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“Is something wrong?”
His eyes narrowed on her features. “There won’t be if you’ll play along with me…”
CHAPTER SIX
THAT sounded rather cryptic.
Terri swallowed hard. She was so in love with Ben, she didn’t see how she could deny him anything. Yet intuition told her to tread carefully.
He got up from the bed. “Forget I said anything. You’re welcome to stay in here and finish the movie while I deal with Martha.”
“She actually flew down here?” Terri was incredulous. “I mean, I know what she said, but I honestly didn’t believe she’d be that brazen.”
“One of the stewards just informed me she’s on the lower deck waiting for permission to come up.”
“How dare she show her face! What if Parker were here?”
“I suppose psychiatry has a name for it.”
“Why doesn’t your brother fire her?”
“He’s afraid it will cause her to take Parker back to court for more money. My little brother is trying to run a productive cattle business, but her greed has made it difficult.”
Terri’s mind was reeling. “How would my help make any difference to a woman as driven as she is?”
“Since it’s jealousy of you that brought her here in the first place, quite a lot, actually. In fact I have a hunch your cooperation will solve a problem that’s been plaguing the Herrick family for a long time.”
“Well, since you put it that way, I’ll do whatever I can.”
“You’re sure?”
She flashed him a puzzled glance. “For an entrepreneur of your ilk, I’m surprised at your hesitation.”
His white smile dazzled her. “I haven’t heard the word ‘ilk’ used in ages.”
“Your teasing is wasted on me. When I say I’ll do something, you don’t have to worry I won’t follow through,” she declared earnestly.
“I know that,” he said in a solemn tone. “Come on.” She followed him out of the room and down the hall. “Let’s get this over with. I’ll send the elevator for her.”
“Where should I be when she arrives?”
“Why don’t you go in the kitchen and fix us some drinks.”
“All right.”
With both ears listening for the sound of voices, Terri put ice in the tumblers and took three colas from the fridge. Grabbing some napkins, she placed everything on the tray.
Too bad she hadn’t stopped by her room to put on more lipstick and brush her hair. She could have changed out of her jeans and blouse into something more formal. But it was too late now. A woman’s voice carried through the rooms to the kitchen.
Terri picked up the tray and headed for the living room. She had to admit she was curious to meet the woman who’d married Parker to stay close to Ben. You never really knew about people until you met face-to-face. The Houston secretary who’d phoned Terri in the beginning had sounded so nice.
Ben saw Terri emerge from the dining room and urged her to join them. Her gaze switched from him to the woman seated at the end of the couch next to his chair. In a word, Martha Shaw was darling.
Of average height and weight, she’d swept her long brunette hair back in a ponytail. Her big brown eyes and dimples, that broad white smile—all those elements tended to remind Terri of the girl-next-door type. In an apple-green top and pants, she could see why Parker had been so attracted. Why any man would be. Ben appeared to have been the exception.
“We meet at last,” Terri murmured. She offered his guest a drink.
“Yes.” The other woman reached for a glass. “Who would ever have dreamed it was Ben lying there instead of your husband? I’m sorry to hear about his death.”
