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lifted Bonnie to the floor, and followed her into the living room. 150 » Debra White Smith When she settled in the middle of the couch, Jack stacked the throw pillows atop the bedding and snuggled into the corner. Bonnie helped him turn the page and then pointed at the first word. Start here, she said through another yawn. Right, Jack agreed. She rested her head on Jack s arm and quietly listened as his deep voice wove its spell. With every page he turned, Jack glanced toward his pupil and noticed her eyes were getting heavier and heavier. When he closed the book, Bonnie was on the verge of a coma. Want to go crawl back in bed now? he asked and discreetly checked his watch. It was now a quarter after seven and he d be pressed to get to the office by eight. Furthermore, Bud would have to feed the cattle by himself. His brother Ryan s son usually fought sleep at any time, no matter how groggy he was. Fully expecting Bonnie to protest, Jack brain stormed ways to expedite the trip to bed so he could hurry home. But Bonnie surprised him by simply taking the book, clutching it to her chest, standing, and meandering from the living room, up the hallway. Okaaaaay, Jack breathed and sensed he d just won a major battle that had nothing to do with sleep. Sigmund Harlings extended his hand to the young couple who d just inked a sizable loan on a new home. He forced himself to keep his smile genuine when, inside, he was gloating. This one had been a quarter-million-dollar deal. The week was peppered with similar closings, and that only upped his end-of-quarter bonus, coming this week. Just last week the bank president, Ted James, had said, Harlings, you know how to hook em and reel em in! There s a reason you re a VP, and I like it! Sigmund pumped Mrs. Lawrence s hand with even more enthu TEXAS HEAT « 151 siasm, then said, And remember, we offer discount rates on auto loans to those who have their home mortgages with us. So when you get ready for that Mercedes Get ready for? Mr. Lawrence scoffed. She s already taken care of that need. The brunette rested her diamond-crusted hand against her chest and said, But I might be ready for a new one soon. And when I am Come on! Come on! Lawrence teased and pulled on his wife. Let s get outa here before you spend every dime we have! Laughing, Sigmund followed the couple into the bank s entryway. He was bidding them adieu when a familiar man stepped through the glass doorway a tall, lanky, blond man whose very sight made Sigmund s blood pressure escalate. When Sonny Mansfield made a straight line for him, Sigmund forced himself not to run into his office and crawl under his desk. Excuse me, Sonny said and glanced at his name tag, but could you please tell me who can help me open a new account? Mansfield s smile was as slow and easy as some teenager who didn t have anything better to do than lie in the sun. His fashionable blue jeans were as baggy as his shirt that hung past his belt. His wind- tossed hair topped the whole disguise. But the disguise was not lost on Sigmund. He knew why the private eye was in the bank. Sigmund pointed toward Rita Juarez and said, She s the new- accounts manager. Then, he turned and strode straight to his office without a backward glance. Once inside, Sigmund snapped the door shut. He gazed through the glass wall that gave him a clear view of Sonny, now settling at Rita s desk. Her coy smile suggested the blond buffoon had gotten her attention for more reasons than just a new account. Sigmund yanked on the blind cord hanging near the doorway. The wooden 152 » Debra White Smith blinds swooshed down and covered the glass wall from floor to ceil ing. Panting, Sigmund locked his door, snapped off the lights, and inched apart two of the blinds with his forefinger and thumb. The office grew smaller and smaller with Sigmund s every heart beat. A cold wad of leaden terror filled his gut. He pulled at his tie, gulped for each breath, and strained for every nuance of Mansfield s expressions. The private eye pointed a smile at Rita that would probably charm the stripes off a tiger. And Sigmund could only imagine what bank information he d extract from the bleach blonde. Sonny s relaxed demeanor suggested the guy was simply taking care of some business. But Sigmund wasn t fooled not even a little bit. Sonny came in here for one reason . . . and that reason drove Sigmund from his office. When he stepped past his secretary, he glanced toward her and mentally processed an excuse to cover his departure. But Gail took care of the excuse herself. You don t look so hot, she said. You ve gone pale. A prim brunette, she reminded Sigmund of his wife a double-knit queen who couldn t feel one ounce of passion if someone put a gun to her head. I m sick, Sigmund lied and rubbed at his damp neck. Cancel all my appointments for today. He hurried past the new-accounts desk and forced himself not to look at Sonny Mansfield. However, his presence in the bank drove Sigmund to the parking lot, and to the task that had been thwarted last night. After seeing the chief s car in Charli s front yard, Sigmund had slipped back into his room at home through the outside door. He d paced his room until after two and then fell into an unsettled sleep. Of course, Dianne had never known he left or returned and possessed no idea he was disturbed. He hadn t shared a room with his wife in ages. She claimed he tossed all night and that his stuff got in her way. TEXAS HEAT « 153 So Sigmund had gladly left her lair for the guest suite. The room featured an outside door that opened onto the back porch, near the garage. Dianne s suite was upstairs, so the setup couldn t have been more perfect for nights when Sigmund couldn t sleep or wanted to visit Margarita. Now, he made it to his Lincoln, clicked the remote lock, and crashed into the driver s seat. Sigmund removed his tie, slung it against the passenger door, and ripped at his shirt s top button. He [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] |