Heart of the Falcon

by Francis Ray

  “I don’t want any chocolate,” Lydia snapped.

  Madelyn straightened. “So, Lydia, what exactly is it you want?”

  The woman turned toward Daniel, her face unexpectedly softening. “So you’ve been talking about me.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you, Lydia, but your name never came up,” Daniel answered truthfully.

  A frown marred the woman’s beautiful face. “But how did she know my name?”

  “I have a knack for remembering names. Yours and Carlos’s were mentioned downstairs,” Madelyn told her.

  “And what is yours?” Lydia flung.

  Madelyn pushed to her feet. This waspish woman would never get a man like Daniel. She probably didn’t even notice Carlos’s longing looks at her. He was a good-looking guy with warm brown eyes.

  “Madelyn Taggart.” This time she didn’t offer her hand. She knew it would be ignored.

  Lydia’s expression went from sneering to speculative. “You’re related to Matt and Kane Taggart?”

  Madelyn hadn’t expected the woman to know her brothers. A moment of uneasiness swept through her. If either found out she was in Daniel’s room in a bathrobe, she was in for a hard time—and Daniel was looking at a possible trip to the emergency room. “Do you know them?”

  Lydia smiled with pure malice. “No, but I have heard of them. They’re Daniel’s friends, aren’t they?”

  Not knowing where the conversation was leading, Madelyn said, “Yes.”

  Lydia laughed. The harsh crackling sound coming from the mouth of such a beautiful woman was unnerving.

  Still smiling, Lydia faced Daniel. “You didn’t know who she was in the lobby, did you?” She continued as if she didn’t expect an answer. “Of course not, or you wouldn’t have rushed her up here.” Laughter erupted again. “Now you will know how it feels.”

  Continuing to smile, she turned to Madelyn. “My family has controlling interest in this hotel. If there is anything you require, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll leave word at the desk.”

  Madelyn couldn’t understand the sudden change in the woman. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.”

  “I think it might be. He hasn’t told you about his little code, has he?”

  “Lydia, it’s time we left. Your father and the others will be waiting for us at the restaurant,” Carlos suggested, gently grasping her elbow.

  Black eyes flashed angrily. Lydia brushed off his hold. “Since he hasn’t told you, I will. Daniel has a thing about not becoming involved with relatives of his friends. So your little scheme downstairs won’t work.”

  The unmitigated gall of the woman! If Madelyn knew how to work her neck, this was one time she’d do it and give two snaps to boot. “Unlike some women, I don’t have to resort to subterfuge to catch a man.”

  Lydia gasped at the implication. “You’d have to do something. You look like a skinny, drowned chicken.”

  “Now wai—”

  “Lydia.”

  The woman whirled toward Daniel, and Madelyn had to give her points for courage. If he had called her name in that same cold voice, she would have been running in the opposite direction.

  “I don’t care who owns this hotel,” he continued just as coldly. “This is my room, and I want you out of here.”

  Outrage marred Lydia’s perfect features. “You can’t throw me out of my father’s hotel.”

  “He’d do it for me, if he were here.”

  “I’m not go—” She gasped and jumped back as Daniel took a step toward her. Her eyes became malevolent. “How dare you treat me like this!”

  “You brought it on yourself. Now leave,” Daniel said flatly.

  “I’ll leave, and I’ll make sure everyone at lunch knows what went on up here!”

  In two steps he towered over her. “Say one word that might embarrass Madelyn or her family, and I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your unhappy life.”

  Lydia staggered back, her hand going to the heavy gold necklace at her throat. “Carlos, do something. Carlos?”

  “I am. I’m doing something I should have done long ago.” He turned to Madelyn. “Goodbye. I wish we could have met under different circumstances,” then to Daniel, “I’ll see you later.” Opening the door, he was gone.

  “Carlos,” Lydia screamed, but he kept going.

  “If I were you, Lydia, I’d run after Carlos and try to get him to forgive you,” Daniel said. “Although personally I think he’s finally realized you’re not worth the effort.”

