Her Secret Texas Valentine
Autor
Helen Lacey
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14
HarlequinChapter One
Twenty-four-year-old real estate agent Valene Fortunado had no illusions about her love life.
She didn’t have one.
One lousy date after another over the past six months had made that abundantly clear.
It wasn’t like she needed a man to complete her. After all, she wasn’t the kind of woman to get caught up in grand gestures or romantic nonsense. Okay...maybe she was. Maybe she only acted as though she was a career woman, first and foremost.
Still...a good date every now and then would fill some of her lonelier nights.
And not that she was really lonely, either. It was just that since both her sisters and two of her brothers had found love, they kept insisting that her white knight was around the corner. Valene wasn’t so sure. Maybe her white knight had galloped past on his way through her neck of the woods and failed to notice she was standing there. Maybe she had been too wrapped up in her latest open house or contract negotiation to spot him riding by. She had been known to have blinders on when it came to the opposite sex.
Which was why she decided to log into My Perfect Match and let an app find her a date.
How bad could it be?
That was the question she should have asked herself two disastrous dates ago.
Date number one was so dull he could have been a cardboard cutout. And he spent the whole two and a half excruciating hours talking about himself, his license plate collection and his beloved mother. Date number two barely said a word and was so scruffy he looked like he’d been wearing the same clothes for a week. Not that Valene was hung up on appearances...but at the very least she expected her date to wear a clean shirt and take off his baseball cap during dinner. Novice mistake—first dates should be over coffee, not dinner. There was no easy escape during a three-course sit-down meal that might include a bottle of wine and several hours of conversation. Next time, she would meet someone over coffee and make sure she had a quick exit strategy in case it turned into a disaster.
Because there would be a next time.
Valene wasn’t about to give up simply because she’d made a few rookie errors.
She was mostly well behaved and did the right thing. Her parents adored her, and she wanted to make them proud. Plus, she’d always endeavored to be a proactive kind of girl and had never been accused of lacking gumption or courage. But she was determined to be more prudent in her choices. If both her sisters, Schuyler and Maddie, could find love with the men of their dreams, Valene expected nothing less for herself. As long as he ticked all the right boxes.
Looks...well, she wasn’t too fussy, but nice eyes and broad shoulders would be a bonus.
Money...enough that he didn’t expect her to pay for every meal and had a nice car.
Smarts...a college education and a good job were a must.
How hard could it be? Her sisters had managed it—so could she. Not that she was going to let the whole idea take up too much time or attention. She had more important things on her mind.
It had been a busy few months with way too much drama for her liking. And too much family. Hers and everyone else’s. Fortunados. Robinsons. Fortunes. Mendozas. Family life wasn’t simple anymore. She had relatives coming out of the woodwork. And things to do.
Like saving the family business.
Too many things had gone pear-shaped at Fortunado Real Estate in the past couple of months. Too many deals had been lost for it to be simple coincidence. And she loathed thinking it was merely bad judgment on their part. Sure, they’d lost sales and contracts to other real estate agents before, but this felt different. It felt...personal. As though someone was specifically targeting her family’s business. And Valene wouldn’t sit by and allow that to happen—not on her watch.
Still, she needed to make time for herself. Which was why she was on her way to meet date number three.
As she headed for the Houston coffee place, she caught a glimpse of herself in a flower shop window, pleased that she’d worn a dress and heels that flattered her curves and made her look taller than her five foot three. She glanced at her expression. Not too eager. Not too resistant, either. Just ready for whatever happened. And she was ready. She had her sister’s number on speed dial in her cell phone and knew every exit in the coffee place to escape in two seconds if need be.
Valene took a deep breath that added some resolve to her suddenly dwindling courage.
Third time lucky, she told herself.
She remained in the doorway and looked around. Blue shirt, she reminded herself. Look for a man wearing a blue shirt. That was the text message she’d received. She spotted three potentials. The first was a guy at the counter paying for two tall frappés. Right age. Tallish. Dark hair. Then she heard him haggling with the barista about a tip before he grabbed the drinks and walked directly past her without her being so much as a blip on his radar. Not him, thank God. Valene took another deep breath. She looked toward the second blue-shirted candidate. Not as tall, and thicker set. But he had a nice face and actually looked up and smiled at her. Okay...he looks normal enough. She was about to smile back when another woman passed her and headed for his table. The pair kissed briefly and then the woman sat down. Right. Not him, either.
