Seducing Texas (So not Prince Charming #2)(20)

Always on the alert, I press my hand to her back to take her into the garage. We’re both packing, and I won’t hesitate to shoot to protect her.

The parking garage is eerily quiet but no Escalades are present. I open the truck door for Cyn to let her in and manage not to run my hands all over her.

I drive us to the bank, and we take a private booth to examine the drive. Pulling out my laptop, I insert the flash into the USB port.

Using an app, it takes me a couple minutes to locate the hidden file and copy it, but I also uncover an encrypted folder that holds a few files. “Look at this Cyn.”

“Dad told me he copied several items from our grandmother’s iPad. He didn’t know what was in all of them, except the hidden file.”

“It’ll be a while before I can crack the encryption. If it’s okay, I’ll copy these to another flash drive and to my home server and start unencrypting the files. Those encrypted file names use a special character set.” I don’t like the idea there’s information that could put her in danger.

She stares at the odd characters in the filenames. “What does that mean?”

“It could tell us the country of origin. Character sets were created to handle the different alphabets.”

“Is it from Mexico?” she asks.

I hope whatever we find we’ll give us the information we need to protect Cyn and Willa. “I don’t know. When I get the chance, I’ll look at it more closely.”

We leave the drive in the safety deposit box, and I’ll stick another copy into mine. I now have a couple deposit boxes, both with cash. I also keep some in my safe at home.

On our way out, Cyn and I notice the Escalade parked across the street. A sick feeling swirls in my gut.

“I think they’re watching us both.” I take the safety off my gun and walk toward the SUV. It’s probably best to find out what the hell they want.

Cyn yells, “Don’t, Shane.”

I smile that she’d miss me, but these guys need to know I won’t put up with any shit.





Chapter Willa


Out of the three of us, Cyn is the only one who has come close to working a real job. She’s done charity work, did Dad’s books, and was her sorority president. When Dad went to prison, he left her in charge of me. He trusts her, and so do I. If anyone can figure out a way to stop Manny from hurting us, it’s her. It helps though that she has someone like Shane by her side.

It’s late afternoon, and behind the bar at the Midnight Cowboy, Cyn teaches Fay and me the basics of bartending before the place opens. She covers commonly served drinks, like beer and rum and Coke. The owner is supposed to train us, but Cyn knows a lot about mixing drinks from living at the sorority. She’s even being nice to Fay.

The film crew shows up along with Aedan. Just looking at him breaks me out into a sweat. His five-o’clock shadow along with his shoulder-ab-hugging tee raises the temperature in the room to a sizzling Austin, Texas heat. Cyn fans my face and laughs. She knows me too well.

He sets up his camera and doesn’t once notice me. My face and shoulders wilt from disappointment. He probably thinks I’m too young because he’s probably a college grad, and I won’t start until the fall.

Winking, Cyn shoves me. “Snap out of it. We have work, and he’s probably too old. You have suitable bachelors lined up for you.”

I should argue with her, but in tonight’s show, I want to look like I know what I’m doing and not a spoilt princess.

We’re expected to wear the bar’s logo tees, and I thought Aedan would notice mine. Cyn picked out a hot pink one for me and tied it in a knot to show my flat belly. She chose the short cutoffs and shin-high cowboy boots. I feel a little uncomfortable wearing the cheek-showing cutoffs and tight tee, but Cyn said the bachelors and Aedan aren’t men if their tongues don’t hang out.

“You look hot,” Cyn says, grinning. “Don’t worry. Every man in this bar will see you. Bring the crew coffee, and shake that ass of yours.”

My butt’s a little big compared to the white girls at school. It’s a little embarrassing. What if he doesn’t like half Latinas? Shane always ogles Cyn’s butt.

Cyn knows how to get a man and made flirting into an art, so I should listen to her.

“We’re not supposed to fraternize with the hired help,” Fay admonishes Cyn for encouraging me to talk to the crew.

“Let her have some fun,” Cyn says. “I wouldn’t let her date a guy too old for her.”

“What? Shane’s five years older than you.” I think that’s how much older Aedan is than me. “I’m eighteen. I’m an adult now.”

“No, you’re not,” Fay says and Cyn agrees.

Cyn grins teasingly. “Aedan may be too old for you, but you can practice on him.”

She’s the one who told me that you don’t have control over which guys you’re attracted to. Sometimes you get a whiff and you’d follow that man anywhere. She said she should’ve listened to her body instead of resisting her attraction to Shane.

Fay frowns while helping Cyn pour coffee into Styrofoam cups. “If we get this money, we can buy back the ranch. We need to focus on the prize, not some guy. Willa, you and I have bachelors to attend to.”

Cyn shakes her head. “If we get this money, it’ll pay for Willa’s education.”