Texas Tall (The Tylers of Texas 3)

His question rocked her, but only for the instant it took to come up with an answer. “Will is married. He’s married to his ranch. No woman on earth could compete with that.”

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I think I’m beginning to get the picture. Not that I want to pry, but I could be more understanding if I knew what split you apart.”

Tori gave him the Reader’s Digest condensed version of her story—how Will had put his father and the ranch ahead of his marriage, how Bull had disapproved of her working, and how things had gone from bad to worse after her miscarriage and partial hysterectomy.

“So you can’t have more children?”

“Not the regular way.” Will that be a problem for him? Tori wondered. However Drew might feel about having a family, it couldn’t be helped. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about telling him later. “My father-in-law wanted a houseful of strapping grandsons. He never forgave me for not being able to produce them.”

“And Will?”

“Will adored Erin from the first moment he saw her. He’d wanted more children, of course, but when they didn’t come, he lavished all his love on her. She was enough.” Tori realized her voice had gone tender.

“So what finally happened between you?” Drew asked.

“That’s another story. We could be here awhile.”

“I’m listening.” His thumb stroked the back of her hand, raising a tingle of awareness.

“First off, you have to know that I grew up in Blanco Springs. My father was a county judge.”

“So the law’s in your blood.” He gave her a smile.

“Something like that. While I was away at law school, he retired and moved with my mother to Florida. I came home to Blanco and married Will. Five years later, with the marriage already crumbling, my father died of a heart attack.

“When I got the word, I took Erin and caught the next flight to Florida. Will was too busy with his father and the ranch to leave right then, but he promised to be there in time for the funeral.” Tori paused. She’d told him enough. The rest was better left alone.

“Let me guess,” he said. “Will didn’t show up for your father’s funeral.”

“That’s right. I stayed two weeks to settle things and be with my mother. He never showed up, and I never lived with him again.”

And never slept with him—until the night of the blizzard. But that lapse in judgment was best buried and forgotten.

There was more to the story—like the reason why Will hadn’t come to Florida, or so much as called her during the two weeks she was away. But even after eight years, that memory was a raw wound. And the truth—that the deathblow to the marriage had been struck by Will’s jealousy and distrust—was too painful to share.

She gave Drew an easy laugh. “Next time we’ll talk about you,” she said.

“There’s not much to talk about.” He signed the bill the waiter had left on the table and rose to help her with her chair. “I grew up in Omaha, one older sister. Graduated from college with a master’s in educational administration. Worked here and there. Came to Blanco for a change of scene—or maybe to find the right woman. What do you think? Have I found her?”

“That remains to be seen.” She snuggled into her coat as he settled it around her shoulders and offered her his arm as they walked to the car. She was tired and she’d drunk a little too much wine. But she had to credit Drew for a pleasant, relaxing date.

It was almost eleven when he pulled up to her house and walked her to her door and gave her a long, slow good-night kiss. “I won’t invite myself to come in,” he said. “But not because I don’t want to. You must look lovely in your sleep.”

“Thanks for understanding,” she said. “I need to start work on Will’s case tomorrow, and I’m going to need a clear head. Besides, you’ve got school, Mr. Middleton.”

“Sleep tight, Tori.” He feathered a second kiss across her lips and turned away. As she opened her door, he trotted out to his car and climbed inside.

Tori watched him drive away. Their date had been rewarding, she thought. They’d gotten to know each other without crossing any lines. Maybe she’d revealed too much of herself, but Drew had been a good listener and a perfect gentleman. She wanted the chance to know the man better. But preparing for Will’s trial had to come first. For the next few weeks, nothing else could be allowed to matter.

She could only hope Drew would have the patience to wait.

* * *

By ten the next morning, the weather had warmed enough to feel comfortable. Wearing hats and jackets and packing a lunch, a flashlight, and a small shovel, Lauren and Erin mounted up and took the trail that wound through the foothills into the deep canyons. The turquoise sky was winter-bright, dazzling above the time-sculpted towers of the escarpment. A quail, perched atop a stunted cedar, scolded them as they rode past. The earth smelled rich and clean.

They rode side by side, laughing and chatting. Lauren was glad she’d decided to take the girl exploring today. After Will’s night in jail, Erin had become more and more worried about her father. A day of treasure hunting in the canyon would provide a welcome diversion.

Lauren, too, had felt the need to explore the sliver of land that had caused so much contention between the Prescotts and the Tylers. She’d been there with Sky when they’d freed up the spring and taken out the barbed-wire fence. But he’d been in a hurry that day so they hadn’t stayed long. Today she wasn’t expecting to find Spanish treasure; but before selling the land back to the Rimrock, she wanted to at least take a closer look. With winter coming, this brief warm spell might be her last chance.