Texas Tough (The Tylers of Texas 2)

“Hello, Will.” Tori opened the door, wearing faded jeans and a striped cotton shirt, unbuttoned far enough to show the barest glimpse of cleavage. Her blond hair was caught back in a loose ponytail. The wire-rimmed glasses she wore for close reading were perched on her nose. Her feet were bare. She looked damned sexy, Will thought. But that notion was best kept to himself.

“Come in,” she said, shifting her glasses to the top of her head. “Erin’s upstairs getting ready. She’ll be down in a few minutes. Meanwhile, we need to talk.”

“Is something the matter?” Will followed her into the kitchen and took a seat at the table, which tonight was cluttered with open law books and legal briefs.

“Not really. Just a change you need to be aware of. Would you like some iced tea?”

Will shook his head. What change was she talking about? Was she planning to move? Maybe even get remarried? He braced himself as she puttered in the kitchen, putting a carton of milk in the fridge, a glass in the open dishwasher. Was the woman trying to drive him crazy?

“How’s Jasper?” she asked.

“As feisty as an old badger. Bernice talked with him on the phone a couple of hours ago.”

“So Bernice isn’t at the hospital now?” She added two spoons to the rack in the dishwasher.

“No, she’s home. For God’s sake, stop fussing and sit down!”

Tori closed the dishwasher and took a seat across from him. “I tried to talk Erin into staying here the next few days, but she doesn’t want to be away from her foal. I guess she’ll be all right as long as Bernice is handy.”

“Erin can pretty much take care of herself. Why would Bernice need to be there?” His chest constricted. “Is something wrong with Erin?”

She looked at him as if he were a backward child. “Erin got her first period today. Since she insists on going to the ranch, I want her to have a woman around in case she needs something or has any questions. Asking you or Beau would be awkward, don’t you agree?”

Will stared at her, thunderstruck. “But isn’t it too soon for that? Erin’s just a little girl.”

“She’s twelve, Will. It’s not uncommon for girls to start that early.”

“But she’s—” Will shook his head, feeling old and foolish. “Never mind. It’s just the idea of her growing up. It’ll take some getting used to.”

“For her, too.” Tori’s hand reached toward him, then withdrew as if she’d had second thoughts. “Young girls are very private about such things. I’m only telling you so you’ll understand if she’s uncomfortable and out of sorts. But don’t try to talk to her about it. Leave that to Bernice.”

“You’ll let Bernice know?”

“I’ll call her after you leave.” Tori rose from her chair, as footsteps pattered along the upstairs hallway. “Shh, here she comes. Don’t tell her what I said.”

After listening to Tori, Will expected his daughter to be changed somehow. But as she bounded down the stairs with her backpack, her grin was as happy as ever. She loved the ranch and everything on it, especially Tesoro, the palomino foal Sky was helping her raise and train.

“Let’s go, Daddy!” Giving her mother a quick kiss, she dashed out the door to the truck.

Will followed his daughter as far as the front porch, then turned back to Tori. “See you at the ranch for Sunday dinner?” he asked.

“Sure.” She reached up and plucked her glasses off her head. After he left, she’d probably go back to reading up on her current court case. If her life involved anything besides work, her daughter, and her friendship with Natalie, Will hadn’t seen any sign of it. Tori was a beautiful woman. She could marry again any time she chose to—hell, that bastard Garn Prescott would have her in a minute. But she and Will had been divorced for eight years, and she was still alone.

“Call if there’s any problem,” she said, meaning a problem with Erin.

“Don’t worry about it.” He turned away and went down the steps to join their daughter in the truck.

While Erin buckled her seat belt, Will made a quick call to Sky to let him know they were coming. Then he backed the truck out of the driveway.

For a few blocks they drove in awkward silence. Then Erin spoke. “Well, I guess Mom told you my big news,” she said.

“I guess she did.” Will touched the brake at the stop sign and swung the truck onto Main Street.

“I’m not the first girl in my class to get my period. Michelle Hawkins got hers right after school started. And Emily White got hers two months ago. And there are probably some I don’t know about. I’m just glad not to be the last. That would be humiliating.”

“Well, congratulations, I guess,” Will said.

“Thanks. How’s Tesoro? Does he miss me?”