LITMIR.BIZ

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in the cover of darkness instead of the bright glare of daylight.

      “I can take it from here,” she said as Booker killed the engine.

      “I always walk my dates to the door.”

      “We’re not on a date.” He’d be peeling out and squealing tires in his rush to get away if he knew the truth about her.

      “Thanks for the ride,” she said. “Enjoy your leave.”

      “I have a hunch it won’t be boring.”

      Ignoring her assurance that she no longer needed him, he got out of the car and followed her up the walk.

      An attractive blonde opened the door before they reached it. “Finally we meet,” she said. “I’m Brit and you must be Booker.”

      “In the flesh.” Booker put out a hand, but the woman pulled him into a hug, totally ignoring Jade.

      Apprehension skidded along her nerve endings. Had she been set up? Had Booker been looking for her at the airport when she ran into him and saved him the trouble?

      No wonder he chased after her when she sneaked off from the burger joint.

      Booker stood back and studied the woman who’d just embraced him so warmly. “Excuse me, but this is going to take a minute for me to get past. You look exactly like Sylvie.”

      “I thought I’d prepared you for that,” she said, “but I guess nothing really could.”

      “No. I’ll get used to it, but it’s a shocker now.”

      Jade stood there, flabbergasted. She had no idea what was going on, but apparently Booker’s coming here had nothing to do with her.

      “You must be a friend of Booker’s,” Brit said, directing her comment to Jade.

      A friend of Booker’s. That was an intriguing mistake. If she could pull that off, it would definitely simplify matters. It would give Jade a chance to think things through tonight before confronting the Daltons.

      “Yes, Booker and I are—”

      Her sentence was interrupted by the sound of approaching footfalls. She looked up as R.J. shuffled to the door. The lie died on her lips.

      He looked years older than he had the last time she’d seen him. Frailer, his stance less intimidating, his hair gray wisps that barely covered his head. The inoperable tumor hadn’t killed him yet, but it was apparently taking its toll.

      He stared at her, his mouth open, his eyes wide.

      “Jade.” His voice broke on her name.

      So much for her disguise. If R.J. could recognize her that easily, she’d fool no one who was actually looking for her. It was a miracle she’d made it to Dallas without being arrested.

      “Thank God you’re here,” R.J. said. “I’ve been worried sick. I was about to hire a team of private detectives to track you down.”

      Coming here had clearly been a mistake. “I didn’t kill anyone.”

      “I know that. I told everyone that as soon as we heard. I just wanted to find you and make sure you were safe.”

      “I was kidnapped. When I escaped, I didn’t know anything else to do but come here. But I won’t stay more than one night. I’ll leave tomorrow morning, before I cause you any trouble.”

      “Of course you’ll stay. Where else would you go? You’re family.”

      “But you will have to turn yourself in to the local sheriff,” Brit said. “And you’ll need a lawyer.”

      “We’ve got the best danged attorney in the state of Texas right here on the ranch,” R.J. interrupted. “Your half brother Leif. We’ll call him right now. He’ll know exactly how to handle this.”

      “He may not want to represent me.”

      “He’s obliged. We Daltons stick together. His brother Travis will advise you, too. He’s a Dallas homicide detective, and Brit here was a detective in Houston before she and Cannon got hitched. Everything you need is right here.”

      A lawyer and two homicide detectives. Jade would probably be in jail by morning.

      “C’mon in,” R.J. said. “You and your friend, afore the skeeters start snacking on you.”

      “This is Booker Knox,” Brit said, introducing him to R.J. before things got any more confusing.

      “Well, I’ll be jiggered! You and Jade knowing each other. Don’t that beat all?”

      “Pretty surprising, isn’t it?” Booker said, going along with everything.

      “You two need something to eat? I can rustle up some leftovers.”

      “We had dinner in town,” Jade said. “And Booker and I don’t actually know each other,” she added, determined to clear up that minor detail before they got bogged down even further in chaotic confusion. “We ran into each other in the car rental line at the airport and realized we were both coming to the same place.” The partial truth would do.

      “Well, that was damn lucky,” R.J. said. “If your belly’s full, how about a beer or a glass of wine while you two relax a bit? After that, Jade can bring Brit and me up to snuff on what really happened in that New York hotel suite.”

      “I could use a few minutes to freshen up,” Jade said. And to pull off the useless wig that was starting to feel like a wad of wet wool on her head before she faced the family firing squad. She couldn’t imagine they’d all be as accommodating as R.J.

      “Why don’t I show you to the guest rooms,” Brit offered. “Do you have luggage?”

      “Afraid not,” Jade said.

      “I can lend you a clean T-shirt to sleep in,” Booker said. “I’ll get my bag out of the car.”

      “I’ll put you in the room I prepared for Booker,” Brit said as Booker left to go back to the car. “It has a private bath already stocked with the essentials like soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, toothpaste, razors, even extra toothbrushes in the top drawer if you need one.”

      “I appreciate that.” Hopefully that meant they didn’t intend to call the local sheriff out for an immediate arrest.

      “We’re about the same size,” Brit said. “I’m sure I have a nightshirt and some jeans and shirts you can wear until you have time to shop. I’ll gather up a few items while you get yourself together.”

      “Thanks. I’m sorry I came crashing in on R.J. and the rest of you like this. I panicked. That’s the only excuse for going on the run the way I did.”

      “Don’t apologize for coming here,” Brit said. “R.J. was right. We’re family. That’s where you go when you’re in trouble.”

      A nice concept, but it hadn’t been Jade’s experience. But she definitely needed to get in touch with her mother and let her know she was safe. Kiki would have heard the media’s version of what had happened and she’d be bordering on hysteria about now. And no doubt full of advice as to how Jade should be handling this.

      “R.J.’s been a wreck ever since we first heard about Quaid Vaquero’s murder. He was afraid that you’d been murdered as well, and the police weren’t releasing that information.”

      “I came close,” Jade said, not expecting Brit to believe her.

      “Whatever happened, you’re safe now,” Brit said. “So let’s get you settled in. The only available guest rooms are upstairs. Cannon, Kimmie and I pretty much took over the first floor when we moved in. Someone needs to be close by, now that R.J.’s health is failing so fast.”

      Once Jade was alone in the guest room, her strained willpower caved like a sand castle in the rain. She dropped to the bed as the

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