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  “You need me…to take her out,” he echoed slowly. His mind went temporarily blank. The request was a little like Santa Claus showing up on Christmas, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Easter. But he didn’t kid himself, the appeal wasn’t only because of his current case. Violet James played a part in the dream lives of most American males. The woman could have any man she wanted. “What’s the catch?”

  “I’m not doing a very good job of this,” she said. “Okay, let’s start over. Has anyone ever broken your heart, JD?”

  He tried to remember.

  “Never mind.” She laughed. “I forget who I’m talking to, Romeo.”

  He winced. “Aw, Sophie, don’t…” He exhaled in a gust. “I can’t help it that I get along well with women.”

  “You’ve never had your heart broken?”

  “There was this girl… .”

  “Girl? How old were you?”

  “Fourteen?”

  “Amazing.”

  Somehow he didn’t think she really meant that as a compliment.

  “Then you may not understand Violet’s situation,” she said. “But maybe, since you’re such a lady-killer, you’ll understand what it’s like to be put in uncomfortable situations because of your looks.”

  “Come on, Sophie. Cut me some slack. I’m not shallow.”

  “But you sure haven’t put your heart out there for anyone to stomp on, have you?”

  Wow. He’d have to think about that.

  “I’m sorry, JD. I’m not really eliciting your sympathy, am I?”

  That so wasn’t his problem. He was too busy thanking his lucky stars. But he probably shouldn’t appear too eager. “I’ve sure had better sales jobs.” He chuckled. “Want to try again?”

  “I think I’d better.” She paused. “Hello, JD. This is Sophie. May I ask you a favor?”

  He couldn’t help laughing. “Why, sure, Sophie. Anything. Whatever you need—strong back, someone to play with Skeeter, a date for the hottest star in the known universe? Just say the word.”

  He heard the smile in her voice when she answered. “About that hottest star…funny you should ask…” Then her voice turned serious. “Here’s the thing, JD. It goes against all of my principles to ask this without her permission, but I’m concerned about Violet.”

  JD’s every sense went on alert. “Why?”

  Sophie took a deep breath. “I’ve been very happy to provide a refuge for her here, and I would gladly continue, but…she’s lonely. She has one friend who comes to visit her, but she hasn’t left these grounds since she arrived, at least until this morning.” Her tone was grim. “She walked down to Jo’s for cup of coffee before Cade and I got up. She dressed not to be noticed, but someone still recognized her, actually a lot of someones. People were nice, she said, but there were all sorts of cell phones taking pictures and no doubt posting them to Twitter and Facebook. So now she’s lost her refuge—I mean, still no one can get inside here, but the word is out—and, well, you know how it is for Zane… .”

  Yeah. All of them knew how crazy things could be for Zane. “Doesn’t she have a bodyguard?”

  “We promised her it would be different here in Austin. We promised her a chance to live like a real person.”

  Sophie’s intent was beginning to come clear. “You’re not saying…”

  “I just thought… Maybe it was a foolish idea.” She sounded so disappointed. “She would be safe with you, JD, I mean, you have all that training.”

  “You want me to be her bodyguard? I have a job, Sophie.”

  “I know.” She sighed. “Cade would do it, but he has to leave on another assignment.”

  “Cade’s a photographer, not a cop.”

  “But he’s a man, and he’s big. And everyone else in the family is married.”

  “You were going to pimp Cade out to Violet James?” he teased.

  “No!” Then she huffed. “Do not be deliberately obtuse. I’m only asking if you would take Violet out a time or two. Give her a chance to have some fun, and still be safe. Take her somewhere where she doesn’t attract attention.”

  “I practically knocked her down,” he pointed out.

  “She wasn’t mad—oh, never mind,” she said. “I don’t even know that Violet would go for the idea, anyway.”

  Okay, he’d been cautious enough. Now he was going to jump all over this golden opportunity to spend time with the woman one of their prime suspects was coming to visit every day. She probably knew he was a cop since the family would have no reason to hide that fact, and this was the only innocuous means by which he’d have an excuse to snoop around and see what he could learn about Avery Lofton.

