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  “I know the land’s not great for farming,” she said. “My parents found that out. They bought it with plans to move here and live off the land. We nearly starved to death my last two years of high school.”

  “Well, it’s a little hilly and rocky for crops or cattle. But someone who knew what they were doing might make it work.”

  He seemed totally oblivious to the fact he had just insulted her parents.

  “It would be fine for housing,” King continued, “but the market for that in Kilgore is rocky itself right now.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  He raised his eyebrows, which looked to Jacqueline like two fuzzy caterpillars. “Let’s put it out there at eight hundred dollars an acre and see what happens.”

  “How long do you typically wait to see what happens?” Jacqueline wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that.

  “As long as it takes, little lady.”

  No way was Jacqueline committing to this indefinitely. “I’d like to list it with you for three months and then we’ll reevaluate.”

  He smiled, revealing a gold crown on one of his front teeth. “Whatever floats your boat.”

  Jacqueline called her mother on the way to Mac’s office. “Mom?”

  “Hi, honey!”

  “I just met with the real estate agent.”

  “Oh. How did it go?”

  “He wants to list it at eight hundred an acre.”

  “Wow. That’s a lot.”

  “It is?”

  “Well, compared to what we paid for it.”

  “Okay. So you’d be happy with that.” Jacqueline exhaled.

  “Yeah, sure. Does he think he can get it?”

  “I don’t know. He’s a little weird.”

  Her mom chuckled. “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, you know, he had on a polyester suit, and wears a toupee, and has a gold tooth.”

  “Jacqueline! I can’t believe you’re judging someone by appearance like that. That’s not like you.”

  “Oh, Mom. I’m not—I’m just telling you he totally looks the part of some sleazy real estate agent from a small town in Texas.”

  “Well, he is from a small town in Texas.”

  “I know.” Jacqueline bit her lip. “He also called me little lady.”

  “That’s kind of sweet, except that you’re five-ten.”

  “I know, right?”

  “Why did you choose him?”

  “He’s supposed to be the best in town.” Jacqueline exaggerated her words: “The King of Kilgore Real Estate Sales.”

  “Sounds like you’re reading a billboard.”

  “I could be. That’s what his billboard says.”

  “What bothers you about him?”

  “He didn’t seem very positive about the land. He was like, ‘We’ll try this and see what happens.’”

  “That sounds better to me than someone who overpromises and underdelivers.”

  “I guess you’re right. I just hope I can get it sold for you. I know you and Dad need the money.”

  “We’re okay.” Her mother sighed. “I appreciate you working on it for us. How are things going for you in your new job?”

  “I’m driving there now. And it’s going well. Ella, the lady who is leaving, has been so sweet to me the past two weeks. Today is her last day.”

  “Oh. So you’re on your own after this.”

  “Yes. But I’m ready. I feel bad getting paid for not doing much of anything but watching her.”

  “And how do you like the boss?”

  “He’s nice.” Jacqueline blushed at the mention of Mac.

  “Jacqueline? You still there?”

  “Yes. I was just saying he’s nice. Very professional. Smart.”

  “Have you seen his brother, the one you were friends with in high school?”

  “Joiner. No, not yet.”

  “That might be fun, if you guys could get reacquainted.”

  “Yes, I’d like to see him again. But he is married now, so...”

  “Oh. I see. Well, maybe his wife would be a good person for you to meet, too.”

  “I’m sure she is. I probably won’t be here long enough to really make friends, though.”

  Her mother laughed. “How long does it take to make friends?”

  “Oh, Mom, you know what I mean.”

  “No, I don’t, really.”

  Jacqueline sighed. “I don’t want to make a big investment in people I’ll probably never see again once the land sells.”

  “I see.” Her mother cleared her throat. “I think I’ll let that one go for right now, but it’s a subject we might need to come back to.”

  “It will definitely have to be later, because I’m pulling up at work.” She was glad there wasn’t time to address the subject. It had never been easy for her to make friends as it was for her gregarious mother. She’d always wished she could be more like her mom in that way. But now that Jacqueline was an adult, she’d come to terms that it probably wouldn’t happen, and that was okay.

  “All right, sweetie. I love you!”

  “Love you, too.”

  Jacqueline wheeled her brother’s silver Prius into the parking lot at Lone Star Accounting. He had left it with her parents when he sold all of his other belongings and moved to Kona, Hawaii, to become a part of Youth with a Mission the previous year. It worked out nicely for Jacqueline that she could use it for her time in the States. Checking her appearance in the rearview mirror, she decided she looked presentable enough, even though her hair was a little windblown from walking around on the land. She pulled her camel knit moto jacket around her, adjusted her blue-and-white bandanna scarf and stepped out into the brisk January air.

  She greeted Ella seated on her perch at the front desk. After Jacqueline settled her things into her makeshift station, Ella tearfully sent her back to Mac’s office with a cup of coffee. “You might as well do it!” she said, blowing her nose into a starched white handkerchief.

