The Catch Of Texas

“You’re Something Special.” Letter to Reader Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Epilogue Copyright

“You’re Something Special.”

Frank watched her, and his eyes and face were soft and gentle.

Geri just looked at him.

He told her, “I wish—”

She waited.

He continued to look at her in that same soft way.

She asked, “What is it that you...wish?”

He shook his head. He was still and said nothing more.

She asked again, “What exactly are you talking about that you wish?”

So he finally said the truth. “I’d take you away to a private place and make love to you.”

“I don’t do that sort of thing. I wouldn’t until I was safely married.”

“You haven’t—? At all?” His mouth was open. He couldn’t believe what she’d said. She was a virgin? He was boggled.

But he also couldn’t get his eyes off her. She truly was something special, and he would do well to be very careful with her.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Silhouette Desire—where you’re guaranteed powerful, passionate and provocative love stories that feature rugged heroes and spirited heroines who experience the full emotional intensity of falling in love!

This October you’ll love our new MAN OF THE MONTH title by Barbara Boswell, Forever Flint. Opposites attract when a city girl becomes the pregnant bride of a millionaire outdoorsman.

Be sure to “rope in” the next installment of the exciting Desire miniseries TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB with Billionaire Bridegroom by Peggy Moreland. When cattle baron Forrest Cunningham wants to wed childhood friend Becky Sullivan, she puts his love to an unexpected test.

The always-wonderful Jennifer Greene returns to Desire with her magical series HAPPILY EVER AFTER. Kiss Your Prince Charming is a modern fairy tale starring an unforgettable “frog prince.” In a sexy battle-of-the-sexes tale, Lass Small offers you The Catch of Texas. Anne Eames continues her popular miniseries MONTANA MALONES with The Unknown Malone. And Sheri WhiteFeather makes her explosive Desire debut with Warrior’s Baby, a story of surrogate motherhood with a twist.

Next month, you’ll really feel the power of the passion when you see our new provocative cover design. Underneath our new covers, you will still find six exhilarating journeys into the seductive world of romance, with a guaranteed happy ending!

Enjoy!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire

Please address questions and book requests to:

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The Catch of Texas

Lass Small

www.millsandboon.co.uk

LASS SMALL

finds living on this planet at this time a fascinating experience. People are amazing. She thinks that to be a teller of tales of people, places and things is absolutely marvelous.

One

There’s a saying known by its four letters—TGIF or Thank God It’s Friday. Well, that isn’t exactly what women have in mind. Their definition of the quote is: Thank God I’m Female.

Men are slow and think it’s another quote entirely. But then, men are different from women.

Now Geri Jones was a normal woman and saw life as it was. At an early age, she was baffled by males. As time went along, she watched them silently. When she matured, she found all men are thataway! There is no change! Men are strange.

Just try to take a man to a concert when there’s a baseball game! They go to that.

Their... grandmother...is ill. That’s what they say when they leave the office.

It was after Geri was adult that she had TGIF put on her car license plate. She’d looked at males since she was ten, and she had never understood any, nor had she been snared by any one of them.

She searched. The town in TEXAS where Geri lived was big enough. Something over a million people. A good number to paw through and select some interesting males. She was thoughtful, considering, and careful. But few were acceptable. They were generally not what she had in mind. So she’d slowly withdrawn. She had just about been positive she’d either have to be a single woman or move away and search somewhere else for a man.

Frank Scheblocki thought Geri Jones was what he wanted. He smiled at her as she walked down the street toward him. He thought just his smile would be plenty and she’d swoon in his arms.

She did not.

Frank was not deterred by her being so difficult. He talked to his buddies about her. There was Tim Slamecki, Jack Smith, Mac Kraft, Mark Goode and Tommy Thompson.

The males discussed the stubborn female who at her age hadn’t the guts to smile back. They stood on the street corner and looked at her as she passed.

Geri didn’t notice. Not the actual males. They blocked the walk, and she had to cope with that stupidity. She walked around them with grim indignation. They laughed. She thought they were too old to be thataway.

Frank was trying to catch her eye. He thought she was...wonderful. He wanted her in his house so that when he got home from work, she would be there with all the goodies on the table. The biggest goody being her.

To him, she was special. Frank smiled his hello smile at her. She never noticed. She didn’t look at him at all.

Sadly, Frank said to his buddies, “She doesn’t like me all that much.”

Mark soothed, “She’s shy.”

Tim agreed. “She’s woggled by all us males. Some of us ought to move back and quit looking at her.”

“You get back.” That was Mark.

Tim shook his head. “I have to stay close to Frank so’s he won’t bungle the entire encounter.”

Mac gasped. “The entire encounter.” And he put his hand to his chest in shock.

Tommy said, “Cut it out.”

“—of the paper?” Mac gasped again.

