WinterRoses

DianaPalmer

DIANAPALMER

WinterRoses

TORONTO•NEWYORK•LONDON

AMSTERDAM•PARIS•SYDNEY•HAMBURG

STOCKHOLM•ATHENS•TOKYO•MILAN•MADRID

PRAGUE•WARSAW•BUDAPEST•AUCKLAND

MasterstorytellerDianaPalmerdelightsagain

inMarchnextyearwith

IronCowboy

ALONG,TALLTEXANSstory,

onlyfromSilhouetteDesire™

CONTENTS

CHAPTERONE

CHAPTERTWO

CHAPTERTHREE

CHAPTERFOUR

CHAPTERFIVE

CHAPTERSIX

CHAPTERSEVEN

CHAPTEREIGHT

CHAPTERNINE

CHAPTERTEN

CHAPTERELEVEN

CHAPTERONE

IT WAS late, and Ivy was going to miss her class. Rachel was the only person, except Ivy’s best
friend,whoevenknewthenumberofIvy’sfrugalprepaidcellphone.Thecallhadcomejustasshe
wasgoingtohersecondcollegeclassoftheday.Theargumentcouldhavewaiteduntiltheevening,
butheroldersisterneverthoughtofanyone’sconvenience.Well,exceptherown,thatwas.

“Rachel, I’m going to be late,” Ivy pleaded into the phone. She pushed back a strand of long, pale
blondhair.Hergreeneyesdarkenedwithworry.“Andwe’vegotatesttoday!”

“Idon’tcarewhatyou’vegot,”heroldersistersnapped.“Youjustlistentome.Iwantthatcheckfor
Dad’sproperty,assoonasyoucangettheinsurancecompanytoissueit!I’vegotoverduebillsand
you’rewhiningaboutcollegeclasses.It’sawasteofmoney!AuntHettieshouldneverhaveleftyou
thatsavingsaccount,”sheaddedangrily.“Itshouldhavebeenmine,too.I’mtheoldest.”

Shewas,andshe’dtakeneverythingshecouldgetherhandson,anythingshecouldpawnforready
cash.Ivyhadbarelybeenabletokeepenoughtopaythefuneralbillswhentheycamedue.Itwasa
stroke of luck that Aunt Hettie had liked her and had left her a small inheritance. Perhaps she’d
realized that Ivy would be lucky if she was able to keep so much as a penny of their father ’s few
assets.

Itwasthesamepainfulargumentthey’dhadforasolidmonth,sincetheirfatherhaddiedofastroke.
IvyhadbeenleftwithfindingaplacetolivewhileRachelcalleddailytotalktotheattorneywhowas
probatingthewill.Allshewantedwasthemoney.She’dcoaxedtheirfatherintochanginghiswill,so
thatshegoteverythingwhenhedied.

Despitethefactthathepaidherlittleattention,Ivywasstillgrieving.She’dtakencareoftheirfather
whilehewasdyingfromthestroke.He’dthoughtthatRachelwasanangel.Alltheirlives,ithadbeen
Rachelwhogotalltheallowances,alltheinheritedjewelry—whichRachelpawnedimmediately—

all the attention. Ivy was left with housework and yardwork and cooking for the three of them. It
hadn’t been much of a life. Her rare dates had been immediately captivated by Rachel, who took
pleasureinstealingthemawayfromheryounger,plainersister,onlytodropthemdayslater.When
RachelhadoptedtogotoNewYorkandbreakintotheater,theirfatherhadactuallyputalienonhis
smallhousetopayforanapartmentforher.Ithadmeantbudgetingtotheboneandnonewdresses
forIvy.Whenshetriedtoprotesttheunequaltreatmentthesistersreceived,theirfathersaidthatIvy
wasjustjealousandthatRachelneededmorebecauseshewasbeautifulbutemotionallychallenged.

Translated, that meant Rachel had no feelings for anyone except herself. But Rachel had convinced
theirfatherthatsheadoredhim,andshe’dfilledhisearswithliesaboutIvy,rightuptoaccusingher
ofsneakingoutatnighttomeetmenandstealingfromthegaragewheresheworkedtwoeveningsa
weekkeepingbooks.NoprotestwasenoughtoconvincehimthatIvywashonest,andthatshedidn’t
evenattractmanymen.ShenevercouldkeepaprospectiveboyfriendoncetheysawRachel.

“IfIcanlearnbookkeeping,I’llhaveawaytosupportmyself,Rachel,”Ivysaidquietly.

“Youcouldmarryarichmanoneday,Iguess,ifyoucouldfindablindone,”Rachelconceded,and
laughed at her little joke. “Although where you expect to find one in Jacobsville, Texas, is beyond
me.”

“I’mnotlookingforahusband.I’minschoolatourcommunityvocationalcollege,”Ivyreminded
her.

“So you are. What a pitiful future you’re heading for.” Rachel paused to take an audible sip of her
drink.“I’vegottwoauditionstomorrow.One’sfortheleadinanewplay,rightonBroadway.Jerry
saysI’mashoo-in.Hehasinfluencewiththedirector.”

Ivywasn’tusuallysarcastic,butRachelwasgettingonhernerves.“IthoughtJerrydidn’twantyouto
work.”

Therewasafrigidpauseontheotherendoftheline.“Jerrydoesn’tmindit,”shesaidcoolly.“Hejust
likesmetostayin,sothathecantakecareofme.”

“Hefeedsyouuppersanddownersandcrystalmethandchargesyoufortheprivilege,youmean,”

Ivyrepliedquietly.Shedidn’taddthatRachelwasbeautifulandthatJerryprobablyusedherasbaitto
catchnewclients.Hetookhertopartyafterparty.Shetalkedaboutacting,butitwasonlytalk.She
couldbarelyrememberherownnamewhenshewasondrugs,muchlessrememberlinesforaplay.
Shedranktoexcessaswell,justlikeJerry.

“Jerrytakescareofme.Heknowsallthebestpeopleintheater.He’spromisedtointroducemetoone
oftheangelswho’sproducingthatnewcomedy.I’mgoingtomakeittoBroadwayordietrying,”

Rachelsaidcurtly.“Andifwe’regoingtoargue,wemightaswellnotevenspeak!”

“I’mnotarguing…”

“You’reputtingJerrydown,allthetime!”

Ivyfeltasifshewerestandingonaprecipice,lookingatthebottomoftheworld.“Haveyoureally
forgottenwhatJerrydidtome?”sheasked,recallingtheonevisitRachelhadmadehome,justafter
their father died. It had been an overnight one, with the insufferable Jerry at her side. Rachel had
signedpaperstohavetheirfathercremated,placinghisashesinthegravewiththoseofhislatewife,
thegirls’

mother.Itwasrushedandunpleasant,withIvyleftgrievingaloneforaparentwho’dneverlovedher,
who’d treated her very badly. Ivy had a big, forgiving heart. Rachel did manage a sniff into a
handkerchiefatthegravesideservice.Buthereyesweren’teitherwetorred.Itwasanact,asitalways
waswithher.

“What you said he did,” came the instant, caustic reply. “Jerry said he never gave you any sort of
drugs!”

“Rachel!”sheexclaimed,furiousnow,“Iwouldn’tlieaboutsomethinglikethat!Ihadamigraineand
he switched my regular medicine with a powerful narcotic. When I saw what he was trying to give
me,Ithrewthemathim.HethoughtIwastoosicktonotice.Hethoughtitwouldbefunnyifhecould
makemeintoanaddict,justlikeyou…!”

“Oh,growup,”Rachelshouted.“I’mnoaddict!Everybodyusesdrugs!Evenpeopleinthatlittlehick
town where you live. How do you think I used to score before I moved to NewYork? There was
alwayssomebodydealing,andIknewwheretofindwhatIneeded.You’resonaive,Ivy.”

“Mybrainstillworks,”sheshotback.

“Watchyourmouth,kid,”Rachelsaidangrily,“orI’llseethatyoudon’tgetapennyofDad’sestate.”

“Don’tworry,Ineverexpectedtogetanyofit,”Ivysaidquietly.“YouconvincedDaddythatIwasno
good,sothathewouldn’tleavemeanything.”

“You’ve got that pittance from Aunt Hettie,” Rachel repeated. “Even though I should have had it. I
deservedit,havingtolivelikewhitetrashallthoseyearswhenIwasathome.”

“Rachel, if you got what you really deserved,” Ivy replied with a flash of bravado, “you’d be in
federalprison.”

Therewasamuffledcurse.“Ihavetogo.Jerry’sback.Listen,youcheckwiththatlawyerandfindout
what’stheholdup.Ican’taffordalltheselong-distancecalls.”

“Youneverpayforthem.Youusuallyreversethechargeswhenyoucallme,”shewasreminded.

“Justhurryupandgetthepaperworkthroughsoyoucansendmemycheck.Anddon’texpectmeto
callyoubackuntilyou’rereadytotalklikeanadultinsteadofaspoiledkidwithagrudge!”

The receiver slammed down in her ear. She folded it back up with quiet resignation. Rachel would
never believe that Jerry, her knight in shining armor, was nothing more than a sick little social
climbingdrugdealerwithafelonyrecordwhowasholdingherhostagetosubstanceabuse.Ivyhad
triedforthepastyeartomakeheroldersiblinglisten,butshecouldn’t.Thetwoofthemhadnever
beenclose,butsinceRachelgotmixedupwithJerry,andhookedonmeth,shedidn’tseemcapableof
reasonanymore.

Intheolddays,evenwhenRachelwasbeingdifficult,shedidseemtohavesomesmallaffectionfor
hersister.Thatallchangedwhenshewasajuniorinhighschool.Somethinghadhappened,Ivyhad
neverknownwhat,thatturnedheragainstIvyandmadearealenemyofher.Alcoholanddruguse
hadn’thelpedRachel’salreadyabrasivepersonality.IthadbeenanactualreliefforIvywhenhersister
left for New York just days after the odd blowup. But it seemed that she could cause trouble long-
distance,wheneversheliked.

Ivywentdownthehallquicklytohernextclass,withoutanyrealenthusiasm.Shedidn’twanttospend
her life working for someone else, but she certainly didn’t want to go to New York and end up as
Rachel’smaidandcook,asshehadbeenbeforehersisterleftJacobsville.LettingRachelhavetheir

inheritancewouldbetheeasiersolutiontotheproblem.Anythingwasbetterthanhavingtolivewith
Rachel again; even having to put up with Merrie York’s brother, Stuart, in order to have one true
friend.

ItwasFriday,andwhensheleftthecampusforhome,ridingwithherfellowboarder,LitaDawson,
whotaughtatthevocationalcollege,shefeltbetter.She’dpassedherEnglishtest,shewascertainof
it.Buttypingwasgettingherdown.Shecouldn’tmanagemorethanfiftywordsaminutetosaveher
life.OneofthemalestudentstypingwithbothindexfingerscoulddoitfasterthanIvycould.

Theypulledupinfrontoftheboardinghousewheretheybothlived.Ivyfeltabsolutelydrained.

She’dhadtoleaveherfather ’shousebecauseshecouldn’tevenaffordtopaythelightbill.Besides,
Rachelhadsignedpaperstoputthehouseonthemarketthesamedayshe’dsignedtheprobatepapers
atalocallawyer ’soffice.SinceIvywasn’toldenough,atalmostnineteen,tohandlethelegalaffairs,
Rachelhadcharmedthenew,youngattorneyhandlingtheprobateandconvincedhimthatIvyneeded
lookingafter,preferablyinaboardinghouse.Thenshe’dflownbacktoNewYork,leavingIvytodip
into a great-aunt’s small legacy and a part-time job as a bookkeeper at a garage on Monday and
ThursdayeveningstopayforherboardandthesmallstudentfeethatTexasresidentspaidatthestate
technicalandvocationalcollege.Rachelhadn’tevenaskedifIvyhadenoughtoliveon.

MerriehadtriedtogetStuarttohelpIvyfightRachel’sclaimonthebulkoftheestate,butIvyalmost
had hysterics when she offered. She’d rather have lived in a cardboard box by the side of the road
thanhaveStuarttakeoverherlife.Shedidn’twanttotellherbestfriendthatherbrotherterrifiedher.
Merriewouldhaveaskedwhy.ThereweresecretsinIvy’spastthatshesharedwithnoone.

“I’mgoingtoseemyfatherthisweekend.”Lita,dark-hairedandeyed,smiledattheyoungerwoman.
“Howaboutyou?”

Ivysmiled.“IfMerrieremembers,we’llprobablygowindow-shopping.”Shesighed,smilinglazily.

“ImightseesomethingIcandaydreamaboutowning,”shechuckled.

“Onedaysomenicemanisgoingtocomealongandtreatyouthewayyoudeservetobetreated,”
Litasaidkindly.“Youwaitandsee.”

Ivyknewbetter,butsheonlysmiled.Shewasn’tanxioustoofferanymancontrolofherlife.Shewas
throughlivinginfear.

She went in the side door, glancing over to see if Mrs. Brown was home. The landlady must be
groceryshopping,shedecided.ItwasaFridayritual.IvygottoeatwithMrs.BrownandLitaDawson,
theothertenant,ontheweekends.SheandLitatookturnscookingandcleaningupthekitchen,tohelp
elderly Mrs. Brown manage the extra work. It was nice, not having to drive into town to get a
sandwich.

Thepizzaplacedelivered,butIvywassickofpizza.Shelikedhersmallboardinghouse,andLitawas
nice, if a little older than Ivy. Lita was newly divorced and missing her ex-husband to a terrible
degree.

Shefellbackonherdegreeandtaughtcomputertechnologyatthevocationalcollege,andletIvyride
backandforthwithherforhelpwiththegasmoney.

She’dnosoonerputdownherpursethanthecellphonerang.

“It’s the weekend!” came a jolly, laughing voice. It was Merrie York, her best friend from high
school.

“Inoticed,”Ivychuckled.“How’dyoudoonyourtests?”

“I’msureIpassedsomething,butI’mnotsurewhat.Mybiologyfinalisapproachingandlabworkis
killingme.Ican’tmakethemicroscopework!”

“You’retrainingtobeanurse,notalabassistant,”Ivypointedout.

“Comeuphereandtellthattomybiologyprofessor,”Merriedaredher.“Nevermind,I’llgraduate
evenifIhavetotakeeverycoursethreetimes.”

“That’sthespirit.”

“Comeoverandspendtheweekendwithme,”Merrieinvited.

Ivy’sheartflippedover.“Thanks,butIhavesomethingstodoaroundhere…”

“He’sinOklahoma,settlinganewgroupofcattlewithasalebarn,”Merriecoaxedwryly.

Ivyhesitated.“Canyouputthatinwritingandgetitnotarized?”

“Hereallylikesyou,deepinside.”

“He’smadeanartofhidinghisfondnessforme,”Ivyshotback.“Iloveyou,Merrie,butIdon’tfancy
beingcannonfodder.It’sbeenalongweek.RachelandIhadanotherargumenttoday.”

“Longdistance?”

“Exactly.”

“AndoverSirLancelotthedruglord.”

“Youknowmetoowell.”

Merrielaughed.“We’vebeenfriendssincemiddleschool,”sheremindedIvy.

“Yes,thedebutanteandthetomboy.Whatapairwemade.”

“You’renotquitethetomboyyouusedtobe,”Merriesaid.

“Weconformwhenwehaveto.Whydoyouwantmetherethisweekend?”

“For selfish reasons,” the other woman said mischievously. “I need a study partner and everybody
elseinmyclasshasasociallife.”

“Idon’twantasociallife,”Ivysaid.“Iwanttomakegoodgradesandgraduateandgetajobthatpays
atleastminimumwage.”

“Yourfolksleftyouasavingsaccountandsomestocks,”Merriepointedout.

Thatwastrue,butRachelhadwalkedawaywithmostofthemoneyandallofthestocks.

“YourfolksleftyouStuart,”Ivyreplieddryly.

“Don’tremindme!”

“Actually,Isupposeitwastheotherwayaround,wasn’tit?”Ivythoughtaloud.“Yourfolksleftyouto
Stuart.”

“He’sareallygreatbrother,”Merriesaidgently.“Andhelikesmostwomen…”

“Helikesallwomen,exceptme,”Ivycountered.“Ireallycouldn’thandleaweekendwithStuartright
now.NotontopofbeingharassedbyRachelandfinalexams.”

“You’reawhizatmath,”herfriendcountered.“Youhardlyeverhavetostudy.”

“Translation—IworkmathproblemseverydayforfourhoursafterclasssothatIcanappeartobe
smart.”

Merrie laughed. “Come on over. Mrs. Rhodes is making homemade yeast rolls for supper, and we
haveallthepayperviewchannels.Wecanstudyandthenwatchthatnewadventuremovie.”

Ivywasweakening.Onweekends,itwasmostlytakeoutattheboardinghouse.Ivy’sstomachrebelled
atthethoughtofpizzaormoresweetandsourchickenortacos.“Icouldreallyuseanediblemeal
thatdidn’tcomeinabox,Iguess.”

“IfItellMrs.Rhodesyou’recoming,she’llmakeyouacherrypie.”

“Thatdoesit.I’llpackanightgownandseeyouinthirtyminutes,orassoonasIcangetacab.”

“Icouldcomeandgetyou.”

“No.Cabsarecheapintown.I’mnotdestitute,”sheaddedproudly,althoughshepracticallywas.

Thecabfarewouldhavetocomeoutofhersnackmoneyforthenextweek.Shereallydidhaveto
budgettothebone.Butherpridewouldn’tletheracceptMerrie’soffer.

“Allright,MissIndependence.I’llhaveJackleavethegateopen.”

Itwasasubtleandnotarrogantreminderthatthetwowomenlivedindifferentsocialstrata.

Merrie’s home was a sprawling brick mansion with a wrought-iron gate running up a bricked
driveway.

There was an armed guard, Jack, at the front gate, miles of electrified fence and two killer
Dobermans who had the run of the property at night. If that didn’t deter trespassers, there were the
ranchhands,halfofwhomwereex-military.Stuartwasparticularaboutthepeoplewhoworkedfor
him, because his home contained priceless inherited antiques. He also owned four herd sires who
commandedincrediblestudfees;strawsoftheirsemensoldforthousandsofdollarseachandwere
shippedallovertheworld.

“ShouldIwearbodyarmor,orwillChaycerecognizeme?”

ChayceMcLeodwasthechiefofsecurityforYorkProperties,whichStuartheaded.He’dworkedfor
J.B.Hammock,butStuarthadofferedhimabiggersalaryandfringebenefits.Chaycewasworthit.
Hehadadegreeinmanagementandhewasapastmasterathandlingmen.Therewereplentyofthem
tohandleonaspreadthissize.Mostpeopledidn’tknowthatChaycewasalsoanex-federalagent.He
wasdishy,too,butIvywasimmunetohim.

Stuart’sranch,alltwentythousandacresofit,wasonlyapartofanempirethatspannedthreestates
andincludedrealestate,investments,feedlotsandaranchingequipmentcompany.StuartandMerrie
wereveryrich.Butneitherofthemledafranticsociallife.Stuartworkedontheranch,justashehad
when he was in his teens—just as his father had until he died of a heart attack when Merrie was
thirteen.Now,Stuartwasthirty.Merrie,likeIvy,wasonlyeighteen,almostnineteen.Therewereno
otherrelatives.TheirmotherhaddiedgivingbirthtoMerrie.

Merriesighedatthelongpause.“OfcourseChaycewillrecognizeyou.Ivy,you’renotinoneofyour
moodsagain,areyou?”

“Mydadwasamechanic,Merrie,”sheremindedherfriend,“andmymotherwasaC.P.A.inafirm.”

“My grandfather was a gambler who got lucky down in the Caribbean,” Merrie retorted. “He was
probably a closet pirate, and family legend says he was actually arrested for arms dealing when he
wasinhissixties.That’swhereourmoneycamefrom.Itcertainlydidn’tcomefromhardworkand
honestliving.Ourparentsinstilledaviciousworkethicinbothofus,asyoumayhavenoticed.We
don’tjustsitaroundsippingmintjulepsandmakingremarksabouttheworkingclass.Nowwillyou
justshutupandstartpacking?”

Ivylaughed.“Okay.I’llseeyoushortly.”

“That’smybuddy.”

IvyhadtoadmitthatneitherMerrienorStuartcouldeverbeaccusedofrestingonthefamilyfortune.
Stuart was always working on the ranch, when he wasn’t flying to the family corporation’s board
meetingsormeetingwithlegislatorsonagriculturalbillsorgivingworkshopsonnewfacetsofthe
beefindustry.HehadadegreefromYaleinbusiness,andhespokeSpanishfluently.Hewasalsothe
mosthandsome,sensuous,attractivemanIvyhadeverknown.Ittookalotofworkforhertopretend
that he didn’t affect her. It was self-defense. Stuart preferred tall, beautiful, independent blondes,

preferablyrichones.Hewasvocalaboutmarriage,whichheabhorred.Hiswomencameandwent.
Nobodylastedmorethansixmonths.

But Ivy was plain and soft-spoken, not really an executive sort of woman even if she’d been older
than she was. She lived in a world far removed from Stuart’s, and his friends intimidated her. She
didn’tknowacertificateofdepositfromatreasurybond,andherbackgrounddidn’tincludeyearly
tripstoexoticplaces.Shedidn’treadliteraryfiction,listentoclassicalmusic,drivealuxurycaror
goshopping in boutiques.She lived aquiet life, working andstudying hard toprovide a future for
herself.MerriewasinnursingschoolinSanAntonio,whereshelivedinthedormanddroveanew
Mercedes. The two only saw each other when Merrie came home for the occasional weekend. Ivy
missedher.

That was why she took a chance and packed her bag. Merrie wouldn’t lie to her about Stuart being
there,sheknew.Buthefrequentlyturnedupunexpectedly.Itwasn’tsurprisingthathedislikedIvy.

He’d known her sister, Rachel, before she went to New York. He was scathing about her lifestyle,
whichhadbeenextremelymodernevenwhenshewasstillinhighschool.HethoughtIvywasgoing
tobejustlikeher.Whichprovedthathedidn’tknowhissister ’sbestfriendintheleast.

Jack,theguardonthefrontgateatMerrie’shouse,recognizedIvyinthelocalcab,andgrinnedather.
Hewavedthecabthroughwithoutevenaskingforanyidentification.Onehurdlesuccessfullypassed,
shetoldherself.

Merriewaswaitingforheratthefrontstepsofthesprawlingbrickmansion.Sherandownthesteps
andaroundtothebackdoorofthecab,throwingherarmsaroundIvytheminutesheopenedthedoor
andgotout.

Ivywasmediumheightandslender,withlong,straight,paleblondhairandgreeneyes.Merrietook
afterherbrother—shewastallforawoman,andshehaddarkhairandlighteyes.Shetoweredover
Ivy.

“I’msogladyoucame,”Merriesaidhappily.“SometimesthewallsjustcloseinonmewhenI’mhere
alone.Thehouseiswaytoobigfortwopeopleandahousekeeper.”

“Bothofyouwillmarrysomedayandfillitupwithkids,”Ivyteased.

“Fatchance,inStuart’scase,”Merriechuckled.“Comeonin.Where’syourbag?”

“Intheboot…”

TheHispanicdriverwasalreadyatthetrunk,smilingasheliftedoutIvy’sbagandcarrieditallthe
wayuptotheporchforher.ButbeforeIvycouldreachintoherpurse,Merriepressedabigbillinto
thedriver ’shandandspoketohiminherown,elegantSpanish.

Ivystartedtoargue,butthecabwasracingdownthedrivewayandMerriewashalfwayupthefront
steps.

“Don’targue,”shetoldIvywithagrin.“Youknowyoucan’twin.”

“Iknow,”theotherwomansighed.“Thanks,Merrie,but…”

“But you’ve got about three dollars spare a week, and you’d do without lunch one day at school to
payforthecab,”camethequietreply.“Ifyouwereinmyplace,you’ddoitforme,”sheadded,and
Ivycouldn’targue.Butitdidhurtherpride.

“Listen,”Merrieadded,“onedaywhenyou’reafabulouslyrichownerofabookkeepingfirm,and
drivingaRolls,youcanpaymeback.Okay?”

Ivyjustlaughed.“Listen,noC.P.A.evergotrichenoughtoownaRolls,”camethedryreply.

“ButIreallywillpayyouback.”

“Friendshelpfriends,”Merriesaidsimply.“Comeonin.”

The house was huge, really huge. The one thing that set rich people apart from poor people, Ivy
pondered, was space. If you were wealthy, you could afford plenty of room in your house and a
bathroom the size of a garage. You could also afford enough land to give you some privacy and a
placetoplantflowersandtreesandhaveafishpond…

“Whatareyoubroodingaboutnow?”Merrieaskedonthewayupthestaircase.

“Space,”Ivymurmured.

“Outer?”

“No.Personalspace,”Ivyqualifiedtheanswer.“Iwasthinkingthathowmuchspaceyouhavedepends
onhowmuchmoneyyouhave.I’dlovetohavejustayard.Andmaybeafishpond,”sheadded.

“YoucanfeedourChinesegoldfishanytimeyouwantto,”theothergirloffered.

Ivydidn’treply.Shenoticed,notforthefirsttime,howmuchMerrieresembledherolderbrother.

Theywerebothtallandslender,withjet-blackhair.Merrieworeherhairlong,butStuart’swasshort
and conventionally cut. Her eyes, pale blue like Stuart’s, could take on a steely, dangerous quality
whenshewasangry.NotthatMerriecouldholdacandletoStuartinatemper.Ivyhadseengrown
menhideinthebarnwhenhepassedby.Stuart’spale,deep-seteyesweren’ttheonlyindicationofbad
temper.

Hiswalkwasjustasgoodameasureofillhumor.Heusuallyglidedlikearunner.Butwhenhewas
angry,hiswalkslowed.Theslowerthewalk,theworsethetemper.

Ivy had learned early in her friendship with Merrie to see how fast Stuart was moving before she
approachedanyroomhewasin.Onememorabledaywhenhe’dlostaprizecattledogtoacoyote,
sheactuallypleadedamigraineheadacheshedidn’thavetoavoidsittingatthesuppertablewithhim.

Itwasanastyhabitofhistobebitinglysarcastictoanyonewithinrangewhenhewasmad,especially
iftheobjectofhisangerwasoutofreach.

Merrie led Ivy into the bedroom that adjoined hers and watched as Ivy opened the small bag and
broughtoutacleanpairofjeansandacottonT-shirt.Shefrowned.“Nonightgown?”

Ivywinced.“Rachelupsetme.Iforgot.”

“Noproblem.Youcanborrowoneofmine.Itwilldragthefloorbehindyoulikeatrain,ofcourse,
butitwillfitmosteverywhereelse.”Hereyesnarrowed.“IsupposeRachelisafterthemoney.”

Ivynodded,lookingdownintohersmallbag.“ShewasgoodatconvincingDaddyIdidn’tdeserve
anything.”

“Shetoldlies.”

Ivy nodded again. “But he believed her. Rachel could be so sweet and loving when she wanted
something.Hedrank…”Shestoppedatonce.

Merriesatdownonthebedandfoldedherhandsinherlap.“Iknowhedrank,Ivy,”shesaidgently.
“Stuarthadhiminvestigated.”

Hereyeswidenedindisbelief.“What?”

Merriebitherlowerlip.“Ican’ttellyouwhy,sodon’tevenask.Sufficeittosaythatitwasaneye-
openingexperience.”

IvywonderedhowmuchinformationStuart’sprivatedetectivehadferretedoutabouttheprivatelives
oftheConleyfamily.

“Wejustknewthathedrank,”Merriesaidatonce,whenshesawherfriend’storturedexpression.She
patted Ivy’s hand. “Nobody has that perfect childhood they put in motion pictures, you know. Dad
wantedStuarttoraisethoroughbredstoraceincompetition.Itwassomethinghe’dneverbeenableto
do. He tried to force Stuart through agricultural college.” She laughed hollowly. “Nobody could
forcemybrothertodoanything,notevenDad.”

“Weretheyverymuchalike?”Ivyasked,becauseshe’donlymettheelderYorkafewtimes.

“No.Well,inonewaytheywere,”shecorrected.“Dadinabadtempercouldcostusgoodhiredmen.
Stuartcostusourbest,andoldest,horsewranglerlastweek.”

“How?”

“He made a remark Stuart didn’t like when Stuart ran the Jaguar through the barn and into its back
wall.”

CHAPTERTWO

IVYcouldhardlycontainheramusement.Merrie’sbrotherwasoneofthemostself-containedpeople
she

’d ever known. He never lost control of himself. “Stuart ran the Jag through the barn? The new
Jaguar,theXJ?”

Merriegrimaced.“I’mafraidso.Hewastalkingonhiscellphoneatthetime.”

“Aboutwhat,forheaven’ssake?”

“One of the managers at the Jacobsville sales barn mixed up the lot numbers and sold Stuart’s
purebredcows,allofwhomwerepregnantbyBigBlue,forthepriceofopenheifers,”sheadded,the
term“openheifer”denotingatwo-year-oldfemalewhowasn’tpregnant.BigBluewasachampion
BlackAngusherdsire.

“Thatwasanexpensivemistake,”Ivycommented.

“And not only for us,” Merrie added, tongue-in-cheek. “Stuart took every cattle trailer we had and
every one he could borrow, complete with drivers, went to the sale barn and brought back every
singleremainingbullorcoworcalfhewasofferingforsale.Thenheshippedthemtoanothersale
barn in Oklahoma by train. That’s why he’s in Oklahoma. He said this time, they’re going to be
certainwhichlotsthey’resellingatwhichprice,becausehe’shavingitwrittenontheirhidesinmagic
marker.”

Ivyjustgrinned.SheknewStuartwoulddonosuchthing,evenifhefeltlikeit.

“Thelocalsalebarnisnevergoingtobethesame,”Merrieadded.“Stuarttoldthemthey’dbehaving
snowballfightsinhellbeforehesentanotherlotofcattletothemforanauction.”

“Yourbrotherisnotaforgivingperson,”Ivysaidquietly.

The other girl nodded. “But there’s a reason for the way he is, Ivy,” she said. “Our father expected
Stuarttofollowinhisfootstepsandbecomeaprofessionalathlete.Dadnevermadeitoutofsemipro
football,buthewascertainthatStuartwould.Hestartedmakinghimplayfootballbeforehewaseven
ingrammarschool.Stuarthatedit,”sherecalledsadly.“Hedeliberatelymissedpractices,andwhen
hedid,Dadwouldgoathimwithadoubled-upbelt.Stuarthadbruisesalloverhisbackandlegs,but
itmadehimthatmuchmoredeterminedtoavoidsports.Whenhewasthirteen,hedughisheelsinand
told Dad he was going into rodeo and that if the belt came out again, he was going to call Dallas
Carsonandhavehimarrestedforbeatinghim.Dallas,”sheremindedIvy,“wasHayesCarson’sfather.
HewasoursherifflongbeforeHayeswentintolawenforcement.Itwasunusualforsomeonetobe
arrestedforspankingachildtwentyyearsago,butDallaswouldhavedoneit.HelovedStuartlikea
son.”

IttookIvyaminutetoanswer.Sheknewmoreaboutcorporalpunishmentthanshewasevergoingto

admit,eventoMerrie.“IalwayslikedDallas.Hayesishard-goingsometimes.Whatdidyourfather
saytothat?”sheasked.

“Hedidn’tsayanything.HegotStuartinthecaranddrovehimtofootballpractice.Fiveminutesafter
he left, Stuart hitched a ride to the Jacobsville rodeo arena and borrowed a horse for the junior
bulldoggingcompetition.Heandhisbestfriend,Martin,cameinsecondplace.Dadwaslivid.When
Stuartputhistrophyonthemantel,Dadsmasheditwithafirepoker.HenevertookthebelttoStuart
again,buthebrowbeathimanddemeanedhimeverychancehegot.Itwasn’tuntilStuartwentawayto
collegethatIstoppeddreadingthetimeswewerehomefromschool.”

Involuntarily,Ivy’seyeswenttothepaintingofMerrieandStuart’sfatherthathungoverthefireplace.
Stuart resembled Jake York, but the older man had a stubborn jaw and a cruel glimmer in his pale
blue eyes. Like Stuart, he’d been a tall man, lean and muscular. The children had been without a
mother,whodiedgivingbirthtoMerrie.Theirmother ’ssisterhadstayedwiththefamilyandcared
forMerrieuntilshewasingrammarschool.SheandtheelderYorkhadarguedabouthistreatmentof
Stuart,whichhadendedinherdeparture.Afterthat,tendernessandunconditionallovewerethingsthe
York kids read about. They learned nothing of them from their taciturn, demanding father. Stuart’s
defianceonlymadehimmorebitterandruthless.

“Butyourfatherbuiltthisranch,”Ivysaid.“Surelyhehadtolikecattle.”

“Hedid.Itwasjustthatfootballwashiswholelife,”Merriereplied.“Youmighthavenoticedthatyou
don’teverseefootballgameshere.Stuartcutsoffthetelevisionatthefirstmentionofit.”

“Icanseewhy.”

“Dadspentthetimebetweenfootballgamesrunningtheranchandhisrealestatecompany.Hediedof
aheartattackwhenIwasthirteen,sittingattheboardroomtable.Hehadaviolentargumentwithone
of his directors about some proposed expansions that would have placed the company dangerously
close to bankruptcy. He was a gambler. Stuart isn’t. He always calculates the odds before he makes
any decision. He never has arguments with the board of directors.” She frowned. “Well, there was
one.Theyinsistedthathehireapilottoflyhimtobusinessmeetings.”

“Why?”

Merriechuckled.“Tostophimfromdrivinghimselftothem.Didn’tImentionthatthisishissecond
newXJinsixmonths?”

Ivyliftedhereyebrows.“Whathappenedtothefirstone?”

“Slowtraffic.”

“Comeagain?”

“Hewasinahurrytoacalledmeetingoftheboardofdirectors,”Merriesaid.“Therewasalittleold
mandrivingamotorhomeabouttwentymilesanhourupahillonablindcurve.Stuarttriedtopass
him.Healmostmadeit,too,”sheadded.“ExceptthatHayesCarsonwascomingdownthehillonthe

othersideoftheroadinhissquadcar.”

“Whathappened?”IvypromptedwhenMerriesatsilently.

“Stuartreallyisagooddriver,”hissisterasserted,“evenifhemakesinsanedecisionsaboutwhereto
pass.HespunthecararoundandstoppeditneatlyontheshoulderbeforeHayesgotanywherenear
him. But Hayes said he could have killed somebody and he wasn’t getting out of a ticket. The only
wayhegothislicensebackwasthathepromisedtogototrafficschoolanddopublicservice.”

“Thatdoesn’tsoundlikeyourbrother.”

Merrieshrugged.“Hedidgototrafficschooltwice,andthenhewenttothesheriff’sdepartmentand
showedHayesCarsonhowtoreorganizehisdepartmentsothatitoperatedmoreefficiently.”

“DidHayesactuallyaskhimtodothat?”

“No.ButStuartarguedthatreorganizingthechaosinthesheriff’sdepartmentwas a public service.
Hayes didn’t agree. He went and talked to Judge Meacham himself. They gave Stuart his license
back.”

“Yousaidhedidn’thitanythingwiththecar.”

“Hedidn’t.Butwhileitwassittingonthesideoftheroad,acattletruck—oneofhisown,infact

—tookthecurvetoofastandsideswipeditofftheshoulderdownaten-footravine.”

“Idon’tguessthedriverworksforyouanymore,”Ivymused.

“He does, but not as a driver,” Merrie said, laughing. “Considering how things could have gone, it
wasaluckyescapeforeveryone.Itwasasturdy,well-builtcar,butthosecattletrucksareheavy.Itwas
atotalloss.”

“EvenifIcouldaffordacar,Idon’tthinkIwanttolearnhowtodrive,”Ivycommented.“Itseems
safernottobeonthehighwaywhenStuart’sdriving.”

