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He rubbed the bridge of his nose and met her gaze. “What is your motive for being here?”
“To help Bonnie.”
“I call bullshit.” He shook his glass, rattling the ice.
“Then why do you think I’m here?”
“I haven’t figured it out yet.” He started to take a sip of the lemonade and stopped himself. He set the glass on the grass.
“At least now we’re being honest.”
He heard the humor in her tone.
“I’m always honest,” he said.
She brought her insipid gaze on him. He could practically see the wheels turning behind her eyes. “So am I”
Before he could answer, Chow pranced closer, wagging his tail, trying to get her attention. “Come back here, boy,” Raven bit out. “She’s not here to play.”
Chow reared his ears back in disappointment.
“Despite what you must think, I like dogs, just not their misbehaving owners.” She held out her hand to Chow who quickly leaned closer for a scratch behind the ears.
Damn traitorous dog.
Chow had a completely different opinion of her than Raven did. He decided he needed to keep a safe distance and not be tricked by her beauty, or the way her smile lessened the sadness in her eyes.
A moment of hesitation passed and she seemed interested in watching the sun settle some along the mountain tops. He didn’t want to admire her, but Chow wasn’t the only traitorous rat. Raven’s body seemed to have an agenda all its own. She had the most beautiful eyes that reminded him of the deep ocean depths. He’d never been into high maintenance ladies, but in his defense, city blood or not, she had a look about her that teased his senses. Her hair was drying, and the fringed bangs skirted her groomed brows. Her pouty mouth made him think of kisses.
She cleared her throat, drawing him back to the issue at hand. “I understand having an outsider coming into a small community can be maddening, but I assure you, I do have Bonnie’s interests as a priority.” Agitation shown in her expression.
“That’s good because we watch out for our own.”
“I can appreciate that comradery, but the facts are Bonnie’s Bluebonnets is swimming in debt. The business can’t stay afloat much longer.” She swiped her gaze from left to right and sighed. “Please tell me there’s a landline phone somewhere on this property because the only place I found service is in the bedroom.”
“There’s one in the office.”
“Great. At least that’s a start. Are you still fine with showing me around and answering some questions?”
“I don’t know how useful I’ll be but I want to help Bonnie.”
She shifted slightly. “Then we’re on the same page. I can tell you care for her.”
He stretched his gaze to the sky. “She’s a good woman. She needs someone in her corner through all this.”
She rubbed her arms as if she was chilled. “I’m guessing that’s a jab toward me again. I’m the monster that is going to destroy everything. You have me wrong, Raven.”
Chickensbuck-buck-buckedand Besty the cowmooedas if they sensed the tension.
“Do I?”
“Yes, you do. And I plan to show you.”
Chapter Ten
Parker tried like hell to keep her gaze from roaming, but in her defense, he was shirtless and if that didn’t do her in his charming smile and eyes probably would. He was handsome. No, actually, he was drop dead gorgeous with hair so thick and dark that the silver strands throughout were quite a contrast. The curled ends touched the nape of his neck, teasing his skin. His olive complexion made his eyes more prominent and the surrounding long, lush lashes were what women back in Chicago paid hundreds of dollars to have. His nose was a bit crooked at the bridge but his nice lips had a natural sexy curve, which was another quality that was all the rave back home. Whiskers shadowed his wide jaw. She wasn’t short, not at five six, but he stood at least nine-ten inches above her and was all muscle.
The left side of his face, down his neck and on his chest had scarring from what looked like burns. She was curious.
