One Tough Texan

by MJ Rodgers

  Jamie thanked Wendy for her concern and hung up the phone.

  “Isn’t that just like a man?” she said, shaking her head dramatically. “Just because he’s been away from you for fifteen years, he thinks he can take up with another woman.”

  She smiled over at Matt and was rewarded when she caught the small half smile on his lips.

  For the first time she realized that his eyes weren’t just gray but were filled with mercurial silver slashes and shards of vibrant turquoise. She stared, finding herself suddenly mesmerized by the unexpected discovery.

  Matt quickly got to his feet and stepped to the other side of the couch. He plowed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and gazed out the glass wall to the serenity of the backyard.

  “Wendy McConnell seems sure this man is your Tony,” he said, gruffly. “What do you think?”

  What Jamie thought was that Matt seemed mighty uncomfortable sitting next to her and even more uncomfortable when she looked into his eyes.

  Well, no puzzle there. When a woman stared at a man, it generally was a way of communicating that she might be interested in doing more than just looking. And Matt had retreated. How many other ways could he tell her he wasn’t interested?

  Jamie sighed as she got to her feet. “Appears as though I’ll be taking a trip to Reno. I wonder how good Wendy McConnell’s eyesight is.”

  Matt looked at his watch. “We’ll soon find out. I’ll make the arrangements for Reno. I suggest you go home and pack.”

  Jamie started toward the door. “It’s pretty late. What if everything is already booked?”

  “I’ll find something.”

  She had absolutely no doubt that he would, too. The more she was with Matt, the more she recognized the sure and certain competence that permeated his every pore.

  As usual, he kept his distance as he walked with her to the door.

  Still, the warmth and strength of him registered on her senses every step of the way. Since, he had kissed her, it seemed every nerve fiber in her body had been sensitized to him.

  She paused to look up at him as he held the door open for her.

  “I know you don’t understand why this is important to me, Matt, but I’m obliged to you for sticking with it anyway.”

  He nodded but made no direct comment. His expression was cool and professional.

  “I suggest you lock yourself in until I come to pick you up to go to the airport. Don’t relax your guard for a moment. I doubt whoever has been trying to keep you from finding Tony has given up yet.”

  Matt’s words stayed with Jamie all the way home. Whether it was his caution or some sixth sense, she could have sworn she was being followed.

  MATT USED THE CAR PHONE to book them on an airline flight leaving at four-thirty as he drove toward his office. He next arranged for a car and hotel accommodations for them in Reno.

  And all the time the image of Jamie’s look of delight when she saw his home kept playing through his mind. He had never allowed himself to picture her there.

  He knew it would be impossible for him to stand beneath the sun tubes in his living room and not see her sunlit hair and smile. Or sit on that sofa again without remembering the focused intensity with which she had studied his eyes.

  It was becoming harder by the moment to stay close and still maintain his distance. When she joked about Tony and the brunette, showing absolutely no jealousy or discomfort, he’d been so relieved that the desire to kiss those smiling lips had driven through him like a nail.

  Reining in all these galloping reactions was getting to be harder by the second. But rein them in he would. Because rein them in he must.

  Thinking about her wasn’t helping. He purposely put his mind to work elsewhere. The way all the records at the studio had been dumped on the floor told him that whoever had broken in had been looking for information.

  The only information there related to the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the guests on the show. And not one of their cases dealt with a sensitive issue.

  Except Jamie’s. Still, it didn’t appear logical that the break-in had anything to do with her. The person trying to warn her away from Tony already knew her name and home address. There would have been no reason for him to break in.

  So who had?

  Whoever it was knew how to get past a standard alarm. And that spoke of a professional.

  Matt picked up the cell phone and punched in his office number. Charlene answered right away.

  “There’s been a break-in at the studio. Don’t leave the office even for a second without making sure that both alarms are on.”

  “You think we’re next?” Charlene asked.

  “Whoever it was might not have gotten what he was looking for the first time.”

