Chapter 5

“Well?” he finally prompted.

She cocked her head and studied him for long moments. “You’re new here,” she said at last. “You’re one of the Walker boys. Is this week your turn?”

Fuck. Was the whole sordid story common news here?

“I’m Killian.” He held out his hand.

She took it, her warm, soft skin igniting the blood in his veins. Or maybe it was the intense irritation at being the object of common gossip.

“Lexie Choate. Welcome to Red Creek and Heart Starter.”

“So, does everyone in Red Creek know all the grimy details?” he asked.

She gave a slight shrug. “Dusty lived here forever and was always larger than life. When the four of you came for the meeting with the attorney, everyone’s curiosity jumped about a hundred points. Word got out and, yes, you can’t blame people for talking about it. The story is a little unusual.”

“To say the very least.” He couldn’t keep the edge of bitterness from his voice.

A tiny frown creased her forehead. “You all aren’t happy about the money?”

The money. Right.

“It’s all the rest of the baggage that’s hard to swallow. It’s tough to learn at our age that we’re all bastards.”

Shock washed over her face. “Oh, Killian. No one in this town thinks of all of you that way. We loved Dusty. He shared his success with Red Creek and did a lot for this town.”

Killian picked up his cup and took a healthy swallow, even as hot as it was. “That so?”

“Yes, it is. You should take the time to learn about him while you’re here this week.”

“Maybe you could tell me about it over dinner.”

She laughed, a wonderful silvery sound. “You don’t give up, do you?”

“No, ma’am.” He grinned. “Not when it’s something worth having.”

“But you don’t even know me,” she protested.

“That’s what the dinner is for.” He waited with barely controlled impatience for her answer. “You could take the opportunity to tell me about Red Creek.”

Finally she gave a quick nod. “Okay, but only because you’re Dusty’s kin, so I can count on you to be trustworthy.”

His cock sent him an urgent message. Not on your life. He willed it into submission. One thing at a time.

“I’ll take it any way I can get it,” he assured her. “What time is good for you?”

“Seven? I close the shop at five thirty. I need some time to get ready.”

He wanted to tell her she looked ready now. Instead, he said, “Seven is good. You’ll need to give me your address.”

“Not very far. I live upstairs.”

“Nice and convenient. Okay, works for me.”

The bell rang again, and a fairly large group of people crowded inside. Her lunch rush was about to start.

Killian took his plate and half-filled cup to one of the tables and ate slowly, watching Lexie at work. She was cheerful, smiling, joking with people, exchanging personal comments. It was obvious this was a popular place, and everyone in Red Creek loved the owner. And why not? he asked himself. What’s not to love?

He almost hoped she had a hidden personality disorder or was running from the law. Anything to discourage and put a lid on his sudden attack of raging hormones. He might as well have been sixteen again. What the fuck was wrong with him? He was here on serious business, with no time for this stuff. Besides, he had carefully guarded himself all this time from any kind of meaningful situation. Now, it was even more important, knowing he had Dusty Walker’s genes. What kind of husband would he be, when cheating was in his DNA?

Husband? Jesus, Killian. Stupid much?

He gave himself a mental shake, bussed his table, and got in line again.

“Hungry for more?” She grinned.

“Two honey buns to go.”

Now she gave a full-out laugh. “I see Abby’s got you trained your first day on the job.”

“I have to take good care of her. Otherwise, I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“She’s the one to show you. We all believe she’s the one who keeps that office together.”

A sudden, unpleasant thought struck him, one he wasn’t sure he had the nerve to ask.

“Uh, so she worked for Dusty for a long time?”

“Yes, and get your mind out of the gutter.” The frown was back. “They never had anything more than a working relationship.”

He held up his hands. “Sorry. Didn’t mean too imply otherwise.” He took the little box she handed him. “See you at seven.”

“Seven o’clock.”

On his walk back to the office, he mulled the whole thing over, stunned at what had happened. This was so far out of his wheelhouse he couldn’t begin to understand why he’d done it. Since he’d hit puberty, there had been no shortage of women. Ever. He wasn’t a pussy hound, but he knew all he had to do was wink at a female when he was out with the guys and things got going. Maybe he’d taken too much for granted and didn’t appreciate the women who came his way. But Lexie was from a whole different world, and, for her, he needed to clean up his act.

No, what he really needed to do was shut the whole thing down before he got into trouble. He’d suddenly realized when the reality of his heritage came out, he might not be such a bargain for a woman, the money aside. What if he turned out to be a cheater just like Dusty? Besides, he wasn’t going to be around here long. He had no intention of making Red Creek his home, now or ever.

Shit, shit, shit.

Killian’s hands itched to grab the piece of rope he always fiddled with when his thoughts got out of hand. It was his pacifier, his comfort toy, and a lot more. He’d stuck it in a drawer in his desk when he got to the office, keeping it out of sight. Now, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on it. It always helped him think, among other things. Sort out his thoughts and feelings.

Abby grinned at him when he walked back into the office.

“Did you get lunch?”

He shook his head. “Wasn’t that hungry. But I had some great pastries. And here.” He handed her the box. “This is for you.”

She chuckled. “You remembered. You get definite points for this. So I guess you met Lexie. Isn’t she a sweetheart?”

“I asked her out to dinner.” The words fell out of his mouth like stones. Great. Just great.

Elaine stared, her eyes nearly drilling holes through him. “Isn’t that a little fast, cowboy?”

Irritation scratched at him. “Is there a problem?”

She lifted her hands, palms up. “Don’t know. But you’re only here for a week. What happens then?”

Killian didn’t want to make an enemy of this woman whose help he needed so badly, but he also didn’t need a nursemaid or hall monitor.

“It’s dinner, you know. Besides, she seems smart enough to make up her own mind about a date. And that’s all it is, a dinner date.”

Elaine studied him again. “Just watching out for my town.”

“Well, your town seems to know every damn detail of this situation. It didn’t seem to scare Lexie off.” He was starting to get really pissed off. “I should think you’d be glad I’m making friends in this town.”

Elaine finally gave him a smile. “I am. I’m telling you to be straight with her. Don’t promise something you won’t deliver. You don’t even expect to be here after this week.”

“Why don’t we wait and see what happens? If I screw up, you can beat my ass.”

“And you can bet I will.” She sat back in her chair and opened the little box on her desk. “Of course, these honey buns will go a long way toward sweetening me up.”

“One more thing,” he said. “How is it everyone knows all the details about this?”

Elaine shrugged. “Word gets around.”

That apparently was all he was going get for the moment.

“Fine, but I’m not done asking.”

“Meanwhile, how about tackling the latest pile I put on your desk?” She bit into one of the buns, a sure signal the conversation was over.

Lexie didn’t think Killian Walker had been around long enough to scope out the restaurant scene, so she decided she’d suggest a couple of places to him. Casual places.