Natural Born Trouble by Sherryl Woods Page B

hugs. Moments like this made him realize how much he’d missed during all the times he’d been away.
    â€œTell Dani hi for us,” they shouted after him.
    â€œTell her the kittens are really cool,” Zachary added. “We might not need a puppy, after all.”
    â€œI’ll definitely tell her that,” Duke said just as he heard Jordan tap his horn out front.
    To Duke’s relief, they spent the ride discussing business and other impersonal topics. As always, Duke admired Jordan’s quick intelligence and shrewd judgment. There was a rock-solid dependability about him that Duke envied. He hoped he could find some way to emulate it and give his sons the role model they deserved.
    It took less than a half hour to reach Jordan’s property. As they approached the house, Duke surveyed the small place with its colorful garden with some surprise. Huge pots on the porch spilled over with lush, vivid flowers. He had expected Jordan to own something far more pretentious than this tidy, homey farmhouse. Not even a fresh coat of paint could disguise the fact that it was quite old and had never been much more than a struggling ranch.
    Only after he was inside did he see that first appearances were deceiving. When Jordan showed him around, he discovered that an addition in the back was spacious enough for an indoor pool, an officewith book-lined shelves and a very private master bedroom suite.
    Still, the original house was warm and cozy, compared to Harlan Adams’s far more formal White Pines. Jordan observed his reaction.
    â€œNot what you expected, is it?”
    Duke regretted being so transparent. “Sorry, but no. It’s lovely, but I thought you would live in something very modern.”
    â€œModern and pretentious,” Kelly chimed in. “He did,” she announced as she joined them with a tray of appetizers hot from the oven. “In Houston.” She shuddered. “It was awful. Cold, sterile and big enough to house a family of twenty.” She brushed a kiss across her husband’s cheek. “I convinced him he needed a home, not a showplace.”
    â€œShe was right, too,” Jordan said. “As usual.”
    â€œThis ranch had belonged to my family for years.”
    â€œKelly single-handedly saved it from ruin after they were gone,” Jordan said with obvious pride.
    The sound of a car skidding to a halt out front interrupted their conversation. Kelly winced.
    â€œDani’s here,” Jordan guessed.
    â€œShe drives like you,” Kelly complained. “She’s going to get herself killed one of these days.”
    â€œI haven’t,” Jordan pointed out.
    Duke gathered it was an old argument. He felt his shoulders tense as he waited for Dani to appear. The front door slammed, she shouted a greeting, then came to an abrupt halt at the sight of him. Her smile faded.
    Kelly quickly hugged her and whispered something that had Dani managing a tight smile.
    â€œHello, again,” she said tersely to Duke as she bent to give Jordan a peck on the cheek.
    â€œYou’re looking especially lovely tonight,” Duke commented, grinning at the blush that climbed into her cheeks.
    â€œI just came from the Holcombe place. Their dog was having a difficult time delivering its pups. If I’d known there was going to be anyone here beside family, I would have gone home first to change,” she said defensively.
    â€œNo need to gussy up on my account,” Duke said.
    â€œWell, there is on mine,” Jordan said, wrinkling his nose distastefully. “You smell like a barn.”
    â€œMaybe I should just leave,” she said, turning for the front door at little too eagerly.
    â€œOf course, you’re not leaving,” Kelly said. “You have clothes in your room here.”
    Dani sighed. “Fine. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Where’s Justin, by the way? I need to talk to him about