The Texas Ranger's Family (Lone Star Lawmen 3)

She eyed him with defiance. “Sure it could.”

“You’re the one with the problem, not me. Are you waiting for Marcos to get out of prison? Is that why you wanted to steal the four-hundred thousand from Park, so you can pay off the bill Marcos owes? Is he your lover? We’ve got you on a security tape at the Austin airport parking with Park. Was he your lover before you turned on him?”

No response.

Cy started in. “That was quite a haul you made from the dummy mortgage company. Twenty-eight-million dollars—that must be how you paid for the Lexus you were driving. It’s going to lead us to your brother, but if you want to give us some help, it could buy you less time in prison. Think about it.”

Juanita remained cool and collected. They weren’t going to get anything out of her. By tacit agreement Kit and Cy left the interrogation room and headed for the exit.

“Do you think she’ll consider your offer?”

Kit shook his head. “I don’t know. Let’s see how another twelve hours in jail affects her.”

When they reached Kit’s car, Cy said, “How’s it going with Natalie?”

“Funny you should ask.”

“Uh, oh.”

Kit threw his head back. “She told me it was time for me to go. As if I didn’t already know.”

“What was her reason?”

“She said Amy was growing too attached to me.”

“That’s no surprise. What are you going to do?”

“I’ve got the surveillance crew guarding her 24/7. Do you know she offered to use her own money to hire a private bodyguard service to spare the department’s budget?”

“As Luckey said, she’s nice, in all the ways that count. Beautiful, too.”

“Yup.”

“I’m going to go home and get some shut-eye. How about you?”

“The same. I haven’t been to my condo in over a week. See you in the morning. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“You can say that again.”

They parted company and Kit headed for his condo, finishing his other sandwich on the way. When he arrived at his place, he was pleased to see that his cleaning lady had kept it dust free. Once he’d grabbed a quick shower he climbed into bed and set his watch alarm for 7:00 a.m., then turned onto his stomach. Lying on a mattress definitely beat sleeping on the floor, but it didn’t feel right being alone.

The place felt empty. There weren’t any warm bodies in the house with him. No chance of stepping on a beach ball or a cow. No out-of-this-world brownies sitting on the kitchen counter begging to be eaten. No sweet-smelling female waiting for him on the couch. No little angel calling out his name, holding up her hands to be hugged and kissed.

Natalie had been right to suggest a change in their arrangement. Tonight he’d wanted her so badly there would have been no stopping him if Cy hadn’t phoned when he had. Letting go of her was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do.

What kind of a Ranger was he to take advantage of the woman he’d promised to keep safe? It didn’t matter that she’d responded with the same hunger that drove him. He should have been the one in control. Until he closed the case, he didn’t have the right to stay at her house overnight.

Tonight he’d taken off the clerical shirt and wouldn’t be putting it on again. Father Segal was no more and already Kit felt as if he was in mourning.

* * *

WHEN KIT CAME to the next morning, he realized he’d slept through his alarm. It was eight-thirty. After a quick shave, he dressed in jeans and a shirt. Attaching his badge to the pocket, he left the condo. En route to headquarters he grabbed breakfast at a drive-through.

Cy was already at his desk as Kit walked by. “You’re as late as I am. TJ has called a meeting for nine.”

“That gives me five minutes.” Kit went into his office to phone Natalie. She’d be up by now. He wouldn’t be able to get through the day until he’d talked to her. She answered on the second ring.

“Kit?”