She glanced toward the booth seat and saw candidate number three had his back to her. Broad shoulders and short blond hair, and a nice blue shirt. He looked so good from the back, she hoped it was him. From his online profile, she knew her date’s name was Jake and that he worked outside the city. The few texts they’d exchanged had been articulate and humorous enough to pique her interest and make her want to meet him.
Nothing ventured...nothing gained.
She’d always had gumption, according to her family. Now was the time to show some. And if it didn’t work out, so be it.
Valene pushed back her shoulders and walked through the coffeehouse.
Dating apps.
Jake Brockton figured that signing on to one was up there as one of the stupidest things he’d ever done. But he’d promised his sister he’d try it, and he was a man of his word. And it was just coffee. Not a date. Nothing that required too much time or attention. And he could bail as soon as felt the interaction going south.
He glanced at his watch. She was late. He hated that.
Jake had no tolerance for tardiness. He hadn’t gotten to where he was by being lazy or disorganized. It had been through grit and a steely determination to be the best version of himself he could possibly be.
Too bad his ex-wife hadn’t thought so.
He pushed the memory from his mind and tapped his fingers on the table. He really didn’t have time to waste on romantic entanglements. The ranch kept him busy 24/7 and he wasn’t about to get seriously involved with anyone. Still, he’d promised Cassidy, and he always kept his promises to his baby sister.
Conscious that someone was standing by the booth seat, Jake turned his head and quickly sucked in a sharp breath.
A woman stood barely two feet away. She was petite but surprisingly curvy, with long blond hair and brown eyes the color of Belgian chocolate. His gut recognized an instant reaction, and he swallowed hard, taking in her perfectly aligned features and lovely curves. She smiled, and her mouth curled at the corners.
His date.
They’d shared a few text messages the day before. Nothing too personal. Just their first names, interests and a time and place to meet. She’d seemed friendly and had added humorous emojis to her texts.
He got to his feet in a microsecond and held out his hand.
“Hi,” he said quietly. “I’m Jake Brockton.”
She stepped a little closer and took his hand, and he experienced an inexplicable tightening in his chest as their skin connected. Her eyes widened fractionally, as though she was experiencing the same reaction and then she quickly withdrew her hand.
“Valene Fortunado,” she said, her voice huskier than he’d expected. “But everyone calls me Val.”
Fortunado? He’d heard the name but wasn’t sure where. Jake nodded and signaled to the waitress. “Coffee?”
“That would be nice,” she said as she placed her small bag on the seat. “I’ve been here before. You?”
Jake shook his head. “But my sister told me the coffee is good.”
As small talk went, it was pretty benign, and he ignored the way his insides twitched. She was very attractive...more than he’d expected. More than he wanted. In his experience, beautiful women were nothing but trouble and potential heartache.
The waitress arrived and he listened, amused, as his date ordered a single-shot, low-fat, vanilla soy latte with extra cinnamon. He asked for a tall black and waited until the waitress disappeared before he spoke again.
“You’re very pretty.”
She raised one brow, clearly not expecting the compliment. “Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.”
Jake laughed softly. “Can I ask you something?”
She nodded. “Sure.”
“Why are you using a dating app?”
“Why are you?” she shot back, smiling.
“My sister made me do it,” he admitted. “She thinks I spend too much time alone.”
Her lovely brow arched higher. “And do you?”
“Probably. Occupational habit.”
“What do you do?” she asked.
Jake expelled an even breath. “I work on a ranch.”
She sat back in her seat, her head tilted at a gentle angle. “Doing what?”
“Ranching stuff.”
She smiled slightly. “I’m a city girl, so I’ll need a little more information.”
“Ranching,” he replied. “Mustering cattle. Horse breaking.”
Her brows came together. “Like...a cowboy?”
He nodded. “Exactly.”
“I’ve never been on a date with a cowboy before.”
“Really?” He grinned. “Then you’ve led a sheltered life. This is Texas—cowboy capital of the nation.”
