Lone Star Burn_Undercover Heart Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Text copyright ©2016 by the Author.

  This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by RCardello LLC. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Lone Star Burn remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of RCardello LLC, or their affiliates or licensors.

  For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds

  UNDERCOVER

  HEART

  Judy Kentrus

  Thank you for joining me in Ruth Cardello’s Kindle World. This is my second visit to Fort Mavis, Texas. I had so much fun writing my first book, Love on Tap, I came back for a second visit.

  Erin MacKenna and Caleb Thompson, two of my own characters, fit perfectly in Ruth’s Lone Star family. I hope you enjoy their funny, sexy, heartwarming romance. What would a holiday romance be without a visit from a heavenly angel named Daniel?

  To find out more about my books and current release,

  visit my website and sign up for my newsletter.

  I love to hear from my readers.

  Judykentrus.com

  UNDERCOVER HEART

  Chapter 1

  “Momma, Santa Claus isn’t real.” Danni shoved the last of an Oreo cookie into her mouth and washed it down with some of the milk in her glass.

  Erin had been concentrating so hard on finishing her lesson plans for her third grade class, her daughter’s unexpected announcement was somewhat startling; then again, she shouldn’t be surprised by some of the things that came out of her eight-year-old daughter’s mouth. She immediately saved her work and moved her laptop to the other side of the kitchen table.

  A straight row of strawberry-blond bangs brushed Danielle’s eyebrows and Erin made a mental note to schedule an appointment for a trim at Curls and Cuts. “Where did you hear that?”

  “Today, on the school bus. Jace and me were talking about what we wanted Santa to bring us. Two of the older kids laughed and said we were babies ‘cause we still believe in Santa. So is it true?”

  Admitting the truth would surely kill her holiday spirit and break both their hearts. Most kids Danielle’s age no longer believed in Santa, so this would probably be the last year she would enjoy her childhood fantasy. Erin pulled from her store of mommy-isms to deflect away from the question. “Sometimes older kids can be mean.”

  Danni split her second Oreo and licked the cream filling in the center. “I was wondering. Last year I asked Santa for a horse, but I didn’t get one. I prayed to God, too.”

  “I’m sure Santa thought long and hard about bringing you a horse. We live in a small house and our backyard isn’t very big. You go to the Double C to ride their horses with Jace and your other friends. Besides, I’m a school teacher and don’t know the first thing about taking care of a horse.”

  Danni shrugged a shoulder. “Do you think Santa talks to God?”

  Erin wasn’t surprised her daughter wasn’t finished discussing ‘is there a Santa’ issue.’ “I can’t honestly answer that question because I’m not privy to Santa’s thoughts, but most of us talk to God. Why all these questions?”

  “Last week in Sunday school, our teacher said when we say our prayers each night and ask God for something special, He may not always be able to give us what we want, but He is always watching over us. And sometimes, He’ll surprise us and give us something we didn’t ask for. She called it unanswered prayers.”

  “That makes a lot of sense and I totally agree.”

  Danni gave her mother a determined stare that mirrored her mother’s. “Well, that’s what I’m going to do. I won’t pray for a horse anymore and God and Santa will send me one since I stop asking. I asked God for a new daddy, but He never sent one, either.”

  Heat rushed up the back of Erin’s neck. They rarely, if ever, discussed the issue of her not having a father. A number of years ago, Danni asked what happened to her daddy and Erin said he was in heaven with God. It was one of the few times she’d avoided the truth. Had her daughter missed having a father that much? There wasn’t even a picture of him in the house. Being a single mom, she should have realized the older Danielle got she’d become more curious and would ask questions about the father she never knew.

  “When did you start praying for a dad?”

  “A couple of months ago. Jace got one and so did my friend Mathew, so I figured I would ask for one, too. My new dad would have to be a cowboy so we could go riding together. We could go fishing and camping and see the Astros.”

  Considering her daughter’s best friends were boys, she was a tomboy through and through. Erin didn’t like fishing because it was too smelly. She’d never gone camping or ridden a horse. Her father had been a staunch Presbyterian minister and she was expected to be a young lady at all times. Hopefully, in another year or two, Danielle would realize she was a girl, and Erin couldn’t wait to take her daughter shopping for dresses.

  She had to give this situation a great deal more thought and noted the time on the microwave. “Enough questions for tonight. We have school tomorrow. Go take your shower, and get ready for bed. Don’t forget to brush your teeth. We’ll read a little more of your Harry Potter book.”

  One chapter later, she said goodnight to Danni and took her own shower. She wiped the steamy haze from the mirror over her bathroom sink with sheets from the roll of paper towel she kept in the linen closet in the bathroom. She looked in the mirror as she brushed the tangles out of the wet locks that hung to the middle of her back. Her father had once said her hair was the color of an autumn sunset with lots of fire and spun gold. She was named Erin because her green eyes came from the leprechauns.

