The Long, Hot Texas Summer

Amanda surveyed the area surrounding her temporary home site. “From the way you were talking earlier as you showed me around, I had the impression you were more of a numbers guy.”

Being good at something didn’t mean it was the right fit, career-wise. Justin wished he could make people understand that. He followed her back to the trailer. “I studied business and accounting in college.”

Amanda chocked the tires so the trailer wouldn’t roll. Finished, she stood. “What practical experience have you had working with troubled kids?”

Not enough; he’d found out the hard way. But that, too, was about to change.

“I worked at a nonprofit that helped at-risk teens.” He helped her unhitch the trailer.

Amanda undid the safety chains. “And did what exactly?”

“Initially, I was the CFO.” Justin pitched in and took care of the sway bars. “Eventually, I coordinated services for the kids, too.”

“But someone else did the actual counseling and evaluating,” Amanda guessed.

Justin nodded. “Which was quite extensive, given how complicated some of their situations were.”

Her expression pensive, Amanda unlocked the hitch. “I’m sure it was.”

“But?”

Amanda got into her truck to drive it out from under the hitch. “Facilitating services for an at-risk kid is not the same as actually getting through to him or her.” She stepped back out of the cab and headed toward him, her long legs eating up the expanse of yard.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time Justin had heard that particular argument. “I can do this.” He knew it in his gut. All he needed was a chance.

She gave him a skeptical look, then took out a carpenter’s level to check the floor of the trailer. As she moved, the hem of her denim skirt slid up her thighs. “From what you’ve just told me, Lamar sounds like a tough case.” Finding it okay, she stood with a smile. “Forgive me for saying so, but you don’t seem like someone who knows much about defying the system.”

Justin couldn’t deny that was true. He’d gone through life without getting into trouble with authority once. That didn’t mean he couldn’t help those who had.

He was beginning to feel a little irked. “So?”

“Where’s the common ground that will allow you and Lamar to establish any kind of rapport?”

“He’ll respond to time and attention.”

Amanda shook her head. “You think his foster parents haven’t been giving him that?”

“Obviously, Lamar needs even more than what he’s been getting,” Justin countered. “Which is where I come in.”

Amanda activated the trailer’s solar panels. “Want my advice?”

“No, but I expect you’re going to give it anyway.”

Their eyes met. “Leave the life lessons to the social workers. They’ve had lots of practice and they’re good at it.”

She went inside the trailer and returned with a rolled-up awning, which he helped her set up.

“Work on getting this ranch finished and ready for the first eight boys. If Lamar can help you do that, fine, it’ll be a good deal for both of you.” With the awning finally attached, she brushed dust off her hands. “But accept the possibility that the kid might not want to be here tomorrow any more than he apparently wanted to be here today.”

“And if that happens?” he prompted, intrigued despite himself by her perspective on the situation.

Her voice dropped a companionable notch. “If he doesn’t want to help out, don’t force it, because the only way it will ever work is if this is his choice. Not someone else’s.”

Justin studied her closely. “What makes you such an expert on all this?” As compared to, say—me?

A hint of sadness haunted her eyes. “Because I lived it. For a good part of my teenage years I hated everyone and everything.”

Now, that was hard to imagine. She seemed so content and comfortable with herself. Sensing he could learn something from her, Justin asked, “What changed?”

For a moment, Amanda went very still, seeming a million miles away. “Me. I finally realized I had a choice to either continue on as I was, which was a pretty miserable existence, or approach life differently. The point is, Justin, you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to help himself.” She sighed. “From what I saw, it didn’t look to me like Lamar is there yet.”

He grimaced at the truth of her words. “I know he’s not.”

Another beat of silence. “Then?” she pressed.

I’m not risking another tragedy. It’s as simple and complicated as that.

Justin stepped closer, vowing, “I’m going to help Lamar whether he wants me to or not.” He paused to take her in, appreciating both her beauty and her strength. “I’d like it if you were on board with that. If you’re not,” he paused and shot her a laser-sharp look, “I’d appreciate it if you would keep your feelings to yourself.”

Chapter Two

“I’d rather work with her.” Lamar pointed at Amanda, soon after arriving the following day.