“Itis.”

Theysnackedoncheeseandcrackersandfingersandwichesandcookies,andsippedcoffeeinperfect
peaceforseveralminutes.

“Ivy,areyousureyou’recutouttobeapublicaccountant?”Merrieaskedafteraminute.

Ivylaughed.“Whatbroughtthaton?”

“Iwasjustthinkingaboutwhenwewerestillinhighschool,”shereplied.“Youhadyourheartseton
singingopera.”

“Andchancewouldbeafinething,wouldn’tit?”Ivyaskedwithapatientsmile.“Thethingis,evenif

I had the money to study in New York, I don’t want to leave Jacobsville. So that sort of limits my
options.SinginginthechurchchoirdoesgivemeachancetodowhatIlovemost.”

Merriehadtoagreethatthiswastrue.“Whatyoushouldreallydoisgetmarriedandhavekids,and
teach them how to sing,” she replied with a grin. “You’d be a natural. Little kids flock around you
everywherewego.”

“What a lovely idea,” she enthused. “Tell you what, you gather up about ten or twelve eligible
bachelors,andI’llpickoutoneIlike.”

ThatsetMerrietolaughinguproariously.“Ifwecoulddoitthatway,Imightgetmarriedmyself,”

sheconfessed.“ButI’dhavetohaveamanwhowasn’tafraidofStuart.Talkaboutlimitedoptions…!”

“HayesCarsonisn’tscaredofhim,”Ivypointedout.“Youcouldmarryhim.”

“Hayesdoesn’twanttogetmarried.Hesayshelikeshislifeunclutteredbyemotionalcomplications.”

“Lily-liveredcoward,”Ivyenunciated.“Noguts.”

“Oh,he’sgotguts.Hejustdoesn’tthinkmarriageworks.Hisparentsfoughtliketigers.Hisyounger
brother,Bobby,couldn’ttakeit,andheturnedtodrugsandoverdosed.IthadtoaffectHayes,losing
hisonlysiblinglikethat.”

“Hemightfallinloveoneday.”

“Somightmybrother,”Merriemused,“butifIwereabettingwoman,Iwouldn’tbetonthatanytime
soon.”

“Loveisthegreatequalizer.”

“Love is a chemical reaction,” Merrie, the nursing student, said dryly. “It’s nothing more than a
physicalresponsetoasensorystimulusdesignedtoencourageustoreplicateourgenes.”

“Oh,yuuuck!”Ivygroaned.“Merrie,that’sjustgross!”

“It’strue—askmyanatomyprofessor,”Merriedefended.

“No,thankyou.I’lltakemyownwarpedviewofitasamiracle,thanks.”

Merrielaughed,thenshefrowned.“Ivy,whatareyoueating?”sheaskedabruptly.

“This?”Sheheldupacookiefromthehugesnackplatterthatcontainedcrackers,cheese,cakes,little
fingersandwichesandcookies.Mrs.Rhodeslovedtomakehorsd’oeuvres.“It’sacookie.”

Merrie looked worried. “Ivy, it’s a chocolate cookie,” came the reply. “You know you’ll get a
migraineifyoueatthem.”

“It’sonlyonecookie,”shedefendedherself.

“Andthere’salowpressureweathersystemdumpingrainonus,andyou’vehadthestressofRachel
worrying you to death since your father ’s funeral,” she replied. “Not to mention that your father ’s
onlybeendeadforafewweeks.There’salwaysmorethanonetriggerthatsetsoffamigraine,evenif
youdon’trealizewhattheyare.Stuartgetsthem,too,youknow,butit’sredwineoragedcheesethat
causeshis.”

IvyrecalledoneterribleattackthatStuarthadafterhe’dclosedatrickybigbusinessdeal.Ithadbeen
thedayafterhe’dattendedabandconcertatIvyandMerrie’sschoolsoonafterthegirlshadbecome
friends.Theywerebothinband.IthadbeenIvywho’dsuggestedstrongcoffeeandthenadoctorfor
Stuart. He’d never realized that his terrible sick headaches were, in fact, migraines, much less that
therewereprescriptionsforthemthatactuallyworked.Ivyhadsufferedfromthemallherlife.Her
mother and her mother ’s father had also had migraine headaches. They tended to run in families.
TheyraninStuart’s,too.EventhoughMerriehadn’thadone,herfatherhadsufferedwiththem.So
hadanuncle.

“ThedoctorgaveStuartthepreventative,afterdiagnosingtheheadache,”Merriecommented.

“Ican’ttakethepreventative,”Ivyreplied.“Ihaveaheartdefect,andthemedicationcausesabnormal
heartrhythmsinme.Ihavetotreatthesymptomsinsteadofthedisease.”

“Ihopeyoubroughtyourmedicine.”

Ivylookedatthechocolatecookieandruefullyputtheremainderdownonherplate.“Iforgottogetit
refilled.”Translated,thatmeantthatshecouldn’tafforditanymore.Therewasoneremedythatwas
sold over the counter. She took it in desperation, although it wasn’t as effective as the prescription
medicineswere.

“Stuarthaspainmedicineaswellasthepreventative,”Merriesaidsolemnly.“Ifyouwakeupinthe
nightscreaminginpainbecauseofthatcookie,wecanhandleit.Maybewhenyourfather ’sestateis
settled,Rachelwillleaveyoualone.”

Ivy shook her head. “Rachel won’t rest until she gets every penny. She convinced Dad that I was
wilderthanawhite-taileddeer.Hecutmeoutofhiswill.”

“Heknewbetter,”Merriesaidindignantly.

Shelaughed.“No,hedidn’t.”Norhadhetriedtofindout.Hedranktoexcess.Rachelencouragedhim
to do it. When he was drunk, she fed him lies about Ivy. The lies had terrible repercussions. That
amusedRachel,whohatedherprimyoungersister.ItmadeIvyafraideverydayofherlife.

She pulled her mind from the past and forced a smile. “If having the estate will keep Rachel in
NewYork,andoutofmylife,itwillbeworthit.IstillhaveAuntHettie’slittledabofmoney.That,and
mypart-timejob,willseemethroughschool.”

“It’ssounfair,”herfriendlamented.“It’sneverbeenlikethathere.Stuartspliteverythingrightdown

themiddlebetweenus.HesaidwewerebothDad’skidsandoneshouldn’tbefavoredovertheother.”

Ivyfrowned.“Thatsoundsasifonewas.”

Shenodded.“InDad’swill,Stuartgotseventy-fivepercent.Hecouldn’tbreakthewill,becauseDad
wasalwaysinhisrightmind.Sohedidthesplithimself,afterthewillwasprobated.”Shesmiled.“I
knowyoudon’tlikehim,buthe’sagreatbrother.”

Itwasn’tdislike.Itwasfear.Stuartinatemperwasfrighteningtoawomanwhosewholeyounglife
hadbeenspenttryingtoescapemaleviolence.Well,itwasalittlemorethanfear,shehadtoadmit.

Stuartmadeherfeelfunnywhenshewasaroundhim.Hemadehernervous.

“He’sgoodtoyou,”Ivyconceded.

“Helikesyou,”shereplied.“No,really,hedoes.Headmiresthewayyouworkforyoureducation.
HewasfuriouswhenRacheljerkedthehouseoutfromunderyouandleftyouhomeless.Hetalkedto
theattorney.Itwasnouse,ofcourse.Ittakesalottobreakawill.”

ItwassurprisingthatStuartwoulddoanythingforher.Healwaysseemedtoresentherpresencein
hishouse.HetoleratedherbecauseshewasMerrie’sbestfriend,buthewasneverfriendly.Infact,he
stayedawayfromhomewhenheknewIvywasvisiting.

“He’sprobablyafraidofmyfatalcharm,”Ivymurmuredabsently.“Youknow,fearfulthathemight
succumbtomywiles.”Shefrowned.“What,exactly,arewilesanyway?”

“If I knew that, I’d probably have a boyfriend,” Merrie chuckled. “So it’s just as well I don’t. I’m
goingtogetmynursingcertificatebeforeIgetinvolvedwithanyoneman.Meanwhile,I’mplaying
thefieldlikecrazy.There’saresidentinourhospitalthatIadore.Hetakesmeoutonceinawhile,but
it’sallverylow-key.”SheeyedIvycuriously.“Anysecretsuitorsinyourlife?”

Ivyshookherhead.“Idon’teverwanttogetmarried,”shesaidquietly.

Merriefrowned.“Whynot?”

“Nobodycouldlivewithme,”shesaid.“Isnore.”

Merrielaughed.“Youdonot.”

“Anyway,I’mlikeyou.Ijustwanttograduateandgetarealjob.”Sheconsideredthat.“I’vedreamed
ofhavingmyownmoney,ofsupportingmyself.Inalotofways,Iledashelteredlife.Daddidn’

twanttoloseme,sohediscouragedboysfromcomingaround.Iwasvaluable,freehiredhelp.After
all,Rachelcouldn’tcookandshe’dneverhavewashedclothesormoppedfloors.”

Merriedidn’tsmile.Sheknewthatwasthetruth.Ivyhadbeenusedherwholeyounglifebythepeople
whoshouldhavecherishedher.She’dneverpried,butshenoticedthatIvyhardlyevertalkedabout
herfather,exceptinageneralway.

“Youreallydokeepsecrets,don’tyou?”Merrieaskedgently.SheheldupahandwhenIvyprotested.
“Iwon’tpry.Butifyoueverneedtotalk,I’mrighthere.”

“Iknowthat.”Shesmiledback.“Thanks.”

“Now. How about a good movie on the pay channels? I was thinking about that fantasy film
everyone’sravingabout.”Shenamedit.

Ivybeamed.“Ireallywantedtoseethatone,butit’snofungoingtothemoviesalone.”

“I’llaskMrs.Rhodesforsomepopcorntogowithit.Infact,shemightliketowatchitwithus.

Shedoesn’thaveasociallife.”

“She’smarried,isn’tshe?”Ivyprobedgently.

“Shewas,”camethereply.“HewasanengineerintheArmyandhewentoverseaswithhisunit.

He didn’t come back. They had no kids; it was just the two of them for almost twenty years.” She
grimaced.“Shecametousjustafterithappened,lookingforalive-injob.She’dlosteverything.He
gotagoodsalaryandwascareerArmy,soshehadn’tworkedexceptasatemporarysecretaryallthat
time.

Whenhewasgone,shehadtogothroughchannelstoapplyforwidow’sbenefits,andthejobmarket
locally was flat. She came to work for us as a temporary thing, and just stayed. We all suited each
other.”

“She’sverysweet.”

“She’sanurturingperson,”Merrieagreed.“SheevengetsawaywithnurturingStuart.Nobodyelse
woulddareeventry.”

Ivywouldn’thavetouchedthatlinewithapole.Shejustnodded.

Shewaslookingthroughtheprogramguideonthewide-screentelevisionwhenMerriecameinwith
asmall,plump,smilingwomanwithshortsilverhair.

“Hi,Mrs.Rhodes,”Ivysaidwithasmile.

“Goodtoseeyou,Ivy.I’mmakingpopcorn.What’sthemovie?”

“Wewantedtoseethefantasyone,”Merrieexplained.

“It’swonderful,”camethesurprisingreply.“Yes,Iwenttothetheatertoseeit,allbymyself,”

Mrs.Rhodeschuckled.“ButI’dlovetoseeitagain,ifyouwouldn’tmindthecompany.”

“We’dloveit,”Ivysaid,andmeantit.

“ThenI’lljustrunandgetthepopcornoutofthemicrowave,”theolderwomantoldthem.

“I’llbuythemovie,”Merriereplied,takingtheremotefromIvy.“ThisistheonemechanicalthingI

’mreallygoodat—pushingbuttons!”

Themoviewaswonderful,butlongbeforeitwasover,Ivywasseeingdancingcoloredlightsbefore
her eyes. Soon afterward, she lost the vision in one eye; in the center of it was only a ragged gray
static like when a television channel went off the air temporarily. It was the unmistakable aura that
camebeforethesickheadaches.

Shedidn’tsayawordaboutittoMerrie.She’djustgotobedandtoughitout.She’ddonethatbefore.
Ifshecouldgettosleepbeforethepaingotbad,shecouldsleepitoffmostofthetime.

Shetougheditoutuntilthemovieended,thensheyawnedandstoodup.“Sorry,I’vegottogettobed.
I’msosleepy!”

Merriegotup,too.“Icoulddowithanearlynightmyself.Mrs.Rhodes,willyoucloseup?”

“Certainly,dear.Needanythingelsefromthekitchen?”

“CouldIhaveabottleofwater?”Ivyasked.“Ialwayskeeponebymybedathome.”

“I’llbringituptoyou,”Mrs.Rhodespromised.“Merrie?”

Merrieshookherhead.“No,thanks,Ikeepdietsodasinmylittlefridge.Idrinkenoughbottledwater
atschooltofloataboat!”

“Yousaidyoucouldlendmeanightgown?”Ivyaskedwhentheywereatthetopofthestaircase.

“Canandwill.Comeon.”

MerriepulledabeautifulnightgownandrobeoutofherclosetandpresentedittoIvy.Itwassheer,
lacy, palest lemon and absolutely the most beautiful thing Ivy had ever seen. Her nightgowns were
cheapcottononesinwhichevercolorswereonsale.Shecaughtherbreathjustlookingatit.

“It’stooexpensive,”sheprotested.

“Itisn’t.ItwasagiftandIhateit,”Merriesaidhonestly.“YouknowIneverwearyellow.Oneofmy
roommates drew my name at Christmas and bought it for me. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it
wasn’tmycolor,Ihuggedherandsaidthankyou.ThenIhungitinthecloset.”

“Iwouldhavedonethesame,”Ivyhadtoadmit.“Well,it’sbeautiful.”

“Itwilllookbeautifulonyou.Goontobed.Sleeplate.Wewon’tneedtogetupbeforenoonifwe
don’twantto.”

“Ineversleeppastseven,evenwhenItry,”Ivysaid,smiling.“Ialwaysgotuptomakebreakfastfor
DadandRachel,andthenjustforDadaftershelefthome.”

“Mrs.Rhodeswillmakeyoubreakfast,wheneveryouwantit,”Merriesaid.“Sleepwell.”

“You,too.”

IvywentintothebedroomthatadjoinedMerrie’s.Therewasabathroombetweentheguestroomand
Stuart’sroom,butIvywasn’tworriedaboutthat.Stuartwasoutoftownandshe’dhavethebathroom
alltoherselfifsheneededit.Sheprobablywould,ifshecouldn’tsleepofftheheadache.Theymade
herviolentlyill.

Sheputonthenightgownandlookedatherselfinthefull-lengthmirror.Shewassurprisedathowshe
lookedinit.Herbreastsweresmall,buthighandfirm,andthegownemphasizedtheirperfection.It
floweddownhernarrowwaisttoherfullhipsandlong,elegantlegs.She’dneverwornanythingso
flattering.

Withherlongblondhairanddarkgreeneyesandsilky,softcomplexion,shelookedlikeafairy.

Shewasn’tpretty,butshewasn’tplain,either.Shewasslenderandmediumheight,withanicemouth
andbigeyes.Onlyoneofthebigeyeswasseeingrightnow,though,andsheneededsleep.

Therewasasoftknockatthedoor.Sheopenedit,andtherewasMrs.Rhodeswiththewater.

“Dear,you’reverypale,”theolderwomansaid,concerned.“Areyouallright?”

Ivysighed.“Itwasthechocolate.I’vegotaheadache.Idon’twantMerrietoknow.Sheworries.

I’lljustgotosleep,andI’llbefine.”

Mrs. Rhodes wasn’t convinced. She’d seen Ivy have these headaches, and she’d seen Stuart suffer
throughthem.“Haveyougotsomethingtotake?”

“Inmypurse,”Ivylied.“I’vegotaspirin.”

“Well,ifyouneedsomethingstronger,youcomewakemeup,okay?”sheaskedgently.“Stuartkeeps
medicineforthem.Iknowwheretolook.”

Shesmiled.“Thanks,Mrs.Rhodes.Ireallymeanit.”

“Youjustgetsomesleep.Callifyouneedme.I’mjustacrossthehallfromMerrie.”

“Iwill.Thanksagain.”

Shedroppeddownonthequeen-sizebedandpulledthesilkencoversupoverher.Theroomwasa
palacecomparedtoherone-roomapartment.Eventhebathroomwaslargerthantheroomshelived
in.

Merrietooksuchwealthandluxuryforgranted,butIvydidn’t.Itwasfascinatingtoher.

Thepainwasvicious.Theheadachesalwayssettledinoneeye,andtheyfeltasifaknifewerebeing
pushedrightthroughthepupil.Somepeoplecalledthem“head-bangers”becausesufferershadbeen
knowntoknocktheirheadsagainstwallsinanefforttocopewiththepain.Ivygroanedquietlyand
pushedherfistagainsttheeyethathadgoneblind.Thesighthadreturnedtoit,andthepaincamewith
it.

Volumeshadbeenwrittenontheviciousattacks.Comparingthemtomildtensionheadacheswaslike
comparingahurricanetoaspringbreeze.Somepeoplelostdaysofworkeveryyeartothem.Others
didn’trealizewhatsortofheadachestheywereandneverconsultedadoctoraboutthem.Stillothers
woundupinemergencyroomspleadingforsomethingtoeasethepain.Hardlyanythingsoldover
thecounterwouldevenfazethem.Itusuallytookaprescriptionmedicinetomakethembearable.Ivy
hadneverfoundanythingthatwouldstopthepain,regardlessofitsstrength.Thebestshecouldhope
forwasthatthepainwouldeaseenoughthatshecouldendureituntilitfinallystopped.

Around midnight, the pain spawned nausea and she was violently sick. By that time, the pain was a
throbbing,stabbingwaveofagony.

Shedabbedhermouthandeyeswithawetclothandlaidbackdown,tryingagaintosleep.Buteven
thoughthenauseaeasedalittle,thepainincreased.

ShewouldhavetogoandfindMrs.Rhodes.Ontheway,she’dstopinthebathroomlongenoughto
wettheclothagain.

She opened the door, half out of her mind with pain, and walked right into a tall, muscular man
wearingnothingexceptapairofblacksilkpajamabottoms.Blueeyesbitintohergreenonesasshe
lookedup,alongwayup,intothem.

“Whatthehellareyoudoinghere?”StuartYorkdemandedwithascowl.

CHAPTERTHREE

IVYhadn’tseenhiminmonths.Theydidn’ttravelinthesamecircles,andhewasneverathomewhen
shewasvisitingMerrie.Thesightofhimsounexpectedlycausedanoddbreathlessness,anachein
thepitofherstomach.

Hewaswatchingherintently,andtherewasanoddglintinhispaleblueeyes,asifshe’ddisappointed
him. He rarely smiled. He certainly wasn’t doing it now. His wide, sexy mouth was thin with
impatience. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. His chest was broad and muscular and thick with
black,curlinghairthatnarrowedonitswaydownhisbelly.Thesilkpajamabottomsclunglovingly
tothehardmusclesofhisthighs.Hewasassexyasanytelevisionhero.Evenwithhisthick,straight
blackhairslightlytousledandhiseyesredfromlackofsleep,hewaseverywoman’sdream.

“Iwas…lookingforsomething,”shefaltered.

“Me?”hedrawledsarcastically,andhereachedforher.“Racheltoldmeallaboutyoubeforesheleft
town.Ididn’tbelieveheratfirst.”Hiseyessliddownherexquisitebodyintherevealinggown.“Butit
looksasthoughshewasrightaboutyouallalong.”

Thefeelofallthatwarmstrengthsoclosemadeherlegswobbly.Therewasthefaintscentofsoap
andcolognethatclungtohisskin,andthewayhewaslookingathermadeitevenworse.Overthe
years,she’dtriedveryhardnottonoticeStuart.Butcloselikethis,herheartranawaywithher.She
feltsensationsthatmadeheruneasy,aliensensationsthatmadeherwantthingsshedidn’tunderstand.
Shecouldn’ttakehereyesoffhim,buthewasmistyinhervision.Herheadwasthrobbingsomadly
thatshecouldn’tthink.Whichwasunfortunate,becausehemisinterpretedherlackofprotest.

A split second later, she was standing with her back against the cold wall with Stuart’s hard body
pressingdownagainsthers.Hishandsproppedagainstthewall,pinningher,whilehiseyestookin
thevisibleslopeofherbreastsinthewispygown.Hecouldn’tseemtostoplookingather.

“Ineed…”shebeganweakly,tryingtofocusenoughtoaskforsomeaspirin,foranythingthatmight
maketheheadacheease.

“…me?”hetaunted.Hisvoicewasdeepandvelvetysoft,huskywithemotionashisheadbent.

Hispaleeyeswenttoherpartedlips.“Showme,honey.”

Whileshewasworkingoutthatoddcomment,hismouthwassuddenlyhardandinsistentonherown.
Shestiffenedwithapprehension.She’dneverbeensoclose,sointimatelyclose,toamanbefore.

Hismouthwasdemanding,twistingonhersasthoughhewantedmorethanhewasgetting.

Shereallyshouldprotestthewayhewasholdingher,sothatshefelteveryinchofmusclethatpressed
againsther.Buthismouthwaserotic,masterful.She’donlybeenkissedafewtimes,mostlyatparties,
andneverbyaboywhoknewmuchaboutintimacy.Ithadbeenhergoodfortunethatshe’dneverfelt
violentattractiontoamanwhowouldn’tacceptlimits.Butherluckhadjustrunout,withStuart.He

knewwhathewasdoing.Hismoutheasedandbecamecoaxing,caressing.Histeethnippedtenderlyat
herlowerlip,teasingittomovedownsothathehadaccesstothewholeofhersoft,warmmouth.

Sheshiveredalittleaspassiongrewinsideher.Shefelthisbarechestunderherhands,andsheloved
thewarmthandstrengthofhimsoclose.Herfingersburrowedthroughthethickhairthatcoveredthe
hardmuscle,makingthemtingleevenasshefelttheurgentresponseofhisbodytothesoftcaress.

She let her lips part as he pressed harder against them and she moved, involuntarily, closer to the
sourceofthesuddenpleasureshewasfeeling.

Itwaslikeaninvitation,andhetookit.Hishipsgroundintohersandshefeltthesuddenhardnessof
himagainstherwithrealfear.Hegroanedharshly.Hisbodybecameevenmoreinsistent.Hedidn’t
seemcapable,atthatmoment,ofstopping.

The throbbing delight she felt turned quickly to fear as his hands dropped to her hips and dragged
themagainstthechangingcontoursofhisbodywithintentenoughthatevenavirgincouldfeelhis
risingdesire.Frightenedbyhisheadlongardor,shepushedathischestfrantically,tryingtodragher
lipsawayfromthehard,slowdruggingpressureofhismouth.

Hewasreluctanttostop.Hecouldfeelhisownbodybetrayinghishungerforher.Hecouldn’thelpit.
She was exquisite to touch, and she tasted like sweet heaven. He couldn’t think past her body under
himinthebedbehindthem.Butfinallytheviolenceofherresistancegotthroughtohisfoggybrain.

Hemanagedtolifthisheadjustlongenoughtomeethereyes.

Whenhesawthefear,hebegantodoubtforthefirsttimewhatRachelhadsaidaboutherlittlesister.
Ifthiswasthepermissivebehaviorthathadbeendescribedtohim,itwasunlikelythatshe’dhadmany
boyfriends.Onthecontrary,shelookedasifshewasscaredtodeathofwhatcamenext.

“No,”shechokedhuskily,hereyesbrightwithfeeling,pleadingwithhis.“Pleasedon’t.”

Forjustaninstant,hishandstightenedonherwaist.Buthergaspandstiffeningposturetolditsown
story.Promiscuous?Thislittleicicle?Justonthestrengthofherresponse,hewouldhavebethislife
onherinnocence.

As his head began to clear, anger began to smolder in his chest. He’d lost his self-control. He’d
betrayedhis hunger forher. He couldn’tpretend that he hadn’tfelt desire whilehe was kissing her.
She’dfelthismomentaryweakness.Hisownragingdesirehadbetrayedhim,withthisinnocentchild-
womanwhowasonlyeighteenyearsold.Eighteen!

Anger and shame and guilt overwhelmed him. He pushed her away from him roughly, his eyes
blazingashelookeddownatherbodyintherevealingnightgown.Despiteeverything,hestillwanted
her,desperately.

“Whatdidyouexpect,whenyougolookingforaman,inthemiddleofthenight,dressedlikethat!?”
Heemphasizedherattirewithonebighand.

Shivering, her arms crossed over her breasts. She swayed, putting a hand up to her eye. She’d
forgotten the headache for a few seconds while he’d been kissing her, but it came back now with a
fury.

Sheleanedbackagainstthewallforsupport.Strongerthanshame,thananger,waspain,stabbinginto
herrighteyelikeaheatedpoker.

Her face was white and contorted. It began to occur to him that she was unwell. “What’s the matter
withyou?”heaskedbelatedly.

“Migraine,”shewhisperedhuskily.“Iwaslookingforaspirin.”

Hemadearoughsoundinhisthroat.“Aspirin,foramigraine,”hescoffed.Hebentsuddenly,swung
herupintohisarmsandstrodebackintohisbedroomwithher.Thefeelofhersoftnessinhisarms
was intoxicating. She was as light as a feather. He noticed that she wasn’t protesting the contact. In
fact,hercheekwasagainsthisbarechestandhecouldhearherbreathingchange,despitethepainhe
knewshewasfeeling.“You’llgetsomethingstrongerthanaspirintostopthepain,butnotbeforeI’ve
checkedwithyourdoctor.Sit.”Heputherdownonthebedandwenttothedressertopickuphiscell
phone.

“It’sDr.LouColtrain,”shebegan.

He ignored her. He knew who her doctor was. “Lou? Sorry to bother you so late. Ivy Conley’s
spendingtheweekendwithMerrie,andshe’sgotamigraine.Canshetakewhatyougivemeforit?”

Therewasapause,duringwhichhestaredatIvy,tryingnottolookatherthewayhefeltlikelooking.
Shewasbeautifullyformed.Butheragetorturedhim.Shewastooyoungforhim.Hewasthirty,to
hereighteen.Hedidn’tdaretouchheragain.Inordertokeephisdistance,hewasgoingtohaveto
hurther.Hedidn’twantto,butshewaslookingathiminadifferentwayalready.Thekisshadbeen
verymuchasharedpleasureuntilhe’dturneduptheheatandfrightenedher.

Aminutelaterheshifted,listened,nodded.“Okay.Yes,I’llsendherintotheclinictomorrowifshe
isn’tbetterbymorning.Thanks.”

He hung up. “She said that you can have half the dose I take,” he said, pulling a prescription bottle
fromhistopdrawerandshakingoutonepill.Hepouredwaterfromacarafeintoacrystalglassand
handedherthepillandtheglass.“Takeit.Ifyou’renotbetterinthemorning,you’llneedtogotoher
clinicandbeseen.”

“Couldyoustopglaringatme?”sheaskedthroughthepain.

“Youaren’ttheonlyonewho’sgotapain,”hesaidbluntly.“Takeit!”

Sheflushed,butsheputthepillinhermouthandswalloweditdownwithtwobigsipsofwater.

Hetooktheglassfromher,helpedherupfromthebedandmarchedherbackthroughthebathroom
toherownroom.Heguidedherdownontothebed.

“Ididn’tknowyou’dbehome,”shedefendedherself.“Merriepromisedyouwouldn’t.Ididn’texpect
towalkintothebathroomandrunintoyou.”

“That goes double for me. I didn’t know you were on the place,” he added curtly. “My sister has a
convenientmemory.”

Inotherwords,shehadn’ttoldhimIvywashere.Ivywonderedifherfriendknewhewasdueback
home.Itwouldhavebeenadirtytricktoplay,andMerriewasbiggerthanthat.Somaybeshehadn’t
known.

“Thankyouforthepill,”shesaidtautly.

Heletoutaharshbreath.“You’rewelcome.Gotobed.”

Sheslidthecoversbackandeasedunderthem,wincingasthemovementbumpedthepainupanother
notch.

“And don’t read anything romantic into what just happened,” he added bluntly. “Most men are
vulnerableatnight,whentemptationwalksinthedoorscantilyclad.”

“Ididn’tknow…!”

Heheldupahand.“Allright.I’lltakeyourwordforit.”Hiseyesnarrowed.“Yoursisterfedmea
packofliesaboutyou.Why?”

“Whywereyoueventalkingtoheraboutme?”shecountered.“Youalwayssaidyoucouldn’tstand
her,evenwhenyouwereinthesameclassinhighschool.”

“Shephonedmewhenyourfatherdied.”

“Ah,yes,”shesaid,closinghereyes.“Shedidn’twanttotakeanychancesthatyoumightcomedown
onmysideofthefenceduringtheprobateofthewill.”Shelaughedcoldly.“Icouldhavetoldherthat
wouldneverhappen.”

“ShethoughtyoumightaskMerrieforhelp.”

She opened her eyes. The pain was throbbing. She could see her heartbeat in her own eyes. “She
wouldhave.Notme.Icanstandonmyowntwofeet.”

“Yes,”hesaidslowly,studyingherpaleface.“You’vedoneremarkablywell.”

Thatwashighpraise,comingfromhim.Shelookedupintohisleanfaceandwonderedhowitwould
havefeltifshehadn’tpulledback.Warmcolorsurgedintohercheeks.

“Stopthat,”hemuttered.“Iwon’tbeanobjectofdesiretosomedaydreamingteenager.”

Histonewasn’thostile.Itwasmoreamusedthanangry.Hereyebrowsarched.“Areyousure?”

she asked, returning the banter. “Because I have to have somebody to cut my teeth on. Just think, I
could fall into bad company and become a lost sheep, and it would all be your fault, because you
wouldn’tletmeobsessoveryou.”

Atfirsthethoughtshewasbeingsarcastic.Thenhesawthetwinkleinthoseprettygreeneyes.

“You’retooyoungtobeobsessingoveramatureman.Gopickonaboyyourownage.”

“That’s the problem,” she pointed out, pushing her hand against her throbbing eye. “Boys my own
agearejustboys.”

“Allmenstartedoutthatway.”

“Iguessso.”Shegroaned.“Couldyoupleasehitmeintheheadwithahammer?Maybeitwouldtake
mymindoffthepain.”

“Ittakespillsalongtimetowork,doesn’tit?”heasked.Hemovedtositbesideheronthecoverlet.
“Wantacoldwetcloth?”

“I’ddiebeforeI’daskyoutogoandgetone.”

Helaughedshortly.Buthegotup,wentintothebathroomandwasbackaminutelaterwithadamp
washcloth.Hepresseditoverhereyes.“Doesithelp?”

Shehelditthereandsighed.“Yes.Thankyou.”

“Ihavetohaveheat,”herepliedconversationally.“Ican’tbearcoldwhenmyhead’sthrobbing.”

“Iremember.”

“Wheredidyougetthechocolate,Ivy?”heaskedafteraminute.

Shegrimaced.Hereallydidknowtoomuchabouther.“Therewasacookiethisafternoon.Ididn

’trealizeitwaschocolateuntilI’deatenhalfofit.Merriewarnedme.”

“Icaneattenchocolatebarsandtheydon’tfazeme.”

“That’sbecausechocolateisn’toneofyourtriggers.ButMerriesaysyouwon’tdrinkredwine.”

“WineisnosubstituteforagoodScotchwhiskey.Igaveitupyearsago.”

“Agedcheeseprobablyhasthesameeffect.”

Hegrimaced.“Itdoes.IloveStiltonandIcan’teatit.”

Shesmiled.“Aweakness!Ithoughtyouwerebeyondthem.”

“You’d be surprised,” he replied, and he was looking at her with an expression he was glad she
couldn’tsee.

The door opened suddenly and Merrie stopped, frozen, in the doorway. “Are you having a pajama
party?”sheaskedtheoccupantsoftheroom.

“Yes,butyou’renotinvited.It’sexclusivetomigrainesufferers,andyoudon’thavemigraines,”he
addedwithafaintsmile.

She closed the door and came in, to stand by the bed. “I was afraid of this,” she told Ivy. “I should
havenoticedtherewaschocolateonthetray.”

“She’stheonewhoshouldhavenoticed,”Stuartsaidharshly.

“Well,talkaboutintolerance,”Ivymutteredfromunderthewashcloth.“I’llbetnobodyfussesatyou
forwhatyouatewhenyou’vegotoneofthese.I’llbetyou’dthrowthemoutthewindowiftheydid.”

“You’rewelcometotrythrowingmeoutthewindow,”heoffered.

“Don’tbesilly.I’dneverbeabletoliftyou.”

“Doyouneedsomeaspirin,Ivy?”Merrieasked,sendingaglareatherbrother.

“I’vealreadygivenhersomething.”

Merrie was outraged. “We’re taught that you never give anything to another person without
consultingtheirphysician…!”

“I’mgladyouknowprocedure,butsodoI,”Stuartreplied.“IphonedLoubeforeIgaveittoher.”He
glancedtowardtheclockonthebedsidetable.“Itshouldbetakingeffectverysoon.”

Itwas.Ivycouldhardlykeephereyesopen.“I’mverysleepy,”shemurmured,amazedatthesudden
easingofthepainthathadbeensohorrificatfirst.

“Good.Whenyouwakeup,yourheadwillfeelnormalagain,”Stuarttoldher.

“Thanks,Stuart,”shesaid,thewordsslurringasthepowerfulmedicationdiditsjob.

“You’rewelcome,”hereplied.“Iknowathingortwoaboutmigraines.”

“Andshetaughtyouathingortwoaboutseeingthedoctorformedicinethatactuallyhelpedthem,”
Merriecouldn’tresistsaying.

Hedidn’treply.HiseyeswereonIvy’sfaceasshewenttosleep.Heliftedthewashclothandtookit
away.Hereyeswereclosed.Herbreathingregulated.Hewasgladthatthecoverwasuptoherchin,
sothathedidn’thavetoseethatperfectbodyagainandlieawakeallnightrememberingit.

Hegotupfromthebed,gentlysoasnottoawakenher,thewashclothstillclutchedinhishand.

“Thatwasniceofyou,togethersomethingtotake,”MerriesaidastheyleftIvy’sroom.

Heshrugged.“Iknowhowitfeels.”

“HowdidyoucomeoutinOklahoma?”sheasked.

“Everything’sreadyfortheauction,”hereplied.“Istillcan’tbelievetheyletmedownlikethatatthe
Jacobsvillesalesbarn.”

“They don’t have a history of messing up the different lots of cattle they sell,” she said in their
defense.

“Onemistakethatbigcanbeexpensive,”heremindedher.“Inthiseconomicclimate,evenwehaveto
becareful.LosingtheJapanesefranchisehurtus.”

“It hurt the Harts and the Dunns worse,” she replied. “They’d invested a lot in organic beef to send
overthere.Theyweresittingincloverwhenthebanhit.”

“But they recovered quickly, and so did we, by opening up domestic markets for our organic beef.
Thisorganicrouteisveryprofitable,andit’sgoingtobeevenmoreprofitablewhenpeoplerealize
howmuchitcontributestogoodhealth.”

“Oursignaturebrandsellsoutquicklyenoughinlocalmarkets,”sheagreed.

“Andevenbetterinbigcitymarkets,”hereplied.“How’sschool?”

Shegrinned.“I’mpassingeverything.Intwoyears,I’llbeworkinginaward.”

“Youcouldcomehomeandgotomorningcoffeesanddovolunteerwork,”heremindedherwitha
smile.

Sheshookherhead,returningthesmile.“I’mnotcutoutforaneasy,cushylife.Neitherareyou.

Wecomefromhardworkingstock.”

“Wedo.”Hebentandbrushedhismouthoverhercheek.“Sleeptight.”

“Areyouhomefortheweekend?”

Heglancedather.“Areyouwearingbodyarmor?”

“YouandIvycouldgetalongfortwodays,”shepointedout.

