LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Where is this going, Kurt?”

      “Okay, here it is. I’ll just say it straight out. It’s been brought to my attention by…people…that my girl has a tendency to get herself into a little bit of trouble now and then. I’ve been hearing about it more and more.”

      Really? No shit. Talk about an understatement. And was he concerned about Tyler or about his own image? He certainly couldn’t like his high-octane friends telling stories about Tyler.

      “I’m sorry to hear that.” Rafe put a half smile on his face. “I’m sure this concerns you, but I’m not sure what I can do about it.”

      Kurt shifted, as if the chair was uncomfortable. “I don’t have any right to ask this, but I know you’re out here and there some nights.” He lifted a hand. “I don’t mean you hang out in bars and stuff like that. You’re a good man, Rafe. I always thought of you as the son I never had.”

      Oh, Jesus.

      Gillette shook his head. “I know she won’t listen to me. Listen, hell. She hardly talks to me.” He rubbed his jaw. “Anyway, I’m suddenly getting feedback from people more than before, so I just wondered if you could kind of put the word out to keep an eye on her.”

      Ah. Feedback from people. That meant his cronies were asking him what was up with his wayward daughter. But why now? Had news of the debacle at Tequila Sunrise reached his ears? Had someone called him and said, “Your daughter is a mess. Fix it.”? Was this all about how it affected Kurt’s reputation? Or had all the stars suddenly aligned and focused on her father, giving him a nudge? Not likely, but whatever. He’d do whatever he could. After last night, he figured it was necessary, anyway.

      He frowned. “Put the word out where, exactly?”

      Gillette shrugged. “Wherever you can would be appreciated.”

      “I don’t know how much help I can be,” he said. “I hate to say it, Kurt, but it’s not like I can call every bartender in town and ask them to watch out for her.”

      “I know, I know.” The man gnawed on his bottom lip for a moment. “Maybe you could just tell the guys on your security team if they see her any place to pay attention to what’s going on.”

      Rafe swallowed a sigh. “Don’t get upset, but my guys don’t exactly go the same places she does. I can do one thing, but I’m not sure you’ll like it.”

      “What is it? I don’t have too many options.”

      “I know a lot of the cops in this town. I can quietly pass the word to the ones who cover the part of the city she hangs out in to keep an eye out.”

      Kurt heaved a loud sigh. “You’re right, asking the cops to watch my daughter isn’t something that I enjoy, but if that’s my only alternative, then I’d appreciate you doing it.”

      “Consider it done.”

      “Thank you.” Kurt pushed himself out of the chair, then stood there a moment, just shaking his head. “I guess I made a lot of mistakes with her, Rafe. But…I had no idea how to raise a daughter. Still don’t. And I hate the way she lives her life. Despise it. But I sure don’t want to see her get hurt. Which,” he added, “she’s liable to if she doesn’t make some changes.”

      Rafe had to ask himself if there was a spark of genuine concern in there, or Kurt was just more worried about how people would view him if indeed something bad happened to Tyler. Either way, that was none of his business. He’d told the man what he could do and he’d do it.

      Rafe stared at the doorway for long seconds after the man had left. He’d talk to the cops he knew well enough to approach and hope that maybe after last night she’d wised up a little. She seemed determined to destroy herself and people like that didn’t want help. Dewey could have done serious damage to her. Didn’t she realize that?

      Maybe so. She hadn’t seemed quite as feisty.

      As if the devil himself were tempting him, he found himself wondering yet again what Tyler looked like naked and in the throes of passion. Not good, he told himself for the tenth time. Thoughts like that could only bring problems. Maybe it was the lack of steady female companionship that was screwing with his head. He’d dated Mike Lazarus’s sister for a time, but they’d figured out in a hurry they were better as friends than lovers. Since then no one had rung his bells.

      Last night, he’d responded to Tyler’s call because he worked for her father. Because he felt a responsibility. Period. The same with the promise he’d just made. But beyond that he was done. The farther he stayed away from this woman, the better off he’d be. Her lifestyle irritated him, and her attitude annoyed him.

      Yeah, keep telling yourself that, smartass. Her father had nothing to do with that kiss.

      Lunch. Food. Anything to distract him from thoughts of Tyler Gillette.

      Still, as he headed out of his office, he rubbed his lips with the tips of his fingers, trying to brush away the memory.

      He’d better rub it away real good. Otherwise he could get his ass in a very big sling.

      Chapter 3

      “We were lucky to get this table,” Betsy said as they slid into their seats.

      Tyler nodded. They’d scored a seat on Al Dente’s mezzanine overlooking the world famous Riverwalk. The entire wall of the restaurant was glass, giving them an unobstructed view.

      “It is pretty crowded today,” Tyler agreed, adjusting her chair and looking around.

      “Yes, it is.” Betsy gave Tyler a penetrating stare. “You look good, gal friend.”

      “Excuse me?” Tyler’s eyebrows lifted almost to her hairline.

      “You heard me. I like this look.” She grinned. “Am I seeing the real Tyler Gillette?”

      “I don’t know.” Tyler looked down at the table. “I’m not sure I even know who the real Tyler Gillette is anymore, Bets.”

      Betsy placed a gentle hand on her arm. “I think,” she said in a soft voice, “it’s the woman I’m looking at right now. The one without a chip on her shoulder.” She grinned. “But still feisty.”

      “I feel strange,” Tyler said.

      “Do you feel naked this way?”

      Tyler gave a tiny little laugh. “Not so long as no one sees me, I guess. Of course, I’ll bet they’d never recognize me.”

      Betsy put her elbow on the table and leaned her chin on her palm. “Maybe it’s time to make big changes in your life. Stop worrying about certain people and do this for yourself.” She paused. “You want to tell me what brought this on?”

      Tyler nibbled her lower lip, a habit of her childhood that had popped up lately. How could she tell her friend why she was doing this when she wasn’t even sure herself? She felt odd with her naked face hanging out but it was something she’d felt impelled to do.

      “I think,” she said slowly, “I took a good look at myself and didn’t like what I saw—someone I wouldn’t even want to be friends with.”

      “Maybe it’s time you were.” Betsy opened her menu. “Let’s see what sounds good today. I could eat a truckload of something.”

      Tyler looked at her own menu for a moment but she really didn’t see what was printed there. What the hell was she doing? Who was she trying to be? “Do it for yourself,” Betsy had said. But who was herself? She picked up her glass of ice water to take a sip and was just about to set it down when something made her look up and there, being seated at a table near them, was Rafe.

      He pinned her with his penetrating gaze, and Tyler nearly dropped her drink.

      “What’s the matter?” Betsy frowned. “You have a weird

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