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“I know I’ve said this before, but I still think…what’s his name again?”
“Craig.”
“The Fish and Game guy?”
“Oh, sorry. Ted.”
Deb dipped her chin in a single curt move. “Right. I still think Ted is more interested in you than the owl.”
Now her brain was clearing up. “And I told you before, that’s ridiculous. We worked together once on a case with Dr. Carter and it was strictly professional. He doesn’t have a thing for me any more than Peg Carter does.”
“How many times did he invite you out to grab a bite to eat?” Now Deb stood tapping her foot.
“Is it a crime to catch a bite to eat with a colleague?”
“No.”
“See? And we never did catch up for lunch, so there.”
Deb sprouted a huge grin. “I rest my case.”
“Now that makes no sense.” Maybe the dazed one was Deb, not her.
“He wants that lunch and is willing to drive out to the middle of nowhere over a protected, but not endangered, bird because you are the one who called him.” Before Kate could open her mouth, Deb held her hand up. “No need to argue. We’ll just wait and see who’s right.”
On a deep sigh, Kate shook her head. “Whatever. In the meantime, I’m heading out for lunch. Not sure when I’ll be back.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“Not quite, just catching up with an old college classmate.”
“Male or female?” Deb was grinning again.
“If you must know, male.”
“Ooh. As in, old flame?”
“As in, never noticed I was alive, but now we’re having lunch.”
Deep lines formed between Deb’s brows. “That makes no sense.”
“No. But it is what it is.” Before Deb could come back at her, Kate grabbed her purse and flung it over her shoulder. “Have to run. We’ll talk more later.”
Deb called after her, “I’m going to hold you to that!”
And that almost scared Kate as much as lunching with a member of the most powerful family in the state of Texas. Almost.
Chapter Five
Not since the premiere of his first feature film had Craig been this nervous. It simply made no sense that a woman he hadn’t seen in well over a decade, and barely knew, was making him sweat like an acne-covered teen on prom night.
To his surprise, rather than live in an easy low-maintenance condo or town home close to downtown like most young singles, Kate was planted in the heart of Houston suburbia. In a lovely older established neighborhood filled with what would have once been called starter homes. Unlike the surrounding brick homes, this house was cement sideboard. A pale, not quite blue, not quite gray house, with dark shutters and flower boxes under the windows filled with red, purple, and orange blooms gave him instant insight into Kate Donovan.
Not only was she determined to save the planet and its inhabitants, she wasn’t afraid to make it a more beautiful place at the same time. A well-manicured lawn and a Pavestone walkway led him to the dark red door with a lion head brass knocker. As he stood rooted to the front porch, debating whether to ring the bell or use the knocker, the door flew open. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He glanced away to the video door bell and Kate nodded.
“It alerted me as soon as you pulled up to the curb.” Tugging at a purse hanging over her shoulder, she took a step forward. “Ready?”
