Obsession Falls by Christina Dodd

for the local rodeo given by Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Brothers of the Brothers Resorts and Dude Ranches, and for the first time Taylor realized how dangerous her appearance here could have been. She had once bid on the redecoration of their western-style luxury hotels. At the time she had cursed the loss; now she thanked her lucky stars she hadn’t won the contract. If she was recognized … her skin crawled on the back of her neck, and she turned to see who was watching her.
    It was an old man, out of place in his formal tuxedo, and he beckoned her.
    She hurried to his side.
    Once he had been much taller, but now he had shrunk until he was about her height. He was fragile and bony. His shoulders were bent; he looked as if he were about to fall over. And he sported a mass of white curling hair and overgrown white curling wizard eyebrows over bright, inquiring blue eyes.
    She liked him. “Can I help you, sir?” she asked.
    “Yes. What’s that on your tray?”
    “Bacon-wrapped jalapeños stuffed with shrimp and cheese.”
    He hummed with delight as he helped himself. “Are you allergic to shrimp?”
    “Not at all.”
    “Then sit down and eat the whole tray.” He waved the jalapeño in her face. “My God, you girls. Always dieting to within an inch of your lives. How are you going to catch a man, looking like that?”
    She couldn’t help it. She grinned. “They already fed me in the kitchen, and I don’t want a man.”
    “Are you gay?”
    “No, sir.”
    “Divorced?”
    “No, sir. I’m currently unattached, and happy to be that way.”
    He clicked his tongue in disgust. “Don’t be ridiculous. All women should be married.” He took a hearty bite, chewed, and swallowed. “I shouldn’t be eating this. Heartburn will keep me up all night. But I love ’em, used to eat ’em by the train-car load. Goddamn, that’s great. Don’t tell my wife.”
    “I won’t.” Taylor offered him a napkin.
    He took it. “So … you were disappointed in love.”
    “Several times.”
    “It’s like riding a horse. Gotta get back in there. You don’t want to die alone.”
    She didn’t know what to say to that. She’d faced death too often lately to be able to joke about it.
    The old man saw something in her face, because his blue eyes narrowed. Then he looked past her and said, “No, I am not allowed to eat such spicy food, but thank you for offering.” He shoved the half-eaten jalapeño into Taylor’s hand.
    She slipped it into her vest pocket.
    A woman’s strong voice came from behind Taylor. “Joshua, do not try to bullshit me. After so many years, I know exactly what you’re up to before you even think to do it.”
    “Pain in the ass,” he muttered, and dabbed at his lips.
    “I told you not to harangue this child.” The brilliantly gowned old lady slipped her hand through her husband’s arm. “Don’t pay attention to the old coot,” she said to Taylor. “He’s always trying to save the world.”
    “It could be worse. He could be trying to destroy it.” Two months without making polite chitchat, and already Taylor had lost the knack.
    Joshua elbowed his wife. “See there? This young girl likes me.”
    “Even if you do tell her she’s too skinny.”
    “Too damned much dieting these days. I like a woman with meat on her bones. Like Lorena.” He patted his wife’s rump.
    Lorena calmly removed his hand and held it in hers. “What’s your name, dear?” she asked Taylor.
    “Summer.” The lie came more easily this time.
    “Beautiful name,” Lorena said.
    “You know,” Mr. Brothers said, “before we hit it big with the resorts, Lorena here used to be a hairdresser. You might get her to cut your hair. I’m not trying to be mean, gal, but you look like you backed into a lawn mower.”
    “That was rude, Joshua. True, but rude. And I am still a hairdresser. Never know when this being wealthy thing might take a header and I’ll have to go back to work.” Lorena glared at her husband.
    He glared