Page 17 of Lawbreaker

“I don’t want him bothering you,” he said. He hesitated. “Stasia would never forgive me.”

That stung, but she just smiled.

He cocked his head, looking down at her. “Connie and her sister have some rough edges,” he began.

She gave him a long look. “So do our cowboys on the ranch, but they’re part of our family and they’re treated that way.”

He smiled, and it was a genuine one. “I keep forgetting that you weren’t city bred.”

“I like people,” she said. “I just...have a hard time mixing with them.”

“Especially this crowd?” he mused, nodding toward the living room. “Just between us, so do I. I’ve got a few rough edges myself.”

“It doesn’t show,” she blurted out.

He searched her eyes until she felt her toes curling. She cleared her throat. “I’d better go see about Stasia,” she said, almost dropping the glass. She glanced up at him. “I like your family,” she added, and moved quickly away.

It was almost funny. He’d kept her away from the Jersey bunch for fear she might insult them, since they weren’t highbrow or used to high society. But she’d been treating them like family when he went looking for her. It made him feel good. And because it did, he crushed those feelings flat. He wasn’t going to even think about why he felt compelled to do it. She was off limits. He intended to keep her that way.

He turned and went back into the living room.

The first person he ran into was Burt Donalson.

“That girl of yours is a real snob, isn’t she?” he asked unpleasantly.

“I don’t have a girl,” Tony said with a stabbing glare. “She’s Stasia’s sister-in-law. And if you want trouble,” he added, lowering his voice to a dangerous rumble, “keep pestering her.”

Donalson felt his blood freeze. He knew Tony. And he knew a threat when he was presented with one. “Well, sure,” he said quickly. “I knew that. She doesn’t mix well, does she?”

“This isn’t her sort of crowd. She sings opera.”

“I see.”

“You’d better,” Tony replied, and he smiled. The smile sent Burt to the drink table for a refill. A big one.

Stasia was drowsy from the medicine she took for morning sickness, but she was cheerful despite that.

“Tony said you were sick,” Odalie said softly and sat down beside her friend. “Can I help?”

“No, sweetheart, it goes with the turf,” she sighed. She grinned. “But pay attention. You may need to know these things one day.”

“Fat chance. I’m going to sing opera, not get married.” She was assured.

“You never know. And the first lesson is that morning sickness very often comes at night!” Stasia laughed.

“Is that in the books?”

“Not that I’ve read so far,” Stasia sighed. “The fatigue and sleepiness are just as distracting. But being pregnant, that’s...” She sighed again and smiled. “That’s awesome!”

Odalie just smiled. “I’ll take your word for it. Want something to drink?”

“Some ginger ale would be lovely,” she said. “Isn’t that what you’ve got?”

Odalie nodded. “I’ll go get you some. Oh, Tony’s family was downstairs,” she added. “They’re really nice.”

Both eyebrows went up. “Well! He’s kept you away every time they’ve come to visit.”

“I noticed,” Odalie said with a sigh. “I guess he thought I’d be snobby. As if!” She rolled her eyes. “Our cowboys are rough and tough, but I’d never be ashamed of any of them. Not even Earl,” she added, shaking her head.