“I couldn’t. I don’t think I even realized why until later, after he’d left.”
“How about enlightening me?”
“I couldn’t talk to Deirdre. What would I say to her? Apologizing for all that had happened seemed inadequate or cruel. I don’t know which. And I couldn’t thank her for saving my life when she had to kill the man she claimed to love in order to save me.” She lifted a shoulder. “So I avoided her. The same as I did you.”
“Now we’re getting to the interesting part. Why wouldn’t you talk to me?”
She hitched a breath. “Because it hurt too much,” she said tearfully. “You could’ve been killed because of me.”
“Hey, now.” He hooked an arm around her neck and pulled her head down to his chest. “We live with danger every day. It’s our job. Isn’t that what you told me?”
“Y-yes. But this is different.”
“Why? Because I was in danger and not just you? Come on, Andi. You can do better than that.”
She pushed herself up from his chest. “I love you. Okay? How could I live with myself if something had happened to you and it was my fault?”
“We’ll get to that in a minute. First, back up to that first thing you said and say it again.”
“I love you?”
“Yeah. That.”
She choked a watery laugh. “I do love you. I didn’t want to and I’m still not sure that I should.”
“But you do,” he said cautiously.
“Yeah, I do.”
He puffed his cheeks and blew out a shaky breath. “Okay. Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s discuss that other part. About me being hurt and it being your fault. That’s not possible, so you have no worries there.”
“But it is possible!” she cried. “Wesley could have killed you!”
“And I could have broken my damn neck on that stupid ladder. Would that have been your fault, too?”
“Yes. I was the one who left it there.”
“But I was the one who tripped over it. And while sneaking into your house, I might add. That was my fault, not yours. I make my own decisions, and because I do, I take full responsibility for whatever consequences may occur as a result. Next?”
“Next, what?”
“Next problem.”
“That was it.”
“So now you’ll marry me?”
Her eyes rounded. “Marry you?”
“Yeah. You love me, I love you. We get married and live happily ever after.”
Though she’d never allowed herself to think beyond the possibility of simply being with Gabe, the idea of becoming his wife settled over her like a warm cloak.
“I just thought of another problem.” She held thumb and finger before his face. “Just a small one.”
He heaved a frustrated sigh. “What?”
“We work in the same unit.”
“Not a problem. I’ll go back to being a police officer.”
She looked at him in awe. “You’d do that for me? You’d give up detective so that we could be together?”
“There’s a choice?”
“Well, yeah. I could give up detective.”
“You were there first. It’s only fair that I step down.”
“Or I could open my own business. I’ve always wanted to be a P.I. With a husband to support me, I could afford to take the chance.”
He narrowed an eye. “Is that why you’re agreeing to marry me?”
Laughing, she bent to kiss him. “That among others.”
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “Like what?”
“Let’s get you to the hospital and get your foot taken care of, then I’ll show you.”
When she attempted to shift off him, he tightened his grip.
“What?” she asked in confusion.
“I just wanted to tell you I love you. I never thought I’d feel that way about a woman. You proved me wrong.”
A shiver chased down her spine at the love she found in his eyes, the warmth. “I love you, too, Gabe. I’m only beginning to realize how much.”
Bouquets of flowers and baskets of ivy covered every flat surface in Deirdre’s hospital room. Mylar balloons bearing get-well wishes bobbed on long, colorful strings tied to the back of a chair. Greeting cards of every description were taped to the vanity mirror and the wall above her bed.
In spite of the outpouring of love, Deirdre lay with her face turned toward the draped window, her eyes dull, her expression despondent.
Andi hesitated in the doorway, unsure of her welcome.
Gabe gave her nudge. “Go on,” he whispered. “I’ll be right here outside the door.”
Taking a deep breath, she crossed to the bed.
“Hey, Deirdre,” she said softly. “How are you feeling?”
Deirdre slowly turned her face to Andi. Tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know.”
“Shh,” Andi soothed, stroking a hand over her hair. “You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
“He was going to kill you.”
“But he didn’t,” Andi reminded her. “Thanks to you, I’m still alive.”
“How can you say that, after all that he did to you?”
“Because he did it, Deirdre. Not you. He used you, just like he used me.”
Hoping to tease a smile from her friend, she stroked a finger down her cheek. “You’re going to have to give me the name of your hairdresser.”
Hitching a breath, Deirdre touched a cautious hand to her hair. “It’s hideous, isn’t it? They had to shave part of my head when they put in the stitches.”
“Might start a new trend. Although I think I’ve seen punk rockers with similar ’dos.”
Deirdre smiled through her tears. “I can’t believe you can joke around after what you went through.”
“I’m a survivor. Both of us are.” She caught Deirdre’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “So when are you going to break out of this joint?”
“Monday, I think. My parents are coming to get me. They’re going to take me to Houston with them for a while.”
“Good idea. But don’t let them try to talk you into moving back home. Red Rock needs you.” She squeezed Deirdre’s hand again and smiled. “And so do I.”