  “Maybe she’s the forgiving type,” he said to Sophie. “And she’ll consider me almost flattening her a novel introduction.”

  Sophie chuckled.

  It wasn’t without effort that he pretended nonchalance. “Okay, I guess. Feel free to try, then let me know what she thinks of your idea.”

  “Oh, thank you, JD. I owe you. Of course, I already owe you for all your backbreaking labor on my landscaping.”

  Oh, you really, really don’t, he thought. Not if she could get him in the catbird seat on his investigation. But to Sophie he only said, “What are friends for? Anyway, better not celebrate yet. She might be a tough sell.”

  “I don’t think so—I hope not. I mean, you do have a way with women, JD. She’s such a nice person. I like her a lot, not only as a guest, but as a person. She’s very fragile right now, and I really want to help her.”

  “You have a good heart, Sophie. Call me and let me know how the sales job goes.”

  “I will—and thank you so much.”

  Oh, no, thank you. You’re the one who’s dropping this right in my lap. “Bye, Sophie.”

  Doc would be ecstatic if it came through.

  He wished he could explain to Sophie that he would be careful with Violet, that if she wasn’t involved in this crime, she would be fine.

  But he couldn’t tell Sophie anything. He reminded himself that he worked undercover all the time, that the deception was necessary, that he was doing it for the right reasons, to save lives. To keep innocent young women who weren’t famous safe from those who would brutalize and kill them.

  * * *

  VIOLET DIDN'T TELL AVERY about her ill-fated outing, though she wasn’t sure why. She shouldn’t have told Sophie, but Sophie had been outside on the grounds looking worried when she returned. What an oaf she’d been, not thinking to leave Sophie a note. When she stayed in a hotel she never considered accounting for her whereabouts, but even though she was a paying guest here, somehow this was different. Sophie had gone so far out of her way for Violet, and Violet had rewarded her solicitous care by vanishing and leaving Sophie to worry.

  So somehow all the details had come spilling out. Sophie felt terrible, not that any of it was her fault, but that was just who Sophie was. Violet had assured her she was fine, that the incident hadn’t soured her on Austin, that she was fine staying inside the grounds and would be returning to L.A. soon anyway.

  That only served to make Sophie feel worse.

  Avery had arrived before they could finish the conversation and, as always, her hostess disappeared and left her to visit with Avery in private. That visit hadn’t gone much better than the morning’s outing. He’d been preoccupied and even a little irritable, so she’d sent him on his way quickly, pleading that she was tired—and frankly, he hadn’t seemed to mind all that much.

  She was not a duty call. She wasn’t going to be an obligation or a worry. She didn’t want to be anyone’s burden, she just wanted—

  She had no idea what she wanted. Except what she couldn’t seem to have. How had she come to this point in her life? No
man, no children, no one she really trusted except Avery…and their friendship wasn’t holding up terribly well right now, either.

  That was unfair. He was a busy man, yet he made time for her every day, he brought her countless gifts, trying to cheer her up.

  But she wanted someone who couldn’t wait to be with her. Someone whose day she made brighter, someone she could love as much as she wanted with this heart of hers that was starving to death. Someone whose motives she could trust completely, who saw her as she was, the East Tennessee girl, not the Hollywood star.

  As the hammock she was trying to relax in slowed, a cold nose attached to a big furry head plopped over the side and stilled her. Violet smiled. “Hi, Skeeter.” The Irish setter’s tail thumped the ground, and his tongue swiped her arm.

  “Skeeter! Oh, Violet, I’m so sorry. Someone let him out of the house.” Sophie rushed to retrieve her dog. “I’m very sorry he woke you.”

  Violet stroked his head and smiled into the soft brown eyes, then looked up at Skeeter’s mistress. “I wasn’t asleep, and, anyway, I’ve slept for a year already. Besides, I grew up with big dogs. I’d have one if I didn’t travel so much. Nothing better than a big old sloppy dog kiss, isn’t that right, baby?” she crooned. “Much better than a yappy little thing.”

