Into His Keeping Read Free Page B

black-and-white-block linoleum when two large cowboy boots stopped beside her at the table. It took a moment to realize they had not continued moving on. Worn jeans loosely sheathed muscular legs and her eyes reached the knees before it dawned on her that looking higher might involve more drama than she needed right now. It was too soon and much too late. Fate couldn’t be so cruel! But then, had she ever seen a smile from it that wasn’t cruel?
     
    “Hello, Jilly-girl,” a deep baritone rumbled above her head. The rich tones were foreign and so familiar they grated over her bent head like clawed talons.
     
    She’d been in town for twenty minutes! This had to be some kind of record for locating the person one is on a wild goose chase to find. Fear washed over her. In its wake resigned endurance settled in for the painful exchange.
     
    She looked up cautiously. Up the long male legs and over the generous bulge she knew would be below his belt buckle. Up his flat abdomen that showed not even the slightest bulge after fifteen years. His chest was wider, she noted, his neck a bit thicker and then there was his face.
     
    Looking down at her were those familiar piercing hazel eyes surrounded by seductive dark lashes. His jaw was firmer and the lips above it were not stretched in the mobile grin she remembered. There was a rougher texture to his face that she didn’t remember. It was grim as he gazed down at her. Dark blond hair, still naturally wavy, was tousled on his head. The prince of Connersville still wore his crown. But now he was more like king of the world, she mused in slightly hysterical shock.
     
    “Hello, Holdin.” She managed to sound almost normal. An amazing feat of will considering how many ways her emotions were trying to fly around her body. She was surprised by the burst of joy stabbing her heart. She’d come here to find this man. Now looking at him shook her to the core.
     
    “Mind if I have a seat?” he asked seriously.
     
    “Please do,” Jill responded while silently marveling at how civilized this was.
     
    “You’re a surprise. Visiting the past?” Holdin asked, his voice icily controlled as he slid into the booth across from her, his big body folding into it with practiced ease.
     
    “Ah. Something like that,” Jill hedged as she tried to work her way through this moment. She’d imagined it a million times in the last few days, came up with a million different outcomes and still it was starkly terrifying.
     
    One thing she did know, this was a very public place and there was almost no way to stop the shock that was coming. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you, Holdin. I was planning on calling the ranch this evening…” she trailed off as the reality of sitting across from this man shivered through her again.
     
    “That’s very thoughtful of you. I’ve been expecting a call for around fifteen years. However, since we’re both here, maybe we could chat now,” he offered calmly. He sounded friendly, but it didn’t disguise the tight set of wide shoulders and almost rigid immobility of his face. Jill knew those signs for what they were. He was clamping down control on his emotions. He had amazing control. He always had it while she felt like an idiot.
     
    Jill nervously glanced at the department store part of the establishment. “Ah, perhaps it’d be better if we met up later.” She stopped and realized there was no later. Right now was going to happen in full view of anyone who passed by.
     
    “Later’s not a good time for me. I have some…” Holdin started then stopped as his eyes followed hers and they both watched the lanky young man stroll up to the table.
     
    Holdin stood slowly as the young man approached them, his eyes measured each stride, the crisp features of a face he couldn’t help but recognize. On that young visage he could see matching hazel eyes, a nose that was Roman straight and lips that weren’t exactly full but not thin. The boy’s