Page 27 of A Texas Hero

“Well, who can blame you? But you’ve had crushes before. It will work itself out.”

“A crush on my favorite musician who stopped in town and gave me an autograph and a selfie is not the same thing. Naturally, that worked itself out. Archer is with me every day, all day. That is hard to resist.”

“Do you have to resist?”

Zoey had been considering this logically. Yes, technically, he worked for her father, but in another way, a more important way, he worked for her. And the problem with all that workplace attraction was that she did not want to be one of those women who took advantage of the situation. For instance, she’d never ask her gardener out on a date. Of course, he was a fifty-something-year-old man, but still. She would never.

“Honestly, this is going to be tough. But I don’t want to get sued for workplace harassment.” Zoey popped a kernel in her mouth.

“The workplace being everywhere you go?”

Twyla had a good point. Their association was the real issue. He had a job to do, and lord only knew, he took it seriously. She’d have to be patient and wait until he’d finished the job and then tell him how she felt. If only she knew whether he felt the same way. He was a mystery to her.

“You haven’t told anyone but Noah that I have a bodyguard, have you?”

“No. Why?”

“I don’t want people to know. That’s my business. And having a bodyguard makes it sound like the whole thing with Scott is far more serious than it is.”

“What do people think now? That you hired security for the boutique?”

“Some thought I’d hired a model, which wasn’t a bad idea. He drew quite a few customers just standing there. But eventually we agreed that I’d pretend he’s my new employee. All he’s done so far is give women advice.”

Twyla snorted. “I bet he loved that.”

“Oh, he was irritated as hell. You should have been there. It was great!”

“You are so evil.”

“It isn’t just his looks that attract me, though. He’s just…he told me about his family, and he loves his mother and his sisters. You can just tell by the way his eyes light up when he talks about them. I love a man who respects the women in his life.”

“It’s a good sign.”

“I saw him at the hospital yesterday,” Zoey said. “And he saw me coming out of the cancer ward. He was worried about me, but I explained everything. Then he wouldn’t tell me why he was there.”

“Did he follow you there?”

“No, he thought I was staying home all day and he’d been cleared to go to an appointment. He was pretty surprised to see me there. There’s something mysterious about him, Twyla. He’s got a secret, and I can tell it’s a big one.”

“He’s not married, is he?”

“Girl, you know I asked that first thing. There’s no one missing him while he’s in town. I’m telling you, how is a man like that single? It’s a mystery!”

“Mysteries are intriguing.”

“Yes, and that’s the word for him. Intriguing.”

“And hot.” Twyla giggled. “Like, Noah-level hot.”

“What?” Noah’s voice could be heard in the distance. “I’m in the kitchen!”

Twyla giggled. “Nothing, baby. I’m just talking to Zoey!”

Zoey heard a sound like that of a growling tiger and realized it was Twyla’s evil cat. Only Twyla would keep a mean cat.

“What is that sound? It sounded like he just hissed, ‘Feed me or die.’”

“I already fed him.” Twyla turned away from the phone. “He must not have liked it.”