Read Online Texas Rose by Marie Ferrarella - Free Book Online Page B

already. But what they feel is in their eyes—unless of course they’re with the CIA, the way Clarence was.”
    The woman changed direction faster than a tennis ball in a championship match. “Clarence?”
    The sigh that escaped Beth’s lips was wistful and incredibly youthful. She was momentarily taken back to a time when she was not yet thirty, not yet seasoned in the ways of the world.
    â€œClarence Montgomery.” She winked bawdily. “James Bond could have learned a thing or two from him. I know I did.” She realized that she was going off on a tangent. “Sorry, didn’t mean to get off the track. Where was I?”
    â€œYou were asking me if I had looked into Rose’s eyes,” he told her tactfully.
    She beamed. “Oh, yes.” She was looking up into his now. “Did you?”
    Rose had eyes like wild violets in the field. They were absolutely mesmerizing. “That’s where I got lost in the first place.” His mouth curved in self-deprecating humor. “Funny thing is, I might never find my way back.”
    Beth patted his hand reassuringly. “You will, boy, but not if you go running off home.”
    They could go ’round and ’round about this all night, but it still wouldn’t change things. “I wasn’t running. I was being realistic.”
    She pinned him with a knowing look. “You were throwing in the towel.”
    Matt shrugged and looked away. “Maybe I just decided that I didn’t need that vacation, after all.”
    The pressure of her hand over his caught his attention. “Maybe not, but you do need the woman. And she needs you.” She lowered her voice. “More than you’ll ever know.”
    Was Beth just spinning tales, or was this based on something, Matt asked himself. “Why? What did she say? Did she say something about me?”
    He sounded positively eager. Beth was tempted, sorely tempted, to tell him everything. But that would be betraying a confidence and even for the best of reasons, she just couldn’t let herself do that.
    Besides, there were other avenues for her to try first. Like that lovely carriage ride around the park.
    â€œI looked into her eyes,” Beth told him, resting her case.
    Eyes again. The woman was beginning to sound like a Gypsy fortune-teller, except that rather than using tea leaves or cards, she resorted to eyes. Nice gimmick, but he wasn’t buying it.
    â€œWell, I’m afraid I don’t have that gift,” he said, getting up.
    She caught his hand so suddenly, she threw him off balance. With a quick yank, she pulled him onto the sofa.
    â€œThat’s all right, Matt. I’ve got it for you. Stay,” she urged in the face of his reluctance. “At least stay the night.” Beth looked toward the pitch-black world just beyond her terrace doors. “This is no time to go running off in New York City. The place has been cleaned up, I grant you, but this isn’t Mission Creek by a long shot. Don’t go looking for trouble.”
    Especially if trouble was only a few feet away, Matt thought. In the room next to his.
    Still, the woman had a point about leaving in the middle of the night. He didn’t even have a plane reservation. He’d need to make that before he left. “Maybe you’re right.”
    She was beaming again, delighted that he’d caught on so readily.
    â€œMatthew, my boy, you’ll discover soon enoughthat I am always right. And when I’m not, I just make myself right.” She winked, making him wonder if she was kidding or not. “Now get to bed. I’ve got your itinerary ready for tomorrow and you’re going to need your strength.”
    He figured it was useless to repeat his plan to leave in the morning. He had an uneasy feeling Beth would confiscate his suitcase and his boots if he said that.
    And maybe she was right. Maybe he was leaving too soon, giving up too quickly.