Southern Spice (Southern Desires Series Book 1) by Jeannette Winters

people from town, no one even turned to acknowledge his entrance. That probably was a good thing, or they might all have hightailed it out of there in a hurry. Instead, they were focused on the only voice in the room.
    Casey, being so short, stood on the staircase so everyone could see her as she spoke. Her voice stood out. Not only because of the sweet tone, but her accent was cute as hell. He listened for a moment, and she rattled off information in a professional business manner. He was impressed, yet there was something else he heard when she spoke. Nothing like he was used to hearing in his meetings. What was it? Compassion?
    No. I’ve dealt with FEMA before. People are just a case number, nothing more.
    His initial reaction faded away as he closed the door and began listening to what she was telling them. Derrick was far from happy with her, but watching her in action had a strange calming effect on him. What the hell are you doing to me?
    The first time he dealt with FEMA was in a meeting hall to hear all about forms and procedures, much like Casey was talking about now. This discussion seemed to hold something different. Maybe it was because he wasn’t personally involved. The tornado had hit part of Honeywell and several other ranches, yet his had remained untouched. Even with that major difference, this didn’t sound anything like the discussion he had attended years ago. Casey was giving information but not as though she had rehearsed it a million times over. Was it possible she was new? Even her face changed, her eyes became expressive as she talked about the entire process. She laid it out in a realistic manner as though speaking to friends, not complete strangers. This wasn’t what he expected from a seasoned representative. You’re not sugarcoating their loss with promises you know very well the agency won’t keep. Darlin’, where were you five years ago when I needed you?
    That thought snapped him right back to reality. She wasn’t here as a friend or a volunteer. Casey Collins was being paid to do a job. That’s all. No matter how sweetly she smiled or acted, it was a job. Derrick had to give her credit, she was better at selling the bullshit line than her coworkers had been. That just makes you more dangerous, Casey. And these people haven’t got a clue, do they?
    Derrick found himself exactly where he didn’t want to be: between caring and not. Being indecisive was worse than making a decision. It was a sign of weakness, and he was known for being anything but weak.
    There was only one place he wanted to be right now, and it wasn’t Texas. In the last five years, he’d only come to tend to an issue. Seeing the second tornado had missed his property entirely he should already be on a plane heading back to New York. But with what he just witnessed, there was no way he could even think about leaving Casey alone here. If he did, she would probably open up the place to the public and start running it like it was a bed and breakfast.
    His stomach rumbled from the aroma coming from the long buffet-style table set up. It appeared to have enough food to feed everyone for days. Typical Texans. No power outage was going to stop them from preparing a shitload of food. Derrick shot Casey a warning look over the crowd. They better be gone when I get back.
    Their eyes met briefly, but he could tell by her expression she got the message. He could only hope she’d heed the warning or there’d be hell to pay when he got back. Placing his hat on his head, he opened the door and left the townsfolk to make up their own minds. What they chose to do had nothing to do with him. His only tie to Texas was this ranch. If he could, he would leave and never return. Standing on the porch, he looked to the hill on the far right. On a clear day like today, he could see the two crosses under the jacaranda tree. It was just starting to bloom, and the purple flowers seemed to glow. It never flowered till spring, but with the