  “If someone gets to the computers-” Charlene began.

  “Without the right password, the fail-safe mechanism will activate.”

  Once he reassured his aunt, Matt hung up the phone.

  He was punching in Jamie’s number to tell her about the flight to Reno and other arrangements he had made when he pulled into the lot at the back of his downtown office.

  When he saw Keele waiting there, Matt quickly canceled the call to Jamie.

  Keele sauntered up to Matt’s truck the second it was parked.

  “Been waiting for you, buddy. I found that eighteen-wheeler that ran you off the road. And the driver. Interested?”

  Chapter Nine

  Rollo smiled at the plain-faced receptionist manning the arrival desk at Harrah’s hotel in Reno. She wore no wedding ring and was past the age when youth could have made up for her lack of beauty. Her name tag said Nancie. The yellowbrown stains between her right index and middle fingers said cigarettes.

  She was looking very good to Rollo.

  “I need a room, Nancie. One night. Two beds.”

  She returned his smile. “And what is the name, sir?”

  “Steven Stedman.”

  “And the person who will be in the room with you?”

  “Stephanie Stedman. My sister.”

  He could see Nancie was happy to hear it. He’d learned long ago to ignore the beautiful women. Give him a plain-faced one every time. They were always much easier to please.

  “Will that be smoking or non-smoking?” Nancie asked.

  “Smoking.” Rollo pointed toward his pocket where a half pack of cigarettes resided. “When they hook you at sixteen, they got you for life. I’ve tried to quit a dozen times. No dice.”

  Nancie coughed into her tobacco-stained hand and smiled again. “Been there. I’ll need to see a major credit card, Mr. Stedman.”

  “Gotta give you cash,” Rollo said, slapping the money on the counter. “My credit card is maxed out.”

  She took the cash, counted it quickly. “Been there, too. Your room is 2316, Mr. Stedman. Here are two card keys, one for you and one for your sister. The elevator is over there. I hope you enjoy your stay with us. Good luck at the tables.”

  Rollo leaned across the counter toward her. “You want me to have good luck, Nancie, you’re going to have to give it to me.”

  She stared at him in surprise. “Excuse me?”

  Rollo held out his hand. “Just touch me, sweet thing, and

  I’ll be more than lucky.”

  Nancie laughed and gave Rollo’s hand a playful slap.

  It was the final sign he’d been looking for.

  It wasn’t like Reyenna was ever going to find out. And knowing he was on a budget, Nancie probably wouldn’t even expect dinner.

  “See you later,” Rollo said as he walked toward the bank of elevators. And he planned to. Of course, it would have to be her place. Val would never understand. Only thing that had ever warmed old Val up was money.

  Rollo stopped at the far end next to an enormous plant that sat beside a floor to ceiling window. As he waited for Val to show, he lit a cigarette and took a long drag. Outside, the lights of the casinos turned the Reno night sky into a warm orange
hue.

  A moment later Rollo caught a glimpse of a lock of distinctive long red hair. “Did you register?” Val asked:

  “Yeah. Here’s your room key.”

  Val took it. “You got a smoking room, didn’t you?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think I’m going to have to spray it Did you tell them we were married at the desk, like I told you to?”

  “Don’t I always follow directions?”

  “Well, you better follow this. No smoking upstairs. Now, Bonner and the woman have adjoining rooms on the floor above ours. I wrote the numbers down for you. Don’t let them out of your sight. I’ll relieve you at midnight”

  Not until midnight? Well, hell, that could put a damper on things with Nancie. Rollo told himself he’d think of something as he pocketed the piece of paper Val had given him. He took another drag on his cigarette.

  “You actually think Bonner’s here because they’ve gotten a lead on him?” Rollo asked.

  “If they wanted to gamble, they would have gone to Vegas. It’s closer and there’s more action.”

  “It could be a lovers’ weekend getaway.”

