“That’s okay,” Janet said. “If she wants to risk her allowance, it’s up to her. Of course, I’m going to hate like crazy having to defend all three of you, if you get caught gambling illegally.”

“Won’t happen,” Mule informed her. “Sheriff eats over at DiPasquali’s every day. He’s sweet on the daughter. Can’t budge him out of there for anything less than murder.”

Jenny grinned. “All right. Where are the cards?”

Harlan sighed and resigned himself to teaching Janet’s rebellious daughter yet another lesson. He glanced into Janet’s surprisingly amused eyes. “You in?” he asked her as Mule shuffled the worn deck he’d pulled from his pocket.

“No, I think I’ll just sit here and enjoy the competition. I try real hard not to deliberately break the law, even when there’s not much chance of getting caught.”

“And here I had you pegged for a risk-taker,” Harlan taunted.

Color flooded her cheeks. “Depends on the risk and the odds,” she snapped right back. “Some are worth taking. Some aren’t.”

He winked at her. “I’ll bet it’s going to be downright fascinating figuring out which are which.”

She swallowed hard and turned away. “Rosa,” she called. “A beer, please.”

That choked voice had Harlan smiling. “Throat dry?” he inquired.

“Parched,” she admitted, meeting his gaze evenly. She ran her tongue over her lips. “Absolutely parched.”

Maybe the gesture was innocent. Maybe not. Harlan doubted he’d ever know for sure. One thing was certain, she could best him at his own game anytime. The sight of that pink tongue delicately sliding over those lush red lips turned his blood hotter than asphalt on a Texas summer afternoon.

It also rattled his concentration so bad that he lost the first hand of poker to Jenny. So did Mule, which suggested that the thirteen-year-old just might know a little more about the game and gambling than he’d suspected.

He glanced up from his second hand to find Janet’s gaze fixed on him. She leaned forward, which caused her sundress to dip a provocative inch or so, revealing just enough cleavage to make his own throat go dry.

“Mind if I take a look?” she inquired, placing her hand over his and turning his cards in her direction.

Harlan sucked in a breath as every muscle in his body tightened at that innocent, cool touch. He glanced into her eyes and changed his mind. There was nothing innocent about that touch. She knew exactly what she was doing. He pulled his cards out of her grasp.

“Trying to rattle me, darlin’?” he asked, amused by the blatant tactic.

Her eyes widened. “Why would I do that?”

“Maybe to protect Jenny’s allowance,” he suggested.

She grinned and shrugged, clearly not the least bit guilty at having been caught. “Hey, us gals have to stick together.”