Page 21 of Texas Temptation

Shivering with the closeness of the contact, she turned and fled into the house, afraid of the sensations that filled her, of the yearning for that one man that filled her. She had no business thinking of anything between them except business—and then only to repay the magnificent gift he was giving her.

“Blame it on the night and the company and the memories,” she tried to tell herself as she got ready for bed. “He’s a man, you’re a woman, it was proximity, or the romantic feel to the night. He wasn’t going to kiss you personally, just any woman to forget the pain he lives with every day. Men don’t feel the same emotional ties as women,” she reminded herself.

When she slipped between the sheets of her bed, she tried to convince herself. But a part of her still craved a kiss from Cade Everett.

“No harm done,” she said. No harm? Maybe not, but for a brief moment she’d felt she was in reach of paradise. It made her sad to know it meant nothing to Cade. And that it wouldn’t happen again.

Cade heard the door shut from the corral. He leaned against the top rail and watched the horses resting for the night. The silence was deafening. What had he been thinking, trying to find relief from the constant ache of Marissa’s passing, of Vicki’s death, by kissing a stranger? He wasn’t into such activities.

He hadn’t been with a woman since Marissa. Had kissed no one since her death. He certainly had no business thinking of Jordan that way.

He rubbed his face with both hands and shook his head in disgust. If her reasons for leaving hadn’t already been strong enough, he’d just made sure she had a few more. She was a guest on the property, deserving of his care and protection. Not have to worry she’d have to fight off his advances.

He slammed the heel of his hand against the post, startling the horses. He couldn’t deny the feelings in his gut—the desire he had for closeness, for a woman’s touch. But it also felt like a betrayal to Marissa. Blast it all, why had Jordan stumbled onto his ranch? And who had been impersonating him five years ago?

Getting no answers, he turned and headed for the office. He’d get some work done, try to forget the way his life was going by reviewing every bit of information he had on the Hollister situation. And just maybe tomorrow he’d head for Los Angeles and take care of things himself.

He certainly couldn’t make a bigger mess of that situation than he had with Jordan Carhart and her son.

By the time dawn broke on the horizon, Cade had consumed three pots of coffee, found a glitch they’d overlooked on the Hollister deal, and was dog tired. He left a batch of papers for Jordan to scan and send.

Before showering for the day, he’d take a ride to clear his head. And decide just how much he was willing to unbend to keep his temporary assistant and her son on the ranch. Maybe it’d be best for them to find accommodations in town.

But he knew he couldn’t have her that far away.

Saddling his favorite horse, Cade rode away from the main barn. As he passed the house, he glanced at the room Jordan slept in. For a moment, he could swear he could feel her slim body against his. Would she be soft and sweet, her womanly curves fitted against his own harder body? He spurred the horse, trying to quell the image that wouldn’t go away.

When Jordan entered the kitchen sometime later, she was surprised to see Caleb already dressed and eating breakfast.

“I didn’t hear you get up,” she said, leaning over to give him a kiss on his cheek as he shoveled cereal into his mouth.

“Hi Mommy. I was hungry.”

“I can prepare your breakfast, Miss Carhart,” Rosita said, turning from the stove. “What would you like?”

“Could I just eat here? With Caleb?” Jordan asked.

She wasn’t sure of the protocol, but breakfast would be very comfortable in the sun-filled room and she wanted to spend time with her son, rather than in isolation in the dining room.

“Certainly. What would you like this morning? I have eggs ready to go, sausages warming, biscuits, and grits.”

“All the above,” Jordan said, slipping into the seat next to Caleb.

She was starving—must be from not eating much over the last few days.

“Maybe you can help me, Rosita. I need to find an inexpensive place to stay in Tumbleweed while we’re here. But I don’t want a lease. We’ll only be here long enough for Caleb to have his operation and until Penny returns.”

Rosita frowned.

“I thought you were staying here in the house. Miss Amelia told me so yesterday.”

“I think it best if we stay in town.”

Rosita raised her eyebrow in question.

“It is not extra work for me,” she said slowly. “This is a big house. It’s nice to have more rooms in use, more people to look after. Sometimes I have little to do.”

Jordan looked at Caleb, then back at Rosita.

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