Thunderbolt over Texas by Barbara Dunlop

he dumped her?
    â€œI’m not annoyed,” she said.
    â€œSo this is the level you’ve picked for our relationship?”
    The level she’d picked? “You wanted something more?”
    He shrugged, flipping on his right signal and leaving the gravel road behind in favor of the four-lane interstate. “You must admit, it all turned on a dime there after Katie got in the loop.”
    â€œAh.” Sydney nodded, wishing she could control the jealousy cresting in her veins. “So you did want more sex.”
    He twisted his head to look at her. “Excuse me?”
    â€œSorry about that. I guess I did turn off the tap all of a sudden.”
    His eyes narrowed, and he glanced to the highway and back to her again. “Was there a particular reason you backed off?”
    She shrugged. No reason that was remotely logical, just a horrible, kicked-in-the-gut feeling when he’d rejected her. “We didn’t need to pretend anymore,” she said.
    â€œYou mean, the Thunderbolt was in the bag.”
    â€œYeah. Right. Something like that.” She turned her head to look out the window.
    â€œI see.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œFine.” He pressed on the accelerator and turned up the radio.
    Neither of them spoke until they hit Wichita Falls.
    At a traffic light in the heart of downtown, Cole turned on the left turn signal and waited for a space in traffic. “This is it.”
    Despite his brooding presence, Sydney’s stomach leaped in anticipation. “Which one?”
    He pointed to a tall, gray office tower as he angled into a parking spot in front.
    Sydney scanned the building. This was it. The treasure of a lifetime was waiting inside for her. Despite her anger with Cole, she felt like a kid on Christmas morning.
    They entered the building and took an elevator to the tenth floor. The brass sign on the oversize office doors read Neely And Smythe, Attorneys-At-Law.
    â€œAuspicious,” said Sydney.
    â€œIt’s been the family firm for four generations.”
    â€œAnd the Thunderbolt’s been here the whole time?”
    â€œMost of it.”
    â€œI’m getting goose bumps.”
    As he opened the door, Cole gave her his first smile in three days.
    It felt good. Way too good. Pathetically good.
    She preceded him into the reception area, and a smiling brunette woman greeted them warmly. She sat behind a marble counter in a room decorated with leather furniture and fine art.
    â€œMr. Neely can see you right away,” she said to Cole.
    Cole moved to open another doorway that took them to a private hall.
    A balding man met them at the far end of the hallway. He shook hands with Cole then turned to Sydney. “Joseph Neely.” He offered his hand to her. “I understand you’re here to see the Thunderbolt.”
    â€œI am,” she agreed. “Sydney Wainsbrook.”
    â€œI enjoy an excuse to look at it myself,” he said, turning his key in the lock and pushing the door inward.
    â€œIt’s pretty exciting,” she admitted.
    â€œI’ll leave you two alone then.” Joseph Neely gestured to the interior of the office.
    Sydney went in first, blinking to adjust her vision to the dimmer light.
    Cole came in behind her and pointed to a round, mahogany meeting table.
    She followed his signal and everything inside her turned still. Laid majestically out on a purple, velvet cloth, was the Thunderbolt of the North. The brooch of kings. The stuff of legends.
    Sydney sucked in a breath. It was large, boldly crafted,magnificent in every way. The polished-gold lightning bolt was scattered almost randomly with rubies, emeralds and diamonds. It was big. It was audacious. It was everything she’d ever hoped for.
    She circled it, running her fingers across the soft cloth, letting them get close, but not touching the treasure. “You are one lucky man,” she said in a reverent, husky voice.
    His voice was equally hushed.