Justin motioned Lamar back to the stacks of paper he had been trying to organize. Some were for state licensing and registration, others were for federal, state and private grants. The biggest—a quarter-million-dollar endowment from the Lone Star United Foundation—was due by the end of July. In addition to that, there were more fund-raising solicitations to send, thank-you letters to write, a tight budget to manage and local building regulations to comply with.

Justin had figured the teen would show up with an attitude, but he wasn’t going to let him dictate how things were done. “Not an option.”

Lamar slouched in his chair, a scowl on his young face. “How come?”

“Because Amanda’s not in charge of you,” he reminded the boy mildly. “I am.”

The teen returned his glance to the window. “That wood she’s carrying looks heavy.”

Heavy enough to require the sleek muscles of her gorgeous shoulders and upper arms, Justin noticed appreciatively. What it did for her legs wasn’t bad, either.

Justin dragged his glance away from the statuesque beauty in the sleeveless red T-shirt, denim coverall shorts and sturdy work boots. “If Amanda needed our help, she would’ve asked for it.”

“Sure about that? I mean, isn’t this place supposed to be about turning kids into well-mannered guys? What kind of Texas gentleman lets a lady hoist all that stuff by herself—even if she is a carpenter by trade?”

Good question. And one meant to make Justin bend to Lamar’s strategy. “Nice try.”

The kid held his palms aloft. “Hey! I’m just saying...”

Justin eyed the paperwork still needing attention. “Did you get how to use the scanner? Or do I need to explain it again?”

Lamar turned back to the desk with a huff. “I’m not good at this computer stuff.”

Which was an understatement and a half, Justin soon found out. In the next thirty minutes, Lamar managed to accidentally shut down the operating system, re-enter a single document three times and delete two files Justin had initially scanned as examples. The only thing worse than his own mounting frustration was the fact that his young charge seemed equally annoyed at his own ineptitude.

“So maybe office work isn’t your thing,” Justin said finally, ready to admit that all this assignment had done so far was cost both of them precious time and patience.

Lamar looked wistfully out the window at the vast blue horizon and dazzling sunshine. “Sure you don’t want me to go out and at least offer to give Miss Amanda a hand? She still has quite a bit to unload.”

The goal was to get Lamar doing something constructive on his very first day, so Mitzy could report back to her superiors that things were going well.

Figuring it would be okay if they both assisted Amanda, Justin stood. “All right. Let’s go ask.”

Justin and Lamar walked out of the lodge. By the time they reached the pickup truck that Amanda had parked just in front of the door, she had re-emerged from the bunkhouse. She looked from one to the other. Sweat beaded her face, neck and chest. “What’s up?” she asked, blotting the moisture on her forehead with one gloved hand.

Justin turned his attention away from the pretty color in her cheeks and the radiant depths of her eyes. “We thought we’d give you a hand with the unloading,” he explained.

Amanda stiffened. “That’s okay. I’ve got it.”

Lamar gave the pretty carpenter a pleading look. “If you don’t let me help, he’s going to make me go back to the computer—and I’ve already messed things up in there pretty bad.”

Amanda had no problem turning Justin down.

Lamar, it seemed, was another matter entirely.

She sized up the teenager. “The bunkhouse air-conditioning isn’t installed yet. My guess is, even with all the doors and windows open for maximum airflow, it’s about a hundred degrees inside. Add physical exertion to that, and it’s going to be a workout and a half,” she warned.

The tall, lanky teen was evidently unconcerned with the hard physical labor ahead of him, so long as he got out of any more office work. “Okay with me,” Lamar said cheerfully.

Justin smiled and offered, “I can help, too.”

Amanda frowned. “That’s okay...you don’t have to. Lamar and I can handle it.”

Justin didn’t like feeling expendable.

But if this was what it took to get Lamar to realize he could actually enjoy being out here on the ranch, Justin figured he could spare him for one day. “Let me know when Lamar’s work for you is finished,” he told Amanda briskly. “I’ll take it from there.”

* * *

AMANDA KNEW SHE had hurt Justin’s feelings. There was no helping it. She could not have him underfoot. He was too handsome, too distracting, and she couldn’t afford to lose her focus for even a moment.