“Onlyifyoublindfoldmeandgagher.”

Sheblinked.“Excuseme?”

“It’s an in-joke,” he said. “I have to fly to Denver tomorrow to give a speech at the agriculture

seminaronthesubjectofgeneticallyengineeredgrain,”headded.

Shegrimaced.“Don’tcomehomewithabloodynosethistime,willyou?”

Heshrugged.“I’monlyplayingdevil’sadvocate,”hetoldher.“Wecan’tmakeittooeasyonpeople
who want to combine animal cells and vegetable cells and call it progress.” His pale eyes began to
glitter.“Oneday,downtheroad,we’llpayforthisnoblemeddling.”

Shereachedupandtouchedhisface.“Okay,goslugitoutwiththeprogressives,ifyoumust.I’lltreat
IvytothenewImaxmovieaboutMars.”

“Mars?”

“ShelovesMars,”Merrietoldhim.

“I’dlovetosendherthere,”herepliedthoughtfully.“Wecouldstraphertoarocket…”

“Stopthat.She’smybestfriend.”

Heshookhishead.“ThethingsIdoforyou,”heprotested.“Okay,I’llsettleforsendinghertothe
moon.”

“She’s only just lost her father, her house and she’ll soon lose her inheritance as well,” she said
solemnly.“IcouldstrangleRachelforwhatshe’sdone.”

HecouldhavestrangledRachelhimself,fortheliesshe’dfedhimaboutIvy.Heshouldhaveknown
better.She’dneverbeenforwardwithmen,tohisknowledge.Hewascertainnowthatshewasn

’t.ButhewonderedwhyRachelwouldmakeapointofdowngradinghertohim.PerhapsitwasasIvy
said—hersisterwantedhimtostayoutoftheprobateofherfather ’swill.PoorIvy.She’dnevergeta
pennyifRachelhadherway.

“Youlookverysomber,”Merrieobserved.

“Ivyshouldhavehadthehouse,atleast,”hesaid,betrayingthelineofhisthoughts.

“She couldn’t have lived there, even if she’d inherited it,” she told him. “There’s no money for
utilitiesorupkeep.Shecanbarelykeepherselfinschoolandpayherrent.”

Hiseyesnarrowed.“Wecouldpayitforher.”

“Itried,”Merriereplied.“Ivy’sproud.Shewon’tacceptwhatshethinksofascharity.”

“Sosheworksnightsandweekendstosupplementthatpitifulamountofmoneyherauntlefther,”

he grumbled. “At least one of those mechanics she keeps books for is married and loves to run
aroundwithyoungwomen.”

“HedidaskIvyout,”Merriereplied.

Helookedevenangrier.“And?”

“She accidentally dropped a hammer on his foot,” Merrie chuckled. “He limped for a week, but he
neveraskedIvyoutagain.Theothermenhadalotoffunathisexpense.”

Hefeltareluctantadmirationfortheirhouseguest.Ifshe’dbeenolder,hisinterestmighthavetakena
differentform.Buthehadtorememberherage.

“Rachelcalledhertodayharpingabouttheprobate,”shesaidslowly.“Iexpectthat’swhyshehadthe
migraine.Rachelworrieshertodeath.”

“Sheneedstolearntostanduptohersister.”

“Ivyisn’tlikethat.ShelovesRachel,inspiteofthewayshe’sbeentreatedbyher.Shedoesn’thave
anyotherrelativesleft.Itmustbelonelyforher.”

“She’lltoughenup.She’llhaveto.”Hestretched.“I’mgoingtobed.Iprobablywon’tseeyoubeforeI
leave. I’ll be back sometime Monday. You can reach me on my cell phone if anything important
comesup.”

“Chaycehandlestheranchverywell.Iexpectwe’llcope,”shesaid,smiling.“Havefun.”

“Inbetweenfistfights,Imight,”heteased.“Seeyou.”

“Seeyou.”

Hewentbacktohisroomandclosedthedoor.HehadtoputIvyoutofhismindandneverlethistory
repeat itself. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to have himself photographed with some pretty socialite. He
didn’tlikepublicity,buthecouldn’ttakethechancethatIvymightwarmuptohim.

He recalled reluctantly the dossier a private detective had assembled on Ivy’s father. The man had
beenaclosetalcoholicandabusivetohislatewifeaswellasIvy,althoughhe’dnevertouchedRachel.

He’dwantedtoknowwhyIvyhadbackedawayfromhimoncewhenhe’dbeenyellingatoneofthe
cowboys.Hewasnevergoingtotellherwhathe’dlearned.Buthewascarefulnottoyellwhenshe
wasnearby.Still,hetoldhimself,hehadtodiscourageherfromseeinghimasherfuture.Itwouldbe
akindnesstokillthisattractionbeforeithadachancetobloom.Shewasyearstooyoungforhim.

Therestoftheweekendpassedwithoutincident.ThetwowomenworkedonMerrie’sanatomyexam.
They watched movies and shared their dreams of the future. On Monday morning, Merrie dropped
IvyoffatthelocalcollegeonherwaytoSanAntonio.

“I’ll phone you the next time I have a free weekend,” Merrie promised as they parted. “Don’t let
Rachelmakeyoucrazy,okay?”

“I’lltry,”Ivysaid,smiling.“Itwasalovelyweekend.Thanks.”

“Ihadfun,too.We’lldoitagain.Seeyou!”

“Seeyou!”

IvyspenttheweekdaydreamingaboutwhathadhappenedintheguestroomatMerrie’shouse.The
moresherelivedthetorridinterludewithStuart,themoresherealizedhowbigapartofherlifehe
was.

Overtheyearsshe’dbeenfriendswithMerrie,Stuarthadalwaysbeenclose,butinthebackground.

Becauseoftheagedifference,hedidn’treallyhangoutintheplacesthatMerrieandIvyfrequented.
Hewasalreadyamaturemanwhiletheyweregettingthroughhighschool.

But now, with those hard, insistent kisses, everything between them had changed. Ivy had dreams
about him now; embarrassing, feverishly hot dreams of a future that refused to go away. Surely he
hadtofeelsomethingforher,evenifitwasonlydesire.He’dwantedher.Andshe’dwantedhimjust
asmuch.

Itwasamilestoneinheryounglife.

But toward the end of the week, as she waited in line at the grocery store to pay for her meager
purchases, she happened to look at one of the more lurid tabloids. And there was Stuart, with a
beautiful,poisedyoungwomanplasteredagainsthisside,lookingupathimadoringly.Thecaption
read, Millionaire Texas Cattleman Donates Land to Historical Trust. Apparently the woman in the
photowasthedaughterofaprominentbusinessmanwhowasheadofthetrustinquestion.Shewasa
graduateofanequallyprominentcollegebackeast.Thearticlewentontosaythattherewastalkofa
mergerbetweenthemillionaireandthesocialite,butbothsaidtherumorswerepremature.

Ivy’sheartshatteredlikeice.ApparentlyStuarthadn’tbeenasoverwhelmedbyherasshehadbeenby
him,andhewasmakingitknownpublicly.Shehadnoillusionsthatthestorywasanaccident.

Stuartknewpeopleineverywalkoflife,andhenumberedpublishersamonghiscircleoffriends.He
wantedIvytoknowthathehadn’ttakenherseriously.He’dchosenapublicandhumiliatingwaytodo
it,tomakesureshegotthepoint.Andshedid.

Merriecalledhertoaskifshe’dseenthestory.

“Oh,yes,”Ivyreplied,hertonesubdued.

“Idon’tunderstandwhyhe’dlethimselfbeusedlikethat,”Merriemutteredirritably.Itwasobvious
thatsheknewnothingofwhathadhappenedbetweenherbrotherandherbestfriend,orshe’dhave
saidso.Sheneverpulledherpunches.

“Eventhemostreclusivepersoncanfallvictimtoadeterminedreporter,”Ivysaidinhisdefense.

“Maybethephotographercaughthimataweakmoment.”

“Maybe he’s giving a public cold shoulder to some woman who’s pursuing him, too,” Merrie said
innocently.“Itwouldbelikehim.Buttherehasn’tbeenanybodyinhislifelately.Nobodyregular,I
mean.I’msurehetakeswomenout.Hejustdoesn’tgetseriousaboutanyofthem.”

“Howdidyoudoonyourexam?”Ivyasked,deliberatelychangingthesubject.

“Actually,Ipassedwithflyingcolors,thankstoyou.”

“You’rewelcome,”camethepertreply.“YoucandothesameformewhenIhavemyfinals.”

“Thatwon’tbeforawhileyet.Comingovernextweekend?”

Ivythoughtquickly.“Merrie,IpromisedmyroommatethatI’ddriveuptoDallaswithhertoseeher
mother.Shedoesn’tliketomakethatdrivealone.”Itwasn’tthewholetruth.Litahadaskedhertogo,
andIvyhadpromisedtothinkaboutit.Now,shewassurethatshe’dagree.

“Well,it’sniceofyoutodoit.”Therewasapause.“I’mnotgoingtobeabletocomehomemuch,
onceItakethejobI’vebeenofferedatthehospitalhere.I’llbeworkingtwelve-hourshiftsfourdays
aweek,andalotofthemwillbeonweekends.”

“Iunderstand,”Ivysaidquickly,thankfulthatshewouldn’thavetocomeupwithsomanyexcusesto
escapeseeingStuartagain.“WhenIgraduate,I’llbedoingsomeweekendworkmyself,I’msure.But
when I can afford a car, I can drive up to see you and we can go to a movie or out to eat or
something.”

“Ofcoursewecan.”Therewasapause.“Ivy,isanythingwrong?”

“No,”shesaidatonce.“ThelawyerisreadytohandoverDad’sestatetoRachel.I’mtogetasmall
lumpsum.MaybeRachelwillleavemealonenow.”

“Ihopeso.Pleasekeepintouch,”Merrieadded.

“I will,” Ivy agreed. But she crossed her fingers. It was suddenly imperative that she find a way to
avoidStuartfromnowon.Shecouldn’taffordtoletherheartsettleonhimagain,especiallynowthat
he’

dmadehisownfeelingsbrutallyclear.She’dmissMerrie,buttheriskwastoogreat.Brokenhearts,
sheassuredherself,werebestavoided.

CHAPTERFOUR

Twoyearslater…

“IVY,wouldyoulikeacupofcoffeewhileyouwork?”herlatestclientaskedfromthedoorwayof
theofficewhereshewaswritingchecksandbalancingbankstatements.

She looked up from her work, smiling, her long blond hair neatly pinned on top of her head. Her
greeneyestwinkled.“I’dloveone,ifitisn’ttoomuchtrouble,”shesaid.

Marcellasmiledback.“Ijustmadeapot.I’llbringitin.”

“Thanks.”

“It’snotroubleatall,really.You’vesavedmefrombankruptcy!”

“Notreally.Ijustdiscoveredthatyouhadmoremoneythanyouthoughtyoudid,”shereplied.

Theolderwomanchuckled.“Yousayityourway,I’llsayitmine.I’llbringthecoffee.”

Ivycontemplatedtheniceofficeshewasusingandtheamazingprogressshe’dmadeinthepasttwo
yearssinceherdisastrousweekendatMerrie’shouse.She’dbeenabletogiveupthepart-timejobat
the garage when Dorie Hart offered her a bookkeeping service, complete with clients. Dorie had
enjoyed the work very much, and she’d kept handling the books for her clients long after her
marriagetoCorriganHart.Buthergrowingfamilykepthertoobusytocontinuewithit.Ivyhadbeen
a gift from heaven, Dorie told her laughingly. Now she could leave her clients in good hands and
retirewithaclearconscience.

Doriehadsomewonderfulaccounts.Therewasaboutiqueowner,abuddingarchitect,theownerofa
custombeefretailshop,anexercisegymandaboutadozenothersmallbusinessesinJacobsville.Ivy
hadmetthebusinesspeoplewhileshewasinherlastsemesterofcollege,whenDoriehadapproached
herwiththeproposal.DorieandLita,whocar-pooledwithIvy,werefriends.LitahadmentionedIvy’s
goalsandDoriehadgonetoseeherattheboardinghouse.Ithadbeenanincrediblestrokeofgood
luck.

Ivy had resigned herself to working in a C.P.A. firm. Now she was a business-woman in her own
right.

Andasifherblessingshadn’tmultipliedenough,she’dalsovolunteeredtodotheoccasionalarticle
fortheJacobsCountyCattlemen’sAssociationinwhatlittlefreetimeshehad.Shewouldhavedoneit
asafavortotheHarts,sinceCorriganwasthisyear ’spresident,buttheywouldn’thearofit.Shegota
checkforanythingsheproduced.Likehermathskills,herEnglishskillswereverygood.

Merrie was nursing at a big hospital in San Antonio. The two spoke on the phone at least twice a
month,buttheystayedtoobusyforsocializing.Ivyhadnevertoldherfriendwhathadhappenedthat
lastnightshespentunderStuart’sroof.SheneveraskedaboutStuart,either.Merrieseemedtosense

thatsomethinghadgonewrong,butshedidn’tpry.Shedidn’ttalkaboutherbrother,either.

Autumn turned the leaves on the poplars and maples beautiful shades of gold and scarlet. Ivy felt
restless,asifsomethingwasabouttochangeinherlife.Shedidherjobandtriednottothinkabout
Stuart York, but always in the back of her mind was the fear of something unseen and unheard. A
premonition.

Therewasapartytobenefitalocalanimalshelter,whichShelbyJacobshadorganized.Ivywouldn’t
have gone, but Sheriff Hayes Carson was on the committee that had planned the party, and he was
showinganincreasinginterestinIvy.

Shedidn’tknowifshelikeditornot.ShewasfondofHayes,butherheartdidn’tdocartwheelswhen
hewasaround.Maybethatwasagoodthing.

WhenheshowedupatherboardinghouselateoneFridayafternoon,shesatontheporchswingwith
him.Herroomcontainedlittlemorethanabedandavanity,andshewasuncomfortabletakingaman
there.Hayesseemedtoknowthat,becausehesatdownintheswingwithnohesitationatall.

“We’rehavingthebenefitdancenextFridaynight,”hetoldher.“Gowithme.”

Shelaughednervously.“Hayes,Ihaven’tdancedinyears.I’mnotsureIevenrememberhow.”

Hisdarkeyestwinkled.“I’llteachyou.”

She studied him with pursed lips. He really was a dish. He had thick blond hair that the sun had
streaked, and a lean, serious face. His dark eyes were deep-set, heavy browed. His uniform
emphasizedhismuscularphysique.Hewasbuiltlikearodeorider,tall,withwideshoulders,narrow
hipsandlong,powerfullegs.PlentyofsinglewomenaroundJacobsvillehadtriedtolandhim.None
hadsucceeded.Hewastheconsummatebachelor.Heseemedimmunetowomen.Mostofthetime,he
looked as if he had no sense of humor at all. He rarely smiled. But he could be charming when he
wantedto,andhewasturningonthecharmnow.

Ivyhadn’tbeenaskedoutinmonths,andthemanwho’daskedhadareputationthatevenMerrieknew
about,andMerriedidn’tliveathomeanymore.

Havingturneddownthepotentialrisk,Ivykepttoherself.NowHayeswasaskinghertoadance.

Shewalkedaroundinjeans.Shelookedandactedlikeatomboy.Shefrowned.

“Comeon,”hecoaxed.“Allworkandnoplaywillrunyoucrazy.”

“Yououghttoknow,”shetossedback.“Didn’tyoutakeyourlastvacationdayfouryearsago?”

Hechuckleddeeply.“Iguessso.Ilovemyjob.”

“Weallnoticed,”shesaid.“BetweenyouandCashGrier,drugdealershavelefttrailsoffirebehind
themrunningfortheborder.”

“We’ve got a good conviction rate,” he had to admit. “What’s holding you back? Nursing a secret
passionforsomeonehereabouts?”

Shelaughed.Itwashalftrue,butshewasn’tadmittingit.“Notreally,”shesaid.“ButI’mnotusedto
socializing.Ididn’tevendoitincollege.”

Hefrowned.“Iknowwhyyoudon’tdate,Ivy,”hesaidunexpectedly.“Youcan’tliveinthepast.

Andnoteverymanislikeyourfather.”

Herfaceclosedup.Herhandsclenchedinherlap.Shestaredoutatthehorizon,tryingnottoletthe
memories eat at her consciousness. “My mother used to say that she thought he was a perfect
gentlemanbeforetheymarried.Theywenttogetherforayearbeforeshemarriedhim.Andthenshe
discoveredhowbrutalamanhereallywas.Shewaspregnant,andshehadnoplacetogo.”

Hecaughtoneofhersmallhandsinhisbigone.“Hewasanoutsider,”heremindedher.“Hemoved
herefromNevada.Nobodyknewmuchabouthim.ButyouknowpeopleinJacobsville.”Hepursed
hislips.“Idaresayyouknowallaboutme.”

Thatdrolltonesurprisedherintolaughing.“Well,yes,Ido.Everybodydoes.Theonlybrutalthing
aboutyouisyourtemper,andyoudon’thitpeopleunlesstheyhityoufirst.”

“That’sright.Soyou’dbeperfectlysafewithmeforoneevening.”

Shesighed.“You’rehardtorefuse.”

“You’llhavefun.SowillI.Comeon,”hecoaxed.“We’llhelpaddsomekennelspacetotheanimal
shelterandgivepeoplesomethingtogossipabout.”

“Itwouldbefun,”shecameback.“Youdon’tdateanybodylocally.”

Heshrugged.“Ilikemyowncompanytoomuch.Besides,”hesaidruefully,“there’sAndy.Hestunts
mysociallife.”

Sheshivered.“I’mnotgoinghomewithyou,”shepointedout.

“Iknow.Ihaven’tfoundasinglewomanwhowill.”Hesighedresignedly.“He’sreallyverytame.

He’savegetarian.Hewon’teveneatamouse.”

“Itwon’twork.Yourscalyroommateisgoingtokeepyousingle,justlikeCagHart’sdid.”

“I’vehadhimforsixyears,”hesaid.“He’smyonlypet.”

“Goodthing.He’deatanyotherpetyoubroughthome.”

Hescowled.“He’savegetarian.”

“Areyousure?Haveanydogsorcatsdisappearedonyourplacesinceyougothim?”sheteased.

Hemadeafaceather.“It’ssillytobeafraidofavegetarian.It’slikebeingafraidofacow!”

Hereyebrowsarched.“Andydoesn’tlooklikeanycowIeversaw,”sheretorted.“Hispicturewason
the front page of the paper when you took him to that third grade class to teach them about
herpetology.Ibelievetherewassometalkaboutbarringyoufromclassrooms…?”

Heglowered.“Hewasn’ttryingtoattackthatgirl.Shewasthetallestkidintheroom,andhetriedto
climbher,that’sall.”

She had to fight laughter. “I’ll bet you won’t take him out of the cage at a grammar school ever
again,”shesaid.

“Youcanbetonthat,”heagreed.Hefrownedthoughtfully.“Iexpecthe’llhaveaterroroflittlegirls
fortherestofhislife,pooroldthing.”

Sheshookherhead.“Well,I’mnotgoingintotheroomwithhimunlesshe’sconfined.”

“Hehatescages.He’stoobigformostofthem,anyway.Besides,hesitsontopofthefridgeandeats
bugs.”

“Youneedtogetoutmore,”shepointedout.

“I’mtryingto,ifyou’lljustagree,”heshotback.

Shesighed.“Allright,I’llgo.Butpeoplewillgossipaboutusforweeks.”

“Idon’tcare.I’mimmunetogossip.Soareyou,”headdedwhenshestartedtoprotest.

“IguessIam.Okay.I’llgo.Isitjeansandboots?”

“No,”hereplied.“It’snicedressesandhighheels.”

“Ihatedressingup,”shemuttered.

“SodoI.ButIcanstanditifyoucan.Andit’sforagoodcause,”headded.

“Yes,itis.”

“So,I’llpickyouuphereatsixnextFridaynight.”

Shesmiled.“I’llbuyadress.”

“That’sthespirit!”

WordgotaroundtownthatshewasgoingtothedancewithHayes.Nobodyeverknewexactlyhow
gossiptraveledsofast,butitwasaspredictableastrafficflowinrushhour.

EvenMerrieheardaboutit,althoughIvyhadnoideahow.Shephonedherbestfriendtwodaysbefore
thedance.

“Hayesactuallyaskedyouout?”Merrieexclaimed.“Buthedoesn’tdateanybody!Atleast,hehasn’t
datedanybodysincethatJonesgirlwhodumpedhimforthevisitingAussiemillionaire.”

“Thatwastwoyearsago,”Ivyagreed,“andIstilldon’tthinkhe’sreallyoverher.We’reonlygoing
toadance,Merrie.Hehasn’taskedmetomarryhim.”

“Youneverknow,though,doyou?”theothergirlwonderedaloud.“Hemightbefeelinglonely.

Heloveskids.”

“Slowdown!”Ivyexclaimed.“Idon’twanttogetmarriedanymorethanHayesdoes!”

“Whynot?”

“Ilikelivingbymyself,”shesaidevasively.“Anyway,IexpectHayesdoesn’tknowthatmanysingle
women.”

“Thereareplentyofdivorcedonesaround,”camethedrollreply.

“Thedancewillbenefitouranimalshelter,”Ivytoldher.“Itwilladdnewkennels.We’vegotsomany
strays.It’sjustpitiful.”

“I like animals, too, but Hayes isn’t asking you to any dance because of stray dogs, you mark my
word. Maybe he’s going to flash you to deter some woman who’s chasing him. That’s the sort of
thingmybrotherdoes.”

“YourbrotherisbetteratitthanHayesis,”Ivysaid,notwantingtothinkofStuart.Shehadn’tseen
himinalongtime.

“Well,ofcourseheis.Hegetsplentyofpractice.”Therewasasigh.“Excepthedoesn’tseemtobe
datinganybodylately.Iaskedhimwhyandhesaiditwasn’tfunanymore.IfIdidn’tknowhimbetter,
I’dthinkhe’dfoundsomeonehewantedtogetseriousabout.”

“That’sunlikely,”Ivysaid,butshewonderedifMerriewasright.Itmadehersad.

“Unlikely,butnotimpossible.IthinkImightcometothedance,too,”shesaidoutoftheblue.“Ican
getsomeonetoworkmyshift.Everybodyowesmefavors.”

“Whowillyoucomewith?”

“I’llcomebymyself,”Merriereturned.“Idon’tneedadate.TellHayestosavemeadance,though.”

Ivy laughed. “He can take both of us. That will really shake people up locally. They’ll think he’s
puttingaroundanewsortofdouble-dating.”

Merrielaughed,too.“IhadaflamingcrushonHayeswhenwewereinhighschool,buthecouldn’

tseemefordust.Thatwasaboutthetimehefellinwiththeshe-tigerwhoditchedhimfortheAussie.

Servedhimright.Anybodycouldseethatshewasonlyagolddigger.”

“Hayesownshisownranch,”shebegan.

“Andheinheritedatrustfromhisgrandfather,”Merrieagreed.“ButHayesisn’tthesorttoliveonan
incomehedidn’tearn.He’slikeStuart.They’rebothindependent.”

“Sameasyou,”Ivyaccused.

Shelaughed.“Iguessso.”

“Howdoyoulikebeinganurse?”

“Iloveit,”Merriesaidhonestly.“I’veneverenjoyedanythingsomuch.IloveknowingthatIhelped
keepsomeonealive.It’sthebestjobinthewholeworld.”

“Merrie,youworkalldaywithsickpeople,”Ivypointedout.

“Sickpeople?Me?Areyousure?”

“Youworkinahospital,”Ivyreturned.

“Nokidding?Nowondertherearesickpeopleeverywhere!”

Ivylaughed.“Okay,youmadeyourpoint.You’reintherightplace.I’mgladyoulikeyourjob.

You might not believe it, but I like mine just as much. I’m working with some really interesting
people.”

“So I’ve heard,” Merrie replied. “I’m glad you’re happy. But speaking of pleasant things, have you
heardfromRachel?”

Ivy’s happy face fell. She drew in a long breath. “As a matter of fact, I haven’t. Not in over two
months. The last I heard, she was trying to get away from Jerry the drug dealer so that she could
shackupwitharicherman.Shewouldn’ttellmehisname.Shedidmentionthathewasmarried.”

“Married.Whydoesn’tthatsurpriseme?”

“Icouldbarelymakesenseofwhatshesaid,”Ivyreplied.“Sheslurredherwordssobadlythatshe
wasincoherent.Ican’timaginewhatarichmanwouldseeinawomanwhostaysstonedallthetime.

Howshecanstillactinthatconditionisbeyondme.”

“Aslongasshe’sleavingyoualone,thathastobeabonus.”

“Isuppose.Ijustworryabouther.She’stheonlylivingrelativeIhave,”sheadded.“Maybetherich
guywillweanheroffdrugsandgetherawayfromJerryforgood.Unlesshiswifefindsout.”She
groaned. “That’s just what it would take to send Rachel over the edge. I’m sure she’s convinced
herselfthathe’lldivorcehiswifetostaywithher.Idon’tthinkhewill.”

“Mostofthemdon’t,”Merrieagreed.“Didshearguewiththedrugdealer?”

“Ihavenoidea.ButfromwhatIunderstood,shethinksshe’slandedinafieldofclover.Therichguy
buysherdiamonds.”

“Iwon’taskwhathegetsinreturn.”

Ivygrimaced.“NeitherwouldI.”

“Well,I’llseeyouatthedance.Whereisit,andwhen?”

Ivygavehertheparticulars,butshewasmorosewhenshehungup.WhatifRachelwasinvolvedwith
someonewell-knownandthewifefoundoutandwentafterherinthepress?Rachelwasbrassyand
demandingandtotallylackingincompassion.Butshewasweakineveryotherway.Ascandalwould
driveherovertheedge.Therewasnotellingwhatshemightdo.

Therehadbeensomethingunusualintheirlastconversationaswell.Rachelhadaskedhertopassa
message along to the owner of the only bakery in town, the Bun Shop. It hadn’t made sense to Ivy;
somethingaboutashipmentofflourthathadn’tarrivedonschedule.ShewantedtoknowwhyRachel
wasconcernedwithabakeshop.Rachelsaiditwasafriendwhoneededthemessagepassedalong.

ThatconversationhadbeenmorevolatilethanshefeltcomfortabledivulgingtoMerrie.Rachelhad
mentionedtheultimatumshe’dgivenherrichlover,thateitherhedivorcehiswifeorshe’dgopublic
withthetruthoftheirrelationship.Ivyhadpleadedwithhertodonosuchthing,thatifthemanwas
thatrich,hiswifecouldhiresomeonetohurther.Rachelhadonlylaughed,sayingthatthewifewasa
cold fish who was half out of her mind, and that she posed no threat at all. But in case that fell
through,shesaid,she’ddiscoveredanothergoodwaytogetalotofmoney.ShetauntedIvywithher
newfoundsourcesofwealth,intimatingthatIvycouldn’tgetamanevenifshehadmillions.Ivydidn’t
care.ShewastiredofRachel’ssarcasm.

They’d parted on not good terms. Rachel had accused her of being jealous. She’d never gotten the
attentionRachelhad,notevenfromtheirfather.Ivywasjustaloser,Rachelsaid,andshe’dneverbe
morethanaclerk.IvyhadagreedthatRachelhadgottenmoreattentionathome,bylyingaboutIvyto
theirfatherandlettinghertakethepunishmenttheirfatherhaddeemedappropriateforhersupposed
sins.

Rachel had sounded shocked at the description of their father ’s idea of punishment. Ivy was lying,
she’daccused.Theoldmanhadn’thadaviolentboneinhisbody.HelovedRachel,Ivyremindedher
sister bitterly. Ivy was just the servant, and the more Rachel denounced her, the more critical and
angryhebecame.

Forafewseconds,Rachelactuallysoundedregretful.Butitpassed,asthoserareboutsofsympathy

alwaysdid.Rachelhungupabruptly,mumblingthatherloverwasatthedoor.

Ivyputdownthephoneandrealizedthatshewasshaking.RelivingthoselastdaysRachelwasathome
madehermiserable.Hermemorieswereterrible.

She did go shopping for a dress, but the boutique owner she kept books for insisted on letting her
borrowoneofherowndesignsfortheaffair.

“It’smydisplaymodel,”MarcellaBlackinsisted,“andjustyoursize.Besides,it’stheexactshadeof
greenthatyoureyesare.Youcomebyhereatfive,andI’llhelpyouintoitandI’lldoyourhairand
makeupaswell.Noarguments.You’regoingtobeafairyprincessFridaynight.”

“I’llturnintothefrogatmidnight,”Ivyteased.

“Fatchance.”

“Allright.I’llcomebyatfiveonFriday.Andthanks,Marcella.Really.”

Theolderwomanwrinkledhernoseaffectionately.“Youjusttelleverybodywhomadethatdressfor
you,andwe’reeven.”

“YoubetIwill!”

Hayeswasn’twearinghisuniform.Hehadonadarksuitwithawhitecottonshirtandabluepatterned
tie.HisshoesweresoshinythattheyreflectedtheporchlightatMrs.Brown’sroominghouse.

IvyhadjustreturnedinthelittleusedVWshe’dboughtandlearnedtodrivetwoyearsearlierfrom
Marcella’s boutique, where she’d been dressed and her long blond hair had been put up in a curly
coiffure.Shehadonjustenoughmakeuptomakeherlooksensational.Shewasshockedattheresults.

She’dneverreallytriedtolookgood.Hermirrortoldherthatshedid.

Hayesgaveheralong,appreciativestare.“Youlooklovely,”hesaidquietly.Heproducedaplastic
containerwithacymbidiumorchidinside.Heoffereditwithalittleshrug.“Shesaidthatwomenwear
themontheirwriststhesedays.”

“Yes,”shesaid,“sotheydon’tgetcrushedwhenwedance.Youdidn’thavetodothis,Hayes,”

shesaid,takingtheorchidoutofthebox.“Butthankyou.It’sjustbeautiful.”

“Ithoughtyoumightlikeit.Readytogo?”

Shenodded,pullingthedoorclosedbehindher.ShehadasmalleveningbagthatMarcellahadloaned
hertogowiththedress.ShereallydidfeellikeCinderella.

Thecommunitycenterwasfulltothebrimwithlocalcitizenssupportingtheanimalshelter.Twoof
theveterinarianswhovolunteeredattheanimalclinicweretherewiththeirspouses,andmostofthe
leadinglightsofJacobsvilleturnedupaswell.JustinandShelbyBallengercamewiththeirthreesons.

The eldest was working at the feedlot with Justin during the summer and working on his graduate
degree in animal husbandry the rest of the year. The other two boys were still in high school, but
ready to graduate. The three of them looked like their father, although the youngest had Shelby’s
blue-grayeyes.TheTremaynebrothersandtheHartboyscamewiththeirwives.MicahSteeleandhis
Calliecame,andsodidtheDoctorsColtrain,Louandherhusband“Copper.”J.D.LangleyandFay,
andMattCaldwellandhiswifeLeslie,andCashGrierwithhisTippywerealsomillingaroundinthe
crowd.IvyspottedJuddDunnandhiswife,Christabel,inacorner,lookingasmuchinloveaswhen
they’dfirstmarried.

“Amazing, isn’t it, that the hall could hold all these people?” Hayes remarked as he led Ivy up the
stepsintothehugelogstructure.

“Itreallyis.I’llbetthey’llbeabletoaddawholenewkennelwithwhattheymaketonight.”

Hesmileddownather.“Iwouldn’tdoubtit.”

They bumped into another couple, one of whom was Willie Carr, who owned the bakery. Then she
rememberedRachel’soddmessagethatshewassupposedtogivehim.

“Willie, Rachel asked me to tell you something,” she said, frowning as she struggled to remember
exactlywhatitwas.

Willie, tall and dark, looked uncomfortable. He laughed. “Now why would Rachel be sending me
messages?”heasked,glancingathiswife.“I’mnotcheatingonyou,baby,honest!”

“Oh,no,itwasn’tthatsortofmessage,”Ivysaidquickly.“Itwassomethingaboutashipmentofflour
youwereexpectingthatdidn’tarrive.”

Willieclearedhisthroat.“Idon’tknowanythingaboutanyshipmentofflourthatwouldgotoNew
YorkCity,Ivy,”heassuredher.“Rachelmusthavebeentalkingaboutsomebodyelse.”

“Yes,Iguessshemusthave.Sorry,”shesaidwithasheepishsmile.“She’sincoherentmostofthetime
lately.”

“I’dsaysheis,ifshe’ssendingmemessagesaboutflour!”Willieagreed.Henoddedatherandthenat
Hayes,anddrewhiswifebackoutontothedancefloor.

Hayescaughtherhandandpulledheraside.“WhatshipmentofflourwasRacheltalkingabout?”

heaskedsuddenly,andhewasn’tsmiling.

“Ireallydon’tknow.ShejustsaidtotellWillieonewasmissing.Shedoesn’teveneatsweets…”

“HowlongagodidshetellyoutogiveWilliethatmessage?”hepersisted.

“Abouttwodaysago,”shesaid.Shefrowned.“Why?”

HayestookherbythehandanddrewheralongthedancefloortowhereCashGrierwasstandingat

thepunchbowlwithhisgorgeousredheadedwife,Tippy.

“How’sitgoing?”Cashgreetedthem,shakinghandswithHayes.

Hayes stepped closer. “Rachel sent Willie over there—” he jerked his head toward Willie, who was
oblivioustotheattentionhewasgetting“—amessage.”

Cashwasallbusinessatonce.“Whatmessage?”

HayespromptedIvytorepeatit.

“Code?”CashaskedHayes.

Theothermannodded.“ItwastwodaysagothatIvygotthemessage.”

Cash’sdarkeyestwinkled.“Whatacoincidence.”

“Yes.”

“Whichprovesthatconnectionwewerediscussingearlier.”HeturnedtoIvy.“Ifyoursistersendsany
moremessagestoWillie,oranyoneelse,byyou,tellHayes,wouldyou?”

Shewasallatsea.“Rachel’smixedupinsomething,isn’tshe?”

“Notnecessarily,”Hayessaidatonce.“Butsheknowssomeonewhois,wethink.Don’tadvertisethis,
either.”

Ivyshookherhead.“I’mnogossip.”Shegrimaced.“Rachel’sgettingmixedupwithsomerichman,
and she’s trying to get away from her boyfriend, who deals drugs. The rich man is married. I’m
afraidit’sallgoingtoendbadly.”

“Peoplewhogetinvolvedwithdrugsusuallydoendbadly,”Hayessaidsomberly.

“Yes,theydo,”Ivyhadtoagree.ShesmiledatTippy,whowaswearingagreenandwhitedressmade
ofsilkandchiffon.“Youlooklovely.”

“Thanks,” Tippy replied, smiling. “So do you, Ivy. Marcella made my dress, you know. She made
yours,too,didn’tshe?”

Ivynodded,grinning.“She’samazing.”

“Ithinkso,too,”Tippyagreed.“I’vesentphotosofherworktosomefriendsofmineinNewYork.
Don’ttellher.It’sasurprise.”

“Ifanythingcomesofit,she’llbesothrilled.Thatwassweetofyou.”

Tippywavedawaythecompliment.“She’ssotalented,shedeservesabreak.”

“Well,Icameheretodance,”Hayesinformedthem,takingIvy’shand.

Cashpursedhislips.“Really?”

“IknowI’mnotinyourleague,Grier,”Hayessaiddourly,“butIcandotheMacarena,ifwecanget
somebodytoplayit.”

“Youcan?”Cashchuckled.“Byastrangecoincidence,socanI.AndItaughther.”HeindicatedTippy.

“Inthatcase,”Hayesreplied,grinning,“maythebestsheriffwin.”

Andhewentofftotalktothebandleader.

The band stopped suddenly, talked among the members and they all started grinning when Hayes
camebacktowraphisarmaroundIvy.

