Lone Star Wedding by Sandra Steffen

His mouth set in annoyance all over again.
    â€œI’d love to, Ryan, really I would,” she said. “But I’m afraid I can’t. I rode out here with Adrienne.”
    Ryan’s attention swung to the eccentric blonde. Parker followed suit. Noting her attire for the first time, he nearly did a double take. A leather skirt in July?
    She tucked her chin-length blond hair behind her ear and chewed on one bright pink fingernail. “Hannah’s right,” she said. “As much as we would love to stay and visit with y’all’s new horse, my chef is expecting me back at the restaurant shortly.”
    Ryan smiled disarmingly. Adrienne stopped chewing on her fingernail and began twirling a lock of hair, her blue eyes going wide. Parker wondered if he was the only one who knew it was an act.
    â€œParker,” Ryan said, “you’re going straight back to the city, aren’t you?”
    Parker felt his eyes narrow. “I’d planned to, yes.”
    â€œPerfect,” Ryan said, turning his attention back to Adrienne. “You can return to your restaurant immediately, and Hannah can ride back to San Antonio with Parker after she’s said hello to Lily.”
    Adrienne glanced from Ryan to Hannah then back to Ryan.
    Ryan had the audacity to wink at her. “Don’t worry,” he said. “Hannah will be in good hands.”
    â€œSo I’ve heard.”
    It was Ryan’s turn to grin. Turning to Hannah, he said, “Do you trust Parker, my dear?”
    She looked at Parker grudgingly. “I suppose.”
    Ryan slapped his hands together, as if it was all settled. The next thing Parker knew, Rosita was seeing Adrienne out through the kitchen. He and Hannah had little choice but to follow Ryan out another door, around the beautifully kept courtyard on the opposite side of the house, to the driveway where Parker’s car was parked.
    The sun was hot, the air heavy with humidity. Cattle lowed far in the distance. Other than the low buzz of a bee nearby, the only sound Hannah heard was the soft scuffle of three pairs of shoes on the flagstone walkway. The barnswere nearly half a mile away, the stables only slightly closer. Wondering how she’d gotten herself into this, she glanced at Parker. He was stone-faced.
    Waving as Adrienne drove past her on her way down the long, curving driveway, Hannah was sure Ryan noticed his divorce attorney’s discomfiture. Instead of commenting on it, Ryan stopped at the edge of the driveway and said, “This is where I will bid you goodbye.”
    â€œYou aren’t coming?” she asked.
    â€œI’m afraid I can’t,” Ryan explained. “I’m expecting an important phone call. You two go ahead. Take this driveway to the stables. Oh, and Hannah? Your mother spoke with Maria over the telephone last night. I’m sure she would like to tell you about it.”
    He turned on his heel and disappeared inside the house. And Hannah and Parker were alone. They stared at each other for several seconds. Crossing her arms and tapping one foot, she said, “We’ve just been effectively manipulated.”
    Parker made a derisive snort.
    â€œI don’t mind the fact that Ryan’s shrewd,” she said. “It’s the conniving part that gets to me.”
    Parker knew the feeling. Damn, he felt the way he did when an opposing attorney produced an incriminating slip of evidence on a case Parker had believed was open and shut. Shaking his head, he said, “Ryan Fortune didn’t acquire his billions playing the lottery.”
    He strode to the passenger door of his dusty red car. “You might as well get in. Like you said, it would be a hell of a walk in those shoes.”
    She clamped her mouth shut and got in.
    Â 
    Hannah remained aloof during the short drive to the stables. She was a reasonable woman, and she had goodreason for her cool reserve. She spoke when spoken to, answering