“You know, if you don’t want me around, either, I could go off somewhere and just get lost for a while,” Lamar suggested casually as soon as Justin had gone back into the lodge.

Chuckling, Amanda clapped a gloved hand on his shoulder. “Nice try, kid. But you told Justin you’d help carry all this wood into the bunkhouse, so that is exactly what you’re going to do.” She rummaged around in her truck and returned with a pair of leather work gloves for him.

Awkwardly, Lamar inched them on. “You don’t mind taking orders from him?”

Did she? Normally, Amanda liked to maintain her independence and set her own work agenda. That was what made these rural gigs so appealing. The clients were so busy with their own work, they were less inclined to micromanage her. Best of all, at the end of the day, she could really get away from it all in her home-away-from-home travel trailer.

“Justin McCabe runs this ranch. It’s my job to make sure he is happy with the work I do. Yours, too, for that matter, since he’s overseeing your community service.”

Silence fell.

Lamar stacked more trim wood in the corner, next to a pile of interior doors that needed to be installed. “Don’t you want to know what I did to get sent out here?”

Amanda brought in a stack of doorknobs and latch kits. “Truancy, right?”

Lamar scowled. “Justin told you.”

They walked back outside for another load. “Yep.”

Lamar peered at her from beneath his blond bangs. “Aren’t you going to use this opportunity to lecture me on how I’m ruining my life and all that?”

Amanda took in the front of his Pirates of the Caribbean T-shirt. It depicted a rollicking fight scene. “Would you listen?”

“No.”

She handed him a bundle of trim wood. “That’s what I figured.”

Lamar cradled it against his chest. “Which is why you’re not lecturing me.”

Amanda grabbed a bundle for herself and walked with him toward the door. “I figure there has to be a reason you keep cutting class.”

Lamar put down his bundle of wood with more than necessary force. “I hate it. It’s boring.”

Regular school had been a pain for Amanda, too. Figuring they could both use a rest, she went to the cooler in the corner and brought out two icy grape-flavored electrolyte drinks. She tossed one to him. “What does interest you?” she asked.

Lamar wiped the moisture away with the hem of his shirt. “I like watching TV. Listening to music.”

Amanda took a long drink. There had to be something that would help him connect with others. “Do you play any sports?” Even if Lamar didn’t qualify for school teams, there were always private athletic leagues to provide a little fun and make him feel involved.

“Nah.” Lamar finished half his bottle in a single gulp. “I’m no good at sports, either.”

So Lamar had suffered multiple failures, socially and otherwise. Catching sight of his dejected expression, Amanda’s heart went out to him. She knew was it was like to be a teenager who didn’t seem to fit in anywhere. “What are you good at?”

Abruptly, mischief crept into his expression. “Getting out of stuff I don’t want to do.”

Amanda could see that. “You can’t really make a living as a no-show.”

“So maybe I’ll be a security guard,” Lamar boasted, “and sit around and watch those TV monitors.”

Amanda couldn’t think of anything less interesting, but leery of discouraging him, she smiled. “Could work.”

He paced to the window and back. “You’re not going to try to talk me out of it? Tell me I have to finish high school and go on to college?”

Amanda held his gaze. “College isn’t for everyone.”

“Did you go to college?”

Amanda shook her head. “I didn’t like high school, either, so I got a GED instead and learned carpentry from my grandfather.”

His face grew pinched. “I don’t know about the GED,” he grumbled, as if it were the worst idea in the world. “All that studying and having to take those tests...”

Amanda could see where even the idea of that would be overwhelming for Lamar, given he’d skipped so much he had to be way behind on his studies. They walked back out to the truck to finish unloading supplies.

“Do you like being a carpenter?” Lamar asked eventually.

“Very much.”

He slanted her a wary glance. “How come?”

Trying not to think about the failures in her own life, Amanda offered him a faint smile. “Because I like building things that will last.”

* * *

IT WAS NEARLY noon when Justin looked up from behind his desk to see his dad striding into the lodge. As he walked across the spacious living area, Wade McCabe held a large high-velocity floor fan in each hand.