“One,two,three,four,”thebandleadercountedoff,andthebandbrokeintotheMacarena.

Ivyknewthesteps,havingwatchedanumberofimportantpeopledanceitontelevisionsomeyears
before.Shewasn’ttheonlyonewhoremembered.Thedancefloorfilledupwithlaughingpeople.

Hayes performed the quick hand motions with expertise, laughing as hard as Ivy was. They got
through the second chorus and Ivy almost collapsed into Hayes’s strong arms, resting her cheek
againsthischest.

“I’moutofshape!”sheexclaimedbreathlessly.“Ineedtogetoutmore!”

“JustwhatIwasthinking,”hereplied,smilingdownather.

Ivyhappenedtoglancetowardthedoorwayatthatmoment.Hergazemetapairofpaleblueeyesthat
wereglitteringlikeadiamondbackrattlesnakecoiling.Ivy’sheartranawayasStuartYorkgavehera
lookthatcouldhavefriedbread.

CHAPTERFIVE

IVY had never seen that particular expression in Stuart’s pale eyes, and she was amazed that he
seemed so furious. Beside him, Merrie was also watching her with Hayes, and even though she
smiled,sheseemedalittleshocked.

ThetwoYorksmovedthroughthecrowd,pausingnowandagaintoexchangegreetingsastheycame
to stand beside Ivy and Hayes, who had broken apart by then. Ivy stared helplessly at Stuart. It had
been a long time since she’d seen him. She knew that he’d been avoiding her ever since the
unexpectedandexplosiveinterludethatlastnightshe’dspentatMerrie’shouse,overtwoyearsago.

If she was self-conscious, he wasn’t. His pale eyes were narrow, glittering, dangerous as they met
hers.

“Ithoughtyoudidn’tdance,Hayes,”Merriesaid.Shewassmiling,butsheseemedillatease.

“Idon’t,asarule,”heagreed,smilingback.“ButIcanmanageitonceinawhile.”

“We’reallheretosupportthelocalanimalshelter,”IvytoldMerrie.“Fromthelooksofthiscrowd,
they’regoingtoendupwithplentyofdonations.”

“Isendthemacheckeveryyear,”Stuartsaidcurtly.

“Didyoutwocometogether?”Hayesaskedcuriously.

“Wewerebothatalooseendtonight,”Merriereplied.“Igotsomeonetocoverformeatthehospital.
IreallycamebecauseIknewIvywouldbehere.Ihaven’tseenherinsolong!”

Ivywasbemused.ShewonderedwhyMerrieseemedsounlikeherself.

“Ineverbelievedyou’dmakeanurse,”HayestoldMerriewithagrin.“Istillrememberyoufainting
whenwehadtosewupawoundonthatoldhorseyouusedtotrotaroundon.”

“IwishIcouldforget.”Merriegroaned.“Itwouldn’thavebeensobad,exceptforwhereIlanded.”

“It was the only fresh manure on the place,” Stuart inserted with a chuckle. “I swear she took three
bathsthatdaybeforeshegotridofthesmell.”

Thebandstartedupagain,thistimeplayingadreamyslowtune.HayeslookeddownatMerrie.

“Wanttodance?”

Shehesitated.

“Goon,”Ivycoaxed,smiling.

MerrierelaxedalittleandletHayestakeherhand.Heledherontothedancefloorandintoalazybox

step.WasitIvy’simagination,ordidMerrielookasifshe’dlandedinparadise,wrappedupinHayes
Carson’sstrongarms?

“Doyoudance,Mr.York?”Tippyasked.

Heshookhishead,slidinghisbighandsintohispockets.“Afraidnot.”

Shesmiled.“NeitherdoI.Atleast,notverywell.I’mlearning,though.”

Cashdrewhertohisside.“Yes,youare,baby,”hesaidaffectionately.“Comeon.Wecanalwaysdo
withalittlepractice.Seeyoubothlater,”headded.

WhichleftIvyalonewithStuartforthefirsttimeinovertwoyears.Shewasillateaseanditshowed.

Heturnedandlookeddownatherdeliberately,hispaleeyesnarrowandsearching.“Ilikethedress,”
hesaid,hisvoicedeepandslow.

“Thanks,”shesaid,alittleself-consciousbecauseofthewayhewaslookingather.“Ikeepbooksfor
aboutiqueowner.It’samodelshe’shopingtosell.”

“Sowhatareyou,walkingadvertising?”heasked.

Shesmiled.“Isupposeso.”

HeglancedathissisterdancingwithHayes.“Sheusedtohaveahorrificcrushonhim,”hesaidoutof
theblue.“Iwasgladwhensheoutgrewit.Hayestakeschances.He’sbeenintwoseriousgunbattles
since he became sheriff. He barely walked away from the last one. She’d never make a lawman’s
wife.”

“Shemadeanurse,”shepointedout.

“Yes, well, patients go home when they’ve healed. But a lawman’s wife waits up all hours, hoping
he’llcomehomeatall.”Helookeddownather.“There’sadifference.”

ShefeltguiltywhensherememberedthewayMerriehadlookedwhenHayesaskedhertodance,asif
she’dtrespassedonsomeoneelse’sproperty.ConsideringStuart’sattitude,itwasn’toutoftherealm
ofpossibilitythatMerriemightbehidingherinterestinHayes.Stuartlikedhim,buthe’dalwayssaid
thatHayeswastoooldforhissister,nottomentionbeinginoneofthemoredangerousprofessions.

Merrieidolizedherbrother.Shewouldn’tdeliberatelycrosshim.

“WhyareyouherewithHayes?”heaskedabruptly.

Sheblinkedattheboldnessofthequestion.Sheshouldhavetoldhimitwasnoneofhisbusiness.

Butshecouldn’t.Hehadthatairofauthoritythathadalwaysopeneddoorsforhim.

“Hedidn’twanttocomealoneandneitherdidI,”shesaid.

“He’swelloff,andhe’sabachelor,”hereplied.

“Areyoumakingapoint?”sheasked.

Hiseyesnarrowedonherface.“You’llbetwenty-onesoon.”

Shewassurprisedthathekeptupwithherage.“Yes,Isupposeso.”

Hedidn’tblink.“Merriesaidyouwantedtostudyopera.”

“ThenshemusthavealsosaidthatIdon’twanttoleaveJacobsville,”shereplied.“Itwouldbeawaste
oftimetotrainforacareerIdon’twant.”

“Doyouwanttokeepbooksforotherpeoplefortherestofyourlife?”

“I like keeping books. You might remember that I also do the occasional article for the local
cattlemen’sassociation.”

He didn’t reply to that. His eyes went back to his sister, moving lazily around the dance floor with
Hayes. After a minute, his big hand reached down and caught Ivy’s. He tugged her gently onto the
dancefloorandslidhishandaroundherwaist.

“Yousaidyoudidn’tdance,”shemurmuredbreathlessly.

He shrugged. “I lied.” He curled her into his body and moved gracefully to the music, coaxing her
cheekontohischest.Hisarmtightenedaroundher,bringingherevencloser.

She could barely breathe. The proximity was intoxicating. It brought back that one sweet interlude
betweenthem,solongago.Itwasprobablyadreamandshe’dwakeupclutchingapillowinherown
bed.Sowhynotenjoyit,shethought?Sheclosedhereyes,gavehimherweight,andsighed.Foran
instant,shecouldalmosthaveswornthatashudderpassedthroughhistallbody.

Shefelthislipsagainstherforehead.Itwastheclosesttoheavenshe’devercome.

Butalltoosoonitwasover.ThemusicendedandStuartsteppedawayfromher.

She felt cold and empty. She wrapped her arms around herself and forced a smile that she didn’t
reallyfeel.

Stuart was watching her intently. “That shade of green suits you,” he said quietly. “It matches your
eyes.”

Shedidn’tknowhowtohandleacomplimentlikethatfromhim.Shelaughednervously.“Doesit?”

Hesmiledslowly.Itwasn’tlikeanysmileshe’deverhadfromhim.Itmadehispaleeyesglitterlike
sun-toucheddiamonds,madehimlookyoungerandlesscareworn.Shesmiledback.

Merriejoinedthem,anoddlittlesmiletouchingherlips.“Havingfun?”sheaskedIvy.

“It’saverynicedance,”Ivyreplied,dragginghereyesawayfromStuart.

“Itis,”Merrieagreed.

Hayeshad been stoppedon the wayoff the dance floorby a somberHarley Fowler, who motioned
Cash Grier to join them. Hayes made a face before he rejoined them, disappointment in his whole
look.

“We’ve had word of a drug shipment coming through,” he said under his breath. “Harley was
watching for it. He says they’ve got a semi full to the brim with cocaine. I have to go. We’ve been
settingthisstingupformonths,andthisisthefirstrealbreakwe’vehad.”HestaredatIvy.“Icanget
oneofmydeputiestoswingbyandtakeyouhome,”hebegan.

“Shecanridewithus,”Stuartsaideasily.“Noproblem.”

“Thanks,” Hayes said. He grinned at Ivy. “Our first date and I blew it. I’ll make it up to you. I
promise.”

“I’mnotupset,Hayes,”shereplied.“Yougodoyourjob.Therewillbeotherdances.”

“You’reagoodsport.Thanks.Seeyou,Merrie,”headdedwithawink,noddingtoStuartasheheaded
forthefrontdoor.

Merrie was biting her lower lip, her eyes on Hayes’s back as he left. Ivy noticed and didn’t say a
word.

“Howaboutsomeofthispunch?”Ivyaskedherbestfriend.“Itlooksverygood.”

Merriewasdiverted.“Yes.I’llbetittastesgood,too.ButIwantawordwithShelbyBallengerbeforeI
indulge.I’llberightback.”ShewenttowardShelby.Ivyfilledtwoglasscupswithpunchandhanded
onetoStuart.

Hemadeaface.“It’stropicalpunch,isn’tit?Ihatetropicalpunch.”

“Theyhavecoffee,too,ifyou’drather,”Ivytoldhim,puttingthepunchdownonthetable.

Hemethersearchingeyes.“Iwould.Cream.Nosugar.”

Shepouredcoffeeintoacup,addingjustatouchofcream.Shehandedittohim,butherhandsshook.
Hehadtoputhisaroundthem,tosteadythem.

“It’sallright,”hesaidsoftly.“There’snothingtobeafraidof.”

Shedidn’tunderstandwhatwashappeningtoher.Thefeelofhisbig,warmhandsaroundhersmade
herheartrace.Thelookinhispaleeyesdelighted,thrilled,terrified.She’dneverhadsuchaheadlong
physicalreactiontoanyotherman,andespeciallynotsincethatincrediblenightwhenhe’dheldher
andkissedherasifhecouldn’tbeartolethergo.Ithadhauntedherdreamsformorethantwoyears,
andruinedherforarelationshipwithanyotherman.

Sheletgoofthecupwithanervouslittlelaugh.“Isthatenoughcream?”sheasked.

Henodded.Hesippeditinsilencewhileshesippedatherpunch.Themusicwasplayingagain,this
timeaslow,bluesytwo-step.

Merriecamebacktothem,grinning.“IaskedShelbyifshe’dsavemeoneofthosebordercolliesshe
andJustinarebreeding.They’regreatcattledogs.”

Stuartscowledather.“Whatthehelldoyouneedwithacattledog?”

“It’s not for me,” she replied. “There’s a sweet little girl on my ward who has to have a tumor
removedfromherbrain.She’sscaredtodeath.Iaskedherparentswhatmighthelpherattitude,and
they said she’d always wanted a border collie. It might be just what she needs to come through the
surgery.Yousee,”sheaddedsadly,“theydon’tknowifit’smalignantyet.”

“Howoldisshe?”Ivyasked.

“Ten.”

Ivywinced.“Whataterribleagetohavesomethingsodeadly.”

“Atleastshe’llhavesomethingtolookforwardto,”Stuartadded.“Youreallyareajewel,Merrie.”

Shemadeanaffectionatefaceathim.“Soareyou.Nowlet’sdanceoreatorsomethingsowedon’t
burstintotearsandembarrassIvy.”

HecockedaneyebrowandgaveIvyamischievouslook.“Godforbidthatweshouldembarrassher.”
Heputdownhiscoffeecup.“Dancingseemsmoresensible.”

HetookIvy’sglassofpunchandputitdown,onlytodrawherbackontothedancefloor.

ItwasthesweetesteveningofIvy’slife.ShedancedalmostexclusivelywithStuart,andhedidn’tseem
tomindthatpeoplewerewatchingthemwithfondamusement.Itwaswell-knownthatStuartplayed
thefield,andthatIvydidn’tdateanyone.TheattentionStuartwasshowingherraisedeyebrows.

Merriedidn’tlackforpartners,either,butsheseemedsubduedsinceHayeshadleft.Ivywonderedif
therewasn’tsomethingsmolderingunderMerrie’spassiveexpressionthatledbacktothatoldcrush
she’dhadonHayes.

Whenitcametimetoleave,MerrieinformedStuartthatshewasgoingtoridehomewithoneofthe
Batestwins,whopassedrightbytheirhouse.Shedidn’tgiveareason,butStuartdidn’taskforone,
either.HelinkedhisfingersintoIvy’sanddrewheroutsidetohisbig,sleekJaguar.

“Ican’trememberwhenI’veenjoyedapartymore,”heremarked.

“Itwasfun,”sheagreed,smiling.“Idon’tgetoutmuchatnight.UsuallyI’mtryingtokeepupwiththe
accounts, including doing estimated taxes for all my clients four times a year. It keeps me close to

home.”

“YouandMerriehavelosttouchsinceshewenttoworkinSanAntonio.”

“Alittle,maybe,”shereplied.“ButMerrieisstillthebestfriendIhave.Thatdoesn’tgoaway,even
whenwedon’tseeeachotherformonthsatatime.”

Hewasquietforaminute.“HaveyouheardfromRachel?”heasked.

Shedrewinapainfulbreath.“Yes.Lastweek.”

“Howwasshe?”

She wondered why he was asking her questions about her sister, whom he hated. “Pretty much the
same, I guess.” Except that she was steadily higher than a kite when she called Ivy, and she was
runningaroundwithsomeoneelse’srichhusband,sheaddedsilently.

Heshotaglanceather.“Thatisn’twhatIhear.”

Her heart welled up in her throat. She’d forgotten that he moved in the same circles as other rich,
successful men. Rachel’s garden slug of a boyfriend knew such people in New York. Stuart might
evenknowRachel’slatestlover.“Whatdoyouhear?”sheasked.

“Thatshe’sabouttocreateamediasensation,”hesaidflatly.“WhichiswhyIbroughtMerrietothe
dance.Hayesmentionedthathewasbringingyou,andIwantedtotalktoyouwithoutthewholetown
knowing.Yourboardinghouseisn’tprivateenough,andmyMrs.Rhodesisaterriblegossip.Thatleft
melookingforaneutralspot.Hereitis.”

Herheartwashammering.Rachelagain.Itwasalwayssomething,herwholelife.Wouldsheeverbe
freeofhersister ’smessyproblems?

“Don’tlooklikethat,”hesaidcurtly.“Iknowyoudon’thaveanyinfluenceonher.Ijustdon’twant
you to be surprised by some enthusiastic journalist out of the blue, asking you personal questions
aboutyoursisterforprint.Scandalspaywell,especiallyifthevictim’srelativescanbeshockedintoa
printablereaction.”

Sheputherfaceinherhands.“Howbadisit?”sheasked.

“Badenough.”Hepulledthecaroffthemainroadontoadirtroadandcutofftheengine.Whenshe
lookedaround,disturbed,headded,“Thisisonmyland.Idon’twanttositinfrontofMrs.Brown’s
boardinghouseandhavecurtainsflutteringthewholetimewe’retalking.”Hefreedhisseatbeltand
turnedtoher,onearmcurvedaroundthebackofherbucketseat.“Youneedtoknowwhatyou’reup
againstbeforethestoryhitsthetabloids.”

Shegrimaced.TippyMoorehadgonethroughthetabloidmillsbeforehermarriagetoCashGrier.

SohadLeslie,MattCaldwell’swife.Sheknewthedevastatingeffecttheycouldhaveonpeople’slives.

But she never dreamed that she could become a victim of them. Surely Rachel’s sister wouldn’t be
interestingnewstoanyone?Ontheotherhand,RachelhadactuallylandedafewrolesonBroadway,
despiteherdrughabit,andonereviewhadcalledhertalent“promising.”Afteryearsofauditions,it
seemedthatRachelmightactuallymakeitasanactress.ButStuartlookeduncomfortable.

“Tellme,”sheproddedgently.

“She’sbeensupplyingdrugstoanelderlyreclusewhofancieshimselfinlovewithher,”hereplied
curtly.“Theproblemisthathe’srecentlymarriedtoaformerbeautyqueenwhodoesn’twanttoshare
him and his fortune with anyone, least of all a minor actress with a drug dealer for a boyfriend. A
mutualfriendsaysshe’sabouttogopublicwiththestory.Ifshedoes,itwillruinRachel’schancesof
anymorerolesonBroadway,anditmayputherdrug-dealingboyfriendinprison.Itmightevenput
herthere,ifthewifedecidestogopublicwithwhatherveryexpensiveprivatedetectivedugupon
Rachel. She found a connection to some very big drug lords across the border; some of the same
onesHayesandCashandCobboftheDEAaretryingtocatch.”

Bynow,Ivywasnoticeablypaledespitethesemidarknessofthefrontseats.ThatmessageRachelhad
givenherforthebakerhadbeencode,afterall.Hersisterwasadrugdealer.Herheartranawaywith
fear. She pulled at a curl beside her ear. “I wonder if I could get lost in the Amazon jungle before
Rachelgetsitintheneck?”

“You’dhavetocomehomeoneday.Runningawayneversolvedaproblem.”

She leaned back against the seat, sick to her soul. In a small town like Jacobsville, a tabloid story
would be a gossip fest. There wouldn’t be a place she could go where people wouldn’t be talking
abouther.

Shewrappedherarmsaroundherself,feelingasuddenchill.

“Rachel told a lot of lies about you around town, when you were in high school,” he said after a
minute,hiseyesnarrowandthoughtful.“Shefedmeadoseofthem,too.Iactuallybelievedher,until
twoyearsago.Butjustthesame,Imadesurethatshelefttown.”

Shefelthercheeksgohot,andshehopedhecouldn’tsee.SothatwaswhyRachelhadgoneawayso
suddenly,whyherattitudetowardIvyhadchanged.ShethoughtStuartwasprotectingherlittlesister,
andshewasjealous!

“CopperColtrainsaysthatyouwereinhisofficefrequentlywithinjuriesfrom‘falls’whenyouwere
inschool,”hepersisted.

Herheartjumped.“Iwasclumsy,”shesaidquickly.

“Bull!YourfatherdranktoexcessandRachelfedhimthesameliesshefedotherpeopleaboutyou,”
he countered. “She bragged about getting you in trouble with your father. It suited her to have you
constantlyoutoffavor,sothatshe’dinheriteverything.Whichshedid.”

Thenewsthatheknewallherproblems,althoughshe’dsecretlysuspectedasmuch,madehersick.

“Dadthoughtshewaswonderful.”

“Yes,andhewasfairlycertainthatyouweren’thischild.”

Shegaspedaloud,hereyesaswideassaucers.“What?!”

“I didn’t think you knew that,” he murmured, watching her. “Rachel said that your mother told her,
beforeshedied,thatshe’dhadanaffairandyouweretheresult.”

OfallthethingsRachelhaddonetoher,thatwastheabsoluteworst.Shecouldn’tevenfindwordsto
expresshowhorrifiedshewas.“Isit…isittrue?”sheaskedunsteadily.

Hewashesitant.“Idon’tknow.There’saneasywaytofindout,ifyouwanttoknowforsure.Ifyou
cangetahairfromyourfather ’sbrush,orifColtrainhasabloodsamplefromhimonfile,wecan
have a DNA profile done. If there isn’t a sample, but if Coltrain has his blood type on file, we can
have your blood typed. Paternity can be determined by blood groups. It won’t prove anything for
sure,unlesswecouldgetaDNAsamplefromyourfather,butitwouldatleastshowifyoucouldhave
beenyourfather ’schild.”

“You’ddothat,forme?”sheasked,surprisedathisindulgence.

“Ofcourse,”hesaidmatter-of-factly.

Itwasalottoswallowatonce.Nowonderherfatherhadbeensobrutaltoher!Hethoughtshewasn’t
his child. And Rachel had used that knowledge—if it wasn’t a lie—to cheat Ivy out of anything that
belongedtoherfamily.Rachelhadinheriteditall,andsolditall.

“Shemusthateme,”Ivysaidaloud.

“Shewasjealousofyou,”hecorrectedflatly.

“Oh,sure,I’msuchapeachofabeauty,whywouldn’tshebe?”sheaskedsarcastically.

Hereachedoutandtuggedalockofherhair.“Stopthat.You’renouglyduckling,exceptinyourown
mind.ButIwasn’ttalkingaboutlooks.Rachelwasjealousbecauseofthewayyouarewithpeople.

You’realwayslookingforthebestinpeople,makingthemfeelgoodaboutthemselves,makingthem
feel important. You never gossip or tell lies, and you’re always around if anyone’s in trouble or
grieving.

Rachelhasnevergivenadamnforanyoneexceptherself.Youmadeherfeelinferior,andshehated
youforit.”

“Shewasbeautiful,”shesaid.“Alltheboyslovedher.”

“Evenboysyoutriedtodate,”headded,asifheknew.Henodded.“Yes,Iheardaboutthat,too.

Rachel delighted in stealing away any boy you brought home. She turned your girlfriends against

you, everyone except Merrie. She told Merrie some whoppers about your social life.” He looked
away,hisbodystiffening.Itdidn’ttakeamindreadertoknowthatMerriehadrepeatedtheliestohim.

“I’mamazedyoudidn’tforbidMerrietohaveanythingtodowithme.”

“I did,” he said surprisingly, glancing at her. “She wouldn’t listen, of course. And I stopped
pressuringheraboutitwhenIrealizedhowbadlyRachelhadliedaboutyourcharacter.”

Sheknewwhathewastalkingabout,anditmadeheruneasy.Hewasrememberingwhatanoviceshe
wasinaman’sarms.

“Copperdoesn’tusuallytalkaboutpatients,”hecontinued.“Butwe’resecondcousinsaswellasgood
friends,andI’vefeltresponsibleforyousinceyourfather ’sdeath.HethoughtIshouldknowabout
yourhomelife.JustincaseRachelevercamedownhereandtriedtostarttrouble.Hedidn’tknowI’d
alreadygottenthenewsfromaprivatedetectiveIhired.”

She couldn’t look at him. It felt as if all the bruises and lacerations were plainly visible to anyone
looking.

“You’venevertalkedaboutit,haveyou?”

Sheshookherhead.“NoteventoMerrie.”

“Merrieismoreperceptivethanyourealize.Sheknewwhyyoucoveredyourlegswhenyouwentto
school.Youdidn’twantanyonetoseethebruisesheleftonyouwiththatdoubled-upbelt.”

Shebitherlowerlipandlookedupathim.ShewasrememberingwhatMerriehadsaidabouthisown
childhood,andhowhisfatherhadpunishedhimforrefusingtogivehislifetofootball.

“Yougotyourshare,too,didn’tyou?”sheaskedquietly.

Hehesitatedforamoment.Hisdarkbrowsdrewtogether.“Yes,”herepliedfinally.“I’venevertalked
aboutittoanyoneoutsidemyfamily.Thememoriessting,evennow.”

“Theywouldhavelockedmyfatherupandthrownawaythekeyifhe’ddoneittoday.”

“Mine,too,”heagreed.Hesmiledfaintly.“Ourfatherswouldprobablybeoccupyingadjoiningjail
cells.”Hesighedandtracedapatternatherthroat,makingherheartbeatthrob.“Nobody’susingabelt
onmykids.”

“Mine,either,”sherepliedatonce.

He smiled down at her. “We’re all products of our upbringing. Pity we don’t get to choose our
relatives.”

“You can say that again.” She searched his eyes. “Rachel isn’t afraid of anything except losing her
chancetoactinastarringroleonBroadway.Butifshegetscaughtupinapublicscandal,itwillkill
hercareerstonedead.Andshemightgotoprisonfordrugdealing.Idon’tknowwhatshe’ddoifshe

hadallthattocontendwith.She’snotverystrongemotionally.”

“Onlywhenshe’sonthereceivingend,”heagreed.“Butshechoseherownpath,Ivy.Wealldo.

Thenwetaketheconsequencesofthosechoices.”

Shecockedherhead.“Whatpathdidyouchoosethathadconsequences?”

“ItwasoneIdidn’tchoose,”hesaidenigmatically.Hishandslidunderthesilkenfistofhairather
nape,warmandstrong.“Butwe’vedoneenoughtalkingforonenight.”

Ashespoke,hetuggedherfacegentlyunderhis.“Don’tpanic,”hewhisperedagainsthermouthas
hislipsteasedatit.“Therearesomethingsyoujustcan’tdoinbucketseats…”

Shewentunderinadazeofthrobbingpleasure.Itwaslikethefirsttimehe’dheldherandkissedher,
butmuchmoreexplosive.Thelongyearsbetweenkissesmadeherbold,madeherhungry.Sheslid
herarmsaroundhisneckandopenedhermouthunderhis.Hegroaned.Ashudderwentthroughhim.
He hesitated, but only for a split second. Then he gathered her up whole and dragged her over the
consoleandintohislap,andthekissesgrewharderandmoreinsistent.

Shefelthisbighandunderthenecklineofhergown,gentlytracingpatternsdownintothesoftflesh
underherbra.Shegasped.

Heliftedhisheadandlookedintoherwide,shockedeyes,withaffectionateamusement.“Thinkofit
asexplorationintonewterritory,”heteasedgently.“You’vegotalotofcatchinguptodo.”

“Andyou’reofferingtoguidemethroughtheundergrowth?”shegasped.

“Frillyundergrowth,”hemurmured,lookingdownatthequickbeatofherheartthatwasechoedin
thetremblingofherbodiceasherpulseincreasedmadly.

“I’mnotsure,”shebeganbreathlessly.

“Neither am I,” he agreed as he bent again to her mouth. “But it’s been a long, dry spell and I’ve
waitedaslongasIcanandstaysane.”

Whileshewastryingtofigurethatout,hismouthopenedonherpartedlipsandhishandtrespassed
rightunderherbraontohersoftfleshwithasurenessandmasterythatchasedanythoughtofprotest
rightoutofherhead.Sheclungtohimandgaveintothesweetnessofthemoment.

CHAPTERSIX

JUSTasIvywasseeingstars,therewasthepurrofabigcatsomewhereinthejungleofpleasureshe
wasexploring.

Stuartmusthaveheardit,too,becauseheraisedhisheadandfrownedashelookedintotherearview
mirror.“Idon’tbelieveit!”heburstout.

She followed his gaze and saw flashing blue lights coming at breakneck speed right down the dirt
roadbehindthem.

“Hayes!”hemuttered,andletoutawordthatmadeherblush.

Theall-whiteJacobsCountySheriff’scarpulleduppastthem,whippedaround,andcamebackagain,
so that Hayes and Stuart were facing each other through open drivers’ windows. In the time it had
takenHayestoturnaround,Ivyhadsliddiscreetlybackintoherownseat,straightenedherclothing
and smoothed her hair. She was grateful that it was dark, so that Hayes wouldn’t be able to see the
lingeringtracesofStuart’sdemandingpassiononherlipsandhair.

“Aren’tyoualittlefaroutofyourterritory?”Stuartdrawled.“Thisismyland.”

Hayesjuststaredathim.“Weflushedadrugtransportwiththreearmedmeninside,”hesaidatonce.
“Wegottwoofthem,butoneescapednotfarfromhere.He’scarryinganautomaticweapon.”

“GoodGod,”Stuartexclaimed.

“Ididn’tthinkhe’dbedrivingaJag,”hecontinueddryly,“butyoucan’truleoutacarjacking.And
thiscarwasallaloneinafield.”Hescowled.“Whatthehellarethetwoofyoudoingouthere?”

“TalkingaboutDNAprofiles,”Stuartshotback.

Hayespursedhislips.“Oooookay,”hesaid,butclearlynotbelievingit.“Justthesame,I’dtakeher
home,ifIwereyou.Theseguysdon’tplaynice.Oneofmydeputiesisintheemergencyroomwitha
bulletinhiship.”

“Ihopeyougetthem,”Stuartsaid.

“Me,too.Seeyou.”

Heroaredaway,sirensstillgoing.

StuartglancedwrylyatIvy.“Isupposewe’vetalkedenoughforonenight.Idon’tfancyfightingoff
drugdealersatthishour.”

“NeitherdoI,”sheagreed,buttherewasdisappointmentabouthavingtocomedownfromtheclouds.
Ithadbeenasweetfewminutes.

“I’mnotanxioustoleave,either,Ivy,”hesaidashestartedthecar.“Butthere’satimeandplace,and
thisisn’tit.”

With that enigmatic statement, he pulled the car back into the highway, and sped toward her
boardinghouse.Theyarrivedtheretoosoon.

Hegotoutofthecar,openedherdoorandwalkedhertoherfrontdoor.Henotedthequickflutterof
acurtainwithanamusedsmile,andthenpositionedthemwherenowindowsintruded.Hetookherby
thewaistandlookeddownintohersadeyesintheporchlight.“Ishouldn’thavetoldyouaboutyour
fatherlikethat,”hesaidapologetically.“I’msorry.”

“The tabloids wouldn’t have been very kind about it, if I’d had to hear it from them,” she said
philosophically.“Thanksfortheheads-up.”

Hisbighandstightenedonhersmallwaist.“GoseeCopper,”hecoaxed.“He’lldowhathecantohelp
youfindout,onewayoranother.I’lltakecareofthebill.I’lltellhimthat,too,”headded.

“Allright.”

“Anddon’tworryyourselftodeathaboutyoursister,”hesaidfirmly.“Ifthesituationwasreversed,I
promiseshewouldn’twasteanight’ssleepaboutyou.”

“Iknowthat.Butshe’sstilltheonlyfamilyIhaveleftintheworld.”

He drew in an audible breath. “That doesn’t help, I’m sure.” He bent and brushed his mouth gently
overhersoft,sensitizedlips.Shestoodonhertiptoestoincreasethepressure,shiveringalittlewhen
he accepted the silent invitation and gathered her in close, so that they were riveted together, hip to
hip.

She’dneverknownsuchpleasure.Itfeltassweetasithadinhiscar,butmuchmoreintense.Hernails
dugintothehardmusclesofhisshouldersasshegaveintothesheerdelightofbeingclosetohim.

Whenshemoaned,hedrewback.Hishandswerebrieflycruelashefoughttheneedtobackherinto
thewallanddevourher.Hehadtoforcehimselftolethergo.

Shesawthat,andwasfascinatedbythesuddenchangeinhim.Itwassosweettokisshim,beyondher
wildestdreamsofdelight.

“Wecan’tdomuchmoreofthat,”hewhispered.“Notinpublic.”

“Areweinpublic?”shewhisperedback,dazed.

Hedrewinalongbreath.“IfIdon’tstopkissingyou,we’regoingtobe.It’ssweet,Ivy.Sweeterthan
mydreams.”

“Sweeterthanmine,too,”sheconfessed,achingtohavehismouthonhersagain.

Heknewthat,buthehadtobestrongforbothofthem.Itwasn’ttheplace.Heheldhergentlybythe

waist.“IhavetoflytoDenverforaconservationworkshop.I’llcallyouwhenIgetthere.”

Shestaredupathimwithherheartflippingaround.Hersurprisewasnoticeable.

Hesearchedherwideeyes.“Timeschange.Sodopeople.You’retwenty-onenextmonth,aren’tyou?”

Shenodded,spellbound.

Helookedverysomberforaminute.“Stillyearstooyoung,”hemurmuredashebenthishead.

“Butwhatthehell…”

Heliftedherupagainsthimandkissedheruntilhermouthfeltbruised.Shedidn’tcomplain.Sheheld
onfordearlife,herarmstightaroundhisneck,herfeetjustbarelytouchingtheflooratall.Ifthis
wasadream,sheneverwantedtowakeup.

When she moaned softly, he put her back on her feet and let her go abruptly. His breathing was
noticeablyfaster.“Stayoutoftrouble,”hetoldher.

“Idon’tevergetintotrouble,”shereplieddimly,hereyesonhishardmouth.

Hesmiledslowly.“Yes,butthatwasbefore.”

“Beforewhat?”sheasked.

Hebentandkissedherquickly.“Beforeme.Lockthedoorbehindyou.”

He was walking away before she realized what he’d said. He was hinting at a new relationship
betweenthem.Itmadeherbreathcatchinherthroat.Hereyesfollowedhimhungrilyallthewayto
hiscar.Hestarteditandturnedonthelights,buthedidn’tbudge.Finallysherealizedthathewasn’t
goinguntilshewasinside.Shesmiledatthatprotectiveness,whichwassoalientotheirrelationship.
Shewaved,wentinsideandclosedthedoor.Onlywhensheturnedofftheporchlightdidshehearthe
cardrivingaway.

Nextmorningatbreakfast,Mrs.BrownandLitawerebeamingather,bothaffectionatelyamused.

“Havefunlastnight,dear?”Mrs.Brownasked.“InoticedthatSheriffHayesdidn’tbringyouhome.
Wasn’tthatStuartYork’scar?”

“Yes,itwas,”Ivyconfessed,andhatedthewarmcolorthatblushedhercheeks.“Hayeshadacalland
hadtoleave.”

“We heard on the radio that there was a shootout,” Lita said. “Deputy Clark was admitted to the
hospitalwithagunshotwound.”

“Sowasoneofthesuspects,”Mrs.Brownsaidshortly.“TheysaidHayesgothim.”

“Wesawhimonthewayhome,”Ivyconfessed,butnothowthey’dseenhim,orwhere.“Hesaidthe

deputywasshotinthehip.Hedidn’tmentionthedrugdealersgettingshot,too.”

“It was the one who went missing when they stopped the truck,” Mrs. Brown said. “My daughter
worksasadispatcher,”sheremindedtheotherwomen.“Shesaidhewashidinginachickencoopjust
offthehighway.Hayessawchickensflyingoutofthecoopandwenttoinvestigate.”Shechuckled.

“People shut their chickens up at sunset to keep them from getting eaten by foxes or raccoons.
Nobodyturnsthemoutatnight.Sureenough,therewasthismiserablelittledrugdealer,hidingthere.
HeshotatHayesandmissed.Hayesdidn’t.”

Ivyshookherhead.“Hetakessomanychances,”shesaid.“Itwilltakeabravewomantomarryhim.”

“Probablywhynowomaneverhas,”Litaremarked.“Hewasalwaysahothead,evenwhenhewasin
highschool.Alwaystakingrisks.Hejoinedthepoliceforcewhenhewasjustseventeen.Iguesshis
fatherinfluencedhim.”

“His father was a lovely man,” Ivy remarked with a smile. “He loved flowers, did you know? He
alwayshadthemostbeautifulgardenofthem,andeverybodythoughtitwashiswifewhodidallthe
planting.Butitwasn’t.”

“I’llbetHayesdoesn’traiseflowers,”Mrs.Brownremarked.

“Hehadayoungerbrother,”Litacontinued,frowning,“whodiedofadrugoverdose.Youknow,they
neverfoundthepersonwhoboughthimthatbadbatchofcocainethatdidhimin.TheysaythatHayes
isouttogethisbrother ’skiller,thathe’llneverquituntilthedrugdealergoestoprison.”Shesighed.
“He still thinks that Minette Raynor gave that drug to Bobby Carson, but I don’t. Minette isn’t the
sort.”

Ivy nodded. “I know, but he won’t see it that way. He never stops once he’s got a suspect in view.
That’ssortofscary,inaway.”

“Makesmefeelsafe,”Mrs.Brownchuckled.“Ilikeknowinghedoesn’tletcriminalsgetaway.”

