“What was that about?” she asked, trying not to feel pleased or excited or both.
“I’m going to help you.” He took off his badge hooked on his shirt pocket and tucked it away with his ID. “I just can’t be a Texas Ranger while I do.”
“You’re really going to help me? Help Victor?” That bubble was back, ready to pop with his next words.
“I didn’t sign up for this job just to step aside and see an innocent man go to prison.” He stepped back toward the kitchen and picked up his hat, now on the two-burner stove. “Now that you know the logistics on my end, let’s go see Victor’s attorney. I’ll be in the truck while you dress. It’s still raining out there. You might want to bring an umbrella.”
Was that a wink while he secured that Stetson on his head?
It didn’t matter. She felt years older than Slate Thompson. And her heart was a little short on...
Well, everything. It was depleted. Empty. Desperate for any human kindness.
The tears came as soon as Slate pulled the door shut behind him. Just a short, easily controlled attack while she gathered clothes.
Who knew what they’d be doing later. And she meant they. There wasn’t any way in the world she was letting that cowboy get out of her sight until she found out everything he knew about Victor’s case.
Slate had only met the poor, pitiful, chicken wing waitress in dire need of help. He had no idea what she became when she put on her business suit. It might be her last one, but she looked and felt like she was in control.
Normal.
Half an hour passed. Then another ten minutes. Slate was stepping out of the truck to see what was keeping Vivian when her apartment door opened.
It was one of those jaw-dropping moments that didn’t happen very often in his life. He’d kept it together and hadn’t cracked a smile in his Department of Public Safety days when a girl took off her top trying to get out of a speeding ticket. The man who thought his clothes were on fire and spit a bottle of water all over his uniform—he’d handled it all with a straight face and no disgust.
But seeing Vivian Watts step onto the wet sidewalk in a blue suit made him take a second look. And maybe a third. Her wild dark brown hair was neatly tucked at the back of her head. He noticed because he ran to her side of the truck and grabbed the umbrella she’d brought with her.
Helping her onto the front seat, he politely waited for her to put down a towel. It gave him plenty of time to admire the line of her calf and the height of the matching blue heels. Not to mention a close-up view of the shapely behind in her tight-fitting skirt.
The wolf in him came out. His lips were all puckered to let loose a howling whistle when he caught himself and kind of sucked air through his teeth. She noticed. Yep, she smiled, knowing what was blowing through his mind.
He ran to his side of the truck, chucking the umbrella in the back seat. His tie had been off since he’d left for lunch, but the way she was dressed almost made him feel guilty enough to put it back on.
Almost.
“I’m assuming we need to go to your place for you to get dry clothes. I’m fine with that by the way.”
“I live west of the metroplex on a ranch. It’s sort of out of the way.”
“So the cowboy thing isn’t a thing? It’s genuine?”
“That’d be me.”
“You don’t mind being wet?”
“Well, I’ve been worse. Beer once. Now that’s sticky when it dries.” Slate had already looked up the address of the attorney in Uptown.
“As much as I’d like to hear about you covered in beer... I think you take a left here.”
“Not around this time of day. It really is a funny story.”
“I gather.”
Slate tapped on the radio, immediately turning it down. “You don’t have to worry. I looked at directions and traffic before you got in the truck.”
“Do you think we should talk about what happens now? How do we get the report if Victor’s attorney didn’t keep the copy I gave him? Are you sure you know how to get to his office? I think you missed another turn.”
Lots of questions he wasn’t prepared to answer. “Let’s just take it one thing at a time. First step is to get there and ask for a copy of the study. We compare. We might get lucky.”
“Lucky? How long have you been a ranger?”
“Almost two years. I was fortunate to be stationed here in Garland. That’s close enough to help out my family. How about you? What did you do before you came to Dallas or have you been here awhile?”
“I studied international business and had an internship at one of the top companies in Miami.”
“You gave all that up to come help your brother.”
“That didn’t sound like a question.”
Slate stated fact. He admired her for it. She didn’t know there was a personal financial report in the file. One reflecting she and her brother were broke. He’d read her statement to the police, an interview that confirmed most of the information obtained through the VA.
“Are you going to tell Victor’s attorney that you’re reopening his case?”
“One step at a time, remember?” Slate didn’t have permission to do anything. Unfortunately, the attorney would know that. “Why don’t you tell me about your brother?”
“As in...?”
“What problem was he having? Something like he couldn’t sleep, right?”
“Night terrors. He’s had them since returning from the Middle East. He’s never really talked to me about his time in the army. The most common question from you guys is do I think he’s capable of killing someone.” She paused, taking a look out the window. “The answer is I don’t know. I haven’t spent a lot of time with him after he left the military. He came to Dallas because of Dr. Roberts and her study. He wanted to be a part of it and live a normal life.”
“Look, Vivian.” He was about to cover her hand but he redirected his hand to the steering wheel. “I’m on your side. Honestly, I don’t know if they’ll reopen the investigation. I’m pretty sure the prosecutor will fight it since he thinks his case is pretty solid.”
“Then what are we doing?”
The windshield wipers banged out a rhythm, adding a slow swish as the rain turned to a sprinkle. “Not giving up.”
“I never did.”
He turned to face her, seat belt stretched tight across his chest. “If your brother is truly innocent...neither will I.”
Where the hell had that come from? That whole fighting-for-justice thought earlier? Maybe. More than likely. It couldn’t have anything to do with the wolf whistle he’d swallowed along with the urgent need to puff up his chest and rescue the fair maiden. Naw...nothing like that.
Or exactly that.
He’d wanted to help Vivian and her brother since meeting her in that ridiculous waitress outfit. The suit, however, fit