She laughed, and the sound reverberated in his chest. “I know that, too. I was born and raised in Houston. What about you?”
“I was raised in San Antonio until I was twelve, but I was born in Stafford, just outside Houston,” he said.
“That’s a nice spot. I sold a dude ranch there once,” she said idly. “Property values hold steady.”
Jake rested his elbows on the table. “You owned a dude ranch?”
She shook her head and grinned, waiting while the waitress approached with their order before speaking again. “No, it’s what I do for a living.”
“Selling dude ranches?”
“Selling real estate,” she corrected. “I work in my family’s business.”
He recalled seeing that she was self-employed on her profile. And now he knew why her surname seemed familiar. He knew of Fortunado Real Estate. They were one of the biggest in the city, and her family was connected to the famous Fortunes of Texas. “Do you enjoy it?”
“Mostly,” she replied. “I split my time between both the Austin and Houston offices and like any business, it has its ups and downs. It’s a little more down than up at the moment, but I always look on the bright side.”
Jake stirred a little sugar into his coffee. “I’m glad to hear it. So, you didn’t answer my question.”
“Which one?”
He met her gaze. “Why the dating app?”
She shrugged fractionally. “It’s simply a way to meet people.”
“People?”
Her cheeks spotted with color. “Guys. Or a guy. You know, Mr. Wonderful and all that.” She spooned the froth off her beverage. “But the truth is, if you’d turned out to be a cardboard cutout or one of the great unwashed, I was going to make this my third and last attempt.”
Jake laughed softly. “You’ve done this before?”
She held up two fingers. “And both disastrous.”
“I take it one was dull and the other had an issue with personal hygiene?”
She chuckled and he noticed that her brown eyes had flecks of gold in them. Damn, she really was pretty.
“Exactly,” she said on a sigh.
“And how am I comparing so far?”
Her eyes widened, and she bit her lower lip for a moment. “Well, from here you look very much like flesh and blood. And you smell nice.”
He laughed again and realized he’d done quite a lot of that since she’d arrived. “So, Valene, tell me about yourself.”
She didn’t break their gaze. “I’m twenty-four. Single, obviously. I work for my family’s real estate business. My parents are wonderful and still happily in love after thirtysomething years of marriage. I’m the youngest of six children and am considered to be somewhat spoiled. I have my own condo in the city and a fiercely protective bulldog. I’m allergic to passion fruit and I love chocolate. You?”
Jake drank some coffee and looked at her. “I’m thirty-two. Single, obviously,” he said, echoing her words. “I work on a ranch near Fulshear, outside Houston. My father died over a decade ago, and my mom still grieves him every day. I have a younger sister named Cassidy who is considered somewhat spoiled. I have a very unprotective collie mix called Sheba who tries to sleep on the end of my bed every night. I’m not allergic to anything I know of and I can take or leave chocolate.”
It was a vague introduction, since he wasn’t about to start saying too much about himself to a stranger. But she seemed nice enough, and what harm could a little flirtation do?
“It’s nice to meet you, Jake,” she said, still smiling.
“Likewise, Valene.”
“Do you like being a cowboy?” she asked.
“It has its up and downs,” he said, mimicking her earlier words as he smiled. “It’s physically hard work, but rewarding. It’s all I’ve done since I left college.”
“Where did you graduate?” She sipped her latte and looked at him over the rim of her mug. “The University of Houston?”
“No.”
“Rice University?”
“I dropped out before the second semester.”
Jake waited for her expression to change, for disappointment or censure to show on her pretty face. But to her credit, she didn’t appear fazed by what he’d described as his meager education. Or his occupation.
“Oh, I see,” she said and continued to sip her coffee. “And you said you’ve been working on the ranch ever since?”
Jake nodded. “We moved from San Antonio to the ranch when I was twelve. My father worked there for a long time.”
“And when he died you took over his job?” she asked.
Jake shrugged. “Someone had to fill his boots. So, Valene, why are you single?” he asked, abruptly changing the subject.
“I’m high maintenance,” she said and grinned. “Scared?”