“Me,too,”Ivyhadtoadmit.ButshewasthinkingaboutStuartandtheirchangedrelationship,going
throughthemotionsofeatingandbehavingnormally.Inside,shewasblazingwithnewhungers,new
hope.

Shewentouttoseeherclientsthatday,butshewasmissingStuartandwaiting,hoping,foraphone
call.

Sheknewthathecouldhavebeenjoking.Maybehe’djustsaidittotease.Butthelookinhiseyeson
the porch had been possessive, acquisitive. Her heart jumped every time she remembered how that
last,desperatekisshadfelt.Surelysomethingsopowerfulhadtobeshared.Afterall,shehadn’tbeen
theonlyonebreathinghardafterthehungrykissesthey’dshared.ItwasjustthatStuartwasolderand
moreexperienced.Maybetohimitwasjustapleasantfewminutes.Toher,itwasatasteofheaven.

Merrie called her at lunchtime, just to talk. Ivy was having a sandwich at Barbara’s Café, but she

didn’ttasteit.Whenthephonerang,shejumpedtopullitoutofherpurseandanswerit.Ithadtobe
Stuart.Ithadtobe!

“Hi,”Merriesaidcheerfully.

“Oh.Hi,”Ivyreplied,tryingtocomposeherselfandnotletherdisappointmentshow.“Howareyou?”

“Lonely.Youneedtocomespendaweekendwithme,”Merriesaid.“I’mcominghomenextweekend.
Howaboutit?”

Once,Ivywouldhavejumpedatthechance.Now,shewaskeepingsecretsfromherbestfriend.

Shedidn’tknowwhethersheshouldagree.WhatshefeltforStuartmightshow,ifshewasunderhis
roof.Shedidn’twantMerrietoseeit.Notyet.Itwastoonew,tooprivate,tooprecioustoshare.And
whatifhedidn’twantheraroundthereatall?Whatifhe’djustbeenplayingsomesophisticatedgame
towhichshedidn’tknowtherules?Herinsecuritiesfloatedtothetoplikecreaminachurn.

“Ivy,youdon’thavetoworryaboutme,”MerriesaidbeforeIvycouldspeak.Hertonewassubdued,
quiet.“Iwon’tinterfere.”

“Excuseme?”

Merriedrewinabreath.“Hayesisagreatcatch.”

Ivywasspeechless.“Hayes?”

“Heseemstolikeyoualot.Hewasreallyhappylastnight.”

Nowherewasaproblemshedidn’tknowhowtoresolve.Shecouldn’tadmitthatshewascrazyabout
Merrie’sbrother,forfearthatherfriendmightteaseStuartordosomethingtomakehimdrawback
fromIvy.Ontheotherhand,shewasn’tinvolvedwithHayesandwasn’teverlikelytobe.

“Hayesisverynice,”shecompromised.“Buthedoesn’twanttogetseriousaboutanyone,andneither
doI.Idon’twanttogetmarriedforyearsyet.Iwanttoenjoybeingoutonmyown,andbeingsingle.”

Therewasanothersigh,butthisonesoundedstrange.“Then,you’renotinvolvedwithHayes?”

“We’refriends,Merrie.That’sall.”

“I’mglad,”shesaid.“Bytheway,haveyouheardanything,abouthowheis?”Merrieaddedaftera
minute.“Iheardthattherewasashootoutandsomeonegotshotapprehendingadrugdealer.Wasit
Hayes?”

“No!”Ivysaid.“Itwasoneofhisdeputies.Oneofthesuspectsgotshot,too.Hayesisfine.”

“ThankGod.”

“You’veknownHayesalongtime,”Ivyrecalled.

“Yes,sinceheusedtostaywithuswhenhisfatherandmotherhadtogooutoftowntoseeabouther
parentsinGeorgia.EventhoughhewasStuart’sfriend,Ialwaysfeltasifhewerepartofmyfamily.

He’salotolderthanme,ofcourse.LikesomeoneIknowinSanAntonio,”sheaddedenigmatically.

The age difference between Merrie and Hayes was about the same as that between Stuart and Ivy.
Stuart didn’t seem to have a problem with it anymore, if his new attitude toward Ivy was any
indication.SomaybetherewashopeforMerrie.

“He’snotthatmucholder,Merrie,”Ivysaidgently.

“Stuartthinksheis.”

Therewasanedgeinthatusuallycalmtone.“He’syourbrother.Helovesyou.Hejustthinks…”

Shestoppedatonce.

“Hethinkswhat?”Merrieprompted.

“HethinksthatHayes’sprofessionputshimoutoftherunningforyou,”shesaidreluctantly.

“Hayesdoestakechances,Merrie.Hecanbealotoffun,butunderitallisamanwhotakesrisks,
whowalksrightintogunbattles.Stuart’sjustthinkingaboutwhat’sbestforyou.”

“So that’s what’s been eating him lately,” Merrie said dryly. “Old worrywart. But no relative, no
matterhowcaring,candecideyourlifeforyou,youknow.”

“Iknowthat.Merrie,Stuartlovesyou.He’dwantyoutomarrysomeoneyoulove.”

Therewasahuskylaugh.“Thinkso?”

“Yes.”

“Well.That’ssomething.”

“You’reverydepressed.Whydon’tyoucometotheboardinghouseandhavesupperwithustonight?
YouknowMrs.Brownwouldn’tmind.Icouldphoneher.”

“No. Thanks, anyway, but we’ve got a flu epidemic. I can’t be spared, with so many health care
workersoutsick.”

“Maybewhenit’sallover…”Shelethervoicetrailoff.

“Yes.I’dloveit.”

“Takecareofyourself,”Ivysaid.“Andstopworryingabouteverything.Lifeevensout.Wishescome
true.”

“Suretheydo,”Merriesaidcynically.

“Imeanit.Theydo!”

Merriesighed.“Youalwaysdidbelieveinfairies.”

“Angels,too,don’tforget.”

“IfIhaveaguardianangel,he’sasleepatthewheel.”

“Stopthat.Comeandseemewhenyoucan.”

“Howaboutthatinvitationtospendtheweekend?”Merriepersisted.“YouandStuartweren’tfighting,
forachange,atthedance.Youmightenjoyit.”

“I’llletyouknow,”Ivysaid,stalling.“I’vegotanewclient.”

“Youandyourblessedclients.Okay,then.Callme?”

“I’llcallyou.Takecare,Merrie.”

“You,too.”

Ivyhungup.PoorMerrie.

Shewaitedandwaited,buttherewasnootherphonecall.Sheevencheckedtomakesurethephone
was working. By late evening, she was certain she’d misunderstood what Stuart had said. He was
probablyjustjoking.Buthewasn’tamanwhousuallycrackedjokes.

She got ready for bed, climbed under the covers and was just about to turn out the light when the
phonebegantoringnoisily.

Heartpounding,sheleapedoutofbedandupendedherpursetofindthesmallflipphone.Sheopened
itwithtremblinghandsandputittoherear.“Hello?”

Therewasadeep,softchuckle.“Divedforthephone,didyou?”

Shelaughedbreathlessly.“Yes,”sheconfessed.

“Iwouldhavewaited.ItoldyouI’dcall.”

“Yes,butIthoughtmaybeyougotbusy,”shebegan.

“Soyougaveuponme.”

Shefidgetedonthebed.“Notreally.Well,maybe.Iwasn’tsurethatyouweren’tteasing.”

There was a brief pause. “It’s early days, isn’t it, Ivy?” he asked quietly. “We’re only beginning to

learneachother.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant. Her hand tightened on the phone. “Merrie invited me to spend the
weekend.”

“Whatdidyoutellher?”

“IsaidI’dletherknow,”shehesitated.

Therewasashortpause.

Shefeltinsecure.“Ididn’tknowifyou’dapprove.”

Thepausegrew.

Shefeltherspiritshitthefloor.Shedrewinaslow,shiverybreath.“Stuart?”

Therewasaclink,likethatoficeinaglass.“Youdon’tknowmeatall.”

“OfcourseIdon’t,”shereplied.“You’veavoidedmefortwowholeyears.”

“Ihadto,”hesaidharshly.

Shedidn’tunderstandwhathemeant.Shewasshywithhim.Itwasn’thelpingthings.

Hedrewinanotherharshbreath.“Oh,hell.”Icesloshedinliquidagain.

“Ishouldgo,”shesaidsadly.

“IsitHayes?”heaskedharshly.

“What?”

“AreyouinlovewithHayesCarson?”

“Imostcertainlyamnot!”sheexclaimedbeforeshestoppedtothink.

Therewasasigh.“Well,that’ssomething,Iguess.”Anotherpause.“WhenIcomeback,we’llgofora
driveandtalk.”

“Thatwouldbe…nice.”

“Nice.”

Shewaslostforwords.Shelovedthesoundofhisdeep,slowvoice.Shedidn’twanthimtohangup.
Butshedidn’tknowwhattosay,tokeephimtalking.

“Whatareyoudoing?”

“Sittingonthebedinmynightgown,talkingtoamadman.”

Heburstoutlaughing.“IsthathowIsound?”

“Ifeellikeapologizing,butIdon’tknowwhatfor.”

“I’ve had a long day,” he told her. “We always get at least one tree hugger who comes to these
conferences and demands that we set up special homes for our cattle where they can be properly
housedandclothedandeducated.Thisguythinksweshouldlearntocommunicatewiththem.”

Sheburstoutlaughing.“Ifyoucould,they’dsay,‘don’teatme.’”

“Youstopthat,”hemuttered.“YouknowIdon’traisebeefcattle.”

Thatwastrue.HehadpurebredBlackAnguscattle.Heknewthenamesandpedigreesofallhisbulls,
andtheywereastameasdogs.Thepedigreecowsweretreatedalmostasgentlyasthebulls.Hewas
dangeroustocowboyswhothoughttheycouldmistreathislivestock.

“Iknowthat,”shesaidgently.“Whatdidyousaytothetreehugger?”

“Oh,Ididn’tsayanythingtohim.”

Therewasanoddinflectioninhisvoice.“Butsomebodyelsedid?”

“Oneofthedelegatesfromthenationalassociationinvitedhimoutside.Theguythoughttheywere
going to share a nice discussion. The delegate picked him up and put him down in the ornamental
fountain.”

Shegasped.“Butit’sfreezinginColorado!There’ssnow!”

Hechuckled.“Iknow.”

“Thepoorman!”

“Theygavehimablanketandabusticket,”hesaid.“LastIsawofhim,hewasshiveringhiswayback
westintothesunset.”

“Thatwasn’tkind.”

“Lastyear,itwasaglobalwarmingadvocatewhosaidthatweneededtofindwaystostopcattlefrom
belchinganddestroyingtheozonelayer.ButIwon’tmentionwhathappenedtohim.”

“Whynot?”

Heonlylaughed.“You’llreadallaboutitinthebookhe’swriting.LastIheard,hewasstilllooking
forapublisher.”

“Poorman.”

“Poorman,hell.Humansbelchasmuchascattledo.”

“Ihaveneverbelched.”

“Baloney,”heshotback.

Shesighed.“Well,I’veburpedquietly.ButIneverconsideredthatitwasdoingdamagetotheplanet.”

Helaughed.“I’mkidding.Theyactuallylethimpresenthisprogram.Onecattlemanevenboughthim
adrink.”

“Thatwasnice.”

“Itwasn’t.Thedrinkheboughthimwasa‘Wallbanger.’”

“What’sthat?”

“Youwakeupeventuallywithahellofahangover.”

“Youguysareterrible.”

“Idon’tbuydrinksforadvocacygroups.”

“Youmightinfluencethemifyoudid.”

“Notachance.”Therewasanotherpause.“I’vegottogo.There’ssomeoneatthedoor.”

“Anadvocacygroup?”sheteased.

Helaughedagain.“No.AbuddyofminefromAlaska.”

“Doesheraisecattleupthere?”

“He’sstationedatamilitarybasethere.Activemilitary.”

“Oh.”

“I’lltalktoyouwhenIgetback.Takecare.”

“You,too,”shesaid,hervoicesoftening.

“Goodnight,sugar.”

Hehungupbeforeshewassureshe’dreallyheardthat.He’dnevercalledherapetnameinallthe
time they’d known each other. It sounded as if they were actually going to be friends. Maybe even
more.Shesleptfinallyinawelterofdelightful,impossibledreams.

The next morning, her whole world fell apart. She answered her phone, thinking drowsily that it
mightbeStuartagain,whenastrangeraddressedher.

“Miss Conley?” the voice inquired. And when she said yes, he continued, “I had this number from
yourpolicechief.I’mSergeantEdAmes,oftheNewYorkPoliceDepartment,BrooklynPrecinct.It’s
aboutyoursister.”

Herheartfell.“Issheallright?”sheaskedatonce.“Hasshebeenarrested?”

There was a loaded pause. “I’m sorry to tell you that she was found dead in her apartment this
morning…MissConley?MissConley!”

She could barely breathe. She’d known this was coming, deep in her heart. But she wasn’t ready to
faceit.

“Yes,”shesaidheavily.“I’mstillhere.Sorry.It’s…it’sashock…”

“Icanimagine,”hereplied.

“Yousaidshewasfounddead.Didshecommitsuicide?”sheasked.“Ordidsomeoneelse…”

“Wedon’tknow.There’sgoingtohavetobeanautopsy,I’mafraid,todecidethat.We’llneedyouto
identifythebody,tomakesureitisyoursister.Thensomeonehastoarrangefordispositionofher
personaleffectsandherburial,orcremation.”

“Yes.Ofcourse.I’llhavetocomeupthereanddealwithit.”Shehesitated,hermindspinning.“I’

llcometoday.AssoonasIcangetaflight.”

Hegaveherhistelephonenumberandcontactinformation.Shewroteitalldownandsaidgoodbye.

She sat back down on her bed, rocking quietly with her arms wrapped around herself. Rachel was
dead.Rachelwasdead.Shehadn’tevengottentosaygoodbye.Andnowshehadtogoanddealwith
thefuneralarrangements.Worse,shedidn’tevenknowifhersisterhadkilledherself,orifsomeone
hadmurderedher.

ShethoughtofJerry,hersister ’sdrug-dealingboyfriend.Hadhetiredofherhabitandkilledherwith
anoverdose?Hadthemillionaire’swifesentsomeonetokillher?Herheadbuzzedwithallsortsof
horribleimages.

Thencamethethoughtthatshewasallalone.Rachelhadbeenthelastlivingmemberofherfamily.

The anguish of her sister ’s machinations and lies was over, but so was the last bond of kinship she
had.

She thought of their father and wondered if he’d been there to meet Rachel when she crossed over.
He’dlovedtheothersistersomuch.Hehadn’tlovedIvy.Hedidn’tthinkIvywashis.Wasshe?

HadRachelliedaboutthat,too,asshe’dliedaboutsomanyotherthings?

Maybe Rachel had left a note, a letter, something, to explain her hatred of Ivy. If she went to New
York,maybeshecouldfindit.Maybeshecouldunderstandtheotherwoman,atlonglast.

Shestartedpacking.

CHAPTERSEVEN

LUCKILY,Ivyhadenoughinhersavingsaccounttocoverareducedfareround-tripairlineticketto
New York. But once there, she would have expenses. She’d have to find somewhere to stay—she
couldn’tbeartostayatRachel’sapartmentwiththedrug-dealingboyfriendlurkingnearby—andthere
wouldbecabfareandthenthecostofbringingRachelhome.Itwasanightmare.IfStuarthadbeenat
home, she might have been bold enough to call him and ask for help. But it was too soon in their
changingrelationshipforthat.

On the other hand, she could call Merrie. But Ivy was too proud. It would sound as if she needed
charity. No, she had to stand on her own two feet and do what was necessary. She was a grown
woman,notachild.Shecoulddothis.

She’d never been on an airplane in her life. It was an adventure, from going through security to
takeoff,whichshecomparedinhermindtoblastingoffinaspaceship.Shewassittingnexttoanice
elderly couple in tourist class. They were friendly, and seemed amused at her fascination with air
travel.

OnceatLaGuardia,shetookacabtoamodestlypricedhotelthatLitahadtoldherabout,whichwas
in Brooklyn, not too far from Rachel’s apartment. She also had the number of the police sergeant
who’dtoldherabouthersister ’sdeath.

Shecheckedinatthehotelandtooktimetogoupstairswithhersinglesuitcase.Theroomwassmall,
butneatandclean,andtherewasalovelyviewofthecityskyline.Shewonderedhowshewasgoing
to bear the loneliness of it, though, after she went to the morgue to identify her sister ’s body. The
ordealwasoneshedreaded.

SergeantAmeswasn’tinhisofficewhenshegotthere,soshetookaseatinthewaitingroom.The
police precinct seemed in a constant case of chaos. People came and went. Lawyers came to see
clients.

Reporters came to talk to detectives. Uniformed officers came and went. It was a colorful mix of
people, especially to Ivy, who was used to living in a town of only two thousand people. A few
minuteslater,atall,dark-headed,good-lookingmaninasuitapproachedher.

“MissConley?”heasked,smiling.

Shestoodup.“Yes.AreyouSergeantAmes?”

“Iam.”Theyshookhands.“SorryIwaslate,”headded,leadinghertohiscubicleandofferinghera
seat.“Ihadtotestifyinamurdertrial.Courtjustletout.”

“Haveyoulearnedanythingelseaboutmysister ’sdeath?”sheasked.

“Justthatherboyfriendhasarecordaslongasmydesk,”herepliedcurtly.“Hehasclientsinhigh
places around town. Apparently your sister was involved with one of them, a married man, and the

client’

swifewasnonetoohappyabouttheaffair.Shemadethreatsagainstyoursister ’slife.Thenthere’sthe
boyfriend.Aneighboroftheirstoldoneofourinvestigatorsthatyoursisterandherboyfriendhad
frequent violent arguments. During their latest one, he told her to leave his client alone and she
threatenedtogotothepolicewithinformationshesaidcouldconvicthimofdrugsmuggling.”He
foldedhishandsonthecluttereddesk.“Asyoucantell,there’snoshortageofsuspectsifitdoesturn
outtobeacaseofmurder.”Hefrowned.“Issomeonewithyou?Family?Aboyfriend,perhaps?”

Sheshookherhead.“Idon’thaveanyrelatives,exceptRachel,”shereplied.ShethoughtaboutStuart,
butkissesdidn’tmakerelationships.“Andnoboyfriend,”sheaddedreluctantly.“TherewasnooneI
couldasktocomewithme.”

Hegrimaced.“You’renotgoingtotrytostayinyoursister ’sapartment?”heaskedquickly.

“No,”shetoldhim.“Icouldn’tbeartostaythere.Ihavearoominasmallhotelforthenight.”

“Haveyoueverhadtodealwithadeathinyourfamilybefore?”

“Myfatherdiedtwoyearsago,”shesaid.“ButRachelmadeallthearrangements.Ijustpaidthebills.I
don’tknowexactlywhattodo,”sheconfessed.

“I’ll walk you through the procedure,” he said in a gentler tone. “What can you tell me about your
sister ’sprivatelife?”

“Probablynomorethanyouknowalready,”shesaidapologetically.“Rachelwasolderthanme,and
shedidn’tlikeme.SheonlygotintouchwithmewhenIcoulddosomethingforher.”

Hestudiedherquietly.“Youweren’tclose?”

She shook her head. “Rachel didn’t want to live in a small town. She wanted to be an actress on
Broadway.”Shefeltaterribleemptinessinthepitofherstomach.“Iknewthatsheuseddrugs.She’s
donethatforalongtime,eversincehighschool.ButIneverthoughtshe’ddiesoyoung.”Tearsran
downhercheeks.“It’sjustbeensosudden.”

“MayImakeasuggestion?”

Shewipedhereyes.“Ofcourse.”

“Yousaidthatyouhaveahotelroom?”

“Yes,”shereplied.

“Gotoitandrestforacoupleofhours.Callmewhenyou’rereadyandI’lltakeyoutothemorgueto
identifyher.Howaboutthat?”

Shealmostargued.Buthewasakindman,shecouldseeitinhisdarkeyes.Shesmiled.“Iwouldlike
todothat.Thankyou.”

He stood up. “I’ll have one of the guys drop you off at your hotel,” he added, as if he knew how
limitedherfundswere.

“Thankyou,”shesaidgently.

Hesmiled.“Noproblem.I’llseeyoulater.”

Itwasn’tevenlunchtimeyet.Shewasn’thungry.Theflighthadtakenawayherappetite.Shelaydown
onthebedcoversandclosedhereyes.Theordealwasstillinfrontofher.Butthesergeanthadbeen
right,afewminutes’restmighthelpherfacethemorgue.

Shemusthavedriftedoff,becauseapersistentknockingsoundbroughtherbacktothepresent.

She climbed off the bed, wiping at her sleepy eyes, and went to the door. She looked through the
peepholeandcouldn’tbelievehereyes.

ShethrewopenthedoorandranintoStuart’swarm,strongarms.Sheheldonfordearlife,sobbing,
sohappytoseehimthatshecouldn’tevenpretend.

“It’sallright,honey,”hesaidsoftly,drawingherintotheroom.Heclosedandlockedthedoorand
thenliftedher,carryinghertothebed.Hesatdownonitandcradledheracrosshisknees.“Iknowit’s
hard.Whateverelseshewas,shewasstillyoursister.”

“Howdidyouknow?”shesobbedintohisshoulder.

“ThecabdriverwhotookyoutotheairportisMrs.Rhodes’ssecondcousin.Hephonedherandshe
phonedme.”Hisarmstightened.“Whydidn’tyoucallme?”heasked.“Iwouldhavebeentherelikea
shot.”

Shedidn’thavethatmuchself-confidence,especiallywherehewasconcerned.Butmiraculously,here
hewas.She’dneverneededsomeonethismuchinherlife.Shewasn’taloneanymore.

Shecuddledupagainsthim,shiveringalittlewithrelief.“IhavetocallSergeantAmesandhe’lltake
metoidentify…identifythebody.”

“I’lldothatforyou,”hesaidsoftly.

Shelookedupintohispaleblueeyes.“Icandoit,”shesaid.“Ifyou’llgowithme.”

Hesmiled.“OfcourseIwill.”Thesmilefaded.“Howdidshedie?”

“Idon’tknow.Thepolicearen’tsure,either.Hesaidthey’llhavetodoanautopsytofindthecauseof
death.”Shelaidhercheekagainsthisbroadchest.“Herapartmentwillhavetobegonethroughand
her things removed. Then I have to decide whether to have her cremated or bring her home to
Jacobsvilleandburyherthere,nearourparents.”

“Rachelwouldn’thavecaredwhatyoudidwithher,”hesaidcoldly.

“I’dreallyratherhavehercremated,”shetoldhimsadly.Shedidn’twanttomentionthattheexpense
oftransportingacoffintoJacobsvillewastoooverwhelmingforher.ShewassurethatRachelhadno
healthinsurance,orlifeinsurance.Andevenifshehad,therewasnodoubtthatJerrywouldhavehad
himselfputonthepolicyasbeneficiary.ButthatstillleftIvywiththefuneralexpense.

“Then,we’llseeaboutdoingthat,”Stuartsaidafteraminute.“Butfirstthingsfirst.We’llgotothe
morgue, then we’ll find a funeral home. After we’ve made the arrangements, we’ll go back to her
apartmentandseewhatneedsdoingthere.”

“Youmakeeverythingsoundsosimple,”sheremarked.

“Mostthingsare.It’sjustamatteroforganization.”

Shesatuponhislap,dabbingathereyes.“Sorry.IjustlostitwhenIsawyou.IthoughtI’dhavetodo
allthisalone.”

He pulled out a white handkerchief and put it in her hands. “Dry your eyes. Then we’ll call your
sergeantandgettheprocessstarted.Okay?”

Shesmiled.“Okay.”

Stuart tried to keep her from looking at Rachel, but she insisted. She wanted to see how her sister
looked.

Itwasbad.Rachelwasgray.Therewasnoexpressiononherface,althoughitwaspockmarkedand
verythin.Shelookedgruesome,butitwasdefinitelyRachel.

Stuart and Sergeant Ames escorted her back to Ames’s office, where they sat around his desk
drinkingcupsofblackcoffeeuntilIvywasfortifiedenoughtotalk.

“We’regoingtohaveanautopsydone,”Amestoldthem,“butthemedicalexaminersaysit’spretty
conclusivethatshediedofamassiveoverdoseofcocaine.”

“Isthatwhyshelooksthewayshedoes?”Ivyasked,dabbingathereyeswithStuart’shandkerchief.“I
mean,herfacelookspockmarked.”

“That’sthecrystalmethshe’dbeenusing,”hereplied.“It’sthemostdeadlydrugwedealwiththese
days.Itravagestheuser.Afewmonthsonitandtheylooklikezombies.”

“Why?”sheaskedsuddenly.“Whywouldanyoneusesomethinglikethatinthefirstplace?”

“People have been asking that question for years, and we still don’t have an answer. It’s one of the
most addictive drugs,” the detective told her gently. “Once it gets into their systems, people will
literallykilltogetit.”

“Howhorrible,”shesaid,andmeantit.

“Howlonghadshebeenusing?”heaskedIvy.

“Sinceshewasinhighschool,”shetoldhimdully.“Itoldmyfather,buthedidn’tbelieveme.Hesaid
Rachelwouldneverdodrugs.”Shelaughedhollowly.“She’dcometoseeuswhenshewashighasa
kite,andmyfatherneverevennoticed.”

“Herfatherdrank,”Stuartinterruptedsolemnly.“Idon’tthinkhenoticedmuch.”

Ivygrimaced.“Ineverimaginedshe’denduplikethis.”

“Whataboutherboyfriend?”Stuartwantedtoknow.

Amesshrugged.“We’vemanagedtogetacoupleofconvictionsagainsthim,butevenso,hegetsout
ofjailinnotime,andgoesrightbacktohisoldtricks.Acoupleofhisclientsarepowerfulfiguresin
thecity.”

“Onallthebesttelevisionshows,thedrugdealersgoawayforlife,”Ivypointedout.

Ameschuckled.“Iwishitwasthatway.It’snot.Forhundredsofreasons,drugdealersnevergetthe
sentencestheydeserve.”

“Whenwilltheydotheautopsy?”Ivyasked.

“Probably tonight,” Ames said. “They don’t have a backlog, for the first time in months. Once we
haveacauseofdeath,wecandecidewheretogofromthere.”

“Whataboutherapartment?”Ivyasked.“Isitallrightforustogothere?”

“Yes,”herepliedand,reachingintohismiddledeskdrawer,producedakey.“Thisisacopyofthe
keytoherapartment,whichwehaveinthepropertyroom.Ithoughtyou’dneedaccess,soIhadthis
onemade.We’vealreadyprocessedherapartment.”

“I’llneedtocleanitoutandpackupwhateverlittlefamilymemorabiliashekept,soIcantakeithome
withme,”Ivysaiddully.

“HowwelldoyouknowJerrySmith?”thedetectiveaskedher.

“I’veseenhimafewtimes,”shereplied.“Ineverlikedhim.Ihavemigraineheadaches,”sheadded.
“HecamehomewithRachelwhenourfatherdied.Ihadtheheadacheandheswitchedmymedicine
for some powerful narcotics. I realized he’d substituted something for my prescription pills, and I
refusedtotakewhathegaveme.Hethoughtitwasfunny.”

Stuartlookedmurderous.“Younevertoldmethat,”heaccused.

“Iknewwhatyou’ddoifyoufoundout,”shereplied.“Thatmanlookstomelikehehassomereally
dangerousconnections.”

“Ihaveafewofmyown,”Stuartrepliedcurtly.“IncludingtwoTexasRangers,anFBIagentandour
localsheriff.Youshouldhavetoldme.”

Shegrimaced.“IwasgladwhenRachelandJerrywentbacktoNewYork.”

“I’m not surprised,” the sergeant said. “I have your sister ’s effects in the property room. If you’ll
comewithme,I’llgetthemforyou.You’llhavetosignthemout.”

“Allright.”Shestoodup,feelingnumb.“Thankyouforbeingsokind.”

“Itgoeswiththejobdescription,”heassuredher.

Stuarthadhiredalimousine.Ivyfounditfascinating.Shewishedshewasn’tsotransparenttohim.He
seemedamusedthatshewantedtoknoweverythingabouttheexpensivetransportation.

He had the driver wait for them at Rachel’s apartment building. He escorted Ivy up the stairs to the
secondfloorapartmentandopenedthedoor.ItwasjustthewayRachelhadleftit,exceptforthewhite
outlinethatshowedwhereherbodyhadbeen.

Ivywastakenabackatthegraphicevidenceofhersister ’sdeath.Shestoodthereforamomentuntil
shecouldgetheremotionsundercontrol.“Idon’tknowwheretobegin,”shesaid.

“Trythebedroom,”Stuartsuggested.“I’llgothroughthedrawersinthelivingroom.”

“Okay.”

ShewanderedintoRachel’sbedroom,hereyesontherattypinkcoverlet,thescatteredoldshoes,the
faded curtains. Rachel had always told everybody back home that she was getting good parts in
Broadwayplaysandmakinggobsofmoney.Ivyhadevenbelievedit.

ButsheshouldhaverealizedthatRachelwouldn’thavebeensopersistentabouttheirfather ’smoney
unlessshewashurtingforit.Arichwomanwouldhavelessneedforaparent’ssavings.

Ivyopenedthebedsidetable,feelinglikeathiefasshelookedinside.Therewasasmallbookwithan
embroideredcover.Adiary.Absently,Ivystuckitinthepocketofherjacketandmovedtothedresser.

There was hardly anything in the dresser except for some faded silk lingerie and underwear. The
closet,however,wasasurprise.Insideweretenexquisiteandexpensiveeveninggownsandtwocoats.

Ivy touched them. Fur. Real fur. There were expensive high heeled shoes in every color of the
rainbowonthefloorofthecloset.

Sheopenedthejewelryboxonthedresserandgasped.Itcouldbecostumejewelry,ofcourse,butit
didn’tlookcheap.Therewereemeraldsanddiamondsandrubiesinringsandnecklacesandearrings.
It looked like a king’s ransom of jewelry. What in the world had Rachel done to get all this, she
wondered?

Stuartcamein,hishandsdeepinhispockets,frowning.“She’sgotabigplasmatelevision,atop-of-
the-lineDVDplayerandsomefurniturethatcamefromexclusiveantiqueshops.Howdidshemanage
allthatwithoutvisiblemeansofsupport?”

“That’sagoodquestion,”Ivyreplied.“Lookatthis.”

Stuartlookedoverhershoulderatthejewels.Hepickeduparingandlookedattheinscriptioninside
theband.“Eighteenkaratgold,”hemurmured.“Thestonesarereal,too.”

“Doyouthinkshestolethem?”Ivyaskedworriedly.

“Idon’tthinkit’slikelythatsheownedthem,”hereplied.“There’saboutahundredthousanddollars
worth,righthereinthistray.”

Hergaspwasaudible.“Ithoughtitmightbecostumejewelry.”

Hetiltedherchinuptohiseyes.“Youdon’tknowalotaboutluxury,doyou,honey?”heaskedsoftly.
Hebentandtouchedhismouthgentlytohers.“Ilikeyouthatway.”

Thetouchofhismouthwasalmostherundoing,butshecouldn’tforgetthetaskathand.“Wheredo
youthinkshegotallthis?”shepersisted.

“Ifshewashangingoutwithamillionaire,Iimaginehegaveittoher.”

“Hiswifewillwantitallback.”

Henodded.“Ifsheknowsit’shere.”Hefrowned.“I’msurprisedthatAmesdidn’ttakeitandputitin
thepropertyroom.”

“Maybehethoughtitwasfake,too.”

He chuckled. “No. That guy knows his business. He may have some sort of surveillance camera in
here,waitingtoseeifanyonecarriesoffthejewels.”

“That’snotabadidea,”shemused.

Heclosedthelidofthejewelrybox.“No,itisn’t.”Hecheckedhiswatch.“It’sgoingonlunchtime.We
cangobacktomyhotelandhaveroomservicesendsomethinguptous.”

“Ihavemyownroom,”sheremindedhim.

“We’llcancelitandpickupyoursuitcase,”hereplied.“I’mnotlettingyououtofmysight,”headded
somberly.“Especiallywhilewedon’tknowexactlywhyyoursisterdied.”

Shestartedtoargue.Heheldupahand.“Iwon’tgiveuporgivein.Justcomealonganddon’tfight
it.”

“You’reverydomineering,”sheaccused.

“Yearsofworkingcattlehasruinedmeforpolitesociety,”hesaidwithatwinkleinhispaleeyes.

Shelaughed,asshewasmeantto.“Allright,”shesaidafteraminute.Shedidn’tmindbeingguidedat

themoment.Shewasworn.Hepickedupthejewelryboxandputitinherhands.

“Herboyfriendwillsaythesebelongtohim,”hesaid.“Buthe’snotgettingthemwithoutafight.

We’llputtheminasafe-depositboxforthetimebeing.”

“That’sagoodidea,”sheagreed.“Hemaynothavekilledher,buthehelpedhergetwheresheisnow.
Heshouldn’tprofitfromherdeath.”

“Iagree.”

Onthewaytothehotel,hestoppedatabankwhereheobviouslyhadanaccountandaskedforaccess
tohisownsafe-depositbox.Theydepositedthejewelryboxinit.Heaskedtospeaktooneofthevice
presidents of the bank, who came out of his office, smiling, to motion Stuart and Ivy into it. Stuart
askedhimaboutfuneralparlorsinthecityandwasreferredtoareputableone.Thebankofficergave
Stuartthenumber.

When they were back in the limousine, Stuart dialed the number and spoke to one of the funeral
directors.Hemadeanappointmentforthemlaterthatafternoontospeakaboutthearrangements.The
funeralhomewouldarrangefortransportofRachel’sbodywhenthemedicalexaminerreleasedit.
Then they went by Ivy’s hotel and picked up her suitcase. Stuart, despite her protests, paid for the
room.

“Wecanargueaboutitwhenwe’rebackhome,”hetoldher.

His hotel room made hers look like a closet. It was a penthouse suite, one of those that figured in
presidentialvisits,sheguessed.Stuarttookitforgranted.Hephonedroomserviceandorderedfood.

“Youshouldhaveaskedformorethanthat,”hesaidwhenshewasthroughabowloffreshlymade
potatosoup.

“ItwasallIthoughtIcouldeat,”shesaidsimply.“Ithasn’tbeenthebestdayofmylife.”Sheputdown
thespoon.“Idon’tthinkit’shitmeyet,”sheaddedsolemnly.“Ifeelnumb.”

“SodidI,whenmyfatherdied,”hesaid,puttingdownhisfork.Hepouredsecondcupsofcoffeefor
thembothbeforehespokeagain.“IwassurethatIhatedhim.He’dspenthislifetryingtoforcemeto
becomewhathecouldn’t.Butwhenithappened,Iwasdevastated.Youneverrealizehowimportanta
parent,anyparent,isinyourlifeuntilthey’renotthereanymore.”

“Yes,”sheagreed.“Nobodyelsesharesyourmemorieslikeaparent.Myfatherwasbadtome.

HealwayspreferredRachel,andhenevertriedtohideit.”Shesighed.“Maybeit’sagoodthingthatI
knowhedidn’tbelieveIwashischild.Itmakesthepastalittleeasiertobear.IwishIknewforsure,
though.”

“We’llfindout.Ipromiseyouwewill.”

Shestaredathimacrossthetable.“Youmustbelettingdealsgetbywhileyou’reupherewithme,”
shesaid.

Heshrugged.“There’snothinganyofmymanagerscan’thandle.That’swhyIhirequalifiedpeople,
sothatIcandelegateauthoritywhenIneedto.”

Shesmiled.“I’mveryglad.Icouldhavedonethisbymyself.ButI’mgladthatIdidn’thaveto.”

