Relatively Risky by Pauline Baird Jones Page B

for her sleepy gaze to meet his. “Not Star Valley.”
    He grinned. “How did you know—”
    â€œAlmost everyone’s ‘I know someone from Wyoming,’ is someone from Star Valley.” An amused frown pulled her brows together. “Not sure why. It’s not huge.”
    â€œNot many towns in Wyoming are,” Alex pointed out, which was almost all he knew about the state. And that most of Yellowstone was in Wyoming. Okay, he just thought he knew that.
    Her tiny nod conceded the point. It was followed by another lazy smile that made his insides relax some. He liked that she didn’t fidget or chatter. Looked at him straight, her gaze clear and honest. And smiling. There really was something about her eyes—
    â€œSo you’re from not-Star Valley.”
    Her chuckle was engaging.
    â€œWaipiti. I’m from Waipiti.”
    â€œWa—what?”
    â€œIt’s a little place between Cody and Yellowstone. A really little place.”
    â€œHow did you get from there to here?” Her perch suited her, New Orleans did, too, but at the same time…he tried to picture a little town in Wyoming behind her, but he’d never been to Wyoming. Were Wyoming small towns like Louisiana small towns? Her eyes shadowed some and she looked away.
    â€œSarah was my college roommate.”
    â€œCollege?” Alex probed. He’d have pegged Sarah as a local, in habitation and with her college selection. But what had brought Nell to Louisiana—
    Nell grinned. “University of Wyoming.”
    His brows shot up. “Seriously?” He did not see that one coming.
    â€œShe won’t admit it, but I think she did it to piss off her parents. When my parents—she’s the one who hooked me up with my publisher. He’s local, too. When she inherited the house, she decided to try her hand at catering and she invited me to come work for her.”
    Didn’t have to be a cop to note the quick subject change or to fill in the blanks. Didn’t need to be a metro-sexual either. “How long ago did your parents pass?”
    Her lashes shot up, her gaze on his for a long moment before she said, “A little over two years.”
    â€œNo siblings?” She shook her head. Did he envy her? Probably not, though ask him tomorrow. Answer changed with the day.
    â€œNo family.” Her smile was overly bright and not that happy. “I’m relying on the kindness of strangers these days, though,” her tone softened, “Sarah’s not a stranger.”
    â€œYou must have left a lot of friends back in Wa—Wyoming?”
    â€œOf course, but—” she shrugged again. Her lashes drifted to half mast, her mouth drooped.
    â€œA clean break was probably a good idea.” It had worked for his ex. She and the new hubby were in Saudi Arabia or maybe it was Dubai. He didn’t keep track, but one of his sister’s had mentioned seeing something about it in her Facebook status a few weeks ago. Sometimes it bothered him how little he missed her. Mostly he was relieved. Nothing more depressing than a guy who couldn’t get over the ex. It annoyed his sisters that he forgot he had an ex. Maybe it was having so many siblings. Didn’t have room in his brain to remember an ex. “How long you been here?”
    Her face relaxed at the change of subject. “A couple of years.”
    â€œThat kid, the failed carjacker? He wants your autograph. Didn’t realize I’d been rescued by a celebrity.”
    That made her chuckle a bit ruefully. “Only with tweens, I’m afraid. It’s the strangest thing, but Alphonse has been deemed totally sick, only locally of course. Kids that age won’t even eat vegetables, but apparently they like wearing him.” She grinned at him, then shook her head. “I’m still a bit shell shocked thinking about trying to ram him. I do not know what came over me. I’m not