When a starlet was busted on her second DUI, Hasbrough and Colletti hurriedly had her admitted into an ultra-private rehab facility, then kept her face out of the papers as much as possible. When a congressman was caught red-handed texting explicit messages and selfies to a woman not his wife, they suppressed the scandal, wrote carefully worded press releases and repaired his flailing career.
It wasn’t, however, all they did. Hasbrough and Colletti’s more humanitarian cases were what drew Mariana to them in the first place and the reason she strived to build her career there.
“Actually, I’m one of the attorneys handling a dozen joint suits against Medallion Investments.”
Jacob whistled. “No fooling.”
“You’ve heard?”
“Who hasn’t? Paulo Molinas supposedly scammed hundreds of people out of their life savings with some kind of Ponzi scheme.”
“There’s no supposedly about it.” Mariana’s chest tightened. It always did when she thought about the losses their clients had suffered. Senior citizens on fixed incomes. Single moms struggling to provide their children with a college education. Widows and widowers losing their inheritances. All of them robbed. “He’s a thief. And we’re not only going to prove it, we’re going to obtain as much money as possible for our clients.”
Jacob paused and studied her with interest. “You like your job.”
“I love my job. This is one field of law where I can really do some good. I’m hoping to make junior partner. I’m on the short list. Depending on how this case goes, I could be a shoo-in.”
“Passion and ambition. I respect that in a person.”
“Because you love what you do, too?”
“Because of what I hope to accomplish.”
“Which is?”
“Alternative energy. My goal is to form a new division at Baron Energies.”
Now it was her turn to whistle. “I’m impressed.”
Who knew? She and Jacob shared something. Passion and ambition for their jobs. She felt her interest in him growing and attempted to curb it. Standing hip to hip at the sink, discussing topics that moved and inspired them as his dark eyes roved her face with unmasked interest, made the task downright impossible.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” Mariana asked, wiping down the counter. It was one topic they hadn’t covered.
“Move furniture. Make closet space for you. Get ready for the weekend. Later there’s a family dinner at the Roughneck.”
“On a Thursday?”
“New baby in the family. Even more reason for a get-together. My sisters and their families will be there. Carly’s future stepdaughter is about Cody’s age. Daniel, too.”
“What about your father?”
“Count on it,” Jacob said. “His wife, Julieta, too, and her son, Alex. He’s five.”
“Sounds nice.” With an evening to herself, Mariana could prepare for her meeting tomorrow morning while Cody slept.
“I’d like to take Cody with me. Introduce him to the family.”
Her hand stilled. She should have seen this coming. Automatically, her glance strayed to the family room where Cody played happily. “Isn’t it a little soon? Maybe you should wait until the test results are back.”
“Brock isn’t only my father, he’s my boss. Having a son can impact my job, and he has a right to be told.”
There was logic to Jacob’s argument. Not enough, however, to convince Mariana he was ready to fly solo. “How about we have a few lessons first? You haven’t even changed a diaper yet.”
“I have a better idea. Why don’t you come with us?”
“What! No, I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
“Because your family will wonder about us. You and I. How will you explain our...relationship?”
He shrugged. “My son’s aunt.”
To her chagrin, her cheeks warmed. “They’ll jump to conclusions.”
“I’ll say we met through work.”
“They’ll still jump to conclusions.”
“I think they’ll figure out pretty quickly there’s nothing going on.”
Did he really not feel the sparks flying between them? Mariana didn’t know whether to be relieved or insulted.
She raised her chin a notch and chose the lesser of two evils. “What time are we leaving?”
“Around four-thirty.”
“I’ll pack Cody’s diaper bag and give him a bath.”
“I’ll help.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“As you said, I need lessons.” His earlier smile returned, which he showered on her.
The warmth in her cheeks spread—all the way to her toes. She fought it. He may not be having any romantic inclinations, but the same couldn’t be said for her.