  Skeeter’s tail wagged his agreement.

  “He’s supposed to be in his run when guests are on the grounds.”

  “Well, since you’ve been kind enough to make me your only guest, I think he should get a reprieve.”

  “Not so kind. You’re paying a premium for the privilege.” Sophie was relentlessly honest, cautious to her core and ruthless in her expectations of herself and her staff.

  “I should. You sacrificed bookings to afford me the privacy of being the only guest.”

  Sophie waved off her concerns. “I’d do anything for Cade’s family. And once I met you, well, I’m happy if I can help someone I like so much.”

  “They’re really nice, aren’t they? I’d only met Zane until last night.”

  “They are. They treat me just like family.”

  Violet heard the wistfulness in her voice and decided to pry a little further. “From what I heard last night, Cade would make that legal in a heartbeat.”

  In a rare display of distress, Sophie was practically wringing her hands. “I know, but…” Abruptly she faced Violet. “I’ve been married before.”

  “Oh.” Didn’t she know only too well how much the past could mark you? “I apologize. I—”

  Sophie pressed on as though Violet hadn’t spoken. “I…we had a child.” Her voice went very quiet. “My husband and baby, they…died.”

  Now Violet really felt terrible. She rose and laid her hand on the taller woman’s arm. “I understand. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

  Sophie began to walk, and after a brief hesitation, Violet fell into step beside her. “I’m over it—at least, as much as you ever get over losing your family in an instant.” She faced Violet. “I was in hiding, and Cade made me come out. Taught me that I could love again…but I’m scared.” She flung her hands wide. “And I don’t know why I’m talking about this.”

  “I won’t tell a soul, Sophie, I swear. It stays between us.”

  “You are such a nice person. It’s not just an image—you really are America’s Sweetheart.”

  “Please.” Violet shuddered. “Not here. I’m just me. And that’s a gift you’ve given me, Sophie, the space to just…be. To not have to keep up appearances or worry about what I say or how I look or—”

  “You’re always beautiful. You’d be easy to hate if you weren’t so lovable.”

  Violet rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, blah, blah…let’s get back to you.”

  “Actually, I came to talk about you.”

  “Me? Is this about this morning? Sophie, please don’t worry about what happened. I’ll be fine.”

  Sophie twisted her fingers together, an unusual sign of tension in someone normally so serene. “I—I arranged something for you.”

  Now it was Violet who tensed. “What?”

  “You need to get out,” Sophie said. “And I have a solution. JD is coming to pick you up this afternoon.”

  “JD?” Violet echoed. “From last night?”

  “He’s a good guy,” Sophie said quickly. “And he’s embarrassed about nearly knocking you down. That’s very unlike him. He’s usually great company, a lot of fun. Women love him.”

  “That’s not exactly a selling point for me, you know.” Violet smiled wryly. “I’ve had it up to here with pretty boys. My life is full of them in L.A.”

  “But he’s not like that,” Sophie responded. “And this isn’t…he didn’t ask for it. I was the one who asked him. He’s got reservations, too.”

  Violet’s eyebrows rose. “Really.”

  “What I mean is that he would never impose. You know he’s a cop, right? So I thought that he could be good company but also watch over you and keep you safe. I mean, you could hire a bodyguard, but—”

  Violet shook her head. “I’d rather not. I just wanted to be able to go and play tourist without being followed.”

  “Exactly,” Sophie said. “Which is why I thought of JD. He’s not like a real bodyguard and he’s really a lot of fun. Everyone in the family loves him.”

  Violet’s instinct was to say no, but she recognized that Sophie was simply trying in a different way to give her a chance to get out and enjoy herself.

  “Never mind,” Sophie said when Violet didn’t speak. “I’ll come with you. I can be fierce when I need to,” Sophie said. “Cade won’t mind sparing me for a while.”