  “With separate rooms? Use your head for once, Rollo. Now, go up there and keep a close watch on them. They could be meeting him any time. I’m going to get some shut-eye. We have to be ready.”

  “COME IN, JAMIE,” Wendy McConnell said. “I’m so glad you could come, too, Mr. Bonner.” Matt found her to be a middle-aged woman with a generous mouth and a smile to match.

  Matt followed Jamie inside the McConnells’ modest home. Good cooking smells filled the air, reminding him of how long it had been since he’d eaten. Jerry McConnell waited for them in the living room, dressed in his Sunday suit and standing at a nervous kind of attention. He looked to Matt like a young boy who had promised to be on his best behavior. This was clearly Wendy’s show.

  When the introductions were completed and Wendy was assured neither of her guests wanted drinks, she bustled them right off to the dining room and brought on the food. Matt’s empty stomach growled appreciatively.

  Over homemade beef stew and dinner rolls, still hot from the oven, Wendy told Jamie in intricate detail about every time she had seen Tony and how nice he had looked.

  “He dresses so well,” Wendy said. “Always a clean, crisp shirt and tie and real tailored slacks. And when he wears a sweater, it’s a good-quality one.”

  Wendy took a swallow of food and went right on.

  “I guess I told you about the sweater he was wearing that looked exactly like the one Jerry and I gave to our nephew, Neal? A man’s personal habits and grooming speak so well about who he is, don’t you think?”

  Jamie just nodded, smiling, as she ate.

  “So many men these days—particularly the young onesare such sloppy dressers. To them, the height of fashion is a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Young women, too. It’s so nice to see a young woman like yourself wearing such a beautiful dress. It’s silk, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. But I have to confess that the selection of the material has more to do with the fact that I have sensitive skin than a sensible fashion sense.”

  “Have you ever worn jeans, Jamie? The material is so rough and coarse, why it just cuts into you everywhere. I can’t understand such torture pants being so popular. Oh, I do so miss seeing men in well-tailored suits, don’t you?”

  Jamie nodded and kept on chewing.

  Matt wondered if Wendy had noticed his jean-clad legs. Maybe she forgave him because his dress shirt was showing above the table.

  Wendy McConnell went on with her continuous stream of mostly one-way conversation peppered with questions that she gave Jamie little or no time to answer.

  Matt looked over at Jerry McConnell. He was contentedly focused on his food, probably not listening to a word. Matt imagined that on the nights when company wasn’t at the table, Wendy probably carried the conversation for them both. And Jerry was probably just as attentive.

  “I don’t know how long that brunette has been hanging around your Tony, but she’s one of those tight-jean wearers,” Wendy went on. “Sticks for legs. And her hair? Why, it was…”

  Matt could feel his own mind wandering.

  “And this morning I’m almost sure she was talking about you.”

  Matt’s attention quickly returned.

  “Why do you say that, Wendy?” Jamie asked.

  “She mentioned your name. Well, I think it was your name. We were at the Flamingo Hilton. I was trying to move closer so I could hear their words. Tony called the brunette Sharlyn and told her to stop worrying. And she said something like, ‘Jamie see something.’ Then this man next to me started yelling because he won a ten-dollar jackpot. Tony turned around to see what all the commotion was about. And that’s when Sharlyn saw me looking at them, snaked her arm through Tony’s and dragged him away.”

  Wendy paused to let out a heartfelt sigh. “I’m sorry, Jamie. I blew my cover.”

  Matt watched Jamie put her hand on Wendy’s arm as a humorous smile played about her lips—one she was obviously trying desperately to control.

  “I think you did wonderfully, Wendy. Now let’s you and

  me get these two big, strong men to help with the dishes so we can walk that casino route where you’ve seen Tony.”

  JAMIE FOUND RENO’S casinos to be noisy, energetic, congenial places full of flashing lights and the jingle of coins hitting the aluminum tray as slot machines spit out winnings.

