A Texas Family Reunion

“Nothing as far as I’m concerned. But his father came over from Eastern Europe when Pete was a little boy. He’s a U.S. citizen now, but he wasn’t born here.”

“I don’t care.”

“But Mom would. I just wanted to point that out. Anyway, is Pete interested in you?”

“I don’t know. I hope so. I thought you and I could go out and celebrate my new job and…and you could ask Pete to come.”

“Were you going to ask Mom?”

“No, I just meant you and me and maybe Alex.”

“Alex would probably have a date with that cop.” David wasn’t happy about that.

“I don’t think so,” Susan said.

That got David’s attention. But Susan didn’t elaborate, and he wasn’t about to ask. Alex’s love life was none of his business, was it?

Chapter Four

“Alex? I’m sorry to call so late but….”

“It’s okay, David. I hadn’t gone to bed.”

“I need to talk to you about Susan. And I need to ask you for a favor. Can you spare me a night this week? I mean, without canceling a date with that cop?”

Alex drew a deep breath of relief. At first when David started his request, she feared Susan had told him about her breaking up with Neil. “Yes, I suppose I could save a night for you, if it’s necessary.”

“According to Susan, it is. She wants me to suggest we go out to celebrate her new job…and ask Pete to go with us to even out the numbers.”

“Even out the numbers?”

“Ah, you see the problem. Susan and I are two, an even number. That’s why we need you. That would make the numbers uneven and give us a reason to ask Pete to join us. Susan’s kind of interested in him, but doesn’t want to seem too forward at such an early stage.”

“Why don’t you ask one of your dates?”

“I’ve given up dating.”

Alex frowned. “Why?”

“One of them explained that wealthy men were favorites unless they were workaholics. Then they were just boring. I’m a workaholic.”

“Oh, David! That was stupid of her. You’re not boring! You mustn’t give up dating,” Alex told him.

“Thanks, sweetheart, but for right now, I need you to be my date for Susan’s plan to succeed. Okay?”

“All right. I don’t mind helping Susan out.”

“Good. How about tomorrow night?”

“All right.”

After she hung up the phone, Alex thought about her younger years, when she’d tried to get David to notice her. He wasn’t her real cousin, and she’d had a major crush on him. But he’d been much too busy to pay any attention to her—after all, she was more than three years his junior.

So she’d finally turned her attention to boys her own age and found them much more receptive. But she wasn’t exactly booked up. She could go on this fake date as a favor to Susan.

As she was climbing into bed later that night, she realized she hadn’t once thought of Neil since David had called. Maybe she hadn’t gotten over that ridiculous crush, after all.

THE NEXT MORNING, both Will and Carrie congratulated her and Jim on their efficient job for David’s company.

“Carrie, you did as much work as either Jim or me,” Alex told her. “We all worked together so well.”

“Yes, we did, didn’t we?” Carrie agreed. “That just proves that we were smart to hire you.”

“I hope so,” Alex said. “What’s on my plate for today?”

“Will wanted you to start work on this case,” Carrie said, handing her a file. “It’s for one of our insurance companies. If you have any questions about how to proceed after you’ve read the information, just ask me or Jim.”

“Great, Carrie, thanks.” Alex settled at her desk, thinking how much better this was than night duty as a cop.

Later that afternoon Alex was working on the computer, making notes on the man who was apparently trying to con the insurance company, when she got a call from David.

“What time do you get off work tonight?” he asked without preamble.

“We usually close at five,” Alex said, lowering her voice. She didn’t want the others to think that she was a clock watcher.

“So will you be ready if I pick you up at six-thirty?”

“That’s not necessary. I can meet you somewhere.”

“No, it will work better if I take you and Susan in my car. We’re meeting Pete.”

“Where are we going?”

“I thought we’d try Outback. Their steaks are good.”

“So it’s going to be a first-class celebration. Shall I offer to pay half?”

After a momentary pause, David said, “I think I can bankroll this evening, Alex. Any remarks like that would ruin the illusion Susan is trying to create.”

“All right. I won’t say anything like that. But I’ll still be glad to—”

“Your job is to dress like you’re going out on a date with the cop. Only you’ll be with me!”

She was left holding a dead line. He’d hung up on her. Impossible man!

Did he think she wouldn’t wear something nice just because she was going with him? Well, she’d show him. She’d wear that green knit dress that hugged her figure. And she’d wear her sexiest perfume, too. She didn’t think he’d complain then!

“Alex?” Carrie called. “Is anything wrong?”