Tommy groaned and laughed.

It went on thataway. Long past the time that Geri Jones had disappeared. Gotten into her car. Left them. Gone.

The males all noted that she had TGIF on her license plate. They smiled. They were not functioning correctly or they would have known it wasn’t Thank God It’s Friday but Thank God I’m Female.

That would have boggled the men.

Sometime back, in spite of her mother’s tears, Geri had moved from home and gotten an apartment of her own. She lived in a large old apartment house that was back from the river.

When she got home to her apartment after work, she liked the quiet. She took the elevator to the third floor, or she walked it. Whichever she wanted.

She chose which TV programs she wanted and adjusted the sound to suit her. She was tidy. She liked her apartment that way. She’d chosen the third floor because she could see over the TEXAS trees to the river.

Twice a year, Geri had her family there for her mother’s birthday and her father’s birthday. She was becoming a solid woman. She was twenty-eight. Still single. Alone.

Her parents had given up on her. She would be a single woman all the rest of her life, they grieved. They had discussed her from the time she’d left them.

Geri gave bridge parties now and again. She included men. They liked cards. They visited with the other men. The males paid little attention to the women.

However—

Two of the men thought Geri was a good partner. She worked, she had her own apartment, she had a car, she was very well set financially. They smiled at her and each separately offered to bring the bread and wine for supper—each told her that would be between just him and her.

Geri smiled. She said, “I’ll call.”

She never did.

Geri went to visit her parents before the drive home. Her mother Ann told her, “You’re too picky. Find a man you can endure and get married.”

Geri replied, “I’ll see.”

It was a nothing reply. Her mother was aware of that. It silenced her. She realized Geri probably wouldn’t ever be interested in any man. There were women like that. Ann looked at her husband and thought he wasn’t at all difficult.

When Geri left, her mother saw the TGIF but then she realized it was different.

That made her mother think for a while. She said thoughtfully to her husband John, “I wonder if Geri will ever marry.”

Her husband lifted his eyebrows without moving his eyes from the evening paper and said, “Ummmmm.”

Ann looked at her husband and breathed in indignation. But she said nothing.

Geri drove to her apartment house and thought about what and who she had to consider seriously. Frank? She thought about him as she drove into the open garage under her apartment.

She nodded to people who called to her without replying vocally. She was lost in time. She stopped and looked out to the river. The land between was kept empty of houses because the river rose and flooded.

If houses were in that area, they would be a part of the mess. She didn’t consider it because her mind was on her own life. What did she want?

And at that time, two cars came along and honked as they stopped. It was Frank Scheblocki and some of his friends.

Frank got out of his car and stood, allowing her to admire his body and his smile. The other guys got out also, but they stayed closer to the cars.

Frank moved slowly to Geri.

Geri sighed silently. There were men who liked concerts and men who studied newspapers and magazines to know what was happening where. But this male saw her, and he followed her, and he noticed her. He made her feel special.

She smiled and turned out her hand. “Are all those males along to take care of you?”

Soberly watching her, Frank asked, “Could I come back by myself? Would you mind?”

She looked at him and nodded. “I’ll fix you supper.”

He grinned. “I’ll be back.” Frank went back, calling openly, “In the cars. I’ve been invited to supper.”

Some male gasped, “You have?”

And Frank nodded. “Just me!”

As the various males got into their cars, they protested not being invited, too.

Geri slowly shook her head, being sure the rest of the males would not come back, too.

They laughed and protested and called out, but they all left in the two cars.

Geri wondered what she’d done. Well, she could control any male. She’d feed Frank after all, and she’d shoo him out after they’d eaten. If he walked over to her place, or someone came by and dropped him off, she’d call a cab for him when the supper was finished.

So she went inside her apartment to the kitchen and looked at what all was available to eat. Shocked, she saw she had very little. And Frank was coming right back. So she went next door to another apartment and asked her neighbor, Paul Gorden, “May I use some of your goodies? I’ve asked a young man to have dinner with me. He is willing.”

Paul said, “Only if I can share the supper you’re preparing.”

She laughed. “Do you suppose that there will be enough to eat?”

Paul said, “I’ll help. Of course, you’ll have to include me for dinner. Not to eat me, you realize, but to feed me also.”

She tilted her head and said, “Okay. It’s a deal. What all do you have to eat?”

So they searched out what was available. She put the things aside that she wanted. Then she heard Frank’s car door slam. And he was walking up the stairs to her apartment!

She told Paul, “I’ve got to hurry. I didn’t realize he could be here so fast.”

“I’ll bring the other things over. Be sure to set me a place at the very table you’re fixing.”

“Done.” And she grinned as she left.

Geri got to her door as Frank got there, grinning widely and his eyes sparkling with anticipation. That was for food, but Geri thought he was anticipating something romantic—and Paul would be there! She laughed. How hilarious.

