nursing degree. Last year they both retired and are back to full-time ranching.â
âWhere?â
âIn Dripping Springs.â
âThatâs only half an hour away. How nice that you can be close to your family. I bet your mom loves it. Are you an only child like me?â
âNo. I have a younger brother, Randy. Heâs on the police force here in Austin.â
âLaw enforcement is alive and doing well in the Davis blood. Didnât he want to be a Ranger, too?â
Luckey nodded. âItâs odd youâd say that. Randy hopes to be taken on next year. Heâs married and has two little girls.â
âDo you have lots of extended family?â
âLots. They all live in Dripping Springs. What about you?â
âI have my share, too. Some of our relatives lived on our ranch for different periods while we were away, to keep watch over everything.â
âThatâs the beauty of a large family.â Theyâd finished eating. âMy twenty questions are over. With that discussion concluded, what do you say we go get your car? Iâll follow you home.â
âSure. Sounds good.â
The whole time they were driving to the orphanage, and after, on his way to her house, Luckey had a hard time believing that this was really happening. He could thank providence that TJ had let him take this trafficking case. If it hadnât been for Randy and their conversation about the dumped body, Luckey would probably have picked the case of the wheelchair-bound victim whoâd been set on fire.
His grandfather had used a wheelchair before his death. The possibility of him being murdered that way didnât bear thinking about. In any event, Luckey couldnât comprehend not knowing Ally now.
He could hardly believe that, after all these years of being alone, heâd met a woman whoâd managed, without even trying, to break through the wall heâd built around himself. She brought out every male instinct in him. Thank heaven her father had forbidden her to travel back to China. At this point Luckeyâs protective instincts were on full alert. No matter how much she cared about her friend, one wrong move and Ally could disappear. Heâd known her only a few days, but that didnât matter. He wanted her in his life.
She drove fast. He liked that.
By the time they reached her house, twilight had turned into night. He jumped out of his car and walked around to hers. Sheâd just turned off the engine. Luckey wanted to pull her out of the car into his arms and take her home with him, but of course he couldnât do that. In fact, he didnât dare touch her yet, fearing he wouldnât be able to stop.
Fighting his desire, he opened the door so she could climb out. It was impossible not to notice her shapely legs in the tight, knee-length skirt she wore.
âThank you for dinner, Luckey.â
Their bodies were close enough that he could feel the heat between them. âI enjoyed our evening. Please tell your mother Iâm in her debt and yours for the binder youâve given me. Iâll be poring over it all night. Iâll get it back to you soon.â
âNo, no. Itâs yours to keep.â
He still didnât want to let her go. âWhatâs your schedule like tomorrow?â
âIâll be home reading over my graduate studentsâ theses.â
âSounds like heavy work, but you like it, right?â
âI do.â
Get away from her, Davis.
âI want to see you again. Friday some of my friends are getting together for a family birthday party. You met Cy. Heâll be there with his wife and daughter. Would you like to go with me?â
After a pause Ally said, âIf youâre asking me to a Ranger party, how could I possibly refuse?â
âGood. Iâll call you sometime tomorrow and let you know the details. Weâll go riding and probably roast hot dogs around a
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