Jan Hudson - The Texas Ranger

Gus barked, Gabe yelled and she hit the water in a panic.

When she surfaced, Gus had Sam by the arm, and both Gabe and Belle were in the pool yelling and splashing. Pandemonium.

“Gus! Release!” Skye shouted.

Gus let go of Sam’s arm, but Gabe grabbed it. “What the hell are you doing?” He drew back his fist.

“Let go of my brother,” Belle yelled at Gabe. “What the hell are you doing?”

Gabe stepped back. “Sorry. Skye, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Gabe. I’m fine. Out, Gus. Sam, are you hurt?”

Sam looked down at his forearm. “I was expecting blood, but he didn’t even break the skin.”

“Thank, God,” Skye said. She heaved herself onto the pool apron and, knees still wobbly, went to talk to Gus, who sat by the chair she’d vacated, looking very pleased with himself. She wasn’t sure whether to praise him or scold him. She settled for ruffling his coat. “Sam’s a friend, Gus. Get that? A friend.”

Why was Gus so wary around Sam? It was as if he really thought Sam would hurt her.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Gabe said.

“I’m sure.” She wasn’t sure at all, but her brother looked so concerned that she didn’t want to make a big deal of it. She hadn’t felt comfortable in the water for years. Being in the pool made her feel vulnerable—a feeling she avoided in any way possible.

“Don’t be such a mother hen, Gabe,” Belle said.

Skye felt awful for more than Gus’s attack. She didn’t want to be the cause of an argument between her brother and someone she hoped would be her sister-in-law. She stood and pasted a big smile on her face. “Yeah, Gabe. Don’t be such a mother hen. Gus, stay.”

She forced herself to walk to the diving board, mount it and execute what she hoped was a perfect jackknife into the deep end of the pool. Slicing cleanly into the water felt wonderful. A ton of old memories flooded her, good ones, as she pushed up and broke the surface. She hadn’t forgotten how to dive.

Or swim, she thought as she began a slow crawl down the length of the pool. When she got to Sam she stopped.

“I’m really sorry about Gus attacking you. When I screamed, he thought you were hurting me. Is your arm still okay?”

“Not a problem.” He smiled.

She returned his smile. “Good.” She shoved the heel of her hand through the water and splashed him with a face-full of water. Then she laughed and surfaced-dived, heading away from him.

He grabbed her foot. She kicked furiously at him and popped to the surface, anxiety almost overwhelming her. She fought the dreadful clawing in her chest, fought the urge to cry out.

“Please don’t grab me,” she said quietly. “I have a thing about being grabbed. It makes me go a little nuts.”

“Sorry,” Sam said, holding up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t know. But I understand. With me it’s being tickled. My brothers used to hold me down and do it. J.J. especially. I become a wild man when anybody tickles me in the ribs.”

“Tell you what,” Skye said. “I won’t tickle you if you won’t grab me.”

“It’s a deal. Sorry I upset you and got your hair wet.”

“It’s okay.” She flipped onto her back and sculled along, enjoying the feel of the water against her skin, and, surprisingly, feeling safe with Sam close by. Maybe it was because he was bigger than life or maybe it was because he was a Texas Ranger, but he exuded an aura of power and control that was extremely comforting as he paddled along beside her.

It was a lovely feeling.

For the first time in many years she felt free to relax and enjoy swimming, an activity that had once been an important part of her life. For that alone, she wanted to hug Sam.

But there were others reasons, too. She laughed.

“What’s funny?”

“Oh, nothing. Everything. Isn’t it a beautiful day?”

ONCE SHE GOT INTO THE WATER, Skye hated to get out, but she was turning into a prune, so she reluctantly dragged herself from the pool and everybody went inside to change. The guys were going to grill steaks and veggies while she and Belle made salad and dressing.

Maria, the cook, and her husband, Manuel, had the weekend off, and Suki and her husband, Ralph, had gone to visit her sister for the weekend. Only Flora and the two couples were around—except for the guards, who were always on the grounds.

When she came downstairs, Skye found her mother in the kitchen with Pookie and Tiger, her tiny Yorkshire terrier, dancing around her feet.

“I just put the icing on a chocolate sheath cake,” Flora said. “Maxine is picking me up any minute.”

“Aren’t you going to stay for dinner?” Skye asked.

“No, dear. Maxine and Bess and I are driving over to San Marcos for dinner. It’s Bess’s birthday. Didn’t I tell you?”

“It must have slipped my mind. The cake looks scrumptious.”

“Mmm,” said Belle as she joined them. “I adore chocolate.” She bent and scooped up Pookie, who had taken an immediate liking to Belle. “You are such a cutie pie, Pookie. I can’t believe you belong to Sam.”

“I’d be willing to part with her if you want her,” Sam said as he joined them.

“Sorry. Animals aren’t allowed in my townhouse.”

Gabe walked in. “Move back here, and you can have all the animals you want.”

Belle merely rolled her eyes at him.

The doorbell rang, and Flora said, “That must be Maxine. I’ll be going now. I should be back by nine.”

“I’ll walk you to the door and get the alarm,” Gabe said.

Skye kissed her mother’s cheek, and Sam followed suit. Flora looked extremely pleased by his gesture.

“Don’t you ladies get into any trouble now,” Sam said.

Flora laughed and patted his cheek. “I can’t make any promises, dear boy.”

Gabe and Belle walked out with Flora, leaving Skye and Sam alone in the kitchen with the dogs.

“My mother likes you,” Skye said.

“Good. I like her, too. And I like her daughter.”

For a moment Skye couldn’t make herself look up from the ears of corn she’d taken from the fridge. Then she told herself she was being as silly as a teenager. She smiled. “Do you?”

“Yes, ma’am, I do.” He touched her chin with his knuckle.

Gus growled.

Sam sighed and moved his hand. “Need any help with that corn?”

“Sure. We usually grill it in the shucks, but we have to remove the silks.”

Sam picked up an ear and skinned back the shuck. “Like that?”

“Exactly. But let me get some newspaper to catch the mess.”

“Wonder what happened to Gabe and Belle?”

Skye laughed. “Bet they’re making out in the entryway.”

“I wouldn’t cover that bet.”

By the time Gabe and Belle rejoined them, the corn was ready for the grill. The guys tended to the steaks while Belle and Skye handled the rest of the meal, including skewering an assortment of marinated vegetables for the barbecue.

In no time, their meal was done, and they were sitting around the table enjoying the food they’d prepared.

“I can’t believe that you’re not eating a single piece of this rib eye,” Sam said. “It’s fantastic.”

“Ugh!” Skye said. “Looks gross to me. Sure you won’t have more grilled zucchini?”

“Point taken.”

Skye glanced at Gus and smiled. She caught Sam’s attention and motioned toward her dog. Pookie was cuddled up next to Gus, sleeping.

“Looks like Gus has a new admirer,” Gabe said.

“He’s been awfully patient with her nipping and tumbling over him,” Belle added.

“With Tiger around, he’s used to it,” Skye said. “Plus he’s around rambunctious animals all the time at the clinic.”

“Yes,” Sam said. “It’s only me he doesn’t like.”