  Lydia looked at Daniel with heartless eyes. “One day I’ll make you pay for this.”

  “You’re welcome to try, but make your first shot count because you won’t get another one—and then it will be my turn,” Daniel finished with deadly promise.

  The woman shivered, her hand once again clutching her throat. Turning, she fled and almost ran into the bellhop who carried Madelyn’s dress. The young man’s questioning gaze went from the escaping Lydia back to them.

  Daniel took the dress enclosed in clear plastic wrap in one hand, tipped the man with the other, and closed the door. “Your dress. Looks like they did a pretty good job.”

  “I thought Kane was joking, but he wasn’t,” Madelyn said, staring at Daniel.

  “Joking about what?” Daniel asked, inwardly preparing himself for her censure. He could be a ruthless bastard. No one knew that more than he, but he usually managed to control it better.

  “He said the emblem on your plane of a falcon with claws outstretched was a warning to anyone who crosses you. He said when you go after someone, you go for blood.”

  Daniel never wanted to see fear or revulsion in this woman’s eyes when she looked at him. “You have nothing to fear from me, Madelyn.”

  “Afraid of you?” she scoffed and rolled her brown eyes. “Apparently you’ve never seen Kane or Matt on a roll. I have. They’re no harder than they have to be. Neither are you. But like Kane, you don’t like repeating yourself or having your authority questioned.”

  Daniel studied her with renewed interest. “You’re full of surprises.”

  “Just being realistic,” Madelyn said, taking the dress from his hands. “Matt and Kane might like you, but they wouldn’t like hearing I was in your room in a bathrobe.”

  The corner of his mouth kicked up in a half smile. “The same thought crossed my mind.”

  “You’re pretty good at rescuing women, Daniel.” She smiled up at him with all the warmth he wanted and could never have.

  Daniel’s face settled into grim lines “I’m a rogue, and innocents like you shouldn’t forget it.”

  Her smile faded as he knew it would. “I’ll go change and get out of your way. I’m sure you must have a lot to do.”

  “I’ve already done it.” At her puzzled look, he continued. “Seen my bootmaker. My mold was damaged, and I had to come down and have it redone.”

  Frowning, she shook her head in disbelief. “You came from Denver to be fitted for a pair of boots?”

  “I’m particular about what I put on my feet. A bad pair of boots—”

  “Can ruin your feet,” she finished. “I know that, but it’s still hard to imagine someone coming all this way for boots.”

  “If you want something badly enough, too far or too much doesn’t enter into it.”

  The way he said the words had Madelyn clutching the dress closer to her. No woman would be safe if he decided to come after her. The idea was fascinating and frightening.

  “I’ll be out in a minute.” Whirling, she hurried to the bathroom, her heart racing. She was imagining things. Daniel had no special interest in her. Hadn’t Lydia made it perfectly clear he didn’t become involved with relatives of friends?

  But what if Lydia didn’t know what she was talking about? What if Daniel handed her that line to get her out of his face?

  Madelyn lifted her face to the mirror. There was only one reason she was asking herself all those questions. She wanted Daniel to look at her and see a desi
rable woman, not the little sister of his friends. She wanted a man who, rumor had it, had no heart. Heaven help her.

  “I’m lost.”

  * * *

  Several minutes later Madelyn emerged from Daniel’s bathroom. She felt more in control of the situation now that she was in her own clothes, her hair was dry, and she had on her lipstick.

  She made a face. Maybe she had been too hasty in her thoughts on the unimportance of lasting lip color.

  “Something wrong?”

  Her head jerked around to see Daniel rising from the chair … all six-feet-plus of him. She might have been too nervous to appreciate the sheer male beauty of the man when she was in his bathrobe, but she wasn’t now.

  He exuded a raw magnetism that was disquieting. Those midnight-black eyes were as sharp as talons. The intelligence in them shone just as brightly and kept her from bolting back into the bathroom.

  “You’ve changed.”

  “There’s another bathroom off the dining area,” he explained.

