“I’m sorry about that. If you’d rather, I can tell Aunt Marcy and Uncle Bob that you have an old rodeo injury and need a firmer mattress. They’d understand if you want to go to a hotel.”

“No, I wouldn’t think of it. The couch bed is fine for tonight.”

“What else would you like to do while you’re in Texas? I have one more free day and a fairly new car to chauffeur you around.”

“Tell me, if I weren’t along, what would you want to do?” he asked, squeezing her hand slightly.

“Me? Well, I’m not sure. Probably just hang out at the beach, then head back home.”

“But if you could do anything, what would you like?”

She had to think about it for a minute. Sipping her soft drink, she stared out at the brick street lined with Victorian buildings. She’d always been drawn to old architecture, and one thing she’d wanted to do was stay in one of those beautiful, gingerbread houses built around or before the turn of the century.

“I suppose if this were my vacation and I had the time and money, I’d like to go to a bed-and-breakfast. One of those really nice ones with two or three stories and wide porches and lots of bric-a-brac, as my mother would say. With big trees and lacy curtains. There are a lot of them in East Texas.”

“Then that’s what we shall do,” he announced.

“Oh, but—”

“No, I insist. My treat. We’ll find a lovely bed-and-breakfast wherever you’d prefer. It will be my graduation present to you.”

“That sounds…wonderful.” But would they be staying in separate rooms, or would he want to find a place with a king-size bed that two could share?

LATER THAT NIGHT, after sightseeing, a dip in the Gulf—when Alexi learned that Kerry wore a modest one-piece instead of a bikini—and dinner at the family’s favorite restaurant, Gaido’s, they settled into the living room to watch the evening news. Kerry had stated earlier that she needed to check on the weather since they’d be driving tomorrow.

The idea to go to a bed-and-breakfast had been an impromptu one, but something Alexi felt was a great opportunity. While he enjoyed getting to know Kerry’s family, he longed for more time alone with her, where he could be himself. Where they could talk without fear of anyone discovering his deception. Where he could fantasize about coming back to Texas, or having her fly to Europe, so they could continue their relationship. He didn’t know where this attraction was going, but he wanted to find out.

He hoped they had enough time before he had to choose a bride. Once he was engaged, he wouldn’t dishonor his future wife or Kerry by having an affair.

“Would anyone like popcorn?” Bob asked.

Everyone groaned. “I couldn’t eat another bite,” Alexi stated, making sure he rubbed his stomach and put a little extra twang on the word bite.

Kerry grinned at him. “Me, either.”

Alexi felt perfectly relaxed in his role as “Mack,” although he still had to be careful when he spoke. Kerry usually found a way to remind him gently when he began to speak, which helped tremendously. Sometimes he forgot to be so “over the top” as Hank McCauley, but no one seemed to notice. As he’d heard somewhere, people saw what they expected to see; a man dressed in boots, jeans and a Western shirt was a cowboy.

Not that he was a real cowboy, but he did feel differently than he had yesterday morning, before running away with Kerry. Perhaps the relaxed pace of life in Texas, perhaps the intimate homey atmosphere of the Jackses’ home. For whatever reason, he felt more attuned with his “softer side.” He’d never really known what that silly phrase meant until now. The tender feelings he rarely had time to acknowledge seemed to swell with each hour spent around Kerry and her relatives.

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