Frank thought she was delighted to see him and his grin widened.

Geri looked over at the approaching Paul. Paul was serious and his head was down like a bull’s as he watched the intruder.

Now Paul knew she was having a guest. What was the matter with him? Geri took a deep breath and looked at Paul with some hostility.

Paul didn’t notice. He was watching Frank.

Understanding the males’ hostility to each other, Geri sighed and said, “I’ve a terrible headache. I’m sure you both will excuse me.”

That old, tattered excuse came right out of the blue. Think of that.

Frank was startled that he’d taken the time to be there when she’d just discarded him.

Paul told Geri quietly, “I’ll see he gets out right away.”

She looked at Paul and said, “Thank you. I’ll see you around, no doubt.” Then she closed the front door.

Paul gasped.

Geri turned and went into the back of the apartment to her bedroom, and she closed that door, too.

All that in just no time at all?

A little while later, Geri came from the back room to check out who was left. Since no one was there, Geri drew a deep breath and hummed as she gathered what was left for her own supper.

The fact that the two men had carried away most of the meal was no problem for her.

As Geri ate, she sat looking out over the beautiful trees to the river. It was a wonderful view. She smiled at the scene, though her thoughts kept returning to Frank.

Time passed. Several days. The phone rang.

Should she or shouldn’t she answer the silly thing? Geri wondered.

But she considered that as she got up and went to the phone. She lifted it, not saying anything, and it was Frank who asked, “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

Then Frank asked as if the thought had just occurred, “Hey, you wanna go to a movie?”

Geri asked carefully, “What movie?”

And he said, “Twilight. It’s supposed to be good.”

“I’ve heard it’s scary.”

He told her, “Naw. It’s just like all the others. You’ve probably seen ’em on TV. Try this one. I’ve seen it, and it’s okay.”

“If you’ve seen it, why are you willing to go?”

And Frank told her, “This way I can watch you and how you take the movie.”

“That would be boring for you.”

In a smoky voice, he told her, “I can watch you.”

That made Geri feel naked. She considered all the other people who’d be there so she’d be okay. She said, “You’ll watch the screen. Behave.”

Frank complained, “Oh, hell. That again.”

“Yeah.”

He sighed with such endurance and said, “Okay.”

“Well, I’ll see if my headache takes care.”

Frank exclaimed, “That still around? I thought you were through it.”

Geri told him, “It comes and goes... depending.” What a lie.

So Frank said, “Maybe you ought to see a doctor?”

“It’s the season. I’m one who stops up with colds at summer’s tip.”

“Ahhhh.”

They talked a few moments longer, making plans for the evening. And when Geri hung up, she was oddly warmed by Frank’s concern for her.

So that evening, the two did go to the movie, Twilight. Geri looked around to see who else was there and did not see one single. person she knew. When had that ever happened?

Geri settled down and adjusted to being in a strange place.

The movie was odd and caught Geri’s attention quite easily. She watched the screen and was drawn into the plot. She felt the people were real, and their problems were just like everybody’s! She blinked and listened. She never shouted what they could have done! But she was restless and appalled they weren’t a little more aware of what all was happening.

When it was finished and they were on their way to her place, she told Frank what the actors should have done right away and not allowed it all to pile up.

Frank said, “It’s a movie.”

Now that was logical. The film wasn’t real. So she settled down and still it waggled in her mind.

Frank told Geri, “You were so wrapped up in what was happening.” He grinned at her.

She was more serious. She said, “They never should have—”

“It was a movie.”

Geri told him, “The plot was such that I could have done better.”

“Yeah. Want something to drink? Or how about ice cream?”

“Ice cream. If they’d only—”

Again he repeated, “It was a movie.”

She was somewhat irritated. “Aren’t you involved? Didn’t you figure out what they were supposed to do right away and not let it get all out of hand?”

He laughed, then said, “What you need is a good cherry soda.”

“Chocolate.”

He was shocked. “You don’t want a cherry soda? You’re waggling my understanding of you.”

“Probably.” She was sassy and slid her eyes to look at him. She really wasn’t finished with debating the movie. “So you’ve seen it twice now?”

Frank nodded. “I had to check it out to see if you’d like it.”

That touched her. “Thank you.” But she was irritated by the film. “It should have gone differently.”

“How?”

“The female lead should have been more in charge of the situation.”

He nodded. He did that because he wasn’t entirely sure exactly what she intended for the characters to do. Frank looked over at her and watched her tilt her head as she looked out the car window into the night’s darkness.

She was precious.

He took her to a busy ice-cream place that had sandwiches and beer. They got out of the car and went inside.

“Hey, Frank!” The call was for Frank, but the table of guys were looking at the remarkable Geri. The males got up and joined them at their table so that they could each sit by Geri.

