Texas Tango: Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 2 by Cynthia D’Alba Page A

deep-seated sense of calm. He drew in a long, satisfying breath.
    “Travis.” She held her hand out in front of her to study the ring. “It’s truly beautiful.” She leaned over and brushed his cheek with her lips. “Thank you.”
     
    Caroline studied the ring, stunned at Travis’s generosity. She’d only be wearing it briefly, but for him to have brought it had her insides tangoing in pleasure.
    He’d been right when he’d asked if she was having reservations about this staged wedding. She was. Like every little girl, she’d dreamed of her wedding day. Never had those dreams included marrying a man she barely knew while standing at the bedside of her dying grandmother.
    As she’d grown into adulthood, the vision of being married and settled in one spot had faded like all childhood fantasies do in the light of reality. Marriage meant being dependent, a loss of freedom, a loss of control over your own life. No thank you. That wasn’t for her.
    As the pilot announced immediate landing, Caroline touched Travis’s arm. “Thank you again.”
    The white stretch limousine she’d reserved awaited them when they arrived at baggage claim. The driver stowed their overnight bags into the trunk as they slipped into the rear seat. Her gaze slid over to him. “Sorry the return flight for today got canceled and we couldn’t do this as a one-day trip like I’d promised.”
    “Not a problem.”
    She drew in a deep breath. “Ready?”
    He smiled. “I am.” When she began tapping on the armrest, he frowned. “What’s the problem? Having second thoughts again?”
    She reached down and pulled her purse into her lap. “No second thoughts. I just… Well, I wasn’t going to give you this until we were on the way home, but I realized on the flight here I have to trust you. No, not have to, but do trust you.” She pulled an envelope from the large tan bag. “Here,” she said, setting the clasped envelope on the armrest. “It’s the quitclaim deed for Singing Springs.”
    He looked at the envelope as though it were radioactive and made no move to take it. “Why?”
    “Why? That was our agreement.”
    “True, but I could take this deed and run.”
    She smiled. “But you’re not going to do that.”
    He huffed out a breath. “Of course not.”
    “Exactly.” She reached across the car and laced her fingers through his. His hand was warm and the skin tough and callused. It felt like a man’s hand should feel. Work-hardened but still capable of a gentle stroke. “I trust you, Travis.” She squeezed his hand. “And I can’t begin to thank you. If you could have heard the excitement in Mamie’s voice when I told her… Well, it was the happiest I’ve heard in a long time. For that alone I owe you.”
    The limo rolled to a stop. The driver sprang from his seat and whipped the rear door open. Travis stepped from the back seat and reached his hand back in to assist Caroline’s exit. The old county courthouse stood in front of them.
    “We’ll be a few minutes,” she told the driver.
    He pulled a card from an inside pocket of his jacket. “Yes, ma’am. The parking is a little tight around the courthouse. Give me a call when you’re ready to go. I’ll be just up the street.”
    Travis took the card and shoved it into his pocket. “Will do.”
    The driver climbed back into the limo and pulled from the lot. Travis turned toward the old building. “Where do we have to go?”
    “County clerk’s office on the first floor,” Caroline replied, but she didn’t move.
    “Caroline.” Travis grabbed both her shoulders and turned her to face him. “It’s not too late to change your mind.”
    She shook her head then smiled. “No. It’s not that. I was just remembering the time Mamie arranged a courthouse tour for my Girl Scout troop. The jail was located in this building then.” She pointed to a far corner. “Over there. The prisoners would yell things from those windows.” She laughed. “I learned a few new