  Cade definitely would mind, Violet would bet. He’d been gone for three weeks, she’d learned during her stay here. He’d barely been back forty-eight hours and he was due to leave again in a few days. Plus, the two of them were so crazy in love with each other that Violet would be the biggest jerk to take Sophie away now.

  She shouldn’t hold it against JD that he was gorgeous. He might be perfectly nice. Hadn’t she always been one to give others the benefit of the doubt? “No, I’m not taking you away from Cade,” she said. “But JD is clear this isn’t a date, right?”

  “Of course,” Sophie said. “He’s only doing it as a favor to me.” Then her eyes widened. “Um, I mean… Good grief, you’d never know I have a reputation for being cool under fire.”

  Violet grinned. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a pity date,” she said. “Much less a pity non-date.”

  “I should probably stop right now, shouldn’t I?”

  Sophie looked so distressed and embarrassed that Violet couldn’t tease her anymore. “You did fine. Anyway, it’s not your fault that I’ve made a real hash of my life.”

  The other woman’s eyebrows rose. “You’re famous and beautiful and you make millions.” Then her eyes warmed. “But I guess I do understand. I wasn’t around when Zane and Roan met, but I’ve heard the family stories. Even when he was on top of the world in everyone’s eyes, his life wasn’t nearly as perfect as it seemed.”

  “I hear that,” Violet said. “I made one of my dreams happen, but I never understood back then that it wouldn’t be enough.” She reached out and clasped Sophie’s hands. “You have a wonderful man who loves you. You stay here and play with him. I’ll go with JD.”

  “You’ll have fun, Violet. I promise.”

  It would be nice to get out, and it was the least she could do for the woman standing in front of her with worried eyes. Besides, she’d always been an optimist, and she wanted to be that Violet again.

  She squeezed Sophie’s hands. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Sophie’s delight was reward enough to balance Violet’s misgivings. Fake it ’til you make it, right, Mom?
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  CHAPTER FIVE

  GOOD WORK, DOC HAD SAID when JD called him to report their windfall. Don’t screw it up.

  There was a lot at stake here, not the least of which was that they weren’t sure whether Violet James was involved in the human-trafficking ring. It didn’t seem likely, but his years in law enforcement had taught JD that motivations were not always obvious, that the most innocent-looking parties could still be guilty as hell.

  Why a woman as on top of the world as Violet would be involved in crime, especially one that hurt women and children more than anyone, he couldn’t imagine. But Avery Lofton was definitely involved, and she was close to Lofton. Just how close was something he’d be paying rapt attention to. Even if she wasn’t part of this horrifying scheme, she could know something. He took nothing for granted at this point.

  He wasn’t a trained bodyguard, either, and that could screw things up, too. Yes, he had formidable self-defense skills and he kept them honed. He didn’t just run daily, he lifted weights and he’d studied various forms of self-defense. But with luck, none of that would be needed. As far as he was aware, she had no stalkers, no crazed fans lurking in bushes. Doc had tagged an old FBI buddy stationed in L.A. to check that out. Violet James was much loved, but her reputation for sweetness shielded her from the worst of the crazies.

  Beyond all of that…he also couldn’t think of how to entertain one of the world’s most famous and beautiful women.

  He pulled into Sophie’s and used the code Sophie had given him when they’d spoken earlier. After the gate opened, he drove inside, still debating his options.

  Could he actually be nervous? He didn’t remember the last time he’d been nervous on a date—not that this was a date, but he really didn’t know what the devil to call it.

  He emerged from his truck, dressed in his usual attire of jeans, a T-shirt and boots, with a ball cap on his head from his beloved Texas Longhorns. Austin was a casual place, and Ms. Bigshot Star would just have to deal with it if she was expecting some guy in a silk shirt.

  He started for the front door of the hotel, thinking he’d seek out Sophie first, but just before he made it to the steps, he heard Skeeter bark, followed by feminine laughter. He backed up several steps and peered across the grounds, seeing the woman he was here to pick up kneeling and rubbing Skeeter enthusiastically.