you want?”
She shook her head and raised her eyes to Jake’s, hers pleading when her gaze met his.
“I never meant to hurt you,” Thad said, his tone considerably softer. “I love you. You know that. And you love me.”
“You tried to kill her and almost succeeded,” Carolina cut in, her words blistering. “She’s through with you, so stay away from her or you’ll be back in prison where you belong.”
“Stay out of this, Carolina. You might own half of Texas, but you don’t own Mildred and you sure as hell aren’t going to order me around.”
Jake struggled to contain his own anger as the situation became clearer still. The itch to punch Thad Caffey rode Jake hard.
He stepped toward Jake. “Mildred and Carolina are with me and you’re through here. You have a problem with that, take it up with me now.”
Thad glared at Mildred and then turned to Carolina. “So that’s how it is. You got rid of me and now you’ve fixed my woman up with one of your rich rancher friends.”
“One of my bulls would have been an improvement over you, Thad Caffey.”
Thad beat his right fist into his left hand and ground it as if he were getting ready for a fight. Jake’s muscles tensed. He’d never wanted to punch a guy more.
A second later, Thad turned and walked away without a backward glance. Jake watched him go, but his gut feeling was that this was far from being settled.
Jake lingered with the two women until Thad had sauntered over to an old mud-encrusted pickup truck with a rusted right fender and driven away.
“Good timing,” Carolina said. “I’m not sure I could have taken him down if you hadn’t shown up when you did. But I could have done some serious hair pulling and hopefully got in at least one knee to the groin.”
“Ow. My bet’s on you. But I’m glad I could intervene. Is there more to the story that I should know?”
“Thad is not a nice man,” Mildred said.
“I got that.”
“The four years in prison didn’t make him any nicer,” Carolina added.
“How long has he been out of prison?”
“Almost a week,” Mildred said, “but last night was the first time he tried to contact me. I got a phone call from him at the hotel. I’m not sure how he found out I was here with Carolina. I don’t know how far he would have pushed things today if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”
“Glad to help, but I seriously doubt you’ve seen the last of him. You should let his parole officer know he’s stalking you.”
“He doesn’t have one. He served all his time.”
“Then call your local sheriff.”
“A great idea.” Carolina took her car key from her handbag and pushed the unlock button. “We should get moving. Sara and Peg are probably already at the restaurant wondering what happened to us.”
Jake glanced at the clouds that were rolling in. “I wouldn’t dawdle over lunch,” he suggested. “Weatherman may have been a little optimistic predicting the thunderstorms would hold off until evening.”
He stepped past Carolina and opened the door for her. She brushed past him as she slid behind the wheel. Her skirt rode up her thighs, innocently provocative.
His senses reeled from an unexpected kick of sensual attraction. He was still feeling the effects long after they drove away.
Carolina Lambert was even more stunning in person than she was in her society page photos. Great body. Thick eyelashes. Sun-streaked hair that tumbled past her shoulders in soft, natural curls. Hazel eyes that sparked green when she was mad. Full, beautiful lips.
None of which changed the fact that she had manipulated R.J. into writing that bizarre, manipulative will, a will that she surely planned to work in her favor once R.J. was dead and gone and the family was released from his rules and regulations.
But a deal was a deal, even though he hadn’t known it was her he was helping out this week. Carolina could do her thing. She’d have his wrangler’s full cooperation.
But it was a large ranch. With luck, he wouldn’t even have to see her again.
* * *
TWO HOURS LATER Carolina sped down the highway, barely paying attention to the conversation in the car as the four of them rolled down the last stretch of interstate before taking the exit for the Silver Spur Ranch.
The day had started with sunshine and promise. Now the sky was threatening. The cloud Thad Caffey had cast over the day was even gloomier.
If Jake hadn’t walked up when he had, the situation might have turned violent. Just as frightening, Mildred might have gone with Thad in an effort to protect herself or Carolina from his rage.
Okay. Score one for Jake Dalton. She had to concede that he was not the complete cad she had figured him for. He’d been impressive in the parking lot, all the grit and virility a woman could ask for.
“I should have brought my rain slicker,” Sara said from the backseat. “Looks as if it might start pouring any minute.”
“It’s not too late to turn around and try to reschedule the tour for first thing tomorrow morning,” Carolina offered.
“We’re almost there,” Peg said. “Might as well see as much as we can today. If we need to check out more, we can always come back tomorrow and wade through the mud.”
“The sexy ranch owner wouldn’t have anything to do with your vote, would it?” Sara teased.
“No, but I can’t say that I’d mind getting caught in the rain—or anywhere else with him. He is hot.”
“Not to mention rich and single,” Sara said.
“Better than all that, he seems like a really nice guy,” Mildred said. “They’re hard to come by.”
It was one of the few times Mildred had joined the conversation since they left Austin. She had asked Carolina not to mention their run-in with Thad to the others, and Carolina had agreed that was for the best. Mildred didn’t need a lot of questions thrown at her about her past experiences with her ex.
“How old do you think Jake is?” Peg asked.
“Maybe early fifties,” Sara said. “What do you think, Carolina?”
“I’d say that’s probably about right.”
“I don’t know,” Peg said. “Those are not the biceps or butt of a middle-aged man.”
“Good grief,” Sara exclaimed. “What does age have to do with it? George Clooney, Kevin Costner, Colin Firth. My husband, Jess. All hunks past fifty.”
“Doesn’t just apply