Hefinishedhiscoffeeandputhisnapkinonthetable.Hispaleeyescaughthersfromtheothersideof
thetable.“I’dneverhaveletyougothroughthisalone,”hesaidquietly.

Thewordsweremundane,buthiseyesweresayingthingsthatmadeherheartjumpupintoherthroat.
Afaintwaveofcolorstainedhercheeks.

He smiled slowly, wickedly. “Not now,” he said in a deep, slow drawl. “We’ve got too much to do.
Businessnow.Diversionslater.”

Theblushwentnuclear.Shegotupfromthetable,fumblingalittlewithhercoffeecupintheprocess.

Helaughed.Shewasastransparentasglasstoamanwithhisexperience.Itmadehimfeeltallertosee
thathelplessdelightinherface.Hewasgladhe’dcometoNewYork.AndnotjustbecauseIvyneeded
help.

They sat in the funeral director ’s office, going over final arrangements for Rachel. Ivy decided on
cremation. It was inexpensive, and Stuart had already mentioned that he was flying his own twin-
engine plane home. There wouldn’t be any problem with getting the urn containing Rachel’s ashes
throughsecurity.

Shepickedoutanornateblackandgoldbrassurn.“Icanhaveourlocalfuneraldirectorburyitinthe
spacenexttoDaddy,”shetoldStuart.

“Somepeoplekeeptheashesathome,”thedirectorremarked.

“No,Idon’tthinkIcouldliveinthehouseifRachelwassittingonthemantel,”Ivysaidquietly.

“MysisterandIdidn’tgetalong,yousee.”

Thedirectorsmiled.“IhaveabrotherIcouldn’tgetalongwith.Iknowhowyoufeel.”

TheywentbackintohisofficeandIvysignedthenecessarypapersandwroteacheckforthecostof
theexpenses,despiteStuart’sprotests.

Later,inthelimousine,hevoicedhisdisapproval.“You’vegotenoughtodosupportingyourself,”

hesaidcurtly.“Rachel’sfuneralcostispocketchangetome.”

“I know that,” she replied. “But you have to understand how I feel, Stuart. It’s my sister and my
responsibility.”

Hecaughtherhandinhisandheldittight.“Youalwayswereanindependentlittlecuss,”hemused,
smilingather.

She smiled back. “I like the feeling that I can stand on my own two feet and support myself,” she
replied. “I never had a life of my own as long as Rachel was alive. She was even worse than Dad
abouttryingtomanageme.”

Hepursedhislip.“DoIdetectadoublemeaning?”

Shelaughed.“No.Well,yes.Youdotrytomanageme.”Shestaredathimcuriously.“AndIdon’

tknowwhy.Youwerejustgoingaroundwithsomebeautifuldebutante.Therewasaphotographof
youinatabloidtwoweeksago,”sheaddedandthenflushedbecausethatsoundedlikejealousy.

Butheonlysmiled.“Thatphotowastakenfouryearsago.Godknowswheretheydugitup.”

Sheblinked.“Excuseme?”

“Thephotographwastakenyearsago.Seethis?”Heindicatedatietackthatshe’dgivenhimforhis
birthdaythreeyearsago.“Ialwayswearitwithmysuits.Lookinthephotoandseeifyouseeit.”

Infact,shehadn’tseenitinthatphoto.Itamazedherthatheprizedsuchaninexpensivepresent.

Andthatheworeitconstantly.“Youlikeitthatmuch?”sheasked,diverted.

Insteadofadirectanswer,hishandslippedtohercollaranddippedunderittoproduceafiligreegold
cross that he’d given her for Christmas three years past. “You never take it off,” he said, his voice
deepandslow.“It’sineveryphotoofyouthatmysistertakes.”

“I…it’sverypretty,”shestammered.Thefeelofhisknucklesagainsthersoftskinwasdelightful.

“Yes,itis.Butthatisn’twhyyouwearit,anymorethanIwearthetietackbecauseit’strendy.”

He was insinuating something very intimate. She stared into his pale eyes as they narrowed, and
darkened,andherbreathbegantocatchinherthroat.

“We’rebothkeepingsecrets,Ivy,”hesaidinadeep,softtone.“Butnotformuchlonger.”

She searched his pale eyes, looking for a depth of feeling that matched her own. He was familiar,
dear. When she and Merrie were in high school, she’d felt breathless when he walked into a room.
Shehadn’trealized,then,thatthefeelingsshegotwhenhewasaroundwerethebeginningsofaching
desire.

He traced the outline of her soft lips with his forefinger, making her tingle all over. He smiled, so
tenderlythatshefeltshecouldfly.Anyideashe’dhadthathewasplayingagamewithherwasgone
now.Nomanlookedatawomanlikethisunlesshecared,evenifonlyalittle.

CHAPTEREIGHT

IVYfeltasifthegroundhadbeenpulledoutfromunderherasshestaredintoStuart’spaleeyes.His
gazedroppedtohersoft,fullmouthandlingeredthereuntilshethoughtherheartwouldburstoutof
herchest.Shestaredathishardmouthandremembered,oh,sowell,thefeelofitagainstherown.
The need was like a desperate thirst that nothing could quench. She started to lean toward him. His
hand contracted. His face hardened. She could see the intent in his eyes even before he reached for
her.

And just then, the car lurched forward as the traffic light changed, separating them before they’d
managedtogetclose.

Ivylaughedbreathlessly,nervousandshyandonfirewithkindlingdesire.

Hecockedaneyebrow.“You’resafe,”hemurmured,althoughhestillhadherhandtightinhis.

“Butdon’tgettoocomfortable.”

Sheonlysmiled.Hiseyeswerepromisingheaven.Itseemedimpossiblethatthey’dbeenenemiesfor
solong.Thisfamiliar,handsome,compelling,sexymanbesideherhadbecomesomeoneshedidn’t
know at all. The prospect of the future became exciting. But even as she felt the impact of her own
feelingsforhim,sherememberedwhyshewasinNewYorkCity.Dreamswouldhavetowaitfora
while.

They went back to Rachel’s apartment to arrange things. Stuart went down to talk to the apartment
manager.Ivystayedintheapartmentandbegangoingthroughdrawersagain.

Shefoundaphotoalbum.Shesatdownwithitonthecouchandopenedit.Assheexpected,thephotos
wereallofRachel.Therewasoneoftheirfather,sittingontheporchswingathishouse.Therewere
afewoftheirmother.Therewasn’tonesinglepictureofIvyanywhereinthealbum.Itstung.Butit
wasn’tunexpected.

She put the album aside and picked up a letter, addressed to Rachel and marked Private. It was
trespassing.Shefeltguilty.Butshehadtoknowwhatwasintheletter,especiallywhenshereadthe
returnaddress.Itwasanexpensivestationery,andthereturnaddresswasthatofalawfirminTexas.

Justasshestartedtoopenit,sheheardfootsteps.Theyweren’tStuart’s.Shestoodupandslippedthe
letterintoherslacks’pocketjustasthedoorflewopen.

JerrySmithwalkedintotheapartmentasifheownedit.Hewassomberandangry.Hisnarroweyes
focusedonIvywithsomethinglikehatred.

“Whatareyoudoinghere?”Ivyaskedcoldly.

Heshutthedoorbehindhimandsmiled.Thesmilewassleazy,demeaning.HelookedatIvyasifshe
wereastreet-walkerawaitinghispleasure.

“So, it’s the little sister, come looking for buried treasure, is it? Don’t get too comfortable here,
sweetheart. Everything in this apartment is mine. I paid for all this.” He swept his arm around the
room.

“Mustn’tstealthingsthatdon’tbelongtoyou,”headdedinasarcasticundertone.

Shewouldhavebackeddownevenayearago.Butshe’dspenttoomuchtimearoundStuarttocavein,
especially when she knew he was nearby and likely to return any minute. This sleazy drug dealer
didn’tknowthat,anditwasheraceinthehole.

“Any photographs and quilts and paintings in here are mine,” she returned icily. “You don’t get to
keepmyfamilyheirlooms.”

“Quilts.” He made the word sound disgusting. “Rachel thought they were worth a fortune, because
they were handmade. She took them to an antique dealer. He said they were junk. She tried to give
themaway,butnobodywantedthem.Sheusedthemtopackhercrystalin,forwhensheplannedto
movenextmonth.”Heshrugged.“Iguessshewon’tbemovinganywhere.”

Herreliefatknowingthequiltsweren’ttrasheddisappearedwhenhemadethatoddstatement.

“Rachelneversaidanythingaboutmoving.Wherewasshemovingto?”

“Backtoyourlittlehicktown,apparently,”hesaid.“Sheownedahousethere.”

“Shedidn’t,”Ivyreturned,andfeltguiltyasrelieffloodedher.Rachelhadplannedtocomehomeand
letIvybeherpersonalslave.“Shesoldthehousetwoyearsago.”

“Whatever. She didn’t remember much. I warned her about that damned meth. I don’t even sell it,
becauseit’ssodangerous,butshegothookedonitandwouldn’tquit.”

“Didyoukillher?”Ivyaskedcurtly.

“Ididn’thaveto,”hemuttered.“Shestayedcomatosehalfthetime,eversinceshelostthatbigpart
she’djustlandedinaplaythat’sstartingonBroadwayinacoupleofmonths.Herlover ’swifeknew
theproducer.ShehadhimdropRachel,thenshecalledandtoldherallaboutit.ShepromisedRachel
thatshe’dnevergetastarringroleeveragain.Thatwaswhenshehitbottom.”

“They’redoinganautopsy.”

Heshrugged.“Theyusuallydo,whenpeoplediesuddenly.Ididn’tkillher,”herepeated.“Shekilled
herself.”Helookedaround,hiseyesnarrowing.“Don’ttakeanythingoutofhereuntilIhavetimeto
gothroughherthings.”

“I’vealreadytakenherjewelrytoabankforsafekeeping,”Ivyreturned.

“You’vewhat?”Hemovedtowardher,hishandsclenchedathissides.“Thatjewelryisworthaking’s
ransom!Shewheedleditoutofthatoldmanshewassuckingupto!”

“Whichmeansitbelongstohim,”Ivyreplied.

“You’dreallygiveitbacktohim,wouldn’tyou?”hetaunted.“God,whatanidiotyouare!Tellyou
what,yougivemehalfofitandI’llforgetwhereitwent.”

“Youcanonlybribedishonestpeople,”shesaidquietly.“Idon’tcarethatmuchaboutmoney.Ionly
wanttomakealiving.”

“Rachelwouldhavekeptthelot!”

“Yes,shewouldhave.Shetookandtookandtook,allherlife.Theonlyhumanbeingsheevercared
aboutwasherself.”

“Well,you’renotblind,areyou?”HemovedintothebedroomandopeneddrawerswhileIvyhoped
thatStuartwouldcomebacksoon.Secondslater,Jerrybarreledoutofthebedroom.“Whereisit?”

Sheblinked.“Whereiswhat?”

“Theaccountbook!”

Shefrowned.“Whataccountbook?Therewasn’tanyaccountbookhere!”

He went white in the face. “It’s got to be here,” he muttered to himself. He started going through
drawersinthespaciouslivingroom,takingthingsout,scatteringthem.“It’sgottobehere!”

Shecouldn’tunderstandwhathewassoupsetabout.Obviouslytherewouldbesomesortofrecordof
rentandotherexpenditures,butwhokeptajournalinthisdayandtime?

“Wouldn’titbeonthecomputer?”sheasked,indicatingthelaptoponthediningroomtable.

“What? The computer?” He turned on the computer and pulled up the files, one by one, cursing
harshlyashewentalong.“No,it’snothere!”Hestaredatheroverthecomputer.“Youtookit,when
youtookthejewelry,didn’tyou?”hedemanded.“Didyougetmystash,too?”

Hestrodeintothebathroom.Loudnoisescamefromtheroom.Heappearedagainwithsomesmall
bagsofwhitepowder.“Atleastonlyoneismissing,”hesaid,almosttohimself.Hestuffedthebags
intohispantspockets.HeglaredatIvy.“Idon’tknowwhatyourgameis,butyou’dbetterfindthat
journal,andquick,ifyouknowwhat’sgoodforyou.”

“What journal?” she demanded. “For heaven’s sake, my sister just died! I’m not interested in your
householdaccounts!”

Heglaredback.

“Didshehaveanylifeinsurance?”sheasked,forcingherselftocalmdown.“Aburialpolicy?”

“Shedidn’texpecttodiethisyoung,”hereturned.“No,there’snolifeinsurance.”Hesmiledcoolly.
“Youcanleavetheapartmentanditscontentstome.Nowtakewhateveryouwantofher‘

heirlooms,’andthengetthehelloutofthisapartment.”

Shewantedtoargue,butStuartwouldbeheresoon,andafterJerrygothiscomeuppance,hewasn’t
likely to let her back in again. She retrieved the quilts out of the closet, leaving the crystal stacked
neatlyonthefloor.Shetookthephotoalbum,althoughthephotosweremostlyofRachel.Shetook
noneofthedressesorgownsorshoesorfurs.Rachel’swholelifeboileddowntofrivolousthings.
Therewasn

’tasinglebookintheentireapartment.

Clutchingthequiltsandthephotoalbums,shemovedbackintothelivingroom,whereJerrywasstill
pullingopendrawers,lookingforthemysteriousjournal.

Heseemedsurprisedwhenhesawwhatshehad.“Therewereeveninggownsinthecloset.

Weren’tyouinterestedinthem?YouandRachelwerealmostthesamesize.”

“Icanbuymyownclothes,”shereplied.Itwasasorespot.Justonce,whenshewassixteen,she’

d asked to borrow one of Rachel’s gowns to wear to the prom. Rachel had asked why, and Ivy had
confessedthataniceboyfromthegrocerystorehadinvitedhertotheprom.Sowhenhecametothe
house, Rachel had flirted with him and before he left, Rachel had teased him into driving her to
Houston to see some friends on the same night as the prom. Then Rachel had mocked Ivy about
borrowingthegown,addingthatshehardlyneededonesinceshenolongerhadadate.

“DidRachelsendyouanythingtokeepforher?”Jerrypersisted.

“Rachel only phoned me when she wanted me to send her something,” she replied. “She wouldn’t
havetrustedmewithanything.Sheneverdid.”

“Yeah,shesaidyoustoleherstuffwhenshewaslivingathome.”

Ivy’sfacewentredwithbadtemper.“Inevertookanythingofhers.Itwastheotherwayaround.

Shecouldtellalietoanyoneandbebelieved.Itwashergreatesttalent.”

“Iguessyouwerejealousofher,becauseshewassobeautiful,”hereplied.

“I’mnotjealousofpeoplewhodon’thavehearts.”

Helaughedcoldly.“Beautymakesupforcharacter.”

“Notinmybook.”

Hemovedtowardher,notingherquickbackwardmovement.Hesmiledtauntingly.“Maybeyouand
mecouldgettogethersometime.You’renotpretty,butyou’vegotspirit.”

“I’drathergettogetherwithasnake.”

Heliftedaneyebrow.“Suityourself.Iguessyou’llgrowoldanddieallaloneinthathicktownyou
comefrom.”Hetouchedherlong,blondhair.“Youcouldhavesomesweettimesifyoustayedhere
withme.”

ThedoorflewopenandJerry’sfacewentrigidasthetall,dangerousmansawwhatJerrywasdoing,
stalkedrightuptohim,tookhishandfromIvy’shairandliterallypushedhimaway.

“TouchheragainandI’llbreakyourneck,”Stuartsaid,hiswholedemeanorthreatening.

“Hey,man,I’mcool!”hesaid,backingevenfurtherawaywithbothhandsraised,palmsout.

Theflippant,cocksureyoungmanofsecondsbeforewasflushedwithnerves.Ivydidn’tblamehim.
Stuart in a temper was formidable. He never lost control of himself, but he never flinched when
confronted.Themeanestofhiscowboyswalkedwidearoundhimontheranch.

Ivy felt relief surge up inside her. Instinctively she moved closer to Stuart—so close that she could
feelhisstrengthandthewarmthofhisbody.Hisarmslidaroundhershoulders,holdinghernear.She
feltsafe.

“IwasjusttellingIvythatthisstuffismine,”Jerrysaid,butnotinaforcefultone.“Mymoneypaid
forit.”

“AndItoldhim,”Ivyreplied,“thatallIwantedwaswhateverheirloomsfrommyfamilythatRachel
kepthere.I’vegotthem…threequiltsandaphotoalbum.”Shewasholdingthem.

“Readytogo?”Stuartaskedhercalmly,buthiscoldeyeswerepinningJerrytothewall.

“Yes,”shesaid.

“Allright,then.”

She grabbed her purse from the table and went through the doorway. Stuart gave Jerry one last,
contemptuouslookbeforeheclosedthedoorbehindthem.

“Thedrugdealer,Itakeit?”heasked,relievingIvyofthequilts.

“Yes.Hewasbeingverynastyuntilyoushowedup.Thanksforsavingme.”

He chuckled. “You were doing pretty well on your own, from what I saw.” He led the way into the
elevatorandpressedthebuttonforthelobby.“Atleastyouwon’thavetodisposeoftheapartmentand
itscontents.”

“Yes,that’soneworrygone.”Shelookedupathim.“Hewasdesperatetofindsomesortofaccount
bookhesaidRachelhad.Hewasfranticwhenhecouldn’tlocateit.”

“Didyoufindit?”heasked.

She shook her head. “There weren’t any account books that I could see. He was furious about the

jewelry,too,”sheadded.

“Hecantrytogetthemback,ifhelikes.Ihavesomegreatattorneys.”

“Itoldhimtheyweregoingbacktothemillionairewhogavethemtoher,”shereplied.

Helaughed.“Thatmusthavegivenhimhives.”

“Hewasupset.Imeantit,though.”Shegrimaced.“ButhowamIgoingtofindoutwhoheis?”

“I’lltakecareofthat,”hesaid,soeasilythatIvyrelaxed.“Allyouhavetoworryaboutisthefuneral.
AndI’llhelpwiththat.”

“You’vebeensokind,”shebegan.

Heheldupahand.“Don’tstart.”

Shesmiled.“Okay.Butthanks,anyway.”

“I couldn’t leave you to do it alone.” He led her out of the elevator when it stopped and out to the
limousine,whichwaswaitingforthemjustbeyondtheentrance.Stuartmotionedtothedriverandhe
pulledoutofhisparkingspaceandaroundtothefrontoftheapartmentbuilding.

ThequiltswereplacedinthetrunkandStuarthelpedIvyintothelimousine.

Theywentbacktothehotel.Ivyfeltdrained.Shehadn’tdonemuchatall,butthestressofthesituation
waswearingonhernerves.

“Youcanhavethemasterbedroom,”heoffered.“I’llhavetheoneacrossthelivingroom…”

“ButIdon’tneedallthatroom,”sheprotested.“Please.I’dreallyratherhavethesmallerofthetwo.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He put her suitcase onto the bed in the smaller room and left her to
unpack.“Whydon’tyouliedownandrestforawhile?I’vegotsomephonecallstomake.Thenwe’ll
seeaboutsupper.”

“Ihaven’tgotanythingfancywithme,”shesaidassheopenedthesuitcase.“Oh,no,”shemuttered,
grimacingassherealizedthatshe’donlypackedanotherpairofslacksandtwoblousesandanextra
pairofshoes.She’dforgottenthatshewasgoingtospendthenight.

“What’swrong?”heasked.

“Ididn’tpackanightgown…”

“Isthatall?”Hepursedhislips,lettinghiseyesslidedownherbody.“Icantakecareofthat.Youget
somerest.I’llbebackinalittlewhile.Don’tanswerthedoor,”headdedfirmly.Hedidn’taddwhy.

Hewassurethetabloidswouldpickupthestory,andsomeenterprisingreportercouldeasilyfindout

thatIvywasintowntoseetohersister ’sburialarrangements.Hedidn’twantIvybothered.

“Iwon’tanswerthedoor.”Shewantedtooffertogivehimsomemoneytogetheranightgown,but
shedidn’thaveit.Theairfareandtaxishadalmostbankruptedher.

Hewasgonebeforeshecouldevenmaketheoffer.Shekickedoffhershoesandputtheopensuitcase
onthefoldingrack.Thenshesankdownontothecomfortablebed,inherclothes.Shedidn’tmeanto
dozeoff,butshedid.Thelongdayhadfinallycaughtupwithher.

She woke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. She started sitting up even before she opened her
eyes,andadeep,masculinechucklebrokethesilence.

“That’sexactlyhowIreacttofreshcoffeewhenI’vebeenasleep,”hemurmured,standingoverher
withacupandsaucer.Thecupwassteaming.Hehandedittoher.“Careful,it’shot.”

Shesmileddrowsilyasshetookit.Thecolortoldherthathe’dpouredcreaminit.He’dremembered
that she only liked cream in her coffee. It was flattering. It was exciting. So was the way he was
lookingather.

“Hungry?”

“Icouldeat,”shereplied.

“Ihadroomservicesendupaplatterofcoldcuts,”hetoldher.“Comeoninwhenyou’reready.”

Shetookaminutetobatheherfaceandputherhairbackupneatlybeforeshejoinedhiminthesuite’s
livingroom.Thetableheldaplatterofrawvegetableswithseveraldips,aswellascoldmeats,breads
andcondiments.

“Haveaplate.”Heofferedherone.“Ilikeasteakandsalad,butit’stoolateinthedayforaheavy
meal.Especiallyforyou,”headded,studyingher.“Youneedsleep.”

She grimaced. “I haven’t really slept since this happened,” she confessed. “I always knew Rachel
couldoverdose.Butshe’dbeenusingdrugsforyearswithoutanydrasticconsequences.”

“Anyonecantaketoomanypills,”hesaid,“anddiewithoutmeaningto.”

“Yes,likeHayesCarson’sbrotherdid,”sheremarked.“Hayesstillisn’toverthat,andit’sbeenyears
sincehisbrotherdied.”

Hedidn’tlikethereferencetoHayes,anditshowed.Hedidn’tanswerher.Heloadedaplateandsat
downwithhisowncupofcoffee.

She sat at the table alone, nibbling on food she didn’t taste. He was more taciturn than usual. She
wonderedwhythementionofHayessethimofflikethat.Perhapsthey’dbeenrivalsforawoman’s
affection.Ormaybeitwasjustbecausehedidn’twanttoseehissistergetseriousaboutHayes.

“He’snotabadperson,”sheventured.

Hegloweredather.“DidIsaythathewas?”

“Youcan’ttellMerriewhotodate,”shepointedout.

Helookedtotallysurprised.“Merrie?”

“SheandCarsonarefriends,”shepersisted.“Thatdoesn’tmeanthatshewantstomarryhim.”

Hedidn’tanswer.Hefrownedthoughtfullyandsippedcoffee.

Shedidn’tunderstandhisoddbehavior.Shefinishedherfoodandhercoffee.Shewasworn-out,and
theordealwasn’tover.Shestillhadthecremationaheadofher.Therewassomethingelse,too.She
wouldbetrulyaloneintheworldnow.Thethoughtdepressedher.

“AreyougoingtocallthatmanaboutthejewelryRachelhad?”sheasked.

Henodded.“Tomorrow.We’llgeteverythingelsearrangedthenaswell.”Hiseyesnarrowed.“I’

mcuriousaboutthatledgerRachel’sboyfriendmentioned.”

“Me,too,”shesaidwearily.“Ifhewantsitthatbad,itmusthavesomethingtodowithhisclients.”

He didn’t say anything immediately. He looked thoughtful, and concerned. “I’ve heard it mentioned
thatRachelknewwheretobuydrugsinJacobsville.Webothknowthatit’sbeenahubforillicitdrug
traffickinginthepast.Itstillis.”Hefrowned.“Thatledgermighthavesomeincriminatingevidence
init,andnotjustaboutRachel’sboyfriend.”Hestaredather.“Youdon’thaveanyideawhatitlooks
like?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t ask. He was being obnoxious.” She smoothed back her hair. “I wish I
couldfeelsomething,”shesaiddully.“I’msorryshediedthatway,butwewereneverclose.Shedid
everythingshecouldtoruinmyreputation.Iusedtothinkwemightgrowcloserasweaged,butshe
onlygotmoreinsulting.”

“Rachellikedlivinghigh,”hesaid.“Shedidn’tcarehowsheachievedstatus.”

Therewassomethinginhistonethatmadehercurious.“Shewasinyourclassinhighschool,wasn’t
she?”

“Yes.”Hisdarkeyesnarrowed.“Shemadeaplayforme.Iputherdown.Shewasvengeful,andyou
andMerriewerebestfriends.”

ThatexplainedwhyRachelhadsuddenlyturnedagainstIvy;shethoughtIvy’sfriendshipwithMerrie
gaveheraccesstoStuart.IfRachelhadwantedStuart,itmusthavegalledherthatIvywaswelcomein
his house. Rachel might even have guessed how Ivy felt about him, which would have given her a
motivetotrytoconvinceStuartthatIvywaspromiscuous.

“SoshesetouttomakeyouthinkIwasrunningwild,”sheguessed.

Hegrimaced.“Yes,shedid.I’msorrytosayshemighthavesucceeded,exceptthatMerrieknewyou
anddefendedyou.”

Shesmiled.“MerriewasalwaysmorelikeasistertomethanRacheleverwas.”

“Shelikesyou,too.”Hegotup.“Bed.Youneedrest.”

Shehesitated.

Heguessedwhyandchuckled.“Ididn’tforget.”HeproducedabagfromMacy’sandhandedittoher.
“Sleepwell.”

“I’llpayyouback,”shesaidwithdetermination.

Heshrugged.“Suityourself.Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”Shehesitatedatthedoortoherroom.“Stuart…thanks.Foreverything.”

“You’ddothesameforanyonewhoneededhelp,”herepliedeasily.

Shesmiled.“Iguessso.”

Shewentintoherroomandclosedthedoor.Whensheopenedthebag,shecaughtherbreath.

He’dpurchasedagownandpeignoirsetforher.Thegownwaspalelemonsilkwithwhitelacetrim,
ankle-length,withadippingbodiceandspaghettistraps.Thepeignoirhadlongsleevesandrepeated
thepatternofthegown.She’dsighedoversimilarstylesinMacy’sherselfanddreamedofowning
something so beautiful. It was even prettier than the set Merrie had loaned her that long-ago night.
She’dneverhavebeenabletoaffordsomethinglikethisonherbudget.Shedidn’tknowhowshewas
goingtorepayStuartforit,butshehadto.Shecouldn’tlethimbuysomethingsointimateforher.

She put on the ensemble and brushed out her blond hair so that it haloed around her shoulders and
down her back. When she looked in the mirror, she was surprised at how sensual she looked. That
wasalaugh.Whatsheknewaboutmenwouldfitonthebackofanenvelope.

Sheclimbedintobedandturnedoutthelight.Shewishedshehadsomethingtoread.Shewasn’teven
sleepy. Her mind went back to the sight of Rachel in the morgue. She forced the memory out and
replaceditwithlinesfromabookshe’dreadaboutmeteorites.Thatamusedherandshelaughedto
herself. Stuart probably didn’t know how fascinated she was about the space rocks, or that she was
constantlyborrowingbooksfromthelibraryabouttheirstructure.Shelovedrocks.Shehadboxesof
thematherapartment.Everyoneteasedherabouttheirnumberandvariety.Shewasforeverlooking
foranythingunusual.Onceshewalkedrightoutintoaplowedfieldtosearchformeteoritesandcame
away with projectile points instead. Merrie said she should be studying archaeology, and Ivy had
repliedthatchancewouldbeafinething.

Even if she didn’t study it formally, she knew quite a lot about the subject. Everyone should have a
hobby,afterall.

She closed her eyes and thought about the projectile points. She’d taken them to a professor of
anthropologyatthecommunitycollege,who’dsurprisedherbydatingthematsomewherearoundsix
thousandyearsold.Ithadneveroccurredtoherthattheyweremorethanahundredyearsold.That
promptedhertogetmorebooksfromthelibraryaboutprojectilepoints.Shewassurprisedtolearn
thatyoucoulddatethembytheirshapeandthematerialfromwhichtheyweremade.

Shethoughtbacktothesummershewaseighteen.Stuarthadbeenoutontheranchwithhiscowboys
roundingupthebulls,tomovethemtogreenerpastures.She’dwatchedhimstandupinthesaddleand
ridelikethewind.Thepicturehadstayedwithherwhenhe’dcomeinforlunch.Hehadseenherrapt
attentionashe’dswungdownoutofthesaddlewithlazygrace.

He’dlookedatherinacuriousway,hispaleeyesglittering.“Staringatmelikethatwillgetyouin
trouble,”he’dsaidinadeep,slowtone.

She’d laughed nervously. “Sorry. I love to watch you ride,” she’d added. “I’ve never seen anybody
looksomuchathomeinthesaddle.”

He’dgivenherastrangelook.“IdidrodeoforseveralyearswhenIwasinmyteens,”he’dsaid.

“Nowonderyoumakeitlooksoeasy.”

He’dreachedoutandtouchedhersofthair.Hiseyeshadbeenintentonherface,andhehadn’tsmiled.
Some odd magnetism had linked them at that moment, so that she could hardly breathe. Even now,
almost three years later, she could still feel the pure intensity of that look he gave her. It was when
she’drealizedhowshewasstartingtofeelabouthim.

Forjustafewseconds,hispaleeyeshaddroppedtohersoftmouthandlingereduntilsheflushed.

Shewaited,breathless,forhisheadtobend.Andithadstartedto.Thenoneofthecowboyshadcalled
tohim.He’dwalkedawayasifnothingatallhadhappened.Afterthat,he’davoidedIvy.Rightupuntil
thatfatefulnightshe’dspentwithMerrieinaborrowedlemon-coloredgown…

Somewhere music was playing softly. Perhaps Stuart had the radio on in the adjoining part of the
suite.Itwassweetmusic,sultryandslow.Asshelistenedtoit,shebegantodriftaway.

Shewasalittlegirlagain,runningoutthroughthefieldsaroundthehousewhereshe’dgrownup.

Shewaswearingjeansandanoldwhiteshirtand,asusual,shesearchedforunusualrocks.

Behindher,Rachelwasdancingaroundinafullwhitegownandhighheeledshoes,singingoff-key
andstumblingaround.

Ivyturnedandcalledtoher,cautioningheraboutthesuddendeepcrevassesinthefield.Rachelmade
afaceandrepliedthatsheknewwhatshewasdoing.Justthen,shetrippedandfellintooneofthedeep
trenches.

Ivyrantowardher.Rachelwashangingontoasmallbushattheedgeofthecrevasse,screamingat

thetopofherlungs.

“IfIfall,I’lltelleveryonethatyoupushedme!”shethreatened.

“I’llsaveyou,Rachel!”Ivyshouted.“Here.Grabmyhand!”

“Yourhandsaredirty,”Rachelshoutedback.“Dirty,dirty,dirty!You’redirty.Youaren’tmysister!I
hateyou!Goaway!Goaway!”

“Rachel,please…”shepleaded.

But Rachel jerked her hand back. She made a rude gesture with her hand and leaned back, falling
deliberatelyintothedarknessbelow.

“Youkilledme,Ivy.Youkilledme!”sheyelledasshefellfaster.Thentherewasascream,piercing
andterrifying.Itwentonandonandon…

CHAPTERNINE

“IVY.Ivy!Wakeup!”

Stronghandsheldherbythewrists.Shewasbeinglifted,higherandhigher.Rachelhadfallentoher
death,butthisdeterminedvoicewouldn’tletIvyfollowher.Shetookadeepbreathandslowlyopened
hereyes.

Stuart’seyeswerethere,fillingtheworld.Sheblinkedsleepily.

“Wakeup,sweetheart,”hesaidgently.“Youwerehavinganightmare.”

Shesearchedhisface.“Rachelwouldn’tletmehelpher.Shefellintoacrevasse.Icouldn’tsaveher.”

Hishandsbecamecaressingonherwrists.“Itwasonlyadream.You’resafe.”

“Safe.”

Hisgazedroppedtoherbodiceandhisfaceseemedtoclench.“You’resortofsafe,”heamended.

Shewasawakenow,andsherealizedsuddenlywhyStuartwasstaringatherlikethat.Herbodicehad
droppedsothatoneofherpretty,firmbreastswasonopendisplay.Stuarthadaruddycoloracross
hishighcheekbonesandhisteethwereclenched,asifhewereexertingmaximumself-control.

“You…youshouldn’tlookatme,likethat,”shestammeredascolorshotintoherowncheeks.

“Ican’thelpit,”hesaidhuskily.“YouhavethemostbeautifulbreastsI’veeverseen,Ivy.”

Shecouldn’thaveutteredawordtosaveherlife.Heknewit,too.Hisbighandsletgoofherwrists
andtookherbytheshouldersinstead.Histhumbseasedthetinystrapsoverhershouldersanddown
herarms.Thebodicefelltoherwaist.

He was only wearing silk pajama bottoms. His broad, hair-covered chest was almost touching her
barebreasts.

“AsIrecall,”hewhispered,“thisisaboutwhereweleftoff,twoyearsago.Ievengotthecolorofthe
gownright.”

Hehad,butshecouldn’tanswerhim.Shecouldn’tbreathe.Theclean,sexyscentofhisbodywafted
upintohernostrils.Shefelthisbreathagainstherlipsashishandsbecamelightlycaressingonher
upperarms.Thetensionbetweenthemtwistedlikecord.Ivytrembledalloverastheslow,exquisite
pleasurebegantogrow.

“Whatthehell,”hewhisperedathermouth.“It’sthisorgocrazy…”

His mouth opened on her soft lips in a hard, insistent pressure that held traces of desperation. His

armsswallowedher,grindingherbarebreastsagainstthewarmmusclesofhischest.

Shemoanedjerkilyattherushofsensation.

Hehesitated.“DidIhurtyou?”hewhispered.

“Oh,no,”shewhisperedback,shylyliftingherarmsaroundhisneck.“Ididn’tknow…itwouldfeel
likethis.”

He smiled slowly. “Didn’t you?” He bent again, but this time his mouth was less desperate. It was
tender,teasing.Henibbledherlowerlipandsmiledagainasshepartedherlipstolurehimcloser.
His thumb probed gently, coaxing her mouth to open. When it did, his tongue slowly trespassed
inside.“No,don’tfightit,”hewhisperedagainstherlips.“It’sasnaturalasbreathing…”

Shefelthimliftandturnher,sothatshewaslyingonherback.Hispowerfulbodyeaseddownover
hers,onelongleginsinuatingitselfbetweenbothofhersoverthegown.

Shestiffened,wantingmoreandafraidofit,allatonce.

He lifted his head and searched her wide, apprehensive eyes. He brushed the hair back from her
temples.Hisbodywashalfoverherandhalfbesideheronthewidebed.Buthedidn’tseemtobeina
hurry. He bent and brushed his mouth over her eyelids, closing them. She felt her breasts go tight,
pressedsohardupagainsthim.Shewasachingforsomethingshedidn’tunderstand.

Heseemedtoknowit.“Ivy?”

“What?”shemanagedshakily.

“LiebackandthinkofEngland,”hemurmuredwickedly.

Alaughjerkedoutofhertightthroat.

Heliftedhishead,grinningdownather.Heproppedonanelbowwhilehisotherhandbegantotrace
lightly, boldly, around a distended nipple. “Or, in our case, lie back and think of Texas.” He bent
again,brushinghisopenmouthalonghercollarbone.Hefeltherbodyshudder.Hesmiledagainsther
softskinashismouthslowlytrespasseddown,closetobutnevertouchingthenipple.Shebeganto
twisthelplesslyasthesensationsoverwhelmedher.Shewasnewtothiskindofphysicalpleasure.Her
reactionswereunexpected,eventoherself.

Hershortnailsbitintohisshouldersashismouthteasedatherbreast.

“Youhaven’tdonethisbefore,”hemurmured,savoringherresponse.