“Not at all,” he replied, watching the way her mouth curled at the edges and thinking how sexy it was. It had been a long time since he’d been attracted to someone. But she was funny and flirtatious, and he was discovering that he enjoyed her company. “But I’m not sure I believe you.”
She shrugged. “I work long hours, and that doesn’t leave me a lot of time for socializing. But lately...”
Her words trailed off and he raised both brows questioningly. “Lately?”
“Both my sisters and one of my brothers have recently gotten married, and another brother got engaged,” she explained and sighed. “I feel left out, I guess, as if romance and love have passed me by.”
“And is that what you want?” he queried. “Romance and love?”
She shrugged again. “Doesn’t everyone?” She turned back and then made a face. “To be honest, I’d settle for someone to share a pizza, watch a movie and snuggle with.”
Jake smiled, trying to recall the last time he’d snuggled with anyone. His ex-wife, Patrice, hadn’t exactly been the snuggling type. But Valene Fortunado, with her lovely hair, soft brown eyes and subtle curves, made him think that it was time he got back to really living and reconnecting with the world.
“What kind of movies do you like?” he asked and finished his coffee.
She chuckled. “Ah...actually, I like a little zombie action.”
Jake laughed. “No chick flicks?”
She shook her head. “Not really. Just zombies and fright-night kinds of films.”
Jake winced. “Then I guess we’re not going to do that pizza and a movie thing,” he said, smiling as he shrugged. “Pity.”
Her lips curled. “You don’t like scary movies?”
“I don’t like clowns,” he admitted. “And one always seems to turn up in that kind of movie.”
She laughed again, so softly, so delightfully, that Jake’s belly rolled over.
“You’re scared of clowns?”
“Not scared,” he corrected quickly. “I just don’t like them all that much.”
“Tough guy like you,” she shot back, still chuckling. “In the movies, cowboys aren’t afraid of anything.”
“I’m not afraid,” he reiterated, enjoying her teasing. “Just...cautious. It’s those big feet and red noses...they’re kinda freaky.”
She laughed again. “Well, if we ever go on a date to a carnival or circus, I promise to protect you from the clowns terrorizing the midway.”
Jake stared at her, relaxed back in the booth seat and spoke. “Would you like to?”
Her head tilted fractionally. “Would I like to what?”
“Go on a date?”
Valene’s heart was beating like a jackhammer. Jake Brockton was utterly gorgeous. His eyes were clear blue, his face perfectly angled and proportioned, his blond hair the kind that begged for fingers to thread through it. And the rest of him was to-die-for hot. His shoulders were broad, his arms well muscled, and she was certain the rest of him would hold up to her and every other woman on the planet’s scrutiny. She couldn’t recall ever seeing a man fill out a chambray shirt the way he did. And he had nice hands—strong looking, with long blunt fingers, neat nails and a few calluses that signified hard work. Yes, Jake Brockton was about as masculine and attractive a man as she’d ever met.
Plus, he seemed to like her.
Unfortunately, the good-looking cowboy didn’t tick any of her boxes.
No career. No college education. And probably no money. She couldn’t be certain, but surely ranch hands weren’t paid extravagant salaries. She was disappointed through to her core.
But what harm could a single date do?
It wasn’t a marriage proposal. Or a lifelong commitment. And she didn’t have anyone else knocking on her door asking for her time and attention. She thought about it, looking at his handsome face again. And decided she’d live a little.
“Sure,” she said as casually as she could manage. “Why not.”
“Friday night?”
She nodded. “Where?”
He named a small Italian restaurant a few streets away. “Shall I pick you up?”
“I’ll meet you there,” she replied. “Um...that’s a popular place. I’m not sure we could get a reservation this late. Perhaps somewhere else would be easier.”
He looked amused by her caution. “I’ll text you a time once I make a reservation.”
She wasn’t convinced he’d get a table, but she agreed. “Ah...great.”
“Would you like more coffee?”
She smiled a little. The man certainly wasn’t short on manners, and she realized he was an intriguing mix of rough and smooth. There was no denying his earthy roots. His clothes were clean and tidy, but the closer she looked, the more she noticed how the shirt was frayed a little around the cuffs, and how the Stetson sitting on the seat beside him was clearly well used. And despite the air of civility oozing from him, there was nothing urban about Jake Brockton. He was country through and through. Not what she wanted. Not anything like what she wanted. Except...his blue eyes were unbelievably mesmerizing. And his clean-shaven jaw made her fingertips itch with the urge to trace a pattern along his cheek and chin.
