Page 18 of Texas Temptation

“You’re already doing so much. I can’t take room and board as well.”

She certainly wasn’t running some scam. He’d been around his fair share of proud, determined women. Marissa had been very independent. Now this. Try to do a good deed and have to argue about it.

Do a good deed? Where had that come from?

He was merely helping a child who needed it. It was easy to throw money at a problem. And he had it to spare. Not that it meant a thing. All the money in the world wouldn’t have saved Vicki or Marissa.

Thinking about them usually brought their images to mind. But now he only saw Jordan.

“I have to read this report and draft a response. We’ll need to get it emailed back today. Look for the Milford file. The temp couldn’t find it or any of the others I asked for. How hard can it be?”

Jordan looked as if she wanted to argue the point of staying, but he had ended the discussion. She was smart enough to pick up on that.

Cade relaxed slightly when she went to the file cabinets in her office and opened drawer after drawer. He could hear them slam shut. So the lady had a temper. She looked so sweet and young and feminine he hadn’t expected that. She’d learned to control that temper somewhere. He hadn’t picked up a clue until she slammed the drawers. What would it be like to let loose? Did that passionate feeling spill over into other areas? Like when she was involved with a man?

Chapter Four

By dinnertime, Jordan’s spirits were high. She’d worked a couple of hours in the office after lunch, arranged to visit the doctor with Caleb the next afternoon and taken a nap at Amelia’s insistence.

She was feeling resigned to staying at the Everett Ranch until Cade’s PA returned and falling in with Amelia’s desires to watch Caleb. She had mixed emotions—not wanting to be beholden to strangers, and yet incredibly grateful for the chance to have Caleb’s eyes operated on sooner than she’d thought possible.

She wished she’d brought more than just a couple of changes of shorts and slacks, but hadn’t expected to spend any more time with Caleb’s father than it took to have him meet Caleb and agree to help with the operation.

Amelia always wore flowery dresses, which were a bit excessive, Jordan thought privately, but at least she dressed up for dinner. Jordan had to wear her same old slacks and shirt.

Still, Jordan’s clothes were freshly laundered, thanks to Rosita. And Caleb was clean from a bath and a change of clothes.

When they entered the dining room, Amelia had already taken her seat at the foot of the table.

“There you two are. Do sit. I thought one on either side, to balance the table. Cade will be here soon. We’ll begin once he arrives. I hope you have an appetite tonight. Rosita has been cooking all afternoon. Did you sleep well, dear?” she asked Jordan.

“The nap was lovely, thank you,” Jordan responded, helping Caleb into the indicated chair, then going around the table to take her seat.

The dining room was more formal than they were used to. Jordan hoped Caleb’s manners would hold up. Sometimes a four-year-old forgot.

Cade entered at that moment, hesitating in the doorway as he looked at the three people already there. For a second, Jordan thought he might turn and leave. Should she have eaten in the kitchen with Rosita?

He moved swiftly to the place at the table’s head and sat, to her relief. She’d hate to cause dissension in his household.

“I didn’t realize we’d all be eating together,” he murmured with a look at his aunt.

“Now that Jordan’s out of bed and feeling so much better, I knew you’d want us all to have our meals together. It’s fine for Caleb to eat with Rosita from time to time, but there’s no need now that his mother’s no longer sick. He needs to eat with family. I think Jordan looks much better, don’t you? She was so pale the afternoon they arrived,” Amelia said gaily.

She was obviously pleased at the dinner arrangement.

Jordan felt warmth steal into her cheeks as Amelia continued. She darted a glance at Cade to find his dark eyes studying her gravely as his aunt talked about Jordan’s recovery. Her heart beat rapidly, and she wondered if she’d made a mistake accepting this man’s hospitality. She couldn’t deny the spark of attraction she felt anytime she was in proximity to him. Not that she’d let that influence her behavior. She wasn’t looking for any kind of relationship. Been there, done that. Now she had Caleb to think about as well.

Rosita entered, carrying bowls of vegetables and potatoes. Placing them in the center of the table, she returned in moments with a huge platter of fried chicken and a basket of fluffy biscuits.

Jordan remained feeling awkward after Cade’s comment. She hoped they could eat quickly and leave him in peace.

He ate without comment, as if as eager to get finished and away from the table as she was. Tomorrow she’d suggest she and Caleb eat in with Rosita.

Amelia seemed to find nothing amiss with dinner and smiled at Caleb as he worked his way through the dinner.

“Tell us what you did today, Caleb,” Amelia said. “I know we went to see the horses, but what else did you do?”

“Mr. Murray said I could watch the cat in the barn and he let me pat the dogs, but I can’t play with them because they’re working dogs and he doesn’t want them spoiled,” Caleb said solemnly.

---