“Anybody got a pen?”
Andi and Deirdre both glanced toward the door.
Deirdre’s eyes widened when she saw Gabe there, propped up on crutches, his foot in a cast. “What happened to you?”
Using his newly acquired skill, he swung himself into the room. “Andi got mad at me and broke my foot. Wanna sign my cast?”
Laughing, she struggled to sit up. “Tell me the truth. What really happened?”
“He tripped over a ladder while trying to break into my house,” Andi explained.
Deirdre gave them both an exasperated look. “Would one of you please tell me how he broke his foot?”
Gabe slung an arm around Andi’s shoulder. “She was telling the truth. I did trip over a ladder while trying to break into her house. What she didn’t tell you was that I was breaking in to propose.”
Deirdre’s eyes rounded. “You’re getting married?”
Andi nodded.
“When?”
Andi glanced at Gabe and smiled. “We haven’t set a date yet.” She looked back at Deirdre. “But I’m hoping you’ll agree to be my maid of honor.”
“Me?” Deirdre asked, as if shocked that Andi would ask her.
“Sure. You’re my best friend. So, will you?”
“Of course I will!” Deirdre cried, then laughed. “Maybe I’ll even catch the bouquet.”
Everything you love about romance…
and more!
Please turn the page for Signature Select™
Bonus Features.
Bonus Features:
Author Interview
A Conversation with
Peggy Moreland
Author’s Journal
How To Create a Faux
Finish
on Walls
by Peggy Moreland
Bonus Read
Home on the Range
by Elizabeth Bevarly
Sneak Peek
Lone Star Rancher
by Laurie Paige
BONUS FEATURES
In the Arms of the Law
USA TODAY bestselling author Peggy Moreland published her first romance with Silhouette Books in 1989 and continues to delight readers with stories set in her home state of Texas. Recently, Peggy chatted with us as she took a break from writing her latest Silhouette Desire.
Tell us a bit about how you began your writing career.
I began writing romances in the mid-80s, while working on my master’s degree in creative writing. After I married, my husband kept getting promoted, which meant transfers to another city—and sometimes state! With each move, I had to change jobs and/or careers. Once I sold my first book, I became “mobile.” Each time we were transferred, I only had to pack up my computer!
Was there a particular person, place or thing that inspired this story?
My inspiration for my hero came while I was researching Native Americans. The information I found on the Internet was fascinating, and I particularly enjoyed the pictures and information I found about sweat lodges. I couldn’t resist incorporating the sweat lodge into a romantic scene for my hero and heroine!
What’s your writing routine?
I’m an early riser, so my workday begins at what some would consider an ungodly hour. We live on a ranch and chores come first, which means the livestock get fed before I can settle down in my office. Even at that, I’m still in my office by 8:00 a.m. My writing “warm-up” consists of responding to e-mail and fan mail, paying bills and taking care of the “business” side of writing. By the time I’m finished, I’m ready to write. I work until about 5:00 p.m., although that varies with deadlines and the flow of creative juices. If I’m on a roll, I’ve been known to work late into the night.
How do you research your stories?
The amount of research I do depends on the story I’m writing and the characters I’ve created. Thank heaven for the Internet! It offers a wealth of information right at my fingertips, so that has certainly made research easier. If I’m writing about a character I’m unfamiliar with—such as my Native American hero—I try to find out everything I can about his/her lifestyle, careers, etc. I’ve done many personal interviews in order to create a more realistic character, plus have read tons of research books.
How you do develop your characters?
I create a character sketch for every character. Sketch is probably an inaccurate description, as my sketches can run five to eight pages in length. I delve deeply into the character’s family background, as I think everyone is strongly influenced by his/her parents and siblings. I also assign each character a career, build a wardrobe and give them habits and personality traits. The part of the country or world a character comes from influences how they speak, so that is important in the development, as well.
When you’re not writing, what are your favorite activities?
I love to garden and spend a great deal of my free time tending my flower, herb and vegetable gardens. I also love to “putter” around my house, and I’ve always got a decorating project or two underway. My husband and I both enjoy horseback riding, and we ride whenever we can.
If you don’t mind, could you tell us a bit about your family?
I met my husband on a blind date while I was in college, and we’ve been married for thirty years. We have three children. Our oldest daughter is a photo stylist in Dallas. Our second daughter is currently in nursing school. Our son—the youngest—will graduate from college this year and has accepted a position as a financial consultant with a firm in Denver, Colorado.
What are your favorite kinds of vacations? Where do you like to travel?
I’m a bit of a homebody, but I do enjoy traveling. My favorite destinations are usually near an ocean, and if I can browse antique shops while on vacation, I’m in heaven! I prefer to avoid tourist traps and enjoy exploring the places where the locals hang out.
Do you have a favorite book or film?
