A Texas Family Reunion. Judy Christenberry

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СКАЧАТЬ give up dating,” Alex told him.

      “Thanks, sweetheart, but for right now, I need you to be my date for Susan’s plan to succeed. Okay?”

      “All right. I don’t mind helping Susan out.”

      “Good. How about tomorrow night?”

      “All right.”

      After she hung up the phone, Alex thought about her younger years, when she’d tried to get David to notice her. He wasn’t her real cousin, and she’d had a major crush on him. But he’d been much too busy to pay any attention to her—after all, she was more than three years his junior.

      So she’d finally turned her attention to boys her own age and found them much more receptive. But she wasn’t exactly booked up. She could go on this fake date as a favor to Susan.

      As she was climbing into bed later that night, she realized she hadn’t once thought of Neil since David had called. Maybe she hadn’t gotten over that ridiculous crush, after all.

      THE NEXT MORNING, both Will and Carrie congratulated her and Jim on their efficient job for David’s company.

      “Carrie, you did as much work as either Jim or me,” Alex told her. “We all worked together so well.”

      “Yes, we did, didn’t we?” Carrie agreed. “That just proves that we were smart to hire you.”

      “I hope so,” Alex said. “What’s on my plate for today?”

      “Will wanted you to start work on this case,” Carrie said, handing her a file. “It’s for one of our insurance companies. If you have any questions about how to proceed after you’ve read the information, just ask me or Jim.”

      “Great, Carrie, thanks.” Alex settled at her desk, thinking how much better this was than night duty as a cop.

      Later that afternoon Alex was working on the computer, making notes on the man who was apparently trying to con the insurance company, when she got a call from David.

      “What time do you get off work tonight?” he asked without preamble.

      “We usually close at five,” Alex said, lowering her voice. She didn’t want the others to think that she was a clock watcher.

      “So will you be ready if I pick you up at six-thirty?”

      “That’s not necessary. I can meet you somewhere.”

      “No, it will work better if I take you and Susan in my car. We’re meeting Pete.”

      “Where are we going?”

      “I thought we’d try Outback. Their steaks are good.”

      “So it’s going to be a first-class celebration. Shall I offer to pay half?”

      After a momentary pause, David said, “I think I can bankroll this evening, Alex. Any remarks like that would ruin the illusion Susan is trying to create.”

      “All right. I won’t say anything like that. But I’ll still be glad to—”

      “Your job is to dress like you’re going out on a date with the cop. Only you’ll be with me!”

      She was left holding a dead line. He’d hung up on her. Impossible man!

      Did he think she wouldn’t wear something nice just because she was going with him? Well, she’d show him. She’d wear that green knit dress that hugged her figure. And she’d wear her sexiest perfume, too. She didn’t think he’d complain then!

      “Alex?” Carrie called. “Is anything wrong?”

      “No! Of course not. Why would you think that?”

      “Because I can hear the dial tone all the way over here. You haven’t hung up yet.”

      “Oh!” She replaced the receiver.

      “Any problems?” Carrie asked again.

      “No, it was just David yanking my chain, as usual.”

      “That’s a family trait,” Carrie said with a smile.

      “Ha!” Alex exclaimed. “There are times when I’m glad he and I aren’t really kin.”

      Carrie eyed her speculatively. “Well, I was very glad I wasn’t kin to Jim when he arrived here.”

      “Oh, I didn’t mean that,” Alex said, blushing. “I did have a crush on him when we were kids, but I grew out of it.”

      When she left at five o’clock, she hurried straight home. She didn’t have much time if David was going to pick her up at six-thirty. She was going to knock his socks off tonight.

      DAVID HAD WONDERED if he could convince Pete that he and Alex were interested in each other. After all, Pete thought they were cousins. He hadn’t told him he was adopted. But Pete hadn’t had any problem with his story. David suspected he would’ve gone out with anyone as long as Susan was part of the group. But he wouldn’t tell Susan that.

      He picked her up first. He thought it would be better to have Susan with him before he picked up Alex. Susan suggested they all three go in one vehicle so she could accept a ride home with Pete if he asked her to.

      “Want me to knock on Alex’s door?” Susan asked.

      “No, I’ll go get her. You’d better get in the back seat if you’re going to sell Pete on the idea that Alex and I are on a date.” He got out from behind the wheel and walked up to the door of Alex’s condo. After a rap on her door, he leaned against the wall, waiting. His experience was that women were usually late.

      When the door opened at once, he was surprised. Stepping forward, intending to tell her he appreciated her punctuality, the intention fled his mind when he saw her.

      David had realized Alex was beautiful when she began attracting boys. But he’d kept her at arm’s length, still regarding her as a younger cousin. Through the years, she’d grown more and more beautiful—and more and more tied up with the latest man in her life.

      Tonight, she was wearing a dress that clung to her curves, and the color, green, brought out the green in her hazel eyes and complemented her softly curling, shoulder-length auburn hair. “You look terrific, Alex,” he said as he caught a whiff of a wonderful scent.

      “Thank you,” she said quietly, no triumph in her voice.

      But he wouldn’t have blamed her if she had been annoyed at him. He’d been rude to hang up on her that afternoon.

      When they reached the car, Susan, too, complimented her cousin. “I wish I’d gotten some height from Dad, like you did from your dad, Alex. That kind of dress looks great on a tall person.”

      “Well, your family has all the computer skills, honey, and I think Pete really likes that,” Alex said with a grin.

      “Oh, great. I want to be loved for more than СКАЧАТЬ