Page 12 of Texas Daze (Texas Montgomery Mavericks)

Her heart cartwheeled. She squeezed his arm. “And here I was thinking that being on the arm of such a handsome guy would make all my friend jealous.” She waved to Delene across the room. “As far as I can see, my plan isworking.”

He gave her a warm smile. “Those poor other people in the room just having to make do with their dates after you and I snagged thebestones.”

“You know it.” She laughed, not remembering a time lately when she felt so carefree. Last fall’s broken engagement had hit her hard, personally and emotionally. “Where are wesitting?”

Pulling a card from inside his jacket, he said, “Tablefive.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Near the front. Now I amimpressed.”

He laughed and let her lead the way toward the front of the room. After they found table five, he asked, “Can I get you adrink?”

“Please. Dirtymartini.”

“Brave choice.” He touched her bare shoulder, his fleeting caress stirring the lava pit of lust inside. “Berightback.”

She set her purse on the table. There were no other patrons sitting there at the moment but there were a couple of clutch purses similartohers.

“Now, don’t tell me we are lucky enough to have Ms. Marti Jenkins at our table,” a masculine Texas voicedrawled.

She turned and spun into the arms of Jason Montgomery. “Jason! What a nice surprise.” She pulled his wife in for a hug. “Lydia. You look wonderful. I wondered if you’d be able to get away from the kidstonight.”

Jason and Lydia had adopted her sister’s children after a horrible accident took their parents’ lives. Then they’d had a baby of their own withinayear.

Lydia laughed. “We are so lucky to both have parents here. My folks have the children. Jason’s folks have the rest of the Montgomerygrandchildren.”

“Oh my goodness,” Marti said. “That must make for a wild house thisevening.”

“They love it,” Jason said. “Go figure.” He looked at his wife. “Drink?”

“Red wine,please.”

He wandered off toward the bar as she and Lydia were joined by Paige Montgomery, Lydia’s sister-in-law, married to Cash Montgomery. Their conversation quickly drifted off onto the dresses worn for the evening. The men came back carrying drinks and the three couples took their seats, which left two open seats at thetable.

“Any other Montgomerys joining us?” Martiasked.

“Not that I know of,”Jasonsaid.

Cash shook his head. “Nope. The rest of them are on the other side of the room. Heaven knows I see enough of them at Sunday lunches. I don’t want to see them on Saturdaynighttoo.”

The group at the table chuckled while Jason playfully slugged Cash’s arm. Shortly, a tall man with a limp and a petite lady joined the table. As one, all the men stood for the newwoman.

“Gracious,” she said in a thick Southern accent. “I’m so glad the Montgomery men were taught their manners.” She tapped Eli’s arm. “And you, sir, where areyoufrom?”

“New York, ma’am,”Elisaid.

“Ah, a Yankee in our midst,” she replied withagrin.

“Only visiting,” he assured her. “We are not invading, or at leastnotyet.”

Her laugh was softandgay.

Marti felt the urge to pop Dr. Cora Bell Lambert. How dare she be petiteandcute!

“I believe some of you know my date. Dax Cooper. Dax, this is Marti Jenkins. She owns the ranch that backs up to the Landry place. I don’t believe I know your Yankee,Marti.”

Marti forced a smile on her face but when she turned toward Eli, the forced smile melted into a genuine one. “This is Dr. Eli Boone. He’s here covering for Hank Kelley while he does something. What isagain,Eli?”

“An advanced training experience,” he explained to thetable.

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