*
THERE WAS USUALLY a certain amount of underlying tension when Jacob visited his family. Today, nerves were added to the mix.
He vowed to steer clear of any alternative energy discussions. No extolling the benefits. No mentioning of Starr Solar Systems’ potential sale. No saying things like, “If we’re not moving forward, we’re moving backward.”
Today, he was introducing Cody to his family. Whether he told them Mariana and Cody were living with him depended on how things went.
“Pretty spectacular.” Mariana had her nose practically pressed against the passenger-side window.
The Roughneck Ranch could be impressive to newcomers, Jacob had to admit. While not the largest or the fanciest spread by any means, the vast grounds were meticulously maintained, the peach orchard lush in the growing season, the horse barn and arena state-of-the-art, and the sprawling country-style house charming.
He pulled into the driveway, wide enough to accommodate four vehicles abreast, and took stock of who else was here. As predicted, Luke and Carly had already arrived, which meant Cody would have Luke’s daughter, Rosie, for a playmate. Also Lizzie, Christopher and the new baby. Daniel, too. Evidently Savannah and Travis were either late or not coming.
“I firsty.” Cody, securely buckled into his car seat, kicked his feet as if running.
“I’ll get him,” Jacob said when Mariana climbed out of the truck and started toward the rear passenger door.
“Okay.” She took a step back and waited, giving him an opportunity for another of those child care lessons.
Reaching the passenger side rear door, he maneuvered around her. The scent of whatever it was she wore, lotion, body wash, cologne, reached him and tantalized him. Citrus, he thought. Discernible but not overpowering, and very sexy.
So were the clothes. Sexy, that was. He liked her in skirts. The jeans she’d chosen weren’t bad either, and fit her like a glove. She’d paired them with another set of ridiculously high heels. He had to admit, the look suited her. Another time, under different circumstances...
Bending over Cody, he unfastened the many buckles. Forget being in a hurry.
“Where Buster?” Cody asked.
“He’s at home, buddy.”
“I want Buster.”
“Later, okay?” He lifted Cody out of the seat and held him against his chest as he’d seen Mariana do.
Cody made whimpering sounds. “Firsty.”
“He didn’t sleep well last night.” Mariana reached over and smoothed his hair. “Or nap much earlier. I hope he doesn’t throw a fit while we’re here.”
“We can leave early if that happens.”
She’d explained all about the terrible twos on their drive over. From her description, Jacob decided that was one aspect of parenting he could do without.
“I hate to disrupt your family dinner.”
She was nervous, too. He could tell by the way she kept tugging on the sleeves of her blazer and the strained quality of her voice.
“We’ll be fine,” he insisted, though he wasn’t entirely sure.
They started up the shrub-lined walkway to the front door. On impulse, Jacob placed a hand on the center of her b
ack, his touch light but, he hoped, reassuring.
The zing was instantaneous. She tensed, but he didn’t remove his hand. Not until they were at the door. The sensation coursing through his fingers was much too enjoyable. Too addictive.
He told himself this fascination with Mariana was a fluke. That she was simply a novelty, someone very different from the typical woman he dated. When he dated. These past nine months his work and rodeo schedule had left little time for any social life. Which must account for his preoccupation. It had been too long since Jacob had placed his hand on a woman’s back.
“Hey! You’re here.” Carly rushed forward to welcome them.
During family dinners and holidays, the kitchen and adjoining great room were the central meeting places. She’d obviously been helping Julieta with the cooking, judging by the hot pads she quickly tucked between her arm and side.
“Sorry we’re late,” Jacob said, giving her a brief hug and peck on the cheek.
While not exactly bosom buddies, he and Carly had grown closer since she and Luke became engaged. Same with Lizzie, though for a different reasons. She’d been his supporter from the beginning, backing his proposals to Brock and championing his bid for more responsibility.
Would she resent him now that he had the first Baron grandchild, usurping her daughter? Jacob didn’t think so. Then again, she could see Jacob’s fatherhood as a threat to her position in the family hierarchy.