  Jeans suited the muscled hardness of his long legs. The white shirt complemented his dark, good looks. He looked sinful and forbidden, and much too tempting.

  She moistened her lips. “Well, I guess I better be going.”

  “What are your plans?”

  Madelyn glanced toward the windows before answering. The draperies were partially drawn. She couldn’t tell if it was still raining, but the sky didn’t look so gloomy and dark.

  “They were for a sensible lunch and strawberry-topped cheesecake, but if the weather cooperates, I think it’ll be Tex-Mex food with salsa that will take the skin off the roof of my mouth followed by a funnel cake loaded down with strawberries and whipped cream.”

  “Care for some company?”

  There was no way for her to hide her shock. “You?”

  “I know this little restaurant that sounds exactly like what you’re looking for,” he told her.

  Briefly she thought of what Lydia had said, then pushed it to the back of her mind. She’d never know if she didn’t try.

  “After I go back to my hotel room to change, you’re on.”

  Chapter 3

  Cafe Mexicana was everything Daniel promised. The freshly prepared food was delicious. From where their table was located, Madelyn could see an elderly man in the back making tortillas.

  She and Daniel had stuffed themselves on salsa and chips, refried beans, Spanish rice, enchiladas, and fajitas. By the time they left the restaurant, Madelyn was sure she had gained two pounds.

  “Daniel, you’re a mean man,” she groaned.

  “What did I do?”

  “Condemned me to rethink my position against eating sprouts and granola bars for lunch.”

  “We’ll walk it off.”

  “Walk? I’m not sure I can go another ten feet.”

  Laughing he slung his arm companionably around her shoulders. She tried to ignore the tingling sensation winging its way down her spine. “Then how about riding?”

  At her puzzled stare, he pointed toward a river taxi gliding by. “How about it?”

  She smiled despite her rapidly beating heart. “You’re forgiven.”

  It was a short walk from the bank to their point of embarkment. The rain must have kept most people indoors because they were able to board the colorful red and orange boat within minutes of their arrival.

  Gratefully Madelyn climbed aboard and sank down into one of the cushioned seats. Lush vegetation and palms lined the bank along with sidewalk cafes, shops, galleries, hotels, restaurants, and clubs.

  “Feeling better?” Daniel asked, settling his black Stetson more securely on his head as the boat picked up speed down the canal of the San Antonio River.

  “Yes, thank you. I shouldn’t have eaten so much. First breakfast, then just now.” She leaned back against the railing. “The only excuse is that I don’t have time for good meals at home.”

  “Where’s home?”

  “Houston. I work for Sinclair Petroleum Company as a production engineer.”

  Daniel’s broad shoulders tensed. He stared down at her. “You work for an oil company in Houston?”

  “Yes. I have for three years.” She frowned. “You have something against Houston or the oil industry?”

  Facing straight ahead, he leaned back and propped his arms over the railing. “Neither. I was just surprised you weren’t living in Dallas or Fort Worth. I seem to remember Kane mentioning he wanted you to work for him.”

  She relaxed again, enjoying the ride through the Rivercenter. “I know, but I wanted to be on my own. Houston is close enough for us to visit, but far enough away where they can’t try and run my life.”

  “Or screen your dates?”

  She gave him a sharp look of disappointment. “Actually I was thinking more of interfering with my job. As for the dates, if a man can be intimidated by my brothers, he’s not the man for me.”

  Daniel’s disturbing gaze found her again. “You’re quite a woman.”

  Madelyn flushed with pleasure. “Glad you approve.”

  “Oh, I approve. Kane and Matt must be very proud of their little sister.”

  The softly spoken words touched and saddened her. He still thought of her as the little sister of his friends. If she wanted more, that was her problem.

  Gathering her slipping composure, she lifted her face to the bright rays of the sun for a minute. “I’m glad you suggested this. I didn’t get a chance when I came on a field trip in high school.”

  “Came to see the Alamo, I’ll bet.” Daniel shifted slightly and stretched his long legs out in front of him. His red lizard boots were polished to a rich sheen.

