.animosities could be aired, Garrett jumped in with the final introductions. "And this is Winston Murrow," he rushed on diplomatically, indicating a sleek, sophisticated man who seemed far more interested in the contents of his glass than this gathering of people. "And this is Alicia Murrow, his sister." Garrett saved the best, or the worst, for last.
Alicia locked in on Crystal, hazel eyes not quite concealing a savage glint. She gave a curt nod, but said nothing. Instantly Crystal decided that she disliked the woman enough to enjoy playing a convincing part. "Hello, everyone," she managed. "It's so nice to meet some of Garrett's friends."
She glanced at him, and he smiled secretly, approvingly. He left her then and went to the bar, where he poured himself a drink from a pitcher prepared by Lupe.
"I think I can handle this now, Lupe," he said smoothly, and the big Mexican woman excused herself and went inside. He filled a glass for Crystal and carried it to her. Together they crossed to a small divan and seated themselves side by side.
"Tell me, Crystal," Alicia purred, "where are you from?"
"Dallas."
"And are you living there now?" Alicia pressed conversationally, leaning one smooth elbow upon a knee and suspending her drink in the cool night air.
"No." Crystal bit her lip, wondering if an honest answer had been wise. One glance at Garrett, compressing his lips against a wiggly smile, told her that the decision was hers. He would go along with whatever story she chose to tell them. She chose the truth, in its simplest form. "Actually," she began, savoring the words, "I'm staying here for the time being."
The carefully contrived mask on Alicia Murrow's face slipped, revealing defeat and anger, and was quickly restructured.
"Crystal is a teacher," Garrett put in. "I've hired her to tutor some children living on the ranch." He slid a casual arm about her shoulders, giving the impression that the job of tutor was only part of the reason she was presently living under his roof.
"How lovely," Alicia pronounced sourly, and tossed off her drink.
Crystal cut her eyes at Garrett, being careful to keep her back muscles rigid against the pressure of his arm, and caught just the slightest glimpse of a wink.
"Tell me, Alicia," Garrett said, purposefully parroting her, "how did you manage to be with us tonight?"
"I was invited." The biting sarcasm was thick in her voice.
"Oh, yes, indeedy," piped in her brother. "When she found out the Meads were flying down in their private plane, she called up and invited the both of us along." He smiled sweetly at his sister and finished off the liquid in his own glass.
Alicia Murrow sliced her brother a killing look, but apparently he was immune to her malevolent glares. Mrs. Mead squirmed uncomfortably at her husband's elbow, but Crystal noticed that Ernest Mead seemed to find the whole situation rather amusing. She decided that of the lot, she liked him the best by far.
Mercifully Lupe showed up just then to announce that dinner was about to be served, and the group rose to their feet and progressed toward the table, where dinnerware had silently and elegantly appeared in the interim.
Garrett lagged behind, his hand clasped protectively at Crystal's elbow. "This could get nasty," he warned from behind a brilliant smile that made it appear they were having a romantic little conversation.
"I think I'm up to it," she replied firmly.
Blue eyes met green ones and held them in silence for several seconds. The air grew suddenly warm and soothing. She felt light and airy, unaccountably at ease. She supposed it was the drink, but when at last he took his eyes away, the air grew crisp again, and she wondered if she had imagined the whole thing.
Dinner was awkward. Not even Lupe's delectable standing rib roast and perfect baked potatoes, topped with cheese and seasoned butter, could dispel the chill in the air. Crystal could say later with conviction that the only person who seemed to enjoy
Alicia locked in on Crystal, hazel eyes not quite concealing a savage glint. She gave a curt nod, but said nothing. Instantly Crystal decided that she disliked the woman enough to enjoy playing a convincing part. "Hello, everyone," she managed. "It's so nice to meet some of Garrett's friends."
She glanced at him, and he smiled secretly, approvingly. He left her then and went to the bar, where he poured himself a drink from a pitcher prepared by Lupe.
"I think I can handle this now, Lupe," he said smoothly, and the big Mexican woman excused herself and went inside. He filled a glass for Crystal and carried it to her. Together they crossed to a small divan and seated themselves side by side.
"Tell me, Crystal," Alicia purred, "where are you from?"
"Dallas."
"And are you living there now?" Alicia pressed conversationally, leaning one smooth elbow upon a knee and suspending her drink in the cool night air.
"No." Crystal bit her lip, wondering if an honest answer had been wise. One glance at Garrett, compressing his lips against a wiggly smile, told her that the decision was hers. He would go along with whatever story she chose to tell them. She chose the truth, in its simplest form. "Actually," she began, savoring the words, "I'm staying here for the time being."
The carefully contrived mask on Alicia Murrow's face slipped, revealing defeat and anger, and was quickly restructured.
"Crystal is a teacher," Garrett put in. "I've hired her to tutor some children living on the ranch." He slid a casual arm about her shoulders, giving the impression that the job of tutor was only part of the reason she was presently living under his roof.
"How lovely," Alicia pronounced sourly, and tossed off her drink.
Crystal cut her eyes at Garrett, being careful to keep her back muscles rigid against the pressure of his arm, and caught just the slightest glimpse of a wink.
"Tell me, Alicia," Garrett said, purposefully parroting her, "how did you manage to be with us tonight?"
"I was invited." The biting sarcasm was thick in her voice.
"Oh, yes, indeedy," piped in her brother. "When she found out the Meads were flying down in their private plane, she called up and invited the both of us along." He smiled sweetly at his sister and finished off the liquid in his own glass.
Alicia Murrow sliced her brother a killing look, but apparently he was immune to her malevolent glares. Mrs. Mead squirmed uncomfortably at her husband's elbow, but Crystal noticed that Ernest Mead seemed to find the whole situation rather amusing. She decided that of the lot, she liked him the best by far.
Mercifully Lupe showed up just then to announce that dinner was about to be served, and the group rose to their feet and progressed toward the table, where dinnerware had silently and elegantly appeared in the interim.
Garrett lagged behind, his hand clasped protectively at Crystal's elbow. "This could get nasty," he warned from behind a brilliant smile that made it appear they were having a romantic little conversation.
"I think I'm up to it," she replied firmly.
Blue eyes met green ones and held them in silence for several seconds. The air grew suddenly warm and soothing. She felt light and airy, unaccountably at ease. She supposed it was the drink, but when at last he took his eyes away, the air grew crisp again, and she wondered if she had imagined the whole thing.
Dinner was awkward. Not even Lupe's delectable standing rib roast and perfect baked potatoes, topped with cheese and seasoned butter, could dispel the chill in the air. Crystal could say later with conviction that the only person who seemed to enjoy
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