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noticed, and narrowed her eyes in a silent message: Don t you dare
laugh. That made the grin all the more difficult to manage.
Hands on hips, she turned back to her sons, Boys?
Sorry, Brad finally mumbled.
TEXAS HEAT « 117
Sorry, Mr. Jack, Brett added.
It s okay, guys, Jack said and let his grin go free.
Sam trotted up the steps, lowered his head and barked out an
invitation. Sam s Frisbee is behind the swing. He s asking you to
come play. Jack stepped around the swing, retrieved the Frisbee, and
tossed it to the middle of the yard. Sam dashed to the task, lunged
into the air, and caught the Frisbee.
The boys exclamations were followed by their eager gazes toward
their mother.
All right. She nodded. You can go play. But no repeats, do you
hear?
They were halfway down the porch steps before Mary Ann fin
ished.
Jack s laughter mingled with their joyous calling for Sam. The
dog met them and wagged his whole body.
Inserting his hands into his jeans pockets, Jack watched the kids
enjoy Sam. But a whippoorwill s call echoing across the countryside
tugged his attention toward the woods. The whippoorwill always
reminded Jack of the April evening he and Charli had gone on a hike
in his uncle s woods with Ryan and his then girlfriend, Shelly. They d
stopped at the rocky creek, taken off their shoes, and waded in the
cold water. Even though April had set record highs, the water still
had the bite of winter in it. Charli had squealed and clutched at Jack
when her feet sank into the stream. Once they d taken all they could
stand, both couples had climbed to a giant, flat rock where they d sat
barefooted while a whippoorwill serenaded them.
A penny for your thoughts. Mary Ann s sweet voice interrupted
his reverie and Jack realized he d been blankly staring across the pas
ture . . . at nothing.
A yawn crept up Jack s throat. As much as he tried to stifle the
thing, it pried open his mouth and Jack was forced to give in. Sorry,
he said and focused on Mary Ann. I guess I zoned-out on you, didn t
118 » Debra White Smith
I? I m a little tired. Had an early start today. He didn t bother to tell
Mary Ann he d been rescuing Charli from two wild felines.
It s okay. I just figure you re trying to solve a mystery or some
thing. Mary Ann leaned against the porch railing.
Something like that. He peered toward the woods once more.
I guess.
I didn t just come back over so you could get knocked flat by
my kids, she teased. I think I left my purse in your truck, Mary
Ann explained. Or at least I hope I did. I can t find it anywhere. I
was so eager to get into the house when the babysitter called, I think
I pulled my keys out of my purse and just left it. She lifted both
hands.
Jack smiled at her and did his best to whack himself into an
awareness of how attractive red hair and translucent skin could be in
a scarlet sunset. His gaze trailed to her lips, and he wondered what it
would take for him to be tempted to kiss her. Right now, there was
nothing of the zing that he felt with Charli . . . only a mild, male
interest that he figured any buck would feel in the presence of an at
tractive lady. Nothing earthshaking.
Come on, he said and pulled his keys out of his pocket while
motioning Mary Ann to his truck. I ll unlock it for you. But
he d only taken a few steps when his cell phone emitted a ding
dong much like a doorbell. He didn t have to look at the screen to
know the caller was Sonny. Jack had assigned him the ding-dong
because, well, he was one sometimes; and nothing proved it more
than The Dukes of Hazzard distinctive ring Sonny had assigned
to Jack. Turnabout was fair play . . . and fair play was as good as
revenge.
I need to take this one, Jack said through an apologetic grin.
He pointed the remote lock at his pickup and pressed a button that
made the vehicle chirp. I think it involves a case. Do you mind?
No, not at all, Mary Ann said as her cell phone began a low
TEXAS HEAT « 119
slung funk tune. Woops! Looks like it s catching anyway. She
pulled her phone from her jeans pocket and said, It s my brother-
in-law, Zeke. He s supposed to be coming over to help me with my
hot-water heater. It quit.
I could have
No, no. Mary Ann waved away his offer. That s okay. Zeke s
always willing.
Jack opened the phone and took his call at the same time Mary
Ann took hers. He d turned it off on their date and wouldn t have
taken the call now if not for the potential urgency. No telling what
Sonny was up to.
Hey, Jack said into the receiver and retraced his steps toward
the porch.
Hey, yourself, Sonny responded.
What s up? Are you on the case or
Just letting you know I m going into the bank tomorrow morn
ing to open up a checking account and scout out the scene. After
that, I m going to do some serious digging into some backgrounds.
Jack nodded. Good, he said and eyed Mary Ann as she ap
proached the vehicle. The setting sun did make her hair come to life.
And she didn t look half bad in those jeans she d changed into. Not as
good as Charli, he thought, but not bad either.
You still with me? Sonny asked, and Jack suspected he may
have just been asked a question but didn t know what.
Still here, Jack replied through a yawn.
Sam s barking mingled with the boys laughter as they neared
from the barn. They d found Sam s favorite football and were tossing
it back and forth while Sam jumped for it.
I was just wondering what you were going to be doing tonight,
Sonny repeated. Thought I might come over and we can watch the
Rangers. Once I jump into this case tomorrow, I ll be scarce until it s
solved.
120 » Debra White Smith
Jack yawned again. I m zonked, he admitted as his eyes drooped.
Charli called early this morning. She thought she had a prowler. It
was just those darned cats you gave her. They rode one lamp to the
floor and turned the living room upside down. I ve been up since
four forty-five.
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