“Are you going to introduce us?” Carly asked, her eyes landing on Mariana and snapping with curiosity.
Luke must not have told her anything, which Jacob appreciated.
“This is Mariana Snow.” He put his hand on the center of her back again and was rewarded with another zing. With his other arm, he bounced Cody. “And her nephew, Cody.”
“Nice to meet you, Mariana.” Carly clasped both of Mariana’s hands in hers, brows raised in an I-wonder-what’s-going-on-here arch. Then, she turned to Cody. “How do you do, young man?”
He stared at Carly, then blinked, obviously not sure how to respond.
She held out her hand to him. “I’m Carly.”
Instead of shaking her hand, he slapped her palm.
“Okay.” Carly’s smile increased.
“He wants to give you a high five,” Mariana explained.
“Oh! I get it.” Carly held up her palm, and Cody slapped it.
“Hi, hi!”
“Hi to you, too.”
He twisted in Jacob’s arms, arching his back to look at Mariana. “Mama, Mama.”
“It’s okay, honey,” she said.
Carly appeared confused. “I thought you said he was your nephew.”
“He is.” To her credit, Mariana didn’t fluster. “My sister passed away a few months ago. Cody has been living with me since, and he sometimes gets confused.”
Carly’s features fell. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you.”
To avoid any prolonged awkwardness, Jacob crossed the entry to the great room.
“How did you and Jacob meet?” Carly walked beside them, making casual conversation.
Mariana inhaled sharply. As she’d predicted, Carly assumed she and Jacob were dating.
“At the Louisiana State Fair Rodeo,” he said. It wasn’t a lie. The rodeo was where he’d first met Mariana.
“I should’ve guessed.” Carly laughed, then instantly sobered. “I didn’t mean that how it sounded,” she said to Mariana. “Jacob doesn’t pick up women at rodeos. It’s just that rodeoing is all he does besides work.” She groaned in despair. “I’m making this worse. Ignore me. Please.”
Jacob and Mariana exchanged a look. He smiled. She didn’t.
“Who’s this?”
The booming voice belonged to Brock and came from where he sat on the large sectional, his injured leg propped up on a footrest, the crutches he still used beside him.
“Brace yourself,” Jacob murmured to Mariana. Aloud, he said, “This is Mariana and Cody.”
Luke was the first to come over, and he brought his daughter Rosie with him, holding her by the hand. Jacob set Cody on his feet, crossing his fingers that the two toddlers would become fast friends.
They took a moment to size each other up. Then, Cody abruptly spun and clutched Mariana’s leg as he had the day he’d met Jacob. For reasons not exactly clear, Rosie began to cry.
“Give them time,” Luke said matter-of-factly.
Not exactly the auspicious beginning Jacob had hoped for. It only went downhill from there.
“We’re having a fall carnival at the store this weekend,” Carly said. “You should come. Bring Cody and Mariana.”
“We’ll see.”
“Aren’t you competing in the Texas Stampede this weekend?” Brock said from where he sat on the large sectional.
“I’m coming back early.” Jacob didn’t go into details.
“Is that wise?”
“I only need to place twice more in bull riding to qualify. Three times in bronc riding.” There were a good three rodeos left. Four if push came to shove and he was willing to travel halfway across the country.
Brock grunted with satisfaction. Or dissatisfaction. It was hard to tell.
“Not now, Dad,” Carly admonished.
“He doesn’t want to lose steam this late in the race.”
Carly rolled her eyes at Jacob, then latched on to Mariana’s arm. “I promise to take good care of her and Cody. You hang with the guys.”
“Maybe I should—”
“It’s all right. Come see the baby,” she told Mariana and promptly whisked her into the kitchen.
With no other choice, Jacob wandered into the great room where Brock, Christopher and Daniel were watching a football game on the large-screen TV.
