Page 14 of Texas Temptation

The offer seemed too good to be true. There had to be a hidden string attached somewhere. But Jordan didn’t care. The fact Caleb would have his operation was all that mattered to her.

“I have several thousand dollars saved up. I’ll have my bank transfer it out here,” she said. “I don’t need the entire operation paid for, just the difference from what I have saved.”

“I said I’d take care of the bill. You keep your money,” Cade said. “We can settle all that after the operation. Are you up to starting now?”

“I can’t believe you’d offer to do this for me. For Caleb.”

Cade narrowed his gaze as he looked at her.

After a long moment, he said, “I’m doing it for Vicki.”

The phone rang.

Jordan looked at it, then at him.

“I start now?”

He hesitated, studying her pale features.

“Work until lunch, then rest up this afternoon. Time enough tomorrow to put in a full day.” He nodded toward the phone, “Answer it—Everett Enterprises.”

She picked up the phone, her voice rich and firm as she identified the business. She had seen enough television to know how topnotch professionals acted. Too bad her faded jeans and loose top weren’t sophisticated apparel. That definitely ruined any competent image she could hope to give.

She covered the receiver.

“A Mr. Baker from a bank.”

“I’ll take it in my office.”

Jordan held the receiver to her ear until she heard Cade pick up, then hung up her phone. The vast array of buttons and numbers on the console phone had her confused.

Of course, a business office would have several phone lines. Was there an instruction booklet somewhere to give her a clue on how to use the thing?

She sat back down, feeling breathless and excited. Cade Everett was going to see to Caleb’s operation. Her son’s eyes would be completely normal within weeks.

It felt as if an enormous weight lifted from her shoulders at the generosity of one man.

But why was he doing this? Surely he could hire help with no trouble. Why pay what would be the equivalent of an exorbitant fee for the length of time she’d be working?

And where was she going to live in the meantime? Who’d take care of Caleb while she worked? He couldn’t run wild around the ranch.

She had to call Joe. She needed to call Julie, her best friend, to tell her where she was, all that had happened. Maybe listen to a word of warning.

Jordan knew Vicki had been Cade’s daughter. Amelia had regaled her with enough stories about the little girl that Jordan felt she’d known her.

Suddenly she frowned. She’d have to do the best job she could. She hoped his helping Caleb would ease some of the pain from his daughter’s loss.

Since Cade seemed to spend most of his time on the phone that morning, Jordan had gone through every drawer and file in Penny’s desk by lunchtime, halfway feeling as if she were trespassing.

But Jordan wanted to do the best she could, so tried to learn as much as she could about how the office operated. Even so, she’d never be able to repay Cade Everett for the gift he was giving.

She scrolled through a list of names and numbers she found on the computer, wishing Penny had provided background on each person. Especially the notations that had only first names, like Hank or Sara.

Jordan had excellent recall. She often took the orders from a large group without aid of a notepad. If Cade asked her to call someone, she knew she’d remember if their name had been on the list.

She scrolled through some other files on the computer, getting a feel for how he liked his letters, the kinds of correspondence he had his PA handle.

She didn’t find a booklet to show her how to use the phone. Trial and error would have to suffice, she thought fatalistically when she disconnected a caller.

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