayin’.”
“Like anyone could turn Joiner’s head away from Stella!” Cullen laughed.
Hunt turned to his twin, rolling his eyes. “Like I think anyone else holds a candle to Gillian.”
“Sarah does.” Cullen smiled at the thought of his wife.
Mac sighed. “Will you guys shut up? You all have gorgeous wives. And I have a gorgeous assistant, which is a totally unrelated matter.”
“Unrelated for the meantime, maybe.” Joiner ribbed his older brother. “Seriously, though, tell us about her.”
“She’s had an interesting life since she left Kilgore. She went to college in Arkansas.”
“Arkansas?” The three brothers groaned in unison.
“Yeah,” Mac said. “But she’s not a Razorback. She won a great scholarship to one of the smaller state schools. Sounds like she had an amazing experience. She was really involved in their honors program.”
“That sounds like her,” Joiner said. “That girl is a brainiac.”
Mac nodded. “She had a chance to study abroad while she was there and then hooked up with KARIS, a group that helps children around the globe.”
Cullen whistled. “Impressive.”
“Yes, I think it was, or is.”
“What do you mean, is?” Hunt asked.
“Well, she worked her way up to a pretty high-profile position. Was the director of communications for the Middle East. She was working out of their office in Afghanistan until just recently, when they had to evacuate.” Mac took a sip of iced tea. “She’s still working for them online a bit, but I guess time will tell whether she’ll go back full-time.” He didn’t dare add that he hoped time would answer “no” to that option.
Joiner asked, “How’d she end up coming here?”
“She’s