“No,”sheagreed.Sheshiveredashismouthgrewslowlyinsistent.“Stuart…!”shegroundoutashis
lipstracedverylightlycloserandclosertothenipple.

“Whatdoyouwant?”hewhisperedagainstherbreast.“Tellme.”

“I…can’t,”shemoaned.

Hishandslidunderher,liftingherhipsupagainsttheslowlychangingcontourofhispowerfulbody.
“Tellme,”hecoaxed.“Youcanhaveanythingyouwant.”

Shemoanedaloud.“You…know!”

“Stubborn,” he pronounced. He lifted his head to look down into her misty, fascinated eyes staring
blindly up at him. Her whole body was trembling with passion. “You can’t imagine how badly I’ve
wanted your breasts under my mouth, Ivy,” he told her as his gaze fell to her bodice. “But even in
dreams, it was never this good.” He moved closer. “I like feeling you tremble when I do this,” he
whisperedashismouthbegantoopenonthesoftflesh.“Butit’sgoingtobelikeajoltoflightning
whenIdowhatyoureallywantmetodo…”

Ashespoke,hiswarmmouthmovedrightontothenippleandpresseddown,hard.

She arched off the bed, crying out. Her whole body shuddered as the pleasure bit into her. She
clutchedhimhelplessly,whimperingashismouthbecamedemanding.

Herolledontoher,nudgingherlonglegsoutofthewaysothatshecouldfeelhimfromhiptobreast
inanintimacythatburstlikesensualfireworksinherbody.

“Yes,” she groaned. “Please, Stuart, please…!” Her voice rose as he pressed her down into the
mattress.“Oh,please,don’tstop!”

Hismouthsliduptocoverhers,devouringit,possessingit,ashisbodymovedsensuouslyoverhers.
She hung on for dear life. She was losing it. She wanted him. She wanted him so badly that it was
almostpainfulwhenhesuddenlyrolledawayfromherandgottohisfeet.

She lay there, bare to the waist, shivering in the aftermath, too weakened by her own surrender to
evenmanagetocoverherself.Shestaredathislongback,watchinghimfighttoregaincontrol.

Afteraminute,hetookalong,shudderingbreath,andthenanother,beforeheturned.Hestaredather
hungrily,hiseyesmakingamealofherasshelaythere,bare-breasted,herhandsbyherheadonthe
pillow.Hestoodoverherwitheyesthatburnedlikedarkfires.

Shemovedhelplesslyonthebed.

“No,”hesaidquietly.“There’satimeandplace.Thisisn’tit.”

“Youwantto,”shesaidwithnewknowledgeofhim.

“GoodGod,ofcourseIdo!”hegroundout.“Ihurtlikeateenagerafterhisfirstpettingsession.

Justfortherecord,Idon’tseducevirgins.Ever.”

Shedrewinashort,jerkybreath.“Howdoyouknow…?”

“Don’tbeabsurd,”heinterrupted.

Whichmeantthatshewasastransparentasglasstohim,withhisgreaterexperience.Oddlyshedidn’t
feelembarrassedorself-conscious.Hewaslookingatherboldly,andshelovedhiseyesonherbody.

“Iacheallover,”shewhispered.

“SodoI.”Hesatdownbesideherandblatantlytracedherbreastswiththetipsofhisfingers.“Icould
doanythingIwantedtoyou.Butinthemorning,you’dhatebothofus.”

Itwasthetruth.Shewisheditwasn’t.“Everybodyelsedoesit.Theyhadapoll…”

“Polls can be manipulated.” He bent and put his mouth tenderly against her breasts. “Virginity is
sexy,”hewhispered.“IlieawakenightsthinkingabouthowI’dtakeyours.”

Sheflushed.

Helaughed.“Tellmeyou’veneverthoughtaboutdoingitwithme,”hedared.

Theflushgotworse.

He drew in a long breath. “One of us has to be sensible, and I’m giving up on you,” he mused,
watchingherbodymoveonthesheets.“Comehere.”

Heslidunderthecoversandtuckedhercloseagainsthisside.Heturnedoutthelightandcuddledher
closer.“YoucantakemywordforthefactthatI’mviolentlyarousedanddesperateforrelief.Sojust
liestill,recitemultiplicationtablesandtrytosleep.”

“You’restaying?”shewhispered,fascinated.

“Yes.Andyouwon’thaveanymorenightmares.Nowgotosleep.”

Sheclosedhereyes.Shewassurethatshecouldn’tsleepwithhiswarm,powerfulbodysocloseto
her.Butshedriftedoffalmostatonceandsleptuntilmorning.

Whenshewoke,itwastoathrobbingpaininherrighteyeandnauseathatmadeherlieverystill.The
headachewasn’tunexpected.Stressoftencombinedwithotherfactorstocausethem.

Stuart came in with a cup of coffee, but he stopped smiling when he saw Ivy holding her head and
pushingagainstherrighteye.“Migraine,”hemurmured.

Shenodded,swallowinghardtokeepthenauseadown.“I’msosorry.”

“Don’tberidiculous,youdon’tplantohaveheadaches.Liebackdown.”

When he came back, scant minutes later, he had a doctor with him. The doctor smiled pleasantly,
askedherafewquestions,listenedtoherheartandlungsandpoppedashotintoherarm.Sheclosed
hereyes,unableeventothankhim,thepainwassosevere.Sheeventuallydozedoff.

Thesecondtimesheawoke,thepainhadreduceditselftoadullechoofitsformerself.Shesatup,
drowsy,andsmiledatStuart.

“Thanks,”shesaidhuskily.

“Iknowhowthoseheadachesfeel,”heremindedher.“Canyoueatsomescrambledeggsanddrink
somecoffee?”

“Ithinkso.”Shegotoutofbedandstaggeredalittlefromthedrugs.“Itwasjustallthepressure,”

sheadded.“IalwaysgetheadacheswhenI’munderstress.”

“Iknow.Comeon.”Insteadoflettingherwalktothetable,heswungherupinhisarms,inthepale
gown,andcarriedherthere.HesatdownwithIvyinhislap,withinreachofthelatebreakfasthe’d
ordered,andbegantospoon-feedhereggsandbacon.

She was amazed at the transformation of their relationship, as well as his sudden tenderness. She
reactedtoithungrily,neverhavinghadanyonetreathersogentlyinallherlife.

Hesmileddownather,hisdarkeyessoftandfullofstrangelights.Whenhefinished,hecuddledher
closeandsharedacupofcoffeewithher.Neitherofthemspoke.Wordsweren’tevennecessary.

Shefeltsafe.Shefelt…loved.

Later, the limousine took them to the funeral home where Rachel’s cremated remains were already
interredinanornatebronzeurn.Thelimousinetookthemfromtheretotheairport,whereStuart’s
pilotwaswaitingtoflythemhomeintheLearjet.

Itwaslikeabeginning.Heheldhandswithheronthejet.Whentheyloadedherfewpossessionsinto
his car, which had been left parked at the airport, he held her hand as he drove toward her
boardinghouse.

Shedidn’tquestionit.Thefeelingwastoonew,tooprecious.Shewasafraidthatwordsmightshatter
it.

He pulled up in front of Mrs. Brown’s house and cut the engine. He helped her out first, then he
carried her suitcase and her bags of quilts and photo albums up onto the porch for her. He sat
Rachel’surncarefullybesidethesuitcase.

Itwasdark.Mrs.Brownhadn’tleftontheporchlight.

“Areyougoingtobeallright?”heaskedgently,holdingherbytheshoulders.

“Yes.Myhead’sfine,now.Stuart,”sheaddedslowly,“thankyou,forallyou’vedone.”

“Itwasnothing,”hereplied.“Ifyouhearfromthatdrug-dealingboyfriendofRachel’s,youcallme.
Okay?”

Shenodded.“Iwill.”

“Andifyourememberanythingaboutwherethatjournalmightbe,callme.”

“I’lldothat.”

He lifted his hand to her face and traced her soft cheek. “We didn’t get to do anything about those
jewels,butIpromiseyouI’llgetintouchwiththemaninadayorsoandarrangetogetthembackto
him.Ifyou’resurethat’swhatyouwant.”

“It’swhat’sright,”shecounteredquietly.“Rachelhadnoscruples.Ido.”

Hesmiled.“Yes,Iknow.”

She didn’t want him to leave. She’d gotten used to being with him, almost intimately, in the past
coupleofdays.Tonightshe’dsleepalone.Ifherheadachecameback,she’dhavetotakeaspirinand
prayforsleep,becausehewouldn’tbethere.

“Don’tlooklikethat,orIwon’tbeabletoleaveyou,”hesaidsuddenly,hisjawtautening.“Idon’

twanttogohomealone,either.”

Hersoftexpulsionofbreathwasaudible.

“Blindlittlewoman,”hewhisperedtenderly,andbenthishead.Heliftedhercompletelyagainsthis
hardbodywhilehekissedher.Ittookalongtime,andwhenhefinallyletherdown,sheshiveredwith
theoverwhelmingdesirehe’dkindledinher.

Asuddenflashoflightninglitupthesky,followedbyacrashofthunder.Shejumped.“Youbecareful
goinghome,”shesaidfirmly.

Hesmiled.“Weararaincoatifit’sstillraininginthemorningwhenyougotowork,”hecountered.

She smiled back. Rain was blowing onto the porch, getting them both wet. Neither was wearing a
raincoat.

“Goinside,”hesaid,givingheragentlepushtowardthedoor.“I’llphoneyoutomorrow.”

“Okay.Goodnight.”

“Sleeptight,”hereplied,andwinkedather.

She watched him from the open door, after she’d put all her things inside, including the urn with
Rachel’sashes.Itwasasifherlifewasjustnowbeginning.

Mrs. Brown had gone to bed. Apparently, so had Lita. Ivy moved all her things into her room and
placedRachel’sashesonthemantel.Thenextday,shewasgoingtoseeabouthavingtheminterredin
thecemeterynexttotheirfather.

Shelayawakeforalongtime,thinkingabouthernewrelationshipwithStuart.Shehopedhisattitude
meantthattheyhadasharedfutureahead.Shewishedforitwithallherheart.

The next day, she remembered that she’d put Rachel’s diary in her purse. So before she started her
roundsofclients,shetookitoutandreadit.Whatshe’dthoughtwasanordinaryrecitationofevents
turnedouttobesomethingquitedifferent.Therewerenames,phonenumbersandothernumbersthat
seemedmorelikemapcoordinatesthananythingelse.

Shereadthemoverandover,andgrewevenmorepuzzled.ThenshepulledouttheletterRachelhad
receivedfromaSanAntoniolawfirm.Itwasdynamite.Theletterreferencedcertainmaterialsshe’d
put in a safe-deposit box in Jacobsville, to be opened if anything unexpected happened to her. The
attorneyswrotetoremindherthatshehadn’tforwardedthemthekey.

She sat back with a harsh sigh. Rachel was involved in something illegal, she just knew it. And she
wasclearlyblackmailingsomeoneelse.Wasitthemillionairewhosejewelsshe’dkept?Orwasither
boyfriend?Oroneofhisclients?

Sheknewimmediatelythatthiswastoobigforhertohandle.ShephonedSheriffHayesCarsonand
hadhimcometotheboardinghouse.Shemethimontheporch,smilingassheinvitedhimintothe
houseandintothekitchen,whereshehadcoffeebrewing.

“Thanksforcomingsoquickly,”shesaid,sittingdownaftershe’dpouredcoffeeforthemboth.“I’

minovermyheadonthisstuff.Here.Seewhatyoumakeofit.”

She handed him the journal and the letter from the attorneys in San Antonio that she’d found in
Rachel’sapartment.Hereadthem,frowning.“TheseareGPScoordinates,”heremarked,runninghis
fingeralongthecolumnsinthediary.“Irecognizetwoofthenames,too,”headded.Hisdarkeyes
methers.“They’redeepintheMexicandrugcartelthatCaraDominguezwasrunninguntilherarrest.
OneoftheCulebradrugcartelnamedhere,”headded,“isJulieMerrill.TheotherisWillieCarr,the
bakeryougavethemessageaboutflourto.”

Shegrimaced.“Oh,boy.”

“Thisinformationisworthitsweightingold,allbyitself.Butthekeyshementionedismissing,”he
continued.“Thatkeyisdynamite.Yourlifecouldbeindangerifanyofherassociateseventhinkyou
mighthaveit.We’retalkingmultimilliondollardrugshipmentshere.”

“ButIdon’tknowwherethekeyis,”shesaidmiserably.“IlookedthroughallthestuffIgotfromher
apartment.Ievencheckedthequiltstomakesureshehadn’tslippeditintothebacking.”Sheshook
herhead.“Ican’timaginewhereshemighthaveleftit.”

“Wasthereanythingelsethatyoutookfromtheapartment?”heasked.

“Just the jewelry she was hoarding,” she said miserably. “From that elderly millionaire she was
involved with. Stuart and I put them in a safe-deposit box in NewYork City, under his name. He’s
arrangingtogetthembacktotheman.”

Hefrowned.“Wastherealocket,oranysortofthingakeycouldbehiddenin?”

“No,”sheassuredhim.

Hesippedcoffee,frowning.“Idon’twanttospookyou,butisn’ttheresomeoneyoucouldmovein
withuntilwefindthatkey?”

She would have said Stuart and Merrie only a day before. But Stuart hadn’t called her, as he’d
promised he would. She hadn’t heard from Merrie, either. She couldn’t just invite herself to be a
houseguestunderthecircumstances.

“No,”shesaidsadly.

“Okay,”hesaidwithresolution.“Iwanttoknowwhereyouaredayandnightforthenextfewdays.
I’m going to get in touch with Alexander Cobb at DEA and talk to our police chief, Cash Grier, as
well.We’llarrangetokeepyouundersurveillance.”Hepickedupthepaddeddiary.“Willyoutrust
mewiththis?”heasked.

“Ofcourse.”

Histhumbsmoothedoverthebackofit.Suddenlyhewentstill.Hiseyeswenttothediary.Heputiton
thetableandpulledouthispocketknife.Beforeshecouldaskwhathewasdoing,heopenedthediary
withthepagesdownonthetableandslitthefabricoftheback.Secondslater,hepulledoutasafe-
depositboxkey.

“Goodheavens!”sheexclaimed.“Howdidyou…?”

“Sheerluck,”hesaid.“Ifeltitundermythumb.I’llhavetocontactthoseattorneysinSanAntonioand
seewhatthekeyfits.Imayneedyou,asnextofkin,toauthorizemetoaccessit.”

“BeforeIcandothat,I’llneedtomeetwithBlakeKemp,”shereplied,“andseeaboutthepaperwork
togetRachel’sestate—suchasitis—intoprobate.”

“Ifyou’renotbusyrightnow,I’lldriveyouoverthere,”hesaid.“I’dliketotalktohimaswell.”

Shegrinned.“Thatwouldbeterrific.Thanks.”

Hayes went out onto the porch while she phoned Blake Kemp’s office and found him free if they
couldmakeittherewithinthehalfhour.Sheassuredhisnewsecretary—he’donlyrecentlymarried
hisoldsecretaryVioletandtheywereexpectingachild—thatsheandHayeswouldberightover.

She climbed into the unmarked sheriff’s car with Hayes, cradling the diary and the attorney’s letter
withherpurseonherlap.

As they pulled out of the driveway, a car that had been sitting parked by the side of the road was
quicklystarted.Itpulledontotheroad,followingslowlybehindHayesCarson’scar.

HayessatinthewaitingroomwhileIvyspoketoBlakeKempaboutRachel’sestate.Shedidn’thave

bank statements or any documentation about her possessions, but the attorney’s letter intimated that
theydid.Hereadtheletter,frowning.

Blakeshookhishead.“Shewasnothinglikeyou,”hesaidquietly.

“ShetoldDadthatIwasn’this,”shereplied.“Isthereawaytofindout…?”

“Not his?” he exclaimed. His blue eyes darkened. “For God’s sake, your mother would never have
cheated on your father! She worshipped him, despite his bad temper and the way he knocked her
around.Besidesallthat,he’dhavekilledanymanwhotouchedher!”

“Areyousure?”sheasked,relieved.

“Yes,Iam,”hesaidflatly.“Rachelgotexactlywhatshedeserved,Ivy.Shewasahorrorofahuman
being.WhyinGod’snamewouldshetellalielikethat?”

“Can’tyouguess?Ican.ShewantedeverythingDadhadwhenhedied.IfhethoughtIwasn’thisblood
daughter,whywouldhewanttoleavemeanything?”sheaskedsadly.

“Howmanylivesdidthatwomanshatter?”hewonderedaloud.

“Quiteafew,Iexpect.Herboyfriendwastryingtofindthejournalshekept.Hewasfranticaboutit,”
sherecalled,“butitturnedouttobeherdiary.IgaveittoHayes,”sheadded.“Hesaysithassome
vitalinformationaboutdrugsmuggling,ofallthings.”

“There’sonemorethingaboutRachelIdon’timagineyouknow,”hebegan,hisfacesolemn.“She
didn’tjustusedrugs,Ivy.Shesoldthem,beginningwhenshewasaseniorinhighschool.Shealways
hadadirectpipelinetothelocaldrugtrade.Ifshehasthedocumentationmentionedinthisletter,it
probably names names. That would give Cash Grier a heads-up while he’s trying to shut down the
newestdrugcartelmemberslocally.”

“That’swhatHayessaid,”sherepliedwithasmile.“Hethinksitmayshowthepositionofsomedrug
caches.”

“Ihopeitdoes,”hesaid.“Thislittlecommunityhasgonethroughsomehardtimesbecauseofdrug
smuggling.I’dlovetoseethesuppliersshutdown.”

“SowouldI.”

“Don’tworryabouttherestofthis,”hetoldher.“I’llhandleit.ButIshouldtalktoStuartYorkabout
thatjewelry.”

“Yes,”shesaid,concernedthathehadn’tphonedheryet.Shehadhercellphoneturnedonandshe’d
beencheckingitallmorningtomakesureitwasworking.Itwas.

“Let’scallHayesin.”HetouchedtheintercombuttonandhadthereceptionistsendHayesdownthe
halltohisoffice.

Hayes showed him the journal. It really was dynamite. It would be wonderful, Ivy thought, if they
couldreallyuseittoshutdownthedrugdealers.

“Rachel’s boyfriend knows this journal exists,” Hayes said somberly. “I wouldn’t put it past him to
come down here if he thinks Ivy might have it. If Rachel gave her attorneys something damaging
abouthim,andheknowsit,hewon’thavealottolose.Noevidence,nocase.”

BothmenlookedatIvy.

“Icanbuyagun,”shebegan.

“No,youcan’t,”Hayessaidfirmly.“Ihaveanidea,aboutwhereyoucouldstay.”

“Icangetamotelroom…”

“Youaren’tthinkingofMinetteandherbrood?”Blakeaskedhesitantly.

Hayes’s face went taut. “She lives out of town, where anybody coming to the house would be
immediatelyvisible,andherranchmanagerwasaSecretServiceagentsomeyearsago.”

“ButMerrieYorkisyourbestfriend,”Blakeinterrupted,eyeingIvy.“Surelyyoucouldstaywithher.
Stuarthasanexfedworkingforhim,too.”

Herfacecolored.“MerrielivesinSanAntonio,”shesaid.“AndIdon’tthinkStuart’shome…”

“Sure he’s home,” Hayes returned. “I saw him driving by this morning with that debutante from
Houstonhe’sbeenseeing.”

Ivyfeltthelifedrainoutofher.Thewordskeptrepeatinginherhead.Stuarthadheldherandkissed
herandtreatedherwithsuchtendernessthatshethoughttheyweregoingtobetogetherforlife.

Instead, the minute they got home from New York, he made a beeline for his latest conquest. He
probablyhadn’tgivenIvyasecondthought.Maybeheeventhoughtofthewayhe’dtakencareofher
asanactofmercy.

Sheclosedhereyes.Painechoedthroughhernerves.

“Areyouallright?”Hayesasked,concerned.Theyhadlefttheofficeandwerenowinthecar.

Sheforcedasmile.“I’mfine.TellmeaboutthisMinette.”

Heseemedreluctant.“SheownstheJacobsvillenewspaper.Youknowthat.”

“ButI’venevermether,”shepointedout.

Heshrugged.“Sheliveswithherauntandtwosiblings,ahalfbrotherandahalfsister.She’sofftoday
becausetherewasafireintheofficeandtheyhadtocallinacleaningcrewtopickupthemessand
dealwiththefiredamage.”

“Wasitanaccidentalfire?”sheasked.

“Idon’tknow.She’sbeenrunningsomearticlesaboutthedrugtrade.Iwarnedherthathernewace
reporterwasgoingtobringdownsomeheatonthepaper,butshewouldn’tlisten.Theeager-beaver
reporterisfreshoutofjournalismschoollookingforhisfirstshrunkenheadtoflaunt.”

“Ifhepointsafingeratthewrongpeople,he’llgethersued.”

“Beenthere,donethat,”hemurmured.“ShegotKemptorepresentherandwonthesuit.Butshe’

slettingthekidpushthewrongpeople.Soonerorlater,there’sgoingtobeatragedy.Itellherso,but
shewon’tlisten.”

“She’sacrusader,”shemused.

Hegaveheratightglare.“She’sshowingmethatshedoesn’ttakeadviceifitcomesfrommygeneral
direction.Itmaygetherkilled,intheend.”

“Youshouldfindhersomeprotection,”shepointedout.“Ifshe’stryingtoshutdownthedruglords,
youandCashGriermightthankherforthehelp.”

“Youdon’tunderstand,”hegrowled.“Sheisn’tdoinganyofusanygood.She’spointingoutpossible
hidingplacesfortheinfluxofillegaldrugsandhammeringhomethatforeignnationalsarefinancing
thetraffic.”

“Theyare.”

“Ivy,” he said heavily, “at the same time she’s hammering the drug trade, she’s holding out olive
branchestoillegalimmigrants.She’smakingenemiesonbothsidesofthedrugissue.”

Ivy’sfacesoftened.“YouknowMarioXicara,don’tyou?”

Heslowedforaturn.Hislipsthinned.“Yes.”

“Andhiswife,Dolores,andtheirfourlittlekids?”

“Iknowthefamily.”

“InthevillagetheycamefrominGuatemala,onemanturnedinadrugdealerandhiswholefamily
wasgunneddown.Topunctuatethethreat,theykilledsixotherfamiliesaswell.Marioescapedwith
his wife and children, but his parents and grandparents were among the dead, along with their new
babywhowasinthehousewhenthedrugdealer ’sminionscameinfiring.”

“Iknowthat,but…”

“They’reapplyingforcitizenship,”shecontinued.“ButnowtheyhavetobesentbacktoGuatemala
untiltheycangettemporarypapers.Thedrugdealersarestillaroundtheirvillage.”

Hegrimaced.“Therearealwaystwosidestoeveryissue,”heremindedher.

“Iknow.”Shesmiled.“Butpeoplearemorethanstatistics.”

Hegaveaturnsignal.“I’lltalktoHomelandSecurity.IknowamanwhoworksinICE,”hesaidwith
resignation,namingtheenforcementarmoftheimmigrationservice.

“Thanks,Hayes.”

“AnyothersmallfavorsIcandoyou?”heteased.

“I’ll make a list. Hayes, this isn’t the way to my boardinghouse,” she announced suddenly, as she
realizedtheywereheadingoutoftowninthewrongdirection.

“Iknow.I’vegotanidea.”

CHAPTERTEN

MINETTERAYNORwastwenty-four.ShewasmanagingeditoroftheweeklyJacobsvilleTimes,the
newspaperofJacobsCounty.HermotherhadinheritedthepaperfromMinette’sgrandfather,andshe
ranituntilherdeath.Afterthat,herfatherandstepmotherranit.He’ddiedthreeyearspreviously.

Minette had grown up knowing how to sell ads, write copy, set type and paste up copy in the
composingroom.Itwaseasyforhertostepintoherparents’shoesandrunthepaper.Shewastall,
slender, dark-eyed and blond, with a scattering of freckles over her nose. Her hair was her most
incredibleasset.

Itlookedlikeathickflowofpalegoldthatincheddownherbackalmosttoherwaist.Itwasmuch
longerthanIvy’s.

Fromadeceaseduncle,she’dinheritedaranchthatraisedsteersforbeef,anditwasramroddedby
her late father ’s wrangler and two part-time cowboys who were students at the local community
college. Her great-aunt Sarah lived with her and helped take care of Minette’s half brother, Shane,
whowaseleven,andherhalfsisterJulie,whowasfive.Minette’smotherhaddiedwhenshewasten,
andherfatherhadmarriedDawnJenkies,aquietlibrarianwhoadoredhimandMinette.Overtheir
yearstogether,shepresentedDanewithasonandadaughter,uponwhomMinettedoted.WhenDawn
died,andherfathersoonafterofaheartattack,Minettewaslefttoraisethechildren.Itseemedtobea
laboroflove.

Hayespulledupatherfrontsteps,wheresheandthechildrenwerewieldingpaintbrushes,touching
up the fading white of the door facing and wood trim. Minette, in jeans and a sweatshirt, got up,
glaringatHayes.

Heglaredback.“Ineedtoaskafavor.”

Shelookedfurious.“Idon’toweyouanyfavors,SheriffCarson,”shesaidicily.

“Iknowthat.ButIhavetoputIvysomeplacewhereshe’llbesafe.Drugdealersmaybeafterher.”

Minette’seyesnarrowed.Sheseemedtobebitinghertongue.

Carsonjustlookeduncomfortable.“Thecountywillpayforherupkeep,”hesaidcurtly.“It’sonlyfor
afewdays.”

Minettelookedworriedlyathersiblings.

“I’mgoingtohaveoneofmydeputiesstayhere,too,”headded.“Ifyoudon’tmind.”

“Ialwayswantedtoopenahotel,”Minettetoldhimirritably.ButwhenshesawIvy’sconsternation,
shewenttoherandsmiled.“I’msorry.YoumayhavenoticedthatthesheriffandIdon’tgetalong.
Butyou’rewelcometostay.AuntSarahwouldlovethecompany.I’matworkmostdaysuntillate.”
ShelookedatHayesviciously.“WhenI’mnotoverdosingmen,thatis.”

“Cutitout,”hebitoff,avoidinghereyes.

IvyknewatoncethatMerrieYorkwasoutofluckwhereHayeswasconcerned.Somethingpowerful
wasatworkbetweenthesetwo.Anditwasn’tbusiness.

The little girl, Julie, walked over to Hayes and looked up at him. “Do you got any little kids?” she
askedsoftly.

“Careful,baby,”Minettesaidsoftly,eyeingHayes.“Rattlesnakesbite.”

Heglaredather.Sheglaredback.

He looked down at Julie, who was blond like her half sister. “No, I don’t have any kids,” he said a
littlestiffly.

Thechildcockedherheadathim.“That’sverysad,”shereplied,soundingverygrownup.“Mysister
sayslittlekidsaresweet.”Shefrowned.“Youdon’tlooklikearattlesnake.”

“Julie,wouldyougetmearagfromthekitchen,please?”Minetteaskedher.

“Okay,Minette!”Sheranupthestepsandintothehouse.

“You’reverywelcometostaywithus,”MinettetoldIvy,hersmilewelcoming.

“I’llrunyoubacktotheboardinghousetopackabag,”Hayessaid.

Ivyhesitated.“Listen,areyousurethisisnecessary?”

“Mrs. Brown isn’t going to be much protection if Rachel’s boyfriend comes looking for you,” he
said.

Shegrimaced.“Allright,then.”ShesmiledatMinette.“Icancook,”shesaid.“Ifyouneedhelpinthe
kitchen.”

Theotherwomanlaughed.“Always.AuntSarahandIsharekitchenduty,butneitherofusisoverly
skilled.Still,wehaven’tpoisonedanyone.”

“Yet,”Hayesenunciatedcoldly.

Shestoodup,eyesblazing.“Someday,”shesaidslowly,“thetruthisgoingtobiteyouintheneck!

Ididn’tkillyourbrother.Hekilledhimself.That’swhatyoucan’taccept,isn’tit,Hayes?Youwanta
scapegoat…!”

“Youboughtthedrugforhimthatheoverdosedon!”Hayesshotback.

Minettestooderect,herfacepale.“Forthetwentiethtime,Ineveruseddrugs,orgotdrunk,orputa
footoutoflineinmylife,”shesaidproudly.“SohowexactlydoyouthinkI’dknowwheretofind

illegaldrugsinthistown?”

Helookedodd.

“Nevermind,”shecontinued.“I’mtiredofbeatingadeadhorse.Ivy,we’llgetaroomreadyforyou.
The one thing we do have plenty of in this white elephant,” she indicated the two-story Victorian
house,“isroom.”

“Thanks,”Ivyreplied.“Hayes?”

He was staring at Minette, frowning. “What? Yes. We’ll go now. Minette, I’d like to speak with
Marsh.”

“He’soutinthebarn,fixingasaddle.”

HayestookIvytothecar,andhewenttothebarn.Hewasbackinacoupleofminutes.Hegotinthe
caranddroveaway.

Ivydidn’taskabouthisfeudwiththeotherwoman,butshegatheredthatithadsomethingtodowith
his brother ’s death. Everyone knew that Bobby Carson had died of a drug overdose three years
earlier,justbeforeRachelwenttoNewYork.WhyhethoughtMinettewasresponsiblewascurious.

Shewasknownlocallyforherhardstandondruguseandhersupportofantidrugprogramsinthe
schools.

“She’sverynice,”Ivybegan.

Hayesdidn’tanswer.“You’llbesafe.Marshwillkeepyousafe.Nobodywouldthinkoflookingfor
yououtthere,buteveniftheydid,you’dseethemcomingamileaway.NotthatIthinktheboyfriend
will come all the way down here, since he isn’t sure you’ve got that journal. But it’s best to be
cautious.”

Heglancedather.“IstillthinkMerrieandStuartwouldhaveletyoustaywiththem.”

Shedidn’tanswerhim,either.

Thenextday,sheauthorizedHayestoopenthesafe-depositboxintheJacobsvillebank,withPolice
ChiefCashGrierandDEAAgentAlexanderCobbaswitnesses.Hepickedherupandbroughtherto
thebank.

Itwasahaul.Rachelhadnames,locations,dates,quantitiesofdrugsshippedandthepointoforigin
for a huge cocaine shipment. Implicated in the drug trafficking were her boyfriend, a local
JacobsvilleresidentandtwomenwhosatonJacobsville’scitycounciltwoyearsearlier.

“Thisisgreat.”CashGrierspokefortheothermenashereadthroughthedocumentation.“Thisis
enoughevidencetoshutdownoneofthebiggestpipelinesofillicitdrugsinsouthTexas.”

“Wecancertainlyuseit,”Cobbagreed.

“Amen.” Hayes smiled at Ivy. “Rachel made up for a lot with this,” he said. “Regardless of her
motive.”

Ivy wondered about that motive. She didn’t say it aloud, but she had a feeling that Rachel had been
blackmailingsomebody.Sheprobablyneverexpectedtodie,ortohaveplayedabigpartinshutting
downthedrugtradeinJacobsCounty.ItwastheonenobleactofRachel’slife.

ItwasdecidedthatIvywouldstayatMinette’shouse.WhenshepackedupherfewthingsandtoldMrs.
BrownandLitawhatwasgoingon,theybothtriedtogethertostay.

“Ihavemyfather ’soldshotgun,”Mrs.Brownsaid.

“I’mnotafraidofdrugdealers,”Litaadded.

“Iknowthat,butit’sgoingtotakeprofessionalstokeepthisfromescalating,”Ivytoldthem.“Idon’t
wanteitherofyouindanger.Okay?”

Theyagreed,reluctantly.

Ivy left Rachel’s ashes in her room for the time being. Once the fear of retribution from Rachel’s
boyfriendwaspast,shecouldtakecareofthefuneral.

ShewasgivenaroomnexttoMinette’s,andshebecamepartofthefamilyovernight.AuntSarah,a
tinylittlewomanwithwhitehair,wasalivewire.Thechildrenhadsweet,lovingnatures.Minettehad
awickedsenseofhumor.

“I’msurprisedthatHayeswouldbringyouhere,”shecommentedoversteakandbiscuits.“Hereally
hatesme.”

“Maybethat’swhy,”Ivychuckled.“HeseemstothinkImightbeatarget.”Sheshookherhead.

“Ifanythinghappenedtothekids,”sheaddedworriedly.

“Don’t you worry,” Minette assured her. “We have Marsh Bailey out in the bunkhouse. He was an
IPSIC shooter. That’s pistol competition,” she clarified. “He worked for the U.S. Marshal’s Service,
andhenevermisses.Godhelptheoutlawwhoshowsuphereuninvited.”

“I hope he won’t,” Ivy said. “But Rachel’s boyfriend has more to lose than most people. He might
figureoutthatIhavethejournalsheleft,andcomeafterme.”

“Idon’tthinkhe’sthatstupid,”Minetteventured,sippingcoffee.HersofteyespinnedIvy’sacrossthe
suppertable.“Thinkaboutit.There’sajournalfloatingaroundthathasnamesandaddressesandthe
potentialtoexplodethelocaldrugtrade.Youdon’tknowwho’sgotitorwhereitis,butyouknow
you’llgetblamediftheauthoritiesfindit.Wouldyouwalkintothearena,orwouldyourunforyour
life?”

Ivyfeltbetter.“Youknow,”shesaid,“IthinkI’drun.”

Minettesmiled.“IthinkIwould,too.”

Forthenexttwodays,IvystayedwiththeRaynors.Shegotherledgersfromtheboardinghouseand
droveherlittleVWbacktoMinette’shouse.Hayescamebytocheckonherandmentionedthatthey’d
heard nothing from their informants about the NewYork connection to the drug trade. However, he
didsaythatthebakerhadbeenarrestedandchargedwithdrugtrafficking.JulieMerrillwasstillon
theloose,however,andnobody,includingherfather,hadanyideawhereshe’dgone.

“We did phone the Brooklyn precinct that worked your sister ’s death,” he added. “It seems that her
boyfriendwasinvolvedinanaccidentyesterday.He’sinthehospitalandnotexpectedtolive.”

“Whathappenedtohim?”sheexclaimed.

“It seems he walked into an elevator shaft in his own apartment building,” Hayes told her. “There
weretwoeyewitnesses.Theyhavemobties,ofcourse.ThewordonthestreetisthatSmithwastrying
totrespassonanotherdrugdealer ’sterritory.”

“Tough,”Ivysaid,withoutanyrealregret.Themanwho’dhelpedRachelfeedherhabithadgonethe
samewayshehad.Itwasafittingsortofend.Shesaidso.

“Ihavetoagree.”

“Then,doyouthinkIcouldgohome?”sheventured.

Hehesitated.“Ican’tstopyou.Smithwon’tbeaproblem,buttherearesomeshadowymembersofthe
drugcartelstillontheloose.Youwon’tknowwhotheyare.”

“Ihaveananswertothat,”shereplied.

“What?”

“LetMinettedoastoryabouttheJacobsvilledruglinkandsaythatallRachel’srecordsarenowinthe
handsoflawenforcement,”shesuggested.“Thatshouldputakinkintheiroperation—andkeepthem
outofJacobsville.”

Hebegantosmile.“Ilikethewayyouthink.Okay.I’lltalktoheraboutit.”

“AndIcangohome?IstillhaveRachel’sfuneraltoarrange.”

Henodded.“Goahead.Ifyouneedme,youknowwhereIam.”

“Yes,Ido.Thanks,Hayes.”

“Noproblem.”

Shedidgobacktotheboardinghouse,butshewasnervous,evenunderthecircumstances.Shedidn’t
want to endanger Mrs. Brown and Lita. On the other hand, she hadn’t felt right about endangering

Minette’syoungsiblings.IfonlyStuartwasstillspeakingtoher.Sheagonizedoverhisdefectionto
the pretty debutante. He’d just dropped Ivy like a rock, and when she needed him most. If she only
knewwhy!

