Page 47 of Texas Daze (Texas Montgomery Mavericks)

Eli’sdoorbellrang.

“Can you get that?” he called from the master bathroom. “I’ll be there in aminute.”

Marti opened the door. A tall, slender woman dressed in an expensive-looking suit gave her a quizzical look. She looked to be in her thirties but Marti wasn’t really sure. However, she was sure that the woman reeked of money andclass.

“I must have the wrong address. I’m looking for Dr. EliBoone.”

“No, you have the right address. Hold on. I’llgethim.”

Marti left the woman standing on the porch while she hurried to the master bedroom. “Eli. There’s a woman at the front door lookingforyou.”

The bathroom door opened. “What’s sheselling?”

“Oh, trust me. She’s not sellinganything.”

“Did you getaname?”

“Nope.”

He sighed and walked to the door. “Mother. What are youdoinghere?”

Still in the bedroom, Marti shut her eyes in embarrassment. His mother? She’d left his mother standing on theporch.

“Hello, Elias,” his mother said in a smooth voice. “I didn’t think you’d have company so early intheday.”

“Company? Oh, you mean Marti. Where is she? Marti! Come meet mymother.”

Marti finger combed her hair, straightened her shirt and tugged at the hem of her shorts. She was not dressed to meet hismother.

She reentered the living room positive her face was flaming red. “I am so sorry, Mrs. Boone. If I had known you were Eli’s mother, I wouldn’t have left you standing on theporch.”

Mrs. Boone smiled. “I understand.” She held out a hand. “I’m TessaBoone.”

“Sorry,” Eli said. “Mother, this is Marti Jenkins, a very good friend. She has been wonderful helping me settle in. Marti, this is my mother TessaBoone.”

Marti shook her hand and said, “Nice to meet you.” She looked at Eli. “I’d better run. There are things I need togetdone.”

“Oh, you work?” Mrs. Booneasked.

“Work?” Eli slung his arm around Marti’s shoulders. “She is running the family cattle ranch while her parentsareaway.”

“How nice,” Mrs. Boone said. “An honest-to-goodness cowgirl. Don’t see many of those from where we’re from,right,Eli?”

He squeezed Marti’s shoulders. “That’s what makes her special. Now, not that I’m not thrilled to see you, Mother but what are youdoinghere?”

Mrs. Boone glanced at Marti and back to Eli. “I brought you some news and I thought you might enjoy hearing it inperson.”

“Great. Whatisit?”

She looked at Marti again and said, “We can talk later. I don’t want to bore your friend withbusinesstalk.”

Marti might be only an honest-to-goodness cowgirl, but she was smart enough to know when it was time to skedaddle. “No problem. I was just getting ready to leave.” She stepped from under Eli’s arm. “I’ll talk to you later, Eli. Nice to meet you, Mrs.Boone.”

As soon as she made it out the front door, she sighed with relief. Wow, talk about awkward. She rounded the corner of the house to where she’d lefthercar.

“Shit, shit, shit, shit,” she muttered. Her purse, with her car keys, was in Eli’s office. The last thing she wanted to do was walk back into that house. “Think, Marti, think.” A figurative light bulb flashed. They’d hauled the deck chairs inside last night because of the threat of rain. Was it possibly still unlocked? She crossed her fingers and said a prayer. Then, she eased up onto the back deck and tried the handle. The door opened noiselessly. She entered and was stopped short by the loudvoices.

“Mother, that’snotfair,”

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