Helen Lacey - Her Secret Texas Valentine

She smiled. “I’m just swaying.”

“That’s all you gotta do, sweetheart.”

She smiled again, and the expression reached him way down low. It had been forever since he’d danced with a woman, and he’d forgotten how much he liked it. There was something intoxicating about the way they moved together, and he suspected she felt it, too. Valene was unashamedly honest and the knowledge caused a jolt of shame to slice between his shoulder blades. He needed to come clean, to tell her the truth about himself. But his resistance lingered. He’d already had one woman rip his heart out—he wasn’t ready to allow someone else in to do the same. Not just yet.

And he didn’t want to ruin the mood or change the dynamic of the evening. He liked that she hadn’t made a big deal about his life or occupation. He liked that she hadn’t balked outside the honky-tonk and refused to go inside, even though he was sure she’d never set foot in a place like it before. She had gumption and spine and was a strong, independent woman, probably stronger than she knew.

They danced for a while, all slow numbers that suited him and the mood that had developed between them. When the music finally changed to an upbeat number, he took her hand and led her back to their table.

“There are peanut shells on the floor,” she remarked when he returned with a drink for them both, light beer for him and bottled water for her.

“It’s a cowboy bar,” he said and smiled. “Goes with the territory.”

“Until someone slips on a shell and then sues the proprietor.”

Jake watched her over the rim of his glass. “That wouldn’t happen.”

“Cowboy code, huh?” she suggested, brows up a little.

“I guess you could call it that. You know, we’re not so different from you city folk. We eat, dance, make love...do all the things that the urban dwellers do.”

She smiled so sexily he had to shift in his seat. Damn, she was hot.

“That’s reassuring,” she said quietly and unscrewed the lid off her drink. “We’ve mastered two out of three.”

She was flirting. Unabashedly and provocatively. And Jake was so turned on he could have hauled her into his arms and kissed her without hesitation.

“You’re very beautiful, Valene,” he said quietly. “Probably more than you know. But I’m not going to rush into anything, okay?”

He felt like a conceited fool for saying it...but he wanted the air clear between them. He didn’t want her thinking he was some randy cowboy who simply wanted to get laid and have a little fun. Well, of course he wanted to have fun, and he wanted to get laid...but he also wanted to get to know her. The real Valene Fortunado. Not just the sweet, if somewhat spoiled, party-girl image she had on social media. He’d checked her out, of course, having no choice once he’d told Cassidy who she was. His sister had brought up page after page of highlights from Valene’s life and lifestyle and forced Jake to take a look.

He wondered if she’d done the same. He didn’t have any personal social media accounts, but if she dug a little deeper, she’d find him easily enough, through articles and interviews and local business affiliations. Valene was a smart and resourceful woman, and it occurred to Jake that she might know exactly who he was, and all about his portfolio and net worth. It unnerved him a little, since she’d bleated on about honesty and transparency. But he didn’t think she was underhanded. On the other hand, he hadn’t believed Patrice was a liar or a cheat, either—until his life and marriage spectacularly blew up in his face.

“Okay,” she said softly. “To be honest, Jake, I’m not the rushing type. I don’t jump into bed with every man I meet.”

He knew that, of course. There was a sweetness and an innocence about Valene that simmered underneath the surface. And she was young, just twenty-four. Plus, she’d clearly been protected and watched over all her life. He was glad about that, hating to think that she’d ever suffered adversity or real heartbreak.

“Then we agree...slow is best?”

She nodded and smiled in a way that made his insides contract. “Sure...just not too slow, okay, Jake?”

Laughter rumbled in his chest, and he spent the next half hour listening to her talk about dancing, the best places to get coffee in town, her beloved dog, and her close relationship with her sisters and how much she missed them since one had moved to Austin to be with the man she loved, and the other had recently married and commuted between Houston and Austin.

“Maddie and Zach are the perfect couple,” she said. “He gets her need to be in charge of everything and everyone, and even though he’s as business focused as she is, he has a good sense of fun. And Carlo and Schuyler are perfect for one another, too. He knows how to deal with her craziness. All my siblings are either married or engaged now...well, except for Connor. I think he’s determined to never fall in love.”

“What about you?” he asked, knowing her answer even before she replied. But caution told him that Valene Fortunado might be in love with the idea of being in love.

“Of course I want to be in love,” she replied. “But I don’t want it to be too distracting. With everything that’s going on with the family business, I need to stay focused.”

“Is something wrong with your business?” he asked, his gaze narrowing.

She shrugged, looking as though she’d said too much. “Nothing we can’t handle.”

“Big business can be tough.”

She nodded. “But I like the challenge. And Maddie is giving me more opportunity to shine, which is great. In fact, she and Zach have recently let me take the lead on signing a really important client. Which we need.”

Jake backed off, but he made a mental note to do a little investigating. From all accounts, the Fortunado family was wealthy and successful. If that was a facade, he figured he needed to know before he got in any deeper with Valene.

“You father is a self-made man, I presume?” he asked quietly.

She shrugged. “Kind of. He was lucky enough to have had a lottery win some years ago. He invested wisely, made a few good decisions and started the real estate business. The business grew, and we now have offices in San Antonio and Austin as well as Houston.”

It occurred to Jake that Kenneth Fortunado was much like himself. Jake had invested the sum he’d inherited from his father’s life insurance, plus the money he’d earned working at the ranch and also packing shelves at Mason’s Minimart just outside Fulshear. Five years later he had enough to make an offer when the ranch came up for sale. A few years and some sound business decisions later, including his investment in the lucrative Wagyu beef market, and he owned the ranch outright and had more money in the bank than he could ever spend.

“You admire him a lot?”

She nodded. “I admire people who make their dreams come true. My dad did that and created a legacy that will continue to grow. My sister Maddie is now CEO alongside her husband, so the business is in good hands.”

“And what are your ambitions?”

“To be the best I can be,” she replied. “At whatever I do. When I graduated college, I went directly into the business and haven’t regretted it. I enjoy the work and get to spend my days helping people find the home of their dreams. It’s a win-win.”

Jake realized he could easily get hooked on her passion for life. She was definitely a glass-half-full kind of girl. He liked that about her. The truth was, he liked everything about her.

They stayed for a little while longer, but by ten she said she’d had enough. Jake helped her into her coat and then walked her from the bar and back down the street. Once they reached her car, she fished inside her small bag for her keys and unlocked the vehicle.