Page 10 of Lawbreaker

“My mother worked for one of those agencies, cleaning houses,” Tony said with a faint bite in his voice. “But she very rarely got anything extra.”

Which was probably why Tony paid people well, Odalie thought, and felt guilty for being so vicious to him half the time. She didn’t know why she was antagonistic. Well, yes, she did. She found Tony very attractive. She loved to sit and look at him when he didn’t notice. And she was still having uncomfortable flashbacks to that long, lingering look they’d shared at Big Spur while looking at the little fairy statue Maddie Lane Brannt had made of Odalie. The moment had haunted her. She’d never felt such a sensation in her whole life.

“I guess your parents have always been rich,” Tony mentioned to Odalie.

“Not really,” she said. “When Dad was little, there wasn’t much money. His grandfather and my grandmother’s husband went into business together and started building the ranch. But it was Dad’s idea to go into breeding purebred bulls and heifers. He’s turned it into a prosperous business, and especially when he branched out into modern genetics and stuff. It didn’t hurt that Mom had an amazing career as a singer and then started writing songs that won awards.”

“She’s a beautiful woman, too,” Tony added.

“Yes, she is,” Odalie said, smiling. “Dad loved her when they were teenagers. She loved him, too, but she fought him because he wanted to tell her what to do and how to live. She said she wasn’t being owned by any man.”

He chuckled.

“Cole would have walked all over her if she’d given in,” Stasia remarked. “Heather often says that.”

“Dad’s forceful. But he’s fair,” Odalie added. She grinned. “He can still outride any cowboy on the place.”

“I noticed,” Tony said, having spent some time watching Cole when they were at the ranch not too long ago. “He’s a tough guy.”

“You have to be to control our cowboys,” Odalie replied. “Talk about a wild bunch!”

“They get drunk occasionally,” Stasia explained.

“And occasionally it takes a big fist in the right place to settle down the most belligerent of them,” Odalie said gleefully.

“Sounds like home,” Tony mused.

“I guess New York gets rough, too,” Odalie conceded.

“New Jersey,” he corrected. “I grew up on the backstreets.” He clammed up. Some of those stories weren’t fit for mixed company.

Odalie didn’t say a word. She’d read about half of the book she’d mentioned to Stasia. She was beginning to get a picture of Tony’s past life. Ironically, she felt sorry for him. A kid growing up in that sort of environment would have to be tough.

Stasia felt the tension in the car like a wound. So it was a good thing that they were pulling up at the front door.

Big Ben opened the back door and Odalie climbed out, followed by Stasia. Tony got out on the opposite side and stretched. Odalie, watching, almost groaned. He was so damned gorgeous!

She averted her eyes before he caught her staring. There, on the porch, Mrs. Murdock was standing, wearing a beautifully embroidered apron over her nice tan-and-white dress, her hair in a bun, her blue eyes twinkling behind the lenses of her glasses.

“Glory be, you made it alive! Big Ben drove all the way, then, did he?” she teased.

Tony made a face at her. “Show some respect, woman! I pay your wages,” he roared.

She made a face back. “As good a cook as I am, I’d have a job five minutes after you fired me, and for more money!”

“Ha!”

Stasia was roaring with laughter. Odalie, watching, wasn’t sure how to take what she was hearing.

“He makes threats,” Mrs. Murdock told her. “I make threats. Pay it no mind. Come in! I have coffee. I expect you’re all dying for it.” She paused and glanced at Odalie. “I have spring water...”

“I love coffee,” Odalie told her with a warm smile. “In fact, I live on it.”

She relaxed. “All right, then! We’ve had a guest now and again with odd tastes in what to drink and eat...”

“Stop right there unless you want to be looking for work again,” Tony threatened.

“Not my fault you brought her here,” Mrs. Murdock said huffily. “Strange woman at that. Only wanted two leaves of lettuce with one radish on it, no dressing, and a bottle of fresh spring water. How in the world do you get fresh spring water...?”