  She nodded, trying to concentrate on the peaceful ride through the Rivercenter instead of the hard length of Daniel’s muscular thigh pressed against hers. “The Alamo and the state capital in Austin are practically unwritten requirements to graduate from a high school in Texas.”

  “Why didn’t you get a chance to go on the river taxi?”

  Madelyn shifted uneasily before answering. “Things just didn’t work out.”

  “Did it rain then?”

  “No.”

  “Are you going to tell me why, or do I keep on guessing?” he asked mildly.

  Unsteady fingers plucked at the hem of the shorts she had changed into at her hotel before finally meeting Daniel’s enigmatic eyes. “One of our chaperons was a really nice man. He thought, along with the history, we should experience some of the unique flavor of San Antonio.

  “He talked the teachers into letting some of us take a river taxi ride. It quickly became a couples thing, and since I didn’t have anyone to go with, I stayed in the hotel room with some of the other girls and we ordered pizza instead,” she explained, the occasion indelible because her date had dumped her for another girl.

  Daniel pulled up his legs and gave her his full attention. “Are you telling me in high school you didn’t have a boyfriend?”

  “I had them. I just wasn’t able to keep them,” she said, glancing away. Her inability to keep a boyfriend wasn’t something she wanted to discuss with a man like Daniel Falcon.

  “Kane and Matt the problem?”

  “Partly.” She studied the shops lining the walkway. “There’s a T-shirt shop. I promised to bring the twins one.”

  He frowned down at her. “The twins? Kane and Victoria’s children?”

  “Yes. You should have seen them at Matt and Shannon’s wedding. They were adorable. We were all disappointed you couldn’t come.”

  “Something came up,” he said, his voice remote. He stood as the boat docked. “We can get off here.”

  Madelyn allowed him to assist her off the boat, but didn’t speak until they were in front of the shop. She extended her hand, hoping her smile didn’t appear as forced as it felt. “Thank you for lunch and the taxi ride.”

  He stared at her hand, then lifted a dark brow. “You wouldn’t be trying to get rid of me, would you?”

  “I’m sure you
hadn’t planned on doing touristy things with the little sister of your friends,” she told him, her hand wavering.

  “Nope.” He gathered her smaller hand in his. “I had planned on a boring lunch with some business associates. This is much better.”

  Madelyn fought to sound normal when her insides were shivery. “Are you sure?”

  “Didn’t someone mention I never do anything I don’t want to?” he questioned mildly.

  A smile and a tiny ray of hope lit her face. “I believe it came up once or twice.”

  “Well, then.”

  “All right, but remember, you asked for it.”

  * * *

  The afternoon turned into evening and evening turned into night. Madelyn couldn’t remember ever having so much fun. Somehow the tenseness between them seemed to leave as they tried to pick out the right T-shirts for the twins. They finally settled on one with SAN ANTONIO emblazoned in bright colors on a white background.

  Continuing down the sidewalk, they passed a shop and saw a piñata. Madelyn mentioned the twins’ birthday was coming up and how much fun a piñata would be for each of them. Off they went to the Market Square. Daniel was as finicky as she was in finding one with the right colors and shape.

  After wandering down the aisles, they finally found two donkeys that were exactly what they had been searching for. Against her protests, Daniel paid for the piñatas.

  After depositing everything at her hotel, they were off again, ending up at the street fair surrounding the coliseum. Passing the funnel cake concession, Daniel had asked if she wanted one. She had punched him playfully on the shoulder.

  Seemingly without a moment’s hesitation, he draped his arm around her shoulders again and they continued down the aisle. Her heart beat faster, her skin tingled.

  They were strolling past the game booths when Madelyn stopped and watched an excited teenage girl clutch an enormous lion the young boy with her had just won for her. Both of them had to carry the toy as they walked away.

  Madelyn watched them fondly. “I’ve always wanted someone to win one of those animals for me—one so big it would be hard to drag home.”