Someone Like You (Night Riders) Read Free Page A

Maria squared her shoulders and marched downstairs.
    Luis was standing inside the parlor just a few steps from the wide hall that ran through the center of the house. Maria held out her hand and forced herself to smile. “Yourmother will be down in a minute. You and I will meet your brother together.”
    Taking Luis’s hand, she walked to the door. Luis opened it, and she stepped forward to greet the man who was coming up the steps. When he saw her, he frowned.
    “Who the hell are you, and where’s the bitch who ruined my life and sent my father to an early grave?”

Chapter Two
     
    M aria’s initial impression was that she’d just met the most overwhelmingly handsome man she’d ever seen. He was tall, with broad shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist and powerful thighs. The look in his eye, the way he carried himself, bespoke a man who was sure of himself. Unfortunately, he was also the rudest man she’d ever met.
    “My name is Maria de la Guerra,” she said with as much calm as she could command. “I’m Dolores Jerry’s sister. This is my nephew, Luis Jerry. I’m afraid I don’t know your name or that of your companion.”
    Rafe’s presence was so commanding, she’d almost forgotten his companion.
    “I expect Dolores makes you do all the work. Too bad you aren’t more forceful—but if you had been, Dolores wouldn’t have brought you here.”
    If the first speech had shocked Maria, the second rendered her mute.
    “Where is Dolores? Does she still sit in front of her mirror for hours before she’ll let anybody see her?” He glanced down at Luis, who was virtually cringing at her side. “You must be Luis.”
    That remark galvanized Maria. “Sir, I still don’t know your name, though I expect—”
    “I’m Rafe Jerry. Unless Dolores has thrown them out or burned them, there are enough pictures of me in the house for anybody to recognize me. May I come inside?”
    “Before he makes you so angry that you show him off theproperty, I want to introduce myself. I’m Rafe’s friend Broc Kincaid. He’s not always this rude.”
    Maria swung her gaze to the man standing next to Rafe, only to receive another shock. She could see that the perfection of the right side of the man’s face was counterbalanced by terrible scars on the left. Guessing they were the result of a war wound, she found it remarkable that a man of such outstanding looks could be so cheerful in the face of such disfigurement.
    “I’m Maria de la Guerra. This is my nephew, Luis Jerry.”
    Broc extended his hand to Luis. “Glad to meet you, young man. You look rather big to be just nine years old. I bet you end up being taller than Rafe. Then he’ll be
your
little brother.”
    Broc couldn’t have said anything that could have made Luis feel better about himself. He had lived in awe of Rafe most of his life.
    Maria moved back inside the door and to one side. “Please join me in the parlor. My sister will be down in a moment. May I offer you something to drink?”
    Broc flashed a smile that tugged at Maria’s heart. “Bless you. I’ve been thinking of beer for the last hour.”
    “We also have wine,” Maria said.
    Rafe surveyed the chairs in the room before crossing to a leather-covered captain’s chair with a high back. “Rancho los Alamitos was always known for its wine.” They waited for Maria to be seated. “We’ll have what ever you’re having.”
    Maria picked up a small bell on the table next to her and rang it. “I’m not thirsty.”
    “What’s Luis having?” Broc asked.
    Luis swallowed. “I would like some lemonade.”
    Rafe winked at Luis. “When I was your age, my father would occasionally give me wine or beer with enough water in it to make it safe.”
    Uncertain how to respond, Luis made a feeble attempt to smile.
    “I don’t believe children should be given strong drink,” Maria told Rafe. “It encourages them to indulge in spirits far too early.”
    “Or takes the mystery out of it so they