Justin strolled out of the administrator’s office to greet him. “Hey, Dad. Thanks for bringing those out.” Wade set them down next to the overstuffed sofas and chairs that had been donated by a local furniture store. “Some reason you couldn’t run into town and pick them up yourself?”

A very good one, as a matter of fact. “I’m supervising a teenager’s community service right now.”

His dad looked around, perplexed, noting they were quite alone.

“Lamar’s in the bunkhouse, assisting the carpenter. He’ll be back in here as soon as they’re finished carrying in all the wood from the pickup truck.”

His dad paused. “So this is a one-day thing?”

“All summer.”

Wade blinked in surprise. “You’re not really equipped for that, are you son?”

Justin tensed. Here we go again. He turned and walked into his office. “Dad, if this is where you tell me if I’m serious about all this, I need to go back to school and get a degree in psychology...”

Wade looked around the sparsely decorated administrator’s office, which at the moment was littered with the paperwork Justin was still trying to get through. “Your mother and I raised you to find what you’re good at and do it to the best of your ability.” He sank into a chair in front of Justin’s desk and gave him a long, level look. “What you are good at, Justin, is finance and accounting.”

Justin slid a stack of papers into a mailing envelope, sealed it shut and ran it through the postage meter. “I’m doing that here.”

Wade steepled his hands in front of him. “To a much lesser degree than what you were doing five years ago.”

Which, for his ambitious father and mother, was unacceptable, Justin knew. They wanted all five of their sons to have the same kind of financial security and success they’d built for themselves, while still holding on to their core values. “It’s important work, Dad.”

Wade’s expression softened. “I’m not discounting that. It’s why I made a sizable donation to help get the Laramie Boys Ranch up and running and accepted a position on the board of directors.”

Something Justin was beginning to regret. In hindsight, he saw answering to his father, even among a group of other involved adults, might not be such a good thing. “Then...?”

“Your mother and I are worried about you.”

Justin grimaced. “Why?”

“Clearly, you’ve yet to get over everything that happened in Fort Worth—first your broken engagement to Pilar, and then...”

Justin heard a feminine throat clear, followed by a knock. He and his father turned to see Amanda standing in the open door.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said, looking gorgeous as ever, despite her hot and sweaty state. “But have either of you seen Lamar?”

* * *

ACTUALLY, GIVEN THE conversation she’d overhead inside the ranch’s office, Amanda wasn’t at all sorry to interrupt. It sounded as though Justin McCabe needed a break. Having been the target of a great deal of parental lecturing growing up, she knew just how demoralizing such sessions could be. Not to mention the damage they inevitably did to the relationship. Although, unlike her mom and dad—who had seen her mostly as a stumbling block to their happiness—Justin’s parent seemed to genuinely care about him.

She continued, “I just got back with more wood and...”

Justin shot out of his chair, his expression filled with concern. “What do you mean you just got back?”

Why was he making a big deal out of this? “I had to run to the lumberyard to pick up the rest of the baseboard.” She paused. “He didn’t tell you?”

Justin shoved a hand through his hair. “I haven’t seen him. I thought he was with you.”

Justin’s father looked on with a mixture of resignation and disapproval.

Amanda felt for Justin. Whether or not the two of them should have seen this coming was a moot point. She swallowed uncomfortably. “He should have reported back to you about an hour and a half ago....”

Justin stalked around the desk to her side. “Where could he be?”

Amanda turned to let Justin through. She caught a whiff of soap and man as he passed by. “I don’t know.” She was, however, willing to help search.

Together, the three of them looked through the lodge. Eventually, they found Lamar sound asleep in the lounge on the second floor. The TV was on, the sound turned all the way down.

Relieved yet still disapproving, Wade McCabe told his son curtly, “I’ll leave you to handle this.”

Tense with embarrassment, Justin nodded at his dad. “Thanks again for bringing the fans.”

Wade nodded and left.

Lamar opened his eyes, stretching lazily. He smelled of sweat and bubblegum. “Hey,” he said to Amanda. “You’re back.”

“Yes.” She tried not to think about how much trouble Lamar was already in, and he’d only been at the ranch for half a day. “I am.”

Justin clenched his jaw with frustration. “Is this where you’ve been the entire time she was gone?” he demanded.

