Hell on Heels (Hotel Rodeo #1)(37)

“There you go again, nagging the shit out of me. When are you coming, and where do you plan to stay?”

“We’ll fly in tomorrow. You can put Uncle Phil in the owner’s suite. I’ll take whatever you’ve got available.”

Shit. Monica had the owner’s suite.

“Is there a problem, Ty?” Delaney asked.

“No. Nothing I can’t figure out. I guess I’m gonna owe you for this.”

“You will, Ty. Big-time. But there’s a way you can repay the favor.”

“And how’s that?” he asked warily.

“We’ll talk about it when I get there. See you tomorrow. Bye, Ty.”

She ended the call before he could respond.

Ty pocketed the phone, raking his hair with a groan. What the hell was he going to do about Monica? Evict her? He’d have to figure something out. And pretty damned quick.

He also had to get in touch with Cassie. He needed those sketches, and he hadn’t even seen them yet. At this late notice he’d have to do major ass-kissing to get them. Not that he’d ever minded that when a woman had a decent ass. Cassie’s wasn’t half bad, but Monica’s was too damned kissable. He’d explored it thoroughly last night and sure wouldn’t mind doing it again.

Fuck! Quit thinking about her. To hell with Monica. I’m done trying to figure her out.

In Ty’s experience, the best way to forget one woman was always to move on to the next. He’d phone Cassie and get those sketches. Maybe he’d get lucky and get laid, too.



“Hold on, Frankie,” Monica said once Ty climbed into his truck. “I think I can survive a short while without the phone. I’m not going to be here all that long.”

“You sure about that, Ms. Brandt? If you know where it is I could always go get it for you.”

“No thanks, Frankie. I’d hate to put you to the trouble. The world won’t end if I have to wait an hour or two to reply to a text or return a call.” She looked at her watch. “Why don’t you grab yourself some lunch and plan to pick me up around two.”

Frankie smiled. “Sure thing.”

Monica knocked softly before entering Tom’s room, but they must not have heard her. A woman she didn’t recognize was sitting by his side, holding his hand and murmuring softly in Spanish. Monica picked up a few words that sounded like endearments. Was this Rosa? Who else could it be? She was younger and more attractive than Monica had expected. Ty had told her she was Tom’s housekeeper. Monica wondered now about the truth of that. The scene she’d interrupted implied a very different kind of relationship.

Monica cleared her throat to announce herself. The woman startled and stood, with an almost guilty look. Monica advanced to the bedside, hand extended. “You must be Rosa. I’m Monica.” She leaned down to give her father a peck on the cheek while Rosa looked on with an uncertain smile.

“You have your father’s eyes,” Rosa remarked after a moment. “Se?or Tomás, you have such a beautiful daughter. I’ve heard so much about you, Monica,” Rosa gushed. “Your papi is very proud of you.”

Monica flushed, not knowing how to respond. She’d never felt comfortable accepting compliments or praise. She changed the subject. “How was your trip out here?”

“It was long,” Rosa sighed. “But still better than flying. I do not fly.”

“So I heard. Are you comfortably settled?” Monica asked.

“Yes . . . for now. I am staying at Se?or Ty’s place, but I hate to inconvenience him as I do not drive.” Rosa looked to Tom. There was something almost complicit in their exchange of glances. “We wondered if I might be able to stay someplace . . . closer.”

“Closer?” Monica realized she didn’t even know where Ty lived.

It suddenly struck her how little she actually knew about the man she’d spent an incredible night with—and then snubbed the next morning. She really hadn’t intended it to play out like it had, but he’d acted so damned nonchalant that she hadn’t known how else to react.

“Sí. Is it possible some arrangement could be made for me to care for him here?”

“I don’t think that’s possible, Rosa, but we could certainly look to find you someplace nearby.” Monica looked to her father.

He scowled back at her and tapped on his iPad. Want Rosa here.

“I don’t think they’ll allow that, Tom,” Monica replied. “Even the staff don’t reside here.”

He tapped back angrily. Want home.

“The doctors don’t think that’s a good idea yet.”

Don’t want to die here.

“Die? Please don’t even think like that.”

Her greatest fear was that it might come to pass. Although her heart ached to keep him in Las Vegas when he so desperately yearned to go home, the ranch was too far removed from any medical facility. If he returned to Oklahoma and had another episode, he wouldn’t survive it, even with private nursing care. If he had to stay here against his will, she was determined to do all in her power to make him comfortable. “Please try to be patient, Tom, and I’ll see what I can do about Rosa.”

“Gracias,” Rosa said. “I know they take good care of him, but this is not his home.”