Thenextday,shedroveouttothecemetery,wherethefuneralhomedirectorandhisassistantwere
waiting.Thetreeswereallbare.Itwasagrayday.Itwasmistingrainaswell.Itlookedsuchaforlorn
placewiththecoldwindwhippingIvy’shairaround.

Asmallgravehadbeendugnexttoherfather ’s,toreceiveRachel’surn.Therewasn’tanyonethere
exceptherself.Shehadthoughtofputtingtheobituarynoticeinthepaper,butRachelhadleftplenty
ofenemiesinJacobsville,andfewfriends.

Shewaswearingalonggraydresswithanequallylongtweedcoat.Thewindwascrispandcruel.

She’dbeenawakehalfthenightthinkingaboutStuartandwonderingwhatshe’ddonetomakehim
stay away. They’d been so close in NewYork. Now, he didn’t seem to remember her at all. At least
whenhe

’ddislikedher,she’dseenhimfromtimetotime.Sheachedtobewithhim.Evenjustthesightofhim
atadistancewouldfeedherhungryheart.Butapparentlythatwasn’tgoingtohappen.

The wind blew coldly around her as she stared at the bronze urn that contained the only human
remainsofhersister.She’dneverfeltsoalone.

Thefuneraldirector ’sassistant,whowasalsoalayminister,saidthewordsoverRachel’sashes.

AsIvylistened,shewassorrythathersister ’slifehadbeensowasted,sofullofselfishgreed.Ifonly
Rachel had been different. If only she’d cared about Ivy. She closed her eyes as the prayer ended,
hopingthatithadhelpedtheolderwomaninherpathtotheothersideoflife.

Whenshelookedup,shewasastonished,delighted,shockedtoseeStuartYorkstridingtowardher.
Hewasn’tsmiling.Hiswide-brimmeddresshatwaspulleddownlowoverhiseyes.Hewasdressedin
city clothes, a gray suit that made him look distinguished. He paused at the graveside and looked
downatIvy,whocouldn’thideherdelight,orherwounds.

“I’msorryI’mlate,”hesaidcurtly.“Icouldn’tfindoutwhattimeyouwerehavingtheservice.IfI’

dknown,Merriewouldhavecomedown,too.”

“Ididn’tthinkanyonewouldcome,”shesaidsimply.

Hiseyesnarrowed.“Youdidn’tthink,period,”hesaidshortly.Hisbighandcaughthersmalloneand
heldittight.Shelookedupathim,feelingsuddenlysafeandconfident,andtearsmistedhereyes.

ThefuneralhomedirectorgaveIvyhiscondolences,alongwiththelayminister,andthenbeckoned
totheworkmantoputtheurninitsrestingplace.

“Doyouwanttostayforthis?”Stuartasked.

Shenodded.“It’ssuchasadwaytodie,”shesaid.

Hishandtightened.Hedidn’tsayanything.

Hewalkedwithhertohervehicle,andhiseyessaidwhathethoughtofit.“You’dbesaferridinga
one-wheeledbicycle,”hesaidflatly.

“Itdoesn’tlooklikemuch,”sheagreed,“butitdoesrun.Mostly.”

Heturnedhertohim,takinghergentlybytheshoulders.“IsawyourideoffwithHayesCarsonthe
morningafterwegotin,”hesaidcoldly.“Youwerewithhimagainthenextday.”

“Yes,”shesaid,surprised,“becauseheandChiefGrier…”

“…hadtooverseetheopeningofthesafe-depositbox,”hefinishedforher,darkeyesflickering.

“Youcouldhavecalledandtoldmethat,Ivy.”

“Yes?”Herowneyesbegantoglitter.“Andyoucouldhavecalledme,insteadofridingaroundtown
withyourprettydebutantevisitor!”

Thehardlookonhisfacemelted.Hebegantosmile.“Wereyoujealous?”hetauntedsoftly.

“Wereyou?”sheshotrightback.

Helaughed.Itwasawickedsortoflaugh.

Itmadehercheekscolor.Sheloweredhereyestohischest.“Ithoughtyou’dhadsecond…Imean,I
thought…”

Heputhisforefingergentlyacrossherlips.“SodidI,”hewhispered.

Shemethiseyesandcouldn’tlookaway.Hebentanddrewhislipstenderlyacrosshersoftmouth.
Shestartedtoreachup,buthecaughtherarmsandheldthemdown.

“No,”hewhispered.“Notinacemetery.”

Sheclearedherthroat.“Youstartedit.”

“Andyouhavenowillpower,”heteased.“Iloveit.”

Shelaughedshyly.

“WhydidyougoouttoMinetteRaynor ’shousewithHayes?”

“Howdidyou…?”

“Twothousandpairsofcuriouseyesliveinthistown,”hesaidwithaffection.“Thedruggistandthe
clerkatthebankmentionedit,evenbeforeCashGriertoldmethewholestory.Whichyoucouldhave
done,”headdedshortly.

Shestartedtoargue,butsherealizedthathewasright.Shemovedrestlesslyanddidn’tlookathim.
“Mypridewashurt,whenIheardaboutyouridingaroundwiththatwoman.”

“She was visiting her uncle. I’m doing a business deal with him. She needed a ride to town, and I
obliged.”Hetiltedherchinup.“WhichIcouldhaveletChaycedo.ButI’dseenyouwithHayesandI
figured somebody would see me with her. In fact,” he added wickedly, “I drove right by Hayes
Carson’sofficewithher.Hesawus.”

“Rachel gave us enough information to hang the local drug lords out to dry,” she said. “Maybe, in
oneway,sheredeemedherself.Howaboutthejewelry?”sheadded.

“Iflewupthereyesterdayandhadthemillionaire’sattorneymeetmeatthebank,”hetoldher.

“Hewasastonishedthatyou’dwanttogivehimbackwhatamountedtoaking’sransom.Hewantsto
giveyouareward.”

“Iwouldn’ttakeone,”shesaid.

Hesmiled.“Itoldhimthat.Knowwhathesaid?”

“What?”

“Thatyouwereoneinamillion,andIwasaveryluckyman.”

“Youweren’tthinkingthat,Ibet.”

“Notatthetime,no.”Hefrowned.“Youhaven’tsaidwhyyouwenttoMinette’swithHayes.Hehates
her.Everybodyknowshethinksshegavehisbrotherthedrugsthatkilledhim.”

“He said that Marsh would watch out for me, and that the place was situated so that you could see
someonecomingtwomilesaway.There’snowaytosneakuponit.”

“He’sright,there—Marshwasafederalagent.ButsowasChayce,whoworksforme.You’llbesafer
atmyhouse.”

“Areyousureaboutthat?”

Hegrimacedandtookalongbreath.“IaskedMerrieifshecouldtakeafewdaysoffandcomehome
tochaperonemewithawoman.ShelaughedherheadoffwhenIhadtoadmitthatitwasyou.”

“Shewould.”

Hebroughtherhandtohismouthandkissedthepalm.“I’llfollowyoutoyourboardinghouse.

Youcanleaveyourcarthereandcomewithmeinmine.”

She hesitated. “I’ve only just come home from Minette’s place, and I’ve been worried about my
boardinghouse friends. Rachel’s boyfriend is on his way out of the world,” she added, pausing to
explainwhathadhappened.“Butit’sstillpossiblethatoneofthecartelpeoplecouldcomelooking
forme.Iftheyseemycarthere,itmightputMrs.BrownandLitaindanger,”shecautioned.

“SupposeweleaveitatHayes’soffice?”

“Wouldhemind?”

“Hell, no. Hayes only lives for the adrenaline rushes his job gives him. That’s why he’s never
married.Nowomaninherrightmindwouldmarryhim.”

“HeandMinettearelikeflintandsteeltogether,”shecommented.

“Yes, I know,” he replied. “One day, there’s going to be a fearful explosion between them, and
anythingcouldhappen.That’swhyI’vediscouragedMerrie.”

“Merrieisn’tstupid,youknow,”shesaidgently.

“Well,notinmostways.Comeon.Let’sgo.”

Lifewassweetagain.Ivyforgotthecartel,Rachel’sburial,everythingassheandStuartdroppedher
caroffatthesheriff’soffice.

“I wondered why she wasn’t staying with you,” Hayes commented to Stuart. “She and Merrie have
beenfriendsforever.”

“Wehad a misunderstanding,”Stuart replied. Hecaught Ivy’s hand inhis, to makethe point, just in
caseHayeshadmissedit.“Butwe’veclearedthingsup.Merrie’scominghomeforafewdays,too.

ChayceandI,andtheboys,willmakesureIvy’ssafe.”

Hayesgrinnedwickedly.“Whatabouttheprettydebutante?”

Stuartraisedaneyebrow.“HerfiancéiswaitingforherbackinHouston.”

“Oh,”Hayesremarked,withaspeculativelookatIvy,whoflushed.

“Thanks for letting me keep my car here,” Ivy said. “I was worried about leaving it at my
boardinghouse.”

“Noproblem,”Hayessaid.“Itmightworktoouradvantageiftheythinkyou’restayinghereinmy
office.”Hegrinned.“Infact,Ihopetheydothinkit.I’llcallCashandtellhim,too.”

“Letmeknowifyoucatchanyone,”Ivyasked.

“Ofcourse.”

“Will he really call me, do you think, if he catches somebody?” Ivy asked as they drove to Stuart’s
house.

“Iimagineso.You’reinvolved,whetheryouwanttobeornot.”Hetookherhandinhisandheldit
tightly.“IfoundoutsomethingelseinNewYorkthatIdidn’tsharewithHayes.”

“What?”sheasked,certainthatitwassomethingunpleasant.

“Themillionairewasconcernedenoughtohireaprivatedetective.HeshadowedRachelbeforeshe
took the overdose. She led him to one of the bigger names in drug distribution in the country. The
detectivesaidthatshewasblackmailingthemanwithinformationshe’dgleanedfromherboyfriend.
She’

dhiddentheevidence,andnobodycouldfindoutwhere.”

“Didtheykillher?”sheaskedworriedly.

“It wouldn’t have been wise to do that, considering that they didn’t know exactly what she had on
them,orwhereitwaskept.”

“She’duseddrugsforyears,”sheargued.“Shewouldn’thavetakenanoverdosedeliberately.”

“Therewerenosignsofforceonherbody,”hereplied.“Icheckedwiththemedicalexaminer.”

“Then,how…?”

“Theydidatoxicologyscreen,though,”headded.“Thestuffsheinjectedwasahundredpercentpure.
Sheusedtoomuch.”

“Didshehavehelpusingtoomuch?”sheaskedwarily.

“Her boyfriend was right in the middle of her schemes,” he said. “It’s possible that he deliberately
gave her the pure drug, instead of the drug that had been cut, to save himself. He might not have
knownabouttheevidenceshehad.Hemighthavethoughtshewasbluffing.Shewouldhaveusedher
regulardose,whichwasfatalbecauseofthesubstitution.Itwouldstilllooklikesuicide.”

“Toughluckforhim,ifit’strue,”shesaidcurtly.“Becausewhenthedrugpipelinegetsshutdownby
theDEA,they’regoingtowanttopunishsomeone,andhe’stheonlyoneleftalivethattheycangetto.
Ifhelives,hemaywishhe’ddied.”

“Yes.”Heglancedather.“Poeticjustice,youmightsay.”

Shehadtoagreethatitwas.“PoorRachel,”shesaid,shakingherhead.“Shewasalwaysgreedy.”

“Always.”Hesqueezedherhand.“ShewasatthatpartywithHayes’sbrotherBobby,youknow,”he
added. “She knew the dealers and where to get the drugs, and she had a case on Bobby at the time

becausehewasrich.Shemighthavethoughtshewasdoinghimafavor,sowhenitwentbad,sheput
itaroundthatMinettedidthedirtywork.”

“Thatwouldbelikeher,”sheagreed.“ButHayesstillthinksMinettedidit.”

“Godknowswhy,”hesaid.“Minettesingsinthechoiratchurch,teachesaSundayschoolclassand
she’sneverhadsomuchasaspeedingticket.Sheneverevenknewanykidswhowereonthewrong
sideofthelaw.”

“Hayesisblindwhenitcomestoher,”shesaid.

He smiled. “Men tend to be that way when they’re afraid of being caught,” he told her. “Freedom
becomesareligionwhenyou’reoverthirty.”

“Iguessmostmendon’twanttosettledown.”

“Oh, we do, eventually. Especially when we realize that some other man might be poaching on our
territory.”Heglancedather.“IwasreadytopunchHayes.”

Shefelthercheeksgohot.Shesmiled.“Wereyou?”

“Areyousurethere’snothingbetweenyou?”hepersisted.

“I’mverysure,”shereplied,linkingherfingerscloserintohis.

Hesmiled.

Merrie was already at the house when they got there, to Ivy’s faint disappointment. She’d hoped to
havesometimealonewithStuart.

He got out and opened her door, helping her out. He led her up the steps, leaving the car in the
driveway.

“Ididn’tbelievehimwhenhetoldme,”Merrieteased,huggingherfriend.

“Istillcan’t,”Ivyconfessed,withashyglanceatStuart.

“Comeonin,”Merriesaid.“Mrs.Rhodeshasalreadymadesometeacakesandcoffeeforus.”

“I’dlovesomethinghottodrink,”Ivyreplied.“Itwascoldatthecemetery.”

“Iwouldhavebeenthere,too,ifI’dknown,”Merriesaidgently.“Ijustgothereabouttwentyminutes
ago.I’msorryaboutRachel.”

“Me,too,”Ivyreplied.“Iwishshe’dmadebetterchoicesinherlife.”

“Ihopethatinformationshefurnishedhelpsclosedoorsaroundhereforthedrugtrade,”Stuartsaid
ashesatbesideIvyonthesofa.“It’smoredangerousthaneverwhenyouhavetwofactionsfighting

forsupremacy.”

“Rachelactuallyturnedinformant?”Merrieexclaimed.

“She did,” Ivy replied, and told her the whole story, interrupted briefly by Mrs. Rhodes bearing a
silvertraywithcoffeeandteacakes,milkandsugarandchina.

“ButwhydidHayestakeyoutoMinette’shouse?”Merrieaskedcuriously.“Hehatesher.”

“Iwouldn’ttakeanybetsonthat,”Stuartreplied,munchingonateacake.

“They’reveryexplosivetogether,”Ivysaidwarily.

Merriesighed.“Ihadafeelingaboutthat,”sheconfessed.Shegrinned.“IhadarealcrushonHayes
when I was about sixteen, but I’m not stupid enough to think we’d do well as a couple. We’re too
different.Besides,”sheconfessedwithashysmile,“there’saveryhandsomedivorceddoctorIwork
withatthehospital.”

“Tellmeallabouthim,”Ivycoaxed.

Stuartfinishedhiscoffeeandstoodup.“I’llpass,”hesaidwithagrin.“Ihavethingstodo.Don’tgo
away,”hetoldIvy.

“Iwon’t,”shepromised.

Hewinkedather,leavingherflushedanddelighted.

“I still can’t believe it!” Merrie exclaimed when he’d gone out of earshot. “You and my brother! I
thoughtyouhatedeachother!”

“SodidI,”Ivyconfessed.“I’velovedhimsinceIwaseighteen.”

“Ithinkhefeelssomethingsimilar.HewaslividaboutseeingyouaroundtownwithHayes.Noman
getsthatmadaboutawomanhehates.”Shelaughed.“Youcan’timaginehowrelievedIwas!Iwas
sure you were falling for Hayes, and I knew that he and Minette were passionate about hating each
other.

Oneday,markmywords,there’sgoingtobeanexplosionbetweenthetwoofthem.Ididn’twantyou
tobehurt,”sheaddedgently.

Ivyfeltthereliefallthewaytohertoes.Shejustsmiled.“Thanks.ButIwasn’tkiddingwhenIsaid
Hayeswasafriend.I’velovedStuartforever,itseems.Ican’tbelievehefeelsthesame.”

Merriechuckled.“Ican.”

Ivy leaned forward. “Well, now that we’ve got Hayes out of the way, tell me about this sexy doctor
youworkwith!”

After supper, Merrie discreetly went upstairs to watch a movie on pay-per-view with Mrs. Rhodes
whileStuartwentintohisstudywithIvyandclosedthedoor.Asanafterthought,helockeditbehind
him.

Ivywasnervousanddelighted,allatonce,ashedrewherintohisarms.

“I’mstarving,”hewhisperedashismouthcoveredhers.

Sherealizedquicklythathewasn’ttalkingaboutfood.Sheheldonfordearlifeandkissedhimback
withherwholeheart.Shefelthimlifther,carryher,tothelongleathersofa.Heputherdownonit
andjoinedher,drawinghercompletelyagainsthispowerfulbody.

She shivered at the sensations that rose like a flood, almost searing her as passion consumed them
both.

He ground her hips into his, groaning when she jerked and gasped into his demanding mouth. She
madenoprotestatallwhenshefelthisleanhandsgounderherblouse,againstherbareskin.

“Your body is softer than silk,” he breathed into her mouth. “Warm and sweet to touch. I want you,
Ivy.”

Shewantedhim,too,buttheyweregettinginovertheirheadsandshewasanold-fashionedwoman.
Shegrewmorenervousashisardorincreased.Helpless,shestiffened.

Hehesitated,liftinghisheadtolookdownintoherwide,apprehensiveeyes.Hisownnarrowed.

“Yes,”hewhispered.“Youwantme.You’dgivein,ifIaskedyouto.Butyoudon’twantittohappen
likethis,doyou?”

Sheswallowed,knowingshemightlosehimforeverifshetoldthetruth.“I…Iwasraisedtobelieve
thatsomethingsarestillwrongevenifthewholeworldsaysthey’reright.”

She looked up at him nervously, waiting for him to get up and walk out, or just to make some
sarcasticcomment.Hewasaworldlymaninhisthirties.He’dsaidhewasn’tamarryingman,andshe
wasn’tcapableofsleepingwithhimoutofwedlock.Herheartfelltoherknees.Shecouldn’tgoon
livingifshelosthim,now.Whatwouldshedo?Hereyespleadedwithhisasthesilencegrewaround
them.Itwas,truly,themomentoftruth.

CHAPTERELEVEN

ANDthen,whenIvywascertainshe’dlost,Stuartbegantosmile.Itwasn’tasarcasticsmile,either.He
rolledoverontohissideandtracedpatternsonhersoft,swollenmouth.Hisshirtwasopenandher
fingersweretangledinthethickhairthatcoveredhischest.Shedidn’trememberunfasteningbuttons,
butshemusthave.Herownblouseandbraweredownaroundherwaist.

“Itoldyou,Idon’tseducevirgins,”hewhispereddeeply.

“Iremember,”shewhisperedback.

“Ido,however,marrythem,”hemurmuredagainstherlips.

Hereyeswidened.“Youwantto…tomarryme?”

Hekissedhereyelidsclosed.“OfcourseIdo,”herepliedhuskily.“Iwantedyouwhenyouwerejust
eighteen.I’vegonealmostoutofmymindwantingyousincethen,andhatingmyselfforit.You’reso
young,Ivy,”hetoldher,huggingherclose.“ButIcan’tlivewithoutyou.”

Sheclungtohim,buryingherfaceinhiswarmthroat.“Ican’tlivewithoutyou,either,Stuart,”she
confessedonabrokensob.“Iloveyou…!”

Hismouthstoppedthewords.Hekissedheruntilhermouthwassoreandtheywerebothontheverge
ofsurrender.

Whetheritwasbyaccidentorbydesign,aloudknockatthedoorannouncedMerrie.

“Whowantscakeandicecream?”shecalled.

Stuartlaughed.“Bothofus!”hecalledback,winkingatIvy,whowasdelightfullyflushed.

“Comingrightup.Youtwocomingouttogetit?”

Stuartmadeaface.“Sure,”hereplied.

“Okay!Fiveminutes!”

Herfootstepsdiedaway.

Stuart’seyesbegantoglitterwickedlyasheeasedIvyontoherbackandslidoverher.“Fivewhole
minutes,”hemurmuredagainsthersoftmouth.“Let’smakethebestofthem,sweetheart.”

Theydid,too.

Amidplansforabig,societyweddingthatIvyreallydidn’twant,ChiefCashGrierandSheriffHayes
CarsoncametotalktoIvy.Stuarthadgoneoutontotheranchbecausetherewasaproblemwithsome
equipment,andMerriewasintownorderinginvitationsandaweddingcake.

Mrs.Rhodesledthemintothelivingroom,whereIvywasmakingalistofpeopleshewantedtoinvite
tothewedding.

“What can I do for you?” she asked them, smiling as she offered them chairs around the big, open
fireplacethatwasblazing,cozyandwarminthelargeroom.

“We thought you might like to know how things are going since we got Rachel’s packet of
information,”Hayestoldher.

“WouldIever!”shereplied.

“It turns out that her boyfriend’s main supplier was from Jacobsville,” Cash Grier said. “Do you
rememberbacklastyearwhentwoofmypatrolofficersarrestedadrunkpoliticianandhisdaughter
slanderedmeinthepress?”

“Everybodyremembersthat,”shesaid.

“Well, his daughter, Julie Merrill, was up to her neck in drug trafficking, along with the two
commissionerswhoresignedfromthecitycouncilandvanished.”

“JuliewasarrestedandaccusedofarsonfortryingtoburndownLibbyCollins’shouse,wasn’tshe?”
shereplied.“Andthensheskippedbondandvanished,aboutthesametimethatDominguezwoman
tookoverManuelLopez’solddrugterritory.”

“Goodmemory,Ivy,”Hayeschuckled.

“Betterthanmine,”Cashagreed,grinning.“Anyway,wecouldn’tfindheranyplaceand,believeme,
welooked.SothisinformationRachelleftpointedtoahotelindowntownSanAntoniowhereoneof
herdrug-dealingboyfriend’scontactslived.Guesswhothecontactturnedouttobe?”

“JulieMerrill?!”

“Theverysame,”Cashtoldher.“We’vegotherincustody.She’slodgedinthecountyjailawaiting
arraignment.”

“Willthatshutdownthedrugtradelocally?”Ivyasked.“Andwhataboutthosetwocouncilmen?”

“They’restillhidingoutsomewhere,”Hayesdrawled.“Butwe’llturnthemupsoonerorlater.

Meanwhile,Dominguezhasasuccessor.”

“Doyouknowwhoitis?”sheasked.

Cash and Hayes glanced at each other and some silent message passed between them. “We have an
idea,”Cashsaid.“We’reworkingonproof.OneofCyParks’soldfriendsisgoingtohelpusout.He

’saMexicannationalwithsomelong-heldgrudges.”

“RodrigoRamirez,”Ivymurmuredthoughtfully.

“Howdoyouknowabouthim?”Cashaskedsuspiciously.

“IknowColbyLane’snewwife,Sarina,”shesaid.“ShementionedthatColbyandRodrigohadsome,
shallwesay,problemsduringthetimetheywereworkingonbreakingtheDominguezcase.”

“Translated,”HayessaidwithadrollsmileatCash,“thatmeansthatColbyandRodrigocouldhardly
stayinthesameroomtogetherwithoutexchangingthreatsofviolence.”

“Well,RodrigoandSarinahadbeenpartnersforthreeyears,afterall,”Cashpointedout.

“Yes,well,ColbyandSarinahadbeenmarriedandhadachildtogether.Anyway,”Hayescontinued,
“wehavealeadonwhereDominguez’slieutenant,who’stakingovertheCulebracartel,ishidingout.
Rodrigo’sgoingtoinfiltrateit.”

“What’s Sarina going to say to that?” Ivy asked. “She and Rodrigo worked together busting up
Dominguez’soperation.Sarina’sDEA,too,youknow.”

Cashchuckled.“Cobbdoesn’twanttoletherresign.HesaysshecangoundercoverasRodrigo’

scontact.Colbywantshertoworkforme.SodoI,”headded.“Ionlyhaveoneinvestigator,andit’sa
bigcounty.Iwashopingthatshe’dstartrightaway.ButCobbofferedherthispeachofacaseandshe
walkedrightoverColbyandtookit.”

“Colby’sreallycrazyabouther,”Ivymentioned.

“Yes,andviceversa,”Cashsaid.Hesighed.“Well,maybeonedayColbywillfindawaytoconvince
her to resign. Meanwhile, he and Bernadette hold down the fort on their ranch in Jacobsville while
Sarinaworksnights.”

“IshestillteachingtacticsforEbScott?”sheasked.

Theynodded.“TherewasoneotherconfessioninRachel’spapers,”Cashaddedslowly.“Wethought
yououghttoknow.SheadmittedthatshegaveBobbyCarsonthedrugthatkilledhim.”

Ivy’s gasp was audible. She glanced at Hayes, whose face was as closed as a clam shell. “She
confessed?Butwhy?”

“Whoknows?”Cashreplied.“Maybeshehadapremonition.Whateverherreason,shemadeamends
foralotofbadthingsshe’ddoneinherlife.”

“Wasthereanythingaboutme?”Ivywantedtoknow.Shehadn’tevenaskedtoreadthepapers,certain
thattheywereallaboutdrugtraffickingandnotaboutpersonalmatters.

Cashhesitated.

“No,”Hayesrepliedquietly.“Shejustnotedthatsheguessedallherthingswouldgotohersisterat

herdeath.Itwasn’tawill.Shewasn’tplanningtodie.Butsheknewthatblackmailingdruglordsisan
iffybusiness.Iguessshewantedtomakethepoint.”

Ivyfeltherheartsink.She’dhopedformorethanthat.

“Don’tlietoher,”Cashsaidcoldly.“Tellingthetruthisalwaysthebestway,evenifitseemsbrutal.”
HelookedatIvy.“Shesaidshe’dtoldherboyfriendthatyou’dhavealltheblackmailinformationin
casesomethinghappenedtoher.”

“DearGod!”Ivyexclaimed,feelingsick.

“Thatwasn’tnecessary,”Hayessaidcurtly.

“It was,” Cash disagreed. “Mean people don’t usually change, Ivy,” he added. “If anything, they get
meaner. She put you in the line of fire deliberately by telling Jerry Smith she’d given you the
evidence.”

“I’mnotsurprised,”shesaidsadly.“Shealwayshatedme,fromthetimeIwasoldenoughtoknow
whoshewas.MylifewashellwhenIwasachild.”

Hayes pursed his lips. “Not anymore,” he mused. “I noticed that Merrie York was at the engravers
orderingweddinginvitationsthismorningforyouandStuart.”

Sheburstoutlaughing.“There’snosuchthingasasecretinJacobsville.”

“Damnedstraight,”Cashagreed.“Arewegettinginvited?”

“Everybody’sgettinginvited,”Ivyrepliedwithasmile.“Iwouldhavelikedtoelope,butStuartsays
we’regoingtohaveallthetrimmings.”

“Iloveweddings,”Hayessaid.“It’stheonlytimeIgetdecentcake.”

“Nofair,”Ivyprotested.“Barbaramakeswonderfulcakesathercafé.”

“Ieatontherun,mostly,”Hayessaid.

“Are Jerry’s friends going to come after me, when they know about Rachel’s confession?” she
worried.

“Not likely,” Cash said with a grin. “Jerry survived his fall, against all the odds, and he’s turning
state’sevidence.Hepointedouthismanagement-levelsupplier,whowaspickedupinNewYorkCity
thismorningandchargedwithdrugtrafficking.Itseemsthissupplierhadenoughmethamphetamine
and crack cocaine in a rented, vacant apartment to qualify him for superdealer status. Federal
charges,”hecontinued,“andtheycarrylongprisonsentences.CobbandtheDEAhadalreadypicked
uptheex-statesenator ’sdaughterinSanAntonio,andwehearthatthetwoex-councilmenimplicated
intheschemearetryingtomakeittoMexico.”

“Iftheydo,Rodrigowillpushthembackacrosstheborderandyellforthepolice,”Hayeschuckled.

“I’mjustgladit’sover,”Ivysaidquietly.“It’sbeenalongweek.”

“Itcertainlyhas,”Hayesagreed.

Ivy wondered how he’d taken the news that Minette had never given his little brother the drugs that
cost him his life. He might not believe it just yet. His vendetta against the woman had gone on for
sometime.Maybehelikedhatingher.

Theyleftafewminuteslater,andshewentbacktoherlist.

Thewedding,predictably,wasthesocialeventoftheseason.Thechurchwasdecoratedinwhiteand
redpoinsettias,becauseitwasonlyafewweeksbeforeChristmas.Ivyworeawhitegownwithatrain
and a trailing veil that Stuart had bought for her at Neiman Marcus. She looked in the mirror and
couldn’tbelievethatthiswasher.She’dneverdreamedthatStuartwouldwanttomarryheroneday,
when she was cocooned in her daydreams. She smiled at her reflection, flushing a little with
happiness.

Shewalkeddowntheaislealone.She’dhadoffersfromtownspeopletogiveheraway,butitseemed
righttomakethewalkallbyherself.Youcouldn’treallygivepeopleawayintheseenlightenedtimes,
she’dtoldStuart.Ifanything,shewasgivingherself.

Stuartstoodatthebeautifularborofpoinsettiaswheretheministerwaswaiting.Helookeddownthe
aisle as Ivy walked toward him and the look on his face was fascinating to her. This worldly,
experiencedmanlookedverymuchlikeayoungboyonhisfirstdate.Hiseyeswereeloquent.

She stopped beside him with her bouquet of white roses and lily of the valley and faced him shyly,
withherveildrapeddelicatelyoverherface,whiletheministerreadthevows.

Finallytheringwasonherfinger,andonhis.Heliftedthebeautifullacyveiltolookuponherforthe
firsttimeasabride.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, as he bent to kiss her with exquisite tenderness. “Mrs. York,” he added,
smiling.

Shebeamed.Shecouldhavewalkedonair.ShewasthehappiestwomaninTexas,andshelookedit.

Everyoneintownwasthere.Thebigfamilies,thelittlefamilies,friendsandacquaintancesfilledthe
churchandflowedoutintotheyard.

“At least,” she whispered to him at the reception, “nobody started a mixer, like they did at Blake
Kemp’sweddingtohisViolet.”

“It’searly,yet,”hecautioned,noddingtowardafumingMinetteRaynorglaringupatataciturnHayes
Carson.

“Hedoesn’tbelieveshewasn’tresponsible,doeshe?”shemused.

“He doesn’t want to believe it,” he corrected. “Here, precious, take a bite of the cake so the
photographercanmakeusimmortal.”

She flushed at the endearment and nibbled the white cake as the flash enveloped them. The camera
captured similar exquisite moments until the happy couple finally climbed into a waiting white
limousineandspedawaytowardtheairport.

Jamaica, Ivy thought as she lay exhausted in Stuart’s strong arms, was a dreamy place for a
honeymoon.

Notthatthey’dseenmuchofityet.Theminutethebellboyhaddepositedtheirluggage,receivedhis
tipandlefttheroom,they’dendedupinthebed.

Ivyknewthemechanicsofit,fromherromanticnovelsandbluntarticlesinwomen’smagazines.

Butreadingaboutitanddoingitweretwoverydifferentthings.

ThesensationsStuartdrewfromheruntriedbodyweresopowerfulthattheyfrightenedher.Shelost
controlofherselfalmostatonce.Hismouthandhishandscoaxedaresponseoutofherthatwould
makeherblushafterward.Heteasedher,encouragedher,praisedherashedrewherwithhimfrom
onepeaktoanevenhigherone.

There was one tiny flash of pain, and then nothing except sheer heat and passion that built on itself
untilshewasshivering,explodingwithpleasure,beggingforrelieffromthetensionthatpulledher
poorbodysotautthatitfeltlikelytoexplode.

And it did, in a maelstrom of excited delight that was beyond rational description. She cried out
endlesslyasherbodyarcheduptoreceivehisinhelplesstremblingthrusts.

He found his own relief just as she did, and then collapsed over her. She cradled him in her arms,
drunkonecstasy,blindwithsatiation.

Afterafewbreathlessminutes,hemanagedtolifthisheadandlookdownintohermisty,happyeyes.

“NowIknowyou’redisappointed,”hesaiddryly,“thatwerusheditlikethis.Butlater,Ipromise,I’ll
tortureyouwithpassionandmakeyouscreamlikeawildcatwhenIsatisfyyou.”

“Dis…appointed?”sheasked,blank-eyed.

Hepursedhislips.“You’renotdisappointed?”

“GoodLord,Stuart!”sheexclaimed,barelyabletobreatheevennow.“IthoughtIwasgoingtodie!”

Hechuckled.“ImustbebetterthanIthoughtIwas,”hetoldher.Hebentandkissedhereyelids.

“Iwantedtogoslow,butIjustlostit.I’vewaitedsolongforyou,littleone.Yearsandyears.Forthe
pastyearorso,”headdedhuskily,“I’vebeenascelibateasamanstrandedonadesertisland.Iwasn’t
abletowantanyonebutyou.SoIcouldn’tdrawitoutthewayImeantto,tonight.”

She was delighted with the confession. Her long legs curled around his and her eyes half-closed in
satisfaction.Ifshewereacat,shemused,she’dbepurring.“Idon’thaveasinglecomplaint.”

“Itdidn’thurt?”hepersisted.

“Onlyalittle.Mostly,Iwastoobusytonotice.”

Henibbledherlowerlip.“I’mgood,”hedrawled.

Shegrinnedandpunchedhimintheribs.“Verygood.Ithink.Mymemoryseemstobeslipping.”

Sheglancedupathim,drawingherfingersthroughthethickhaironhischest.“Couldyoudoallthat
again,doyouthink,soIcanmakeupmymind?”

“Darlin’,”hewhisperedintoherpartinglips,“Iwouldbedelighted…!”

Thenextday,holdinghandsandwalkingalongthebeachwhilethewavescrashedonthesandbeside
them,shewonderedifanyonehadeverbeenashappyasshewasrightnow.

She leaned her head against his bare shoulder and kissed it. “Did I mention that I loved you?” she
askedsoftly.

“Ibelieveyoudid,”hereplied,andpulledherclose.Helookeddownintoherwide,radianteyes.

“ButIdidn’t.”Hetracedapathdownhersoftcheek,andhiseyesweresolemn.“Icouldhavetoldyou
anytimeinthepasttwoyearsthatIlovedyou.Istilldo.Ialwayswill.”

Itwaspowerful,hearingthewords.Shecouldhardlybreathe.“Really?”

“Really.”Hebentandkissedhereyelidsclosed.“We’vehadanicebreakfastandsomecomfortable
exercise.Whatwouldyouliketodonext,Mrs.York?”

Shegrinnedwickedly,tuggedhisheaddownandwhisperedinhisear.

Hiseyebrowsarched.“Doyouknow,that’sexactlywhatI’dliketodonext,too!”

Shepulledaway,laughedandwentrunningbackdownthebeach.Stuartgaveashoutoflaughterand
ranafterher.

Years later, she could still draw a smile from him when she reminded him of that bright, sweet
morningonaJamaicanbeach,whentheirlivestogetherwerejustbeginning.Itwas,shethought,the
bestmorningofherlife.

ISBN:978-1-4268-0828-9

WINTERROSES

FirstNorthAmericanPublication2007.

Copyright©2007byDianaPalmer.

Allrightsreserved.Exceptforuseinanyreview,thereproductionorutilizationofthisworkinwhole
or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrievalsystem,isforbiddenwithoutthewrittenpermissionofthepublisher,HarlequinEnterprises
Limited,225DuncanMillRoad,DonMills,Ontario,CanadaM3B3K9.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the
author ’simaginationorareusedfictitiously,andanyresemblancetoactualpersons,livingordead,
businessestablishments,eventsorlocalesisentirelycoincidental.

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TableofContents

CHAPTERONE
CHAPTERTWO
CHAPTERTHREE
CHAPTERFOUR
CHAPTERFIVE
CHAPTERSIX
CHAPTERSEVEN
CHAPTEREIGHT
CHAPTERNINE
CHAPTERTEN
CHAPTERELEVEN