Awareness and attraction mingled through her blood and she managed a tight smile, conscious that he was watching her intently. She tried to recall the last time she’d been as interested in a man, and the lingering memory of her first real boyfriend flittered along the edges of her mind. But Diego hadn’t hung around. And it turned out he was only ambitious and interested in her family’s money and connections rather than her. He wanted a career in real estate and thought she was his meal ticket, and he showed little shame in making it clear he deserved it after putting up with being her boyfriend for a year. After that, a little older and wiser, she’d dated Hugh. He was handsome and polite and from a nice family—his father was a friend of her father’s, and they’d been set up with the expectation that they would be perfect for one another. Yes, Hugh was perfect—he had perfect looks and manners and a career in the finance sector, and for five months she’d been convinced they would have a predictable happily-ever-after. But there was very little spark between them. Actually, no spark. Zilch. So it was an easy decision to end things between them. He was disappointed. She was wife material, he said. She shouldn’t have high expectations. After that, she’d begun to believe that maybe the spark thing was a myth. But then, over the course of the past year, both her sisters and two of her brothers had fallen madly in love and it got Val thinking that maybe that big love really did exist.
“Why are you single, Jake?” she asked bluntly.
“I’ve been too busy,” he said vaguely.
She gave him a disbelieving look. “Really?”
“That’s the truth, but I guess I’m still looking for my perfect match.”
She chuckled. “Do you think there’s such a thing?”
He shrugged lightly. “I’d like to think so. I’m not so sure anymore.”
“Do you want kids?”
His expression altered for a nanosecond, as though he was lost in thought. Finally, he spoke again. “Yes, one day. You?”
“I’m pretty sure I want kids...one day.”
“You’re only twenty-four,” he reminded her. “You have plenty of time to think about kids.”
Her belly did an odd kind of dive. “I know. But I think it’s more about being with the right person, rather than being the right age.”
He nodded. “I think you’re right. So, tell me about your two disastrous dates.”
She laughed lightly. “Oh, my God, they were unbelievably bad. The first guy collected license plates from every state and talked nonstop about his mother. And the second one—he wore a baseball cap backward. But,” she said and flashed him a smile, “third time’s the charm.”
He met her gaze. “I’m really glad your first two dates were duds.”
Valene kept the visual contact. “Me too. Anyhow, I should probably get going. I have an open house at noon and need to get back to the office beforehand. But it was nice to meet you.”
“You too,” he said and waited for her to stand before he got to his feet.
He excused himself for a moment and headed for the counter to pay the check before Valene had a chance to offer to pay her share. When he returned to her, she was halfway to the entrance. He opened the door and let her pass, and they stepped out into the sunlight.
“My car’s right here,” she said and used the beeper to unlock her silver Lexus, which was parked directly outside the coffeehouse. “Yours?”
He jerked a thumb in the direction of a beaten-up blue Ranger parked on the other side of the road. There was faded writing on the side of the truck that she couldn’t make out. Okay...so he had a crappy car. The fact that he was utterly gorgeous made up for that shortcoming. Valene tried to drag her gaze away but couldn’t help looking him up and down. It should be illegal, she thought to herself as her skin prickled all over, for a man to look that good in chambray and denim.
“Well, thanks for meeting me, Jake,” she said easily and held out her hand. “I had a nice time.”
He took her hand, and electricity shot up her arm. “Likewise, Valene. I’ll see you Friday.”
For a moment, she could have sworn he swayed a little closer. Of course, he wouldn’t try to kiss her. That would be outrageous, presumptuous and completely out of line. But still, her lips tingled foolishly and she let out a long and disappointed sigh.
Don’t get ahead of yourself, Val. It was just coffee and conversation.
He released her hand and she quickly got into her car. When she pulled away from the curb and caught a glimpse of him in the rearview mirror, her thought surprised her. She’d suddenly developed a thing for cowboys.