  It was her first time in such places. Gambling had never held a personal appeal. But she found she had an instant bond with these men and women who stood clutching a little cash in their hands and a big hope in their hearts that they were going to beat the odds.

  She knew all about hope-and trying to beat the odds.

  As they entered and exited the various establishments on the route that Jerry and Wendy McConnell took on the way to get their groceries, Wendy was her usual chatterbox self beside Jamie.

  Wendy led the way past the card dealers and the dice tables straight to the slot machines in every casino. She introduced them to Jamie as though they were old friends-and enemies.

  “If you talk to this one real nice it will come through for you. This one likes to be rubbed on the side after you pull the handle.”

  “This is the Flamingo Hilton, right? The casino where you said you last saw Tony?”

  “That’s right. I was playing this machine and he was standing right over there by the bar with the brunette he called Sharlyn. She dragged him off in that direction.”

  “He wasn’t gambling?”

  “I don’t ever think I’ve seen him gambling, Jamie. He’s just sort of standing around looking at things, sometimes drinking coffee over at the bar.”

  “Have you ever seen him at night?”

  “No, but then Jerry and I don’t come around to the casinos much at night. Unless we have guests, of course, like tonight. I have a feeling your Tony will be in one of the casinos tomorrow, Jamie. Do you want me to come with you when you look for him?”

  Jamie tried to phrase her refusal in as nice a way as she knew how.

  “I think I’d best go alone, Wendy. I want this meeting with Tony to be a private moment. But I do thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your help. You’ve been wonderful.”

  Wendy smiled. “You’ll tell me what happens?”

  “You know I will.”

  Wendy gave Jamie a big hug. Jamie hugged her right back. Although a mite overzealous, Wendy McConnell obviously had a romantic soul and meant well.

  “Jamie, it wouldn’t be a right smart move to be seeing this guy by yourself,” Matt said a few minutes later as they walked together back to Harrah’s.

  “You have some reservation about that?”

  “A lot of reservation. If Sharlyn mentioned your name, that means she’s seen the ‘Finder of Lost Loves’ program. She knows you’re looking for Tony.”

  “I think it’s much more likely Wendy’s
eagerness made her overhear wrong.”

  “And if she didn’t overhear wrong?”

  “This Sharlyn could have been telling him about the show. If it is Tony and not a look-alike, that could be the first he’s heard that I’m looking for him.”

  “There’s another explanation, Jamie. He and this Sharlyn know you’ve been looking for him all along, and he is purposely avoiding contact with you.”

  “I find that hard to believe.”

  “Would you also find it hard to believe that we’ve been followed ever since we arrived at the airport?”

  “You’re not serious.”

  “Just as serious as a snake bite.”

  Jamie started to look over her shoulder.

  “Don’t look around,” Matt cautioned.

  Jamie managed to mask her half turn by stopping in front of the casino they were walking past and looking through the window. She pretended that something inside had caught her attention.

  She felt Matt move closer beside her and lower his voice. “I don’t want him to know he’s been spotted. If he knows, he might fade into the crowd and disappear before I can find out who he is.” -

  Jamie continued to stare into the window. The bright neon lights illuminated the night sidewalk so well she could see the reflected faces of the pedestrians streaming past.

  None of them seemed to be paying her or Matt any particular attention.

  “Which one is he?” she asked.

  “He stopped when we did. He’s at the last corner, staring into a window, too. I haven’t gotten a good look at him. He’s stayed too far back.”

  “So what do we do now?”

  “We head on back to the hotel and get some shut-eye.”

  “You’re not worried about why we’re being followed?”

  “This one is watching, not bushwhacking. Come on.”

  They returned to their adjoining rooms at Harrah’s. When Jamie entered hers, Matt walked in behind her, closing the door and throwing the lock.

  Jamie’s breath stalled as all sorts of interesting possibilities surfaced in her thoughts.

  Matt opened the connecting door and turned back to her. “Don’t lock this tonight. I’d hate to have to break it down if someone got in here and started to strangle you.”