Daniel aimed the remote at the TV and lowered the volume on the football game. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Can’t complain.”
“You look tired.”
He was. Like Cody, he hadn’t slept much last night. There were two strangers in his house. One who’d kept him awake with his crying and one who’d kept him awake with thoughts he really shouldn’t be having. Jacob’s life was already complicated enough.
“Been a long week.” He lowered himself onto an empty cushion near Daniel rather than Brock. He hoped the distance would discourage conversation about Mariana and Cody. It didn’t.
“What’s this about coming home early on Sunday?”
Daniel would pick now to ask Jacob about that. “I’ll tell you later.”
Brock tipped his head in the direction of the kitchen. “How long you been seeing that sweet young thing?”
“We’re just friends.”
Jacob’s reply was met with a loud, raucous chuckle from Brock. “She doesn’t look like the friend type.”
Daniel shrugged in agreement. Christopher was no help, either.
“Her sister died a few months ago, which is why she has guardianship of Cody. I’m...” Jacob paused. “Helping. It hasn’t been easy for them.”
“That’s a shame. For sure.” Brock’s gaze landed on Jacob and intensified. “Doesn’t explain why you brought her here.”
“I can’t bring a friend to dinner?”
“’Course you can. Just that now isn’t the best time for you to get involved with someone. Got a lot on your plate, and a lot riding on going to Nationals.”
Jacob ground his teeth together rather than say what he was thinking—that Brock had no business dictating his personal life.
Luckily, he was spared a further lecture when Julieta entered the room brandishing a large tray with corn chips and her specialty: homemade pico de gallo.
“Who’s hungry?” She set the tray down on the large knotty pine coffee table. Her five-year-old son Alex tumbled in after her, barely giving her time to steady the tray before digging in.
“Hi, Jacob,” the boy said, shoveling a dripping chip into his mouth.
“Hi, yourself.” Jacob smiled back, looking at Alex with a n
ew perspective.
Brock had also adopted Alex, making the boy Jacob’s brother, as well. Did Brock treat Alex differently than he had Jacob and Daniel? Unlike them, Alex had lived under Brock’s roof since he was a baby.
Julieta plunked down between Alex and Brock. “I like your girlfriend.”
“We’re not seeing each other.” How many times was Jacob going to have to explain himself?
She winked playfully. “Well, maybe you should start.”
“I vote yes,” Daniel concurred.
“No, he shouldn’t,” Brock insisted, leaning forward and reaching for another serving of chips.
“Oh, you.” Julieta leaned over and pressed an affectionate kiss to his cheek.
Jacob’s emotions battled as he watched the two of them. It was evident they cared for each other. Also evident they were well matched. Julieta didn’t take any guff from Brock. She also worked hard for Baron Energies as head of public relations.
The complete opposite of Jacob’s soft-spoken and quiet-mannered mother, who’d concentrated her efforts on making the best home for her husband and their children. It still pained Jacob when he saw Julieta with Brock. They might be well matched, but if his mother hadn’t died, she’d be here now, and he would have no reservations about introducing Cody.
One of the Dallas Cowboys players made a touchdown, and attention was refocused on the TV, for which Jacob was grateful. Julieta left. Thirty minutes later, she returned, announcing that dinner was ready. Everyone wound their way to the long dining table at the other end of the great room. Lizzie brought the baby along in one of those carrying contraptions and set her in the corner near her seat.
“I’ll get the high chair from the truck,” Jacob said upon seeing Mariana. She and Carly had just returned from outside where the youngsters had been playing.
“Thanks.” She smiled, looking a little worn for the worse but holding her own. His sisters must not have been too tough on her.
“Don’t bother,” Julieta said, stopping Jacob. “I thought Rosie and Cody could sit at the play table today.”
Luke was setting up a child-size table and four chairs in the kitchen. He must have brought it from home because Rosie was staking claim to it. She clearly didn’t appreciate Cody’s interest.
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