Free Texas Wild by Brenda Jackson Page A

then said, “Jessica,
Savannah and I share the same father. We didn’t know about Jess until I was in
college.”
    “Oh.” Megan didn’t know the full story, but it was obvious from
Rico and Savannah’s interracial features that the three siblings shared the same
father and not the same mother. She had met Rico and Savannah’s mother at one of
Jessica’s baby showers and thought she was beautiful as well as kind. But then
Megan had seen the interaction between the three siblings and could tell their
relationship was a close one.
    “You, Jessica and Savannah are close, I can tell. It’s also
obvious the three of you get along well.”
    He smiled. “Yes, we do, especially since I’m no longer trying
to boss them around. Now I gladly leave them in the hands of Chase and Durango
and have to admit your cousins seem to be doing a good job of keeping my sisters
happy.”
    Megan would have to agree. But then she would say that all the
Westmorelands had selected mates that complemented them, and they all seemed so
happy together, so well connected. Even Gemma and Callum. She had visited her
sister around the time Gemma’s baby was due to be born and Megan had easily felt
the love radiating between Gemma and her husband. And Megan knew Callum Junior,
or CJ as everyone called him, was an extension of that love.
    “We’ll be leaving first thing in the morning, Megan.”
    She glanced back over at Rico, remembering what he’d said when
he’d first arrived. He had come for her. “And just where are we supposed to be
going?”
    She couldn’t help noticing how a beam of light that was shining
in through the open barn door was hitting him at an angle that seemed to
highlight his entire body. And as weird as it sounded, it seemed like there was
a halo over his head. She knew it was a figment of her imagination because the
man was no angel.
    “I’m taking you back to Forbes with me,” he said, leading both
horses to their stalls. “You did say you wanted to be included when I uncover
information about Clarice.”
    She felt a sudden tingling of excitement in her stomach. Her
face lit up. “Yes,” she said, following him. “You found out something?”
    “Nothing more than what I told you before. However, my man
who’s doing internet research came across a recent news article. There’s a woman
living in Forbes who’ll be celebrating her one-hundredth birthday today. And
she’s lived in the same house for more than seventy of those years. Her address
just happens to be within ten miles of the last known address we have for
Clarice. We’re hoping she might remember her.”
    Megan nodded. “But the key word is remember . How well do you think a one-hundred-year-old person will
be able to remember?”
    Rico smiled. “According to the article, she credits home
remedies for her good health. I understand she still has a sharp memory.”
    “Then I can’t wait for us to talk to her.”
    Rico closed the gate behind the horses and turned to face her.
“Although I’m taking you along, Megan, I’m still the one handling this
investigation.”
    “Of course,” she said, looking away, trying her best not to get
rattled by his insistence on being in charge. But upon remembering what Ramsey
had said about letting Rico do his job without any interference from her, she
decided not to make a big deal of it. The important thing was that Rico was
including her.
    He began walking toward the ranch house, and she fell in step
beside him. “What made you change your mind about including me?” she asked as
she tilted her head up.
    He looked over at her. “You would have shown up in Forbes
eventually, and I decided I’m going to like having you around.”
    Megan stopped walking and frowned up at him. “It’s not going to
be that kind of party, Rico.”
    She watched how his lips curved in a smile so sensuous that she
had to remind herself to breathe. Her gaze was drawn to the muscular expanse of
his chest and how the shirt looked