  Her lips had a perfect shape, but it was when she opened her mouth that things got a little dicey. Speaking her mind had never been a problem. She considered herself very organized and disciplined, but one of her pet peeves was with people who didn’t put things back where they belonged. Her father had instilled in her the adage, “If you put something back where it belongs, you would know exactly where to find it the next time.” Danni was starting to get the message.

  Her bedroom was cozy, with two long windows that overlooked their small yard. The partially-open window gave invitation to a skin-chilling breeze. Normally, she found instant comfort snuggling against the double pillows and lightweight quilt in her queen-size bed, but sleep wasn’t coming easily tonight. Her mind was troubled with the conversation she had earlier with Danni. She wanted a new dad.

  Dad number one never really existed. That one night of indiscretion, almost nine years ago, was a total blur. One night of being reckless and wild had resulted in the greatest reward she’d ever received. Danielle.

  Her two friends from college were going on a cruise out of Galveston Island and she met up with them at a bar on the strip. The place was jumping with tourists, as well as the locals, since one of their favorite bands were playing. The girls had a problem finding a place to sit down and three guys offered to share their table. Three girls, three guys…the pairing up had been perfect. They started drinking, and continued to drink, laugh, dance, and party.

  They closed up the place and the couples were having too much fun to call it a
night. One of the guys had a beach house and, throwing caution to the wind, they continued to party. She woke up the next morning in a king-size bed and the guy next to her was sound asleep with a smile on his face. They were both stark naked. She’d never questioned if she’d suffered from a date-rape drug. They’d all been drinking, a lot.

  Mortified at what she’d done, she found most of her clothes on the floor and located her friends in other bedrooms. They high-tailed it out before the guys woke up. A month later she discovered she was pregnant. The other teachers and the principal of her school knew she wasn’t married or seriously involved with anyone. She was too embarrassed and couldn’t admit to jumping into bed, drunk out of her mind, with some guy she’d just met and made up the excuse she’d been artificially inseminated. If her preacher father had been alive, he would have probably disowned her.

  She never told her friends from college about the unplanned pregnancy and to this day, she couldn’t remember the guy’s first name or recall his face. Over the years, she’d prayed for her Mr. Right. When it didn’t happen, she stopped asking. She recalled Danni’s reasoning. Unanswered prayers. Her wonderful, marvelous daughter was her unanswered prayer. Now where was Mr. Right?”

  Caleb Hughes Thompson looked out his wall of windows that overlooked Houston, Texas. From this high up, the people and cars resembled pieces on a Lego board. In a little while, he had a meeting with department heads to review the holiday marketing for their two hundred department stores throughout the country. This would be their biggest push to achieve the company’s financial goal before the end of the year. Their online sales had already surpassed initial projections. He had seven weeks to prove his new marketing strategy would double their in-store sales.

  As of an hour ago, his focus had changed.

  He pushed his glasses to the top of his head and gently brushed his eyelids, trying to erase the burning sensation in his eyes. Crying had never come easy, but his body had sought some relief. The letter he’d just been given from his deceased brother would change his life, his priorities. His future.

  He walked across the thick carpeting and settled in his high-back leather chair. With a slightly trembling hand, he picked up the letter written in his brother’s own hand six months ago.

  Caleb, since you are reading this, I’m dead. Don’t cry for me. I’ve avoided responsibility, lived my life carefree, just the way I wanted. I knew there would be a high risk in this climbing adventure so I left this letter with our lawyer. You need to sit down before you read further.

  I’m pretty sure I have a daughter.

  Now close your mouth while I explain. About nine years ago, Ned, Paul, and I met three girls in a bar in Galveston Island. I know I slept with one of them because my pillow smelled very sweet. I also found a pair of pink panties.

  Ryan worked at the Double C before he took the bar exam and sometimes helped with the kids when they rode the horses. This little girl fell off her horse and hurt her foot. Ryan removed her boot and sock and was shocked to see the little hook in her pinky toe. He made a joke and asked her if she got her cute toe from her mother or father. She said her father because her mom had pretty toes. The little girl had a great laugh and called it her candy cane toe, the same thing we called our toes at her age. She was about six or seven and had reddish-brown hair. Unfortunately, Ryan never got her name. I haven’t lost my mind, but I plan to look for this kid when I get back – if I do.

  You need to try to locate this little girl. I’d start in Fort Mavis since that is where the Double C ranch is located. This is just between us. No lawyers and don’t tell Mom and Dad. Don’t even know if this kid really exists.

  Right now you are cussing me out, calling me irresponsible, why didn’t I use protection, how the hell are you to find a kid that may or may not be your niece?

  Get it, Caleb. Your niece.

  She’s probably the only grandchild Mom and Dad will ever have, unless you decide to become a father at forty-two. Just make sure the kid is okay. If you can confirm she’s my daughter, get to know her. Who knows, some day you might be able to tell her about me. She’ll also be very rich.