I have a lot of favorite films, but the first that comes to mind is The Man from Snowy River and The Return of the Man from Snowy River. And anything with Mel Gibson. He can eat crackers in my bed anytime!
Any last words to your readers?
I hope you enjoy my contribution to THE FORTUNES OF TEXAS: REUNION series. It was so much fun working with such a stellar group of authors on this project!
Peggy Moreland’s next book, Tanner Ties, will be on sale in September 2005 from Silhouette Desire.
I love to decorate—and redecorate! My husband likes to tease me by telling our friends that he’s afraid to come into our house after dark, fearing he’ll break a leg, as I’m always moving the furniture around. I love to experiment with new paint techniques that I see on television or in magazines and always have a project or two in the works.
Recently I redecorated my office and I used a faux finish on the walls that produced fantastic results! I wanted an old-world look and experimented with several different methods before I settled on the finish that I liked best. So many people have asked about my office that I placed some pictures on my Web site at www.peggymoreland.com. If you’d like to create a similar look in your own home, just follow these steps.
Equipment needed:
Drywall mud or joint compound (This product has many different names, but it is a light gray in color and has a consistency similar to mud. I purchased mine in five-pound boxes at our local home center.)
Trowel
Three different colors of interior paint (I used paint with a satin finish.)
Paint roller and tray
Paintbrush
Ladder
1. Use the trowel to apply the joint compound to the walls. There is no special skill needed to accomplish this! Just load the trowel with “mud” and smear it over the drywall, covering the wall from ceiling to floor and from corner to corner. As you pull the trowel away from the wall, you are creating a texture similar to that found in old homes in Europe. I swirled the trowel in arc patterns in order to achieve the finish I wanted, but you can experiment until you achieve the look you want. This can be applied in any thickness—thin or heavy. Allow the joint compound to dry for at least twenty-four hours before applying paint.
2. Choose a paint color that you like. The base color I chose was a warm cocoa. Paint samples in the same color family are usually found on a single card. You’ll need to choose three colors within the same color family—or on the same card. The darkest color—or base color—is applied first. You can brush or roll the color onto the walls.
3. After the first coat dries, apply the second color. The second color is applied using a dry-brush method. To accomplish this, dip your brush in the paint, then brush it over newspaper or other scrap paper until the brush is dry. Using random strokes, brush the paintbrush over the wall. DO NOT APPLY THIS WITH A ROLLER OR ATTEMPT TO COVER THE ENTIRE WALL. This second color only offers highlights, which gives the wall the old-world look you are trying to achieve.
4. After the second coat dries, apply the third color. The third color is the lightest of the three colors. It, too, is applied using the dry-brush method and with random strokes. Voilà! You have now created an old-world faux finish. I hope you enjoy your faux-finished walls as much as I’ve enjoyed those in my office. If you are hesitant about trying this, experiment on a scrap piece of drywall or gypsum board before tackling a whole room.
To complement my new walls, I hung lace drapes over the windows and French doors, attached old shutters on either side of the French doors and installed an antique fireplace mantel to create a faux fireplace. An oversized leather chair and ottoman are positioned in front of the fireplace and I love to curl up there and read. My “new” office is utterly feminine and my favorite place to hang out!
HOME ON THE RANG
E
by Elizabeth Bevarly
A brand-new Fortunes of Texas story!
(Part 1 of a 3-part serial)
CHAPTER 1
Megan Lavery stepped out the back door of the Flying Aces Ranch and into the mild, late summer morning. For as far as she could see, nothing stirred. But it was a deceptive stillness because days started before dawn on a working ranch, and many of the hands were already out and about, seeing to the morning chores. The sky was dark lavender, touched with pink in anticipation of the sun’s arrival, and the breeze was that odd mix of warm and cool that signaled the melding of night and day. She wrapped her worn wool cardigan more snugly around herself and sighed.
Back home in L.A., she would have been leaving for work at this time, with a full hour of battling traffic ahead of her before she could pull her shiny black Jaguar into her reserved parking space at LA Mode Advertising. She smiled at the realization, thinking it barely took ten minutes to drive across Red Rock, a few miles up the road from the Flying Aces. Looking at the day this way, though, before anyone had gotten around to using it, Megan wondered why she hadn’t taken this vacation a lot sooner.
Because she hadn’t needed it, she thought. Her cousin Violet Fortune had called a week earlier from her home in New York City, knowing that was the day Megan’s divorce became final and thinking her cousin might need a shoulder to cry on—as if, Megan couldn’t help thinking now. Violet had thrown out a wild, off-the-cuff suggestion that she visit Violet’s brothers’ ranch in Texas for a week of R & R.
Megan had been surprised to hear herself accept the challenge, but quickly realized what a good idea it was. She’d had some vacation time coming, and had just wrapped up a big project for the agency. She’d deserved a week of escape. And she hadn’t visited Red Rock for years. It would be fun to see her Fortune cousins again.
In the Arms of the Law Page 17