  As she walked down the hall to Mac’s office, Jacqueline hoped she hadn’t been wrong to wear jeans to work. At least her embroidered leather boots coordinated with the flowers embellishing her jacket, which she’d left on over the gauzy white blouse. It hadn’t been possible to change in time to get to work after meeting with Buddy King out on her parents’ property.

  “Hey there.”

  Mac looked up from his desk and instantly smiled at her. “Good morning!”

  “Want some fresh coffee?”

  “You bet I do.” He took the hot mug out of her hands. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” She waited to see if he needed anything else, but he didn’t say anything. He simply stared at her. “Sorry about the jeans. I had to meet with the real estate agent at my parents’ place before work.”

  Mac grinned in a way she might describe as wicked, if he were anyone else. But Mac was too professional and too straight-laced to be wicked. Then he said, “Jeans are fine. I wear them all the time. We’re in Texas, remember?”

  She nodded. “Cool.”

  “How did it go? With the real estate agent, I mean.”

  “Okay, I suppose. He wasn’t very encouraging about selling it, but I guess we’ll see.”

  “Who’d you decide to use?” Mac took a sip of his coffee.

  “Buddy King.”

  “Ah. He’s a character, isn’t he?”

  “Yes. He is.” Jacqueline swept a few unruly hairs out of her face. “I could always try to sell it myself online, and maybe I should, but I thought I’d give a local person a try first. I listed it for three months with him.”

  “Well, he is the king.” Mac grinned.

  “Do you think it was a wise choice? Should I have used
someone else?”

  “I think he’s fine. They all do a lot of networking, anyway.”

  Jacqueline turned the turquoise ring she was wearing on her middle finger. “Nothing against you, and being here and all, but I sure hope he can sell it in three months. My parents need the money.”

  Mac’s brows knitted above his glasses, even though his eyes seemed kind, concerned. “Surely there are other ways they can make money. Maybe we can put our heads together, come up with some new ideas.” He sighed. “I sure don’t want to see you leave.”

  His words were as sweet as the look in his honey-colored eyes. Jacqueline felt heat rising in her cheeks. Why was he so intent on her staying? And why did it mean so much to hear him say it?

  CHAPTER THREE

  “SO, TELL US about your new assistant, Mac.” Cullen forked a bite of the sixteen-ounce T-bone the server had set down in front of him moments before. It was Thursday night, and the Brotherhood, as the four Temples affectionately called themselves, was in session for its monthly meeting at the Wild Horse Saloon. Even Hunt, who was a five-star chef, admitted the honky-tonk joint’s steaks were hard to beat.

  “She’s nice. Smart.” Mac adjusted his glasses. “Very good with numbers.” He was suddenly very interested in studying the intricacies of his loaded baked potato.

  “I think what Mac is trying to say is that she’s smoking hot!” Hunt clapped Mac on the back, rattling the table.

  “Really?” Joiner piped up. “Jacqueline Aimes? The bookworm? Are we talking about the same girl I knew in high school?”

  Mac took a deep breath. “That’s the one. But as Hunt has so eloquently stated, she’s not exactly the same girl we all remember.” He blushed in spite of his best efforts to appear cool.

  The brothers hooted and hollered as if they were back in high school themselves. Or maybe junior high.

  Mac shook his head. “You guys are so mature.”

  “Spill the beans!” Joiner insisted. “I’ve been meaning to pop by and say hello ever since you told me you hired her.”

  “When you go, don’t forget you’re a married man,” Hunt cautioned. “I’m just sayin’.”

  “Like anyone could turn Joiner’s head away from Stella!” Cullen laughed.

  Hunt turned to his twin, rolling his eyes. “Like I think anyone else holds a candle to Gillian.”

  “Sarah does.” Cullen smiled at the thought of his wife.

  Mac sighed. “Will you guys shut up? You all have gorgeous wives. And I have a gorgeous assistant, which is a totally unrelated matter.”

  “Unrelated for the meantime, maybe.” Joiner ribbed his older brother. “Seriously, though, tell us about her.”

  “She’s had an interesting life since she left Kilgore. She went to college in Arkansas.”

  “Arkansas?” The three brothers groaned in unison.

  “Yeah,” Mac said. “But she’s not a Razorback. She won a great scholarship to one of the smaller state schools. Sounds like she had an amazing experience. She was really involved in their honors program.”

  “That sounds like her,” Joiner said. “That girl is a brainiac.”

  Mac nodded. “She had a chance to study abroad while she was there and then hooked up with KARIS, a group that helps children around the globe.”

  Cullen whistled. “Impressive.”

  “Yes, I think it was, or is.”

  “What do you mean, is?” Hunt asked.

  “Well, she worked her way up to a pretty high-profile position. Was the director of communications for the Middle East. She was working out of their office in Afghanistan until just recently, when they had to evacuate.” Mac took a sip of iced tea. “She’s still working for them online a bit, but I guess time will tell whether she’ll go back full-time.” He didn’t dare add that he hoped time would answer “no” to that option.

  Joiner asked, “How’d she end up coming here?”

  “She’s trying to sell her parents’ property for them, that acreage where they lived. Apparently, they are in some kind of financial difficulty.”