Frank smiled. But he kept a good strong hand on the woman who was with him. He said, “Hush, now. Watch your language. This is a lady.”

Two

How interesting it was for Geri Jones to listen to the men speak and tease and laugh. They acted as if they had no other way to spend their time. What did they do?

So she inquired.

Their jobs were odd. She asked, “How did you find them?”

They shrugged and looked at each other. One man painted traffic signs. One was an electrician who strung new wires where they were needed. Another was in construction and altered buildings that were unsound.

All of them adjusted things. They knew how and it wasn’t difficult. And they knew how to read the drawings and help in the building of a building.

She asked, “How’d you know to do that?”

Some of them shrugged and one said, “It was logical.”

She asked, “How did you know what to do?”

It was Mark Goode who listened and replied, “How it was, wasn’t working, so we figured how to change it so that it would work.”

Geri was amazed. Anyone who could do something like that was clever.

Jack Smith told her, “We have lots of help on such things. There’re men who draw and figure and decide.”

“Who?” she asked.

“Guys that can figure out why it isn’t working. They can be desk people or people who do that kind of thing and knew it was crooked at the time they put it in. Some ideas for buildings are really dumb.”

She watched the speakers seriously and suggested, “Do any of you ask about things you know are wrong?”

“Yeah,” one of the older men said. “But the one that designed it doesn’t allow us to comment.”

Geri asked, “So you figure then what you’d have done if you’d drawn the layout?”

“Naw. They could be right. It’s when we find they’re wrong, and nothing really works right, that we figure how to save it. Some things don’t save. They’re empty and dead.”

“Ahhhhh, ” she said softly. She was thinking and considering. The apartments where she lived were somewhat that way. Some of the places were without good views. It was almost as if they’d been slapped in place and left that way.

One of the older men told her, “The place you live?”

Now how did he know where she lived? So she just looked at the man.

Easily he went on, “Some of the apartments were redone. We had to change them. The people who’d moved in didn’t understand outside walls that nobody could look out of.”

She nodded as she said, “Ahhhh.”

The older man who was called George said, “We put in the windows.”

So she asked, “How about an outside porch?”

George shook his head. “No support below. With the windows, you get to see out. That’s as good as we could do.”

She laughed. “It’s perfect! Thank you.”

And another of the men, John, told her,

“You should have heard the people complaining because they couldn’t see out. That’s when we finally got to put in the extra windows.”

Geri told him, “It was brilliant. How long ago did they finally agree to allow you all to put in the missing windows?”

“Some years ago. The people that were to move in there objected to not being able to see out the walls. Other people just didn’t move in. So the ones in charge of that place called us back. And we charged them double.”

They all laughed.

She smiled at them until they were silent, then she said, “It was worth it.”

They smiled at her.

With subtle élan, she said, “They charge me three times as much because there are the windows.”

The older man waited for the laughter to soften, then he told her, “We’ll talk to them and straighten them out.”

They all laughed, including her.

The older man looked at her and smiled gently. But he was silent.

She said softly, “Just having those windows is worth your work.”

He smiled, but he was still silent.

She thought she’d offended him with her laughter.

So it was only three days later that the receptionist of Geri’s development called to Geri as she went by. The woman told Geri, “We are startled because we’ve been overcharging you for rent!” The woman smiled. “You get a refund.”

And the money was counted out and then recounted as Geri was paid!

She gave half of it to Frank and asked that he pass it on to the man who had made the windows.

Frank asked her, “You sure? It’s your money. George was paid to cut out those windows. He didn’t lose any cash at all.”

“But he told me why I was being charged extra. Those windows had been paid for a long time ago by the people who lived there.”

“Yeah.” Frank was thoughtful. “I’ll give him the money again.”

“Thank you.”

Frank watched her. “I don’t understand you all the time.”

“I’m a woman. I can roar.”

He watched her. His eyes sparkled. He licked his lips. He told her, “You’re special.”

So Geri went home to find a large basket of flowers at her door. It was from George. He wrote, “You got dinner coming from me and my wife either Friday or Saturday. Let me know.” His phone number was at the bottom.

She called and told the answering machine, “This is Geri. I shall be delighted to take you and your wife to dinner. Let me know when. I’ll drive.”

When the time came, it was Frank who drove to fetch her, and they went to pick up George and his wife, Martha. Geri told Frank, “I hadn’t planned to feed you, too. You eat like a horse.”

Frank replied, “Horses eat grass and stuff like that. I eat steaks.”

“So you’re the one who uses up all the money!”

“Yep. Get adjusted.”

She laughed. She looked at Frank and watched his smile. She settled down and enjoyed the evening.

George had brought Martha along so that she would do the talking, and he need not. However, it wasn’t long before George broke in and told stories that were really funny, and they all laughed. He was a great storyteller and the stories were simply hilarious.