Page 8 of Javier

“Do you want to talk too, Jav?”

“No.”

Sammi threw an arm around the big man’s waist. “Well, I want you to.”

“Fine,” Javier said gruffly, pushing his glass at the younger man. “Top me off, will you Jack?”

Memphis was fascinated by how Javier acquiesced to Sammi and the fact that he had an open tab at the bar. What was she missing?

The three of them moved indoors and up the stairs, taking a short hallway into an office. Sammi shut the door, pulled a green drink from the mini fridge, and sat at an exquisite metal desk that looked nothing like anything else Memphis had seen in the establishment. The top was glass and spotless, except for a lovely sleek table lamp.

Memphis inspected the room. Neatly stacked papers and folders, along with a large, framed photo of Sammi and others, including Javier, topped a modern black credenza behind the desk. Original art hung on the walls. A large whiteboard was neatly graphed and filled with what appeared to be inventory orders. A lush wool rug covered the hardwood floor. It was a woman’s space. Did Sammi operate the Wake?

“Sit.” Sammi smiled and inclined her white head at the other chairs. Leaning forward, she sent coasters toward Memphis and Javier. “Memphis, why don’t you tell us more. Jav and I haven’t heard from Ransom in decades. We had no idea he had a daughter.”

“And a son. My brother is thirteen months younger than me. Our mother died after giving birth to him.” She took a slow deep breath to steady herself in the silence and their stares. “Pops always told us that he and Mama were happy during their short time together. They met at a campground that he stopped at after leaving here. He said their love was instant. They got hitched later that week at a courthouse in Memphis, which is how I got my name.”

“Tennessee?” Sammi spoke.

“Yes. From there they ventured to Texas where Mama’s folks lived.”

Javier slumped in his seat and crossed his arms, displaying an air of boredom. He drained his glass.

Sammi rose and pulled a bottle of water from the fridge. She unscrewed the top, handed it to him, and reclaimed her seat.

“Thanks, Sam.” He sealed his lips around it, the deep dimples stealing the show as he took a long drink.

What would those lips feel like on mine?Memphis squirmed in her seat.Stop it.

He studied Memphis through narrowed eyes. “And?”

“Uh … Pops and Mama moved in with Papaw and Mamaw. I came along, then Eben. We stayed. My grandparents died and willed the ranch to Pops.”

“Thanks for the history,” Javier said snidely, earning glares from herandSammi.

He smirked but spoke more evenly. “Whydid Ransom ask you to come here?”

Sammi’s brow furrowed as she looked from Javier to Memphis.

“He’s dead, Sam.” Javier filled in.

Sammi’s sharp intake of breath was followed by silence.

“Pops had concerns about Creed Ranch. He—” She glanced down to her lap, clenching and unclenching her hands, fighting the tears burning in her throat. Her voice cracked. “We lost him three months ago. Cancer.”

Sammi rose again and came around. She bent over, put an arm around Memphis’s shoulders, and squeezed. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.”

Sammi’s kindness broke Memphis’s the fragile control her emotional dam. Tears erupted. She had to leave before the ugly crying set in and bolted from the room, out of the Wake, and then jogged down the dark street toward the inn. It wasn’t that far.

She was halfway to the inn when a deep-throated rumble sounded in the distance behind her. She stepped to the sidewalk, feeling safer among the scattered homes and the growing ambient light.

The rumble grew louder and soon it was next to her. “Slow down.” A man yelled.

It was him. Javier. She stopped and faced him, her chest heaving and skin damp from crying more than from exertion, her face wet with tears. She wiped them away and studied him as he slowed.

The silvery mane only enhanced how handsome he was. He had trimmed the length of his beard since this morning; it was now a sexy salt-and-pepper stubble. His naked image resurfaced in her head—sheer magnificence. All that delicious muscle and ink ...holy fuck. Carnal longing erupted in every single one of her cells.

“You shouldn’t be out running in the dark. It’s not safe. Nothing you’re wearing is reflective. You could get hit by a vehicle or a bike.” He scowled at her flip-flops. “How can you even run in those fucking things?”

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