  “That land is nothing special, if I remember it right,” Joiner said. “Too bad there’s not oil underneath it or something. That’s about the only way I can see anybody would want to buy it. Course then, they wouldn’t want to sell it, would they?”

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING when Mac arrived at the office, Jacqueline was already waiting for him in the parking lot. She got out of her car when she saw him, and they walked to the front door together, her gray suede high heels clacking on the pavement. Ever since the day he told her it was okay to wear jeans, it seemed she’d gone completely the other direction in her attire, and today was no exception. Embroidered black flowers traced their way from her shoulders to the front of her diaphanous gray dotted nylon mesh dress, layered over a black slip. The dress tapered at the waist before flowing into a raw-edged, trumpet-shaped, high-low hem. A short black jacket and fog-gray tights kept her warm, he assumed.

  “I like your dress.”

  Jacqueline smiled. “Thanks. It’s one of my favorites. I brought my old wardrobe with me when I moved here.” She tugged at the bottom of her jacket. “It’s kind of nice rediscovering all the things I had no use for in Afghanistan.”

  It’s kind of nice for me, too. He enjoyed seeing her expressions of personal style each day, even looked forward to it. He’d never admit it, but in this, as well as a myriad of other ways, he was finding it harder and harder to keep his feelings toward her strictly professional.

  Jacqueline stirred something in him that had long been buried. Her combination of smarts, compassion and exotic beauty were irresistible. It scared him and thrilled him at the same time. Maybe he should ask her out for dinner sometime, he mused. He’d not been on a date in ages, and she was so alluring. Mac would like to get to know her better outside of a work setting. But maybe he shouldn’t. He didn’t want to risk a good working relationship. And maybe there was more at stake than that. He didn’t know if he was ready to risk his heart.

  “I guess I may need to get you your own key to the kingdom,” Mac joked, bringing himself back to the moment.

  She smiled. “I’m a little early.”

  As he held the door for her, he said, “Ella spoiled me. She was always early, had the coffee on by the time I got here.”

  “You really miss her, don’t you?” Jacqueline strode directly to the coffeemaker and began their morning ritual.

  “I do miss her. She’s my friend.” Mac paused at the front desk. “But you’re doing great. I’m really glad you’re here.” He thought he noticed the color heighten in her cheeks.

  “I’m glad you’re letting me do more around here than I was at first. I need to do more than make coffee and answer the phone, for what you’re paying me.”

  “Well, I’m not used to my assistant understanding the tax code as well as I do, but it’s a nice change. I could get used to it.”

  Jacqueline snorted. “I’ve got a long way to go to understand it as well as you. But I’m glad I can help a little.”

  Mac rapped his hands on the desk, unsure of what else to say.

  She smiled at him. “I’ll bring your coffee in a minute.”

  “Okay.”

  They worked methodically through the hours. Jacqueline suggested a system by which she viewed the tax packets people brought in first, cleaned them up and arranged them for Mac according to difficulty. He found that she filtered a lot of things he usually had to do himself. The work went smoothly and by the end of the day they’d accomplished a lot together—more than Mac thought possible. He felt oddly relieved of some of the pressure and responsibility he always felt.

  “Jacqueline?” He buzzed her desk phone at quitting time.

  “Yes?”

  “Can I buy you dinne
r?”

  She hesitated. “I can buy my own. I’m well paid.”

  “I’d like to treat you,” Mac said. “I mean, unless you have other plans. You’ve been a tremendous help to me today.”

  “Well, I don’t have other plans...”

  He could almost hear the wheels turning in her brain and he wondered what she was thinking. He hoped he wasn’t crossing an invisible employer-employee line. As Ella had been more his mother’s age, this was new territory for him. “No pressure, of course.”

  “I’d love to.”

  “Do you need to go home first, or want to go from here?”

  “We can go from here. That’s fine.”

  After they closed down the office and Mac locked the door behind them, they walked together to his truck. He held the passenger door for her as she climbed up, no small feat in her high heels. Then he settled into the driver’s seat.

  “What do you like to eat? I’m afraid we don’t have the greatest selection in Kilgore.”

  Jacqueline smiled. “What I’m really in the mood for is Indian food. I don’t suppose a great Indian joint popped up since I left?”

  “Actually...”

  “No way! In Kilgore?”

  Mac laughed. “Not in Kilgore. But I’ve heard about one in Tyler. My sister-in-law Gillian swears by it, and she lives with a five-star chef, so I imagine it’s pretty good. But I’ve never been there. Wouldn’t even know what to order.”

  “You don’t like Indian food?”

  “I’ve never tried it. I’m more of a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy.”

  Jacqueline looked at him as if he had grown horns. “Do you mean to tell me you have never tasted Indian food? In your whole life?”

  “Obviously, I am not cultured. In the least.”

  “Do you have any interest in trying it?”

  “I’m not opposed, especially since you are in the mood for it. I’d like to take you there.”

  Jacqueline’s eyes warmed. “Let’s go, then! It is high time you experienced chicken tikka masala.”