Page 30 of Texas Temptation

“Tell me all about her. What color was her hair? Did she like vegetables? What was her favorite song?” Jordan urged.

Slowly at first, then more easily, he opened up. For two hours, Cade talked about his little girl. Marissa figured prominently in many of the scenarios he recounted, and Jordan drew a mental image of the close-knit, loving family. How doubly tragic it all ended so soon.

When Cade stopped, she realized he still held her hand. She had never felt closer to another person, except Aunt Maggie, than she did with Cade Everett at this moment.

The night was quiet around them. The air had cooled down, but it was still pleasantly comfortable. The stars were brilliant points of glittering light in the black velvet sky.

Not wanting to break the mood, Jordan didn’t know how to leave. She felt as if she’d been given a precious gift, made even more special coming from Cade.

He solved her problem.

“I’m tired. I’d better head for bed. We leave at first light in the morning.”

His voice was gruff.

“Thanks for telling me about Vicki,” she whispered, rising when he did.

He released her hand, but caught her shoulders in a light hold.

“You’re a dangerous woman, Jordan Carhart. I haven’t talked about Vicki since her death. I had almost forgotten all those special times.”

“But didn’t you have fun tonight remembering how special she was? I know it hurts to have her gone, but you have such wonderful memories. I believe she was truly a happy child her entire life.”

“You’ve given me the gift of my daughter again. Thank you.”

He drew her closer and kissed her.

Jordan wasn’t prepared for a kiss. The sensations that swept through her caught her unaware, then flared into bright heat. His mouth was warm and enticing. The kiss was the most exciting thing she’d ever experienced. When he parted her lips with his tongue, she felt a warmth wash through her hotter than the Texas sun. Her legs felt weak, and she hoped she wouldn’t melt into a puddle at his feet. Twining her arms around his neck, she gave back as good as she got, relishing every heartbeat, every inch of his body pressed against hers. She savored the feel of her soft body against his harder one. She had never felt such a connection, such a feeling of wonder and rightness.

He deepened the kiss, and she forgot about gratitude and lost children and feeling alive, and relished every magical moment when her life seemed to spin to the heavens.

He kissed her as no man ever had, and she delighted in every stolen moment.

When he slowly eased back, she felt bereft. She didn’t want to stop. They could have kissed all night, and it’d end too soon.

But he was her boss. The man who was helping her with her son’s expenses for the operation, not someone to fantasize about.

A kiss to thank her for rekindling memories, that was all.

She’d do best to keep that firmly in mind. A man’s attention wouldn’t fool her a second time. She had her life charted, and side trips into sexual fantasy weren’t on the map.

“I’ll take good care of the office tomorrow,” she said breathlessly, then turned and fled for the safety of her room.

She was getting in over her head with Cade Everett. Hadn’t she learned from her prior experience? This was not some courtship leading to happily ever after. At least the man she’d known in South Beach had pretended Cade had never given her a morsel of hope. She had better remember that every moment she remained on the Everett ranch.

Jordan found the office flat with Cade gone. As part of her duties, she fielded telephone calls, received emailed reports which she promptly printed and placed on his desk, and completed the filing. She was proud he’d left her to her own devices. She wasn’t the office assistant he was used to, but she was coping.

Caleb came to see her shortly before lunch and she let him play on the computer until she took her lunch break.

The afternoon seemed to drag. She read some reports that had come in, but they confused her. She didn’t understand all that was going on, but she knew Cade was a key player in several large corporations, as well as the boss of the family ranch.

Just before Jordan was about to call it a day and close up, a flashy red sports utility vehicle drove up and parked right in front of the office. A tall, slim young woman exited, glanced around, and headed into the office.

Her dark hair spilled down in a glossy waterfall across her shoulders. Her makeup was flawless. Her shirt looked tailored and her designer jeans looked brand new, topping polished snake skin boots.

Jordan was instantly aware of the differences between the two of them—her off the rack jeans and shirt, no makeup and who knew what her hair looked like.

“Cade around?” she drawled, eyeing Jordan like she was an alien.

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