own couture house of design to dress you?”
“I’m quite happy in old blue jeans, taking care of myself,” she pointed out. “People who marry for money, earn it.”
“Wise, and so young,” he chuckled.
“I’m not that young,” she returned. “I hope your bodyguard sleeps light. The victim’s wife sounds like a determined assassin.”
“The room is wired like dynamite,” he said with a faintly smug glance. “If she tries anything, she’ll be doing some very hard time, whether he lives or not. And I got a warrant, to make sure it would hold up in court.”
“Good for you. People who kill for money are even worse than people who marry for it,” she said solemnly, and she knew more about that than he might realize. She’d been sold for money by her own grandfather, who would do anything for money, like the cousin who was after her inherited stocks and bonds. “Money is of so little consequence in the scheme of things,” she said absently. “I never understood the obsession some people have with it.”
“You’d have fit right in with those beatniks you were telling Jackie about,” he pointed out.
She laughed. “I actually prefer coffeehouses to restaurants. There is the matter of radical politicism that the beatniks were famous for. I don’t want to blow up things.”
“I wish the world at large shared that sentiment. We’ve had far too many people who think violence is the answer to any problem.”
“Too much television,” she said, standing erect. “Fie on video games and wrestling matches and other provokers of radicalism!”
“Go the hell to bed,” he muttered.
“Just quoting the pundits,” she said defensively, and with a grin.
“Like they know anything,” he scoffed. “Opinions are like—”
“Yes, I know,” she interrupted, “and everybody’s got one.” She chuckled.
“Aren’t your feet cold?” he asked, frowning at her bare feet under the long concealing gown and robe.
She wiggled her toes. “A little, but I love shag carpet,” she said. “It feels so good to walk on.”
He laughed. “I’ll bet you stand outside in thunderstorms.”
“How did you know?”
“It takes one to know one,” he said simply. “I was driving from Jax to St. Augustine, my mind on a case, and I didn’t realize that the only vehicles I was meeting were cable and phone trucks and emergency personnel. It wasn’t until I parked at the courthouse in St. Augustine that I realized why. There were gale-force winds.”
She laughed. “I’ve done that, too,” she said. “Stood on the beach and felt the wind whipping through my hair while the waves slammed against the shore, whitecaps foaming. I loved it.”
He cocked his head, studying her. “What beach?”
She had to think fast. It had actually been on the Riviera. “Biloxi,” she fished up.
“That’s not how you pronounce it,” he pointed out, and now he looked suspicious. “It’s pronounced ‘bi-lux-ie’ by the natives.”
“Well, I’m not a native and I can pronounce it how I like,” she said with a grin.
“I guess.”
“Anyway, I liked the beach at Panama City best. Such a shame how much those cities on the Gulf of Mexico have changed after all the devastating hurricanes.”
“Everything changes,” he pointed out. “It’s the only real constant in life.”
“I like change.”
His dark eyebrows rose.
“Quarters best, but I’m partial to dimes also.”
He glared at her.
She held up both hands. “Right. Bed. Please, no more nonstop cursing. And I hope your client survives, if for no other reason than to see his wife being shredded by the prosecuting attorney.”
He chuckled. “Our DA would have her for lunch, without ketchup.”
“I expect he’s a friend of yours,” she said. “You know, sharks congregating together...? Going away now!” she added quickly, turned and made a beeline back into her room.
He waited until the door closed before he started laughing.
Don’t miss Notorious by Diana Palmer, available now wherever Harlequin books and ebooks are sold.
It’s Christmas and rancher Creed Cooper must work with his rival, Wren Maxfield—and tempers flare! But animosity becomes passion and, now, Wren is pregnant. Creed wants a marriage in name only. But as desire takes over, this may be a vow neither can keep...
Read on for a sneak peek at Claiming the Rancher’s Heir by New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates!
Copyright © 2020 by Diana Palmer
New York Times bestselling author
DIANA PALMER
welcomes you to read the fiery Wyoming Men series!
True love is in store for these cowboys.
“Palmer proves that love and passion can be found even in the most dangerous situations.”
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Claiming the Rancher’s Heir
by Maisey Yates
One
Creed Cooper was a