  On a personal note from brother to brother, you feed on ambition and success, but you’re choking behind that big-ass desk. Get out of that damn office. Take it from me, it’s time you changed your diet. You’ve got lots of money, but a very lonely future. Find someone to love.

  No one ever took us for twins, but you were the best brother. I never said it much, but I love you Caleb. If St. Peter actually lets me in, I will keep a watch over you. If you are doing something wrong or heading in the wrong direction, I’ll send down a message, better yet, a lightning bolt in the shape of a boot and kick you in the ass.

  Daniel

  Caleb removed his glasses and rubbed his hands over his damp cheeks. Maybe Danny hadn’t been wrong living the vagabond life. He was always warm and giving, a little-known philanthropist, but every day had been an adventure. Was it time he took his brother’s advice and changed his diet?

  He looked around his office with its two walls of spacious windows. His desk held a base computer, laptop, a phone, a yellow pad, and a Mont Blanc pen that cost more than the average person made a week. The space reflected the life of a successful, corporate-driven executive, but it was cold. There were no personal photos, nothing that reflected him personally. He’d never shared with anyone that he liked to build and fly model airplanes. He liked to cook, but never invited anyone to enjoy his culinary art.

  Growing up, his father had joked about Daniel and Caleb being twins and their different personalities. Daniel was the extrovert and challenged life. Caleb, the introvert, rarely shared his thoughts and feelings with others and preferred his own company. Was it time he stepped out of his comfort zone? He also needed to find his brother’s child.

  Before he gave the idea too much thought, he reached for the phone on his desk and hit zero for Tracey, his assistant. “After the board meeting cancel all my appointments. Bradley can handle the staff meetings till the end of the year. Tell him as my second in command he can start earning the big salary I pay him. Make arrangements for the company jet to fly me to an airport closest to Fort Mavis. I’ll need a car, nothing fancy. Call a local realtor and rent a furnished house in a blue-collar neighborhood for the next two months. I’ll be purchasing a burn phone and will let you know the number.” Caleb already knew what his super-efficient assistant’s reaction would be to his off-the-wall request.

  “This doesn’t sound like you. Are you okay? You run your corporate empire from your office. Besides, this is our busiest time of the year.”

  “I’m fine and haven’t lost my mind,” he replied with a soft laugh. “I plan to follow the promotion at the Hughes store in Fort Mavis from start to finish. That information isn’t to be shared, not even with the store manager. You and Brad can call my temporary cell or contact me via email if you have any problems or concerns that should be brought to my attention. Thanks, Tracey, for making this happen so quickly.”

  Now that his plan was in the works he was a little apprehensive of his mission, but his heart felt lighter. He picked up Danny’s letter. “Okay, brother, I’m taking your advice, in a roundabout way. I’ll be expecting a kick in the ass if I screw up.”

  Chapter 2

  Two days later Caleb settled into his temporary home in Fort Mavis. The ranch-style home was very comfortable, extremely clean. The furniture wasn’t flashy and had a lived-in appearance. The only thing he’d done was had a new queen-size mattress and personal linens delivered from the Houston store. To his delight, Tracey had sent his personal cookware.

  The internet connection was decent and he set up a work space in the second bedroom. The first thing he did was research the school system. If his calculations were correct, his supposed niece was in the third grade and there were three classes in the primary school. So how the hell was he supposed to check out the kids? He’d have to narrow it down by hair color. From there, he didn’t h
ave a clue how he was to proceed. He didn’t want to get arrested as a stalker hanging around the school.

  This morning he planned to tackle his business priority and visit the Fort Mavis store just off Main Street.

  He parked his late model Camry in the large municipal parking lot adjacent to the store. The tops of the parking meters were covered with red bags displaying the words, ‘Free holiday parking, courtesy of Hughes Department Store.’

  He got out of his car and accidentally dropped his keys. Bending over, his eyes settled on the toes of his hand-tooled cowboy boots peeking out from below his new, western-cut jeans. This was the first time Caleb wore the boots Daniel had given him for Christmas two years ago. An aching throb dominated every step. His brother claimed the boots were custom-made but it might take a couple of days for the initial soreness to go away. “Only for you,” he muttered, and walked across the paved parking lot.

  The three-story brick building had been there for sixty years and blended with the well-established town center. Like all the other Hughes stores, the four front windows bore this year’s Currier and Ives theme. He’d been debating if he should go directly to the general manager’s office or visit the store like a normal customer. He decided to go as an undercover boss, and chuckled at the thought.

  The etched glass panels in the old-fashioned revolving door gave him a great deal of pleasure, and he was greeted by festive holiday decorations and traditional music. He passed quickly through the cosmetic department because the sweet fragrances made his eyes water, but slowed his pace through the men and women’s sections. The counter people were courteous and he was pleased to see that pre-Thanksgiving business was brisk. He took the escalator to the second floor and skirted housewares and linens.