“Yeah. So?”

“You were supposed to find me when Amanda no longer needed your help.”

Lamar rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Yeah, well, all you were doing was office work. I’m no good at that.”

Justin gave Lamar a reproving frown. “That’s not for you to decide. This is community service, remember? To get credit for your time, you have to do what you’re told.”

Lamar sat up and dropped his feet to the floor. Belligerence radiated from him in waves. “Is it time for lunch yet?” he asked, completely ignoring Justin’s reprimand. “I’m really hungry.”

Amanda’s stomach had been growling for the past half hour, too. “I’ve got some sandwiches made if anyone wants to join me.”

“Sounds good to me,” the teen said.

Amanda looked at Justin. Temper again under control, he nodded. Then he cautioned Lamar, “Just don’t do that again, okay? For both our sakes, I need to know where you are at all times.”

“Okay,” Lamar muttered.

Relieved to have that settled, Amanda led the way to her trailer. She invited the guys inside, figuring there was safety in numbers. Wrong. The moment they stepped inside, her refuge felt filled to the brim with testosterone. And much smaller. Especially with Justin standing right beside her. Of course, that was probably because at six foot five his head almost reached the ceiling.

“Wow!” Lamar whistled appreciatively as he surveyed the comfortable space she had worked so hard to create. More a mini-apartment than camper, the back half was all bedroom and bath. The front half of the Airrstream housed the kitchen—with a full-size fridge, microwave, stove, sink and even a tiny dishwasher. The butcher-block tabletop between the roomy banquettes doubled as a work space, and there were plenty of built-in racks for her pantry items and cookware.

“You must really like to cook.” Lamar checked out the bins of fresh fruits and veggies, her complex variety of dried chili peppers and some freshly made tortillas.

Amanda nodded proudly. “It’s a hobby of mine.”

“Where did you learn?” the teen asked.

She opened up the fridge and brought out the three large grilled-chicken wraps with lettuce, cheese and Caesar dressing that she’d made from the leftovers of the previous evening’s dinner. “My grandmother and grandfather. Cooking was something they liked to do together, so when I moved in with them I started cooking, too.”

“Sounds fun,” Justin said.

“It was.” It was the first time she’d known what it was like to be part of a happy family.

The handsome Texan’s fingers brushed hers as she handed him a flavored sports drink. “Was? You don’t do it anymore?”

Trying not to react to the husky caress of his voice, the warm feel of his fingers or the tenderness in Justin’s brilliant blue eyes, Amanda shook her head. “Occasionally, but not as much since my grandmother died of congestive heart failure a couple of years ago.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Justin and Lamar said in unison.

Amanda accepted their condolences with a nod, aware of a growing sense of intimacy she didn’t expect. Wasn’t supposed to want. And knew would be unwise to encourage. “So,” she said, pushing her lingering grief away. “Why don’t the two of you tell me a little more about the area. What should I know about Laramie County?”

“There are a number of good restaurants in town,” Justin began.

Lamar nodded. “The Lone Star’s food is good, and they have live music and dancing, too. Since chicks seem to like that stuff,” the teen added helpfully.

Amanda wondered if that was where Justin had intended to take her the first night, when he’d asked her out.

“I do like dancing,” she admitted with a smile.

Justin’s eyes gleamed. “Then you should make it a point to go while you’re here,” he said. “With or without a date.”

Amanda’s middle fluttered with sensation. Adopting her best poker face, she nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Wary of letting her thoughts wander where Justin’s were obviously headed—into forbidden romantic territory—Amanda guided the conversation to mundane subjects, like the new wind farm and a famous sculptor she’d heard about who worked in bronze.

As soon as the meal was over, she rose. Eager to get back to work, she looked at Justin. “Your dad said he brought two fans that would help cool off the bunkhouse till the air-conditioning is installed?”

Justin nodded. “Lamar and I will carry them over for you.”

Amanda smiled. “Great. I’ll meet you guys there.”

A few minutes later they walked in, and Amanda showed them where she wanted the fans set up. Concerned that there was still a lot of friction between Justin and Lamar, she figured it wouldn’t hurt to act as buffer a little while longer.