Page 43 of Texas Temptation

“I’ll be ready.”

Cade strode from the room without a backward glance. He dare not risk further perusal of his lovely temporary secretary. The wispy nightie surprised him, though if he thought about it he couldn’t say exactly why. Probably since she normally wore jeans and cotton shirts, he had expected her nightwear to be plain and practical.

She constantly surprised him. He expected her to make a play for him, but she remained aloof, unless he counted the kisses they’d shared. There had been nothing aloof about her response.

Was she playing a deep game or was she inexperienced?

Not totally, of course. She had a son after all. But there was an innocence around her that contrasted to her tough I-can-do-it-myself act. She had done well helping him out. She was devoted to her son.

And she fit in with Amelia. Even his own cousins had difficulty dealing with their aunt sometimes. But Jordan and Caleb loved being in her company.

Cade crossed to the window and gazed out over the LA landscape, mostly high-rises and freeways. He’d be glad to get back home once the situation here was wrapped up. Would Jordan?

For a moment, he toyed with the idea of offering Jordan a job that would keep her in Tumbleweed. She and Caleb had friends in Florida, but no relatives. They could easily relocate to Texas. Caleb would grow up with horses and dogs, which all boys should be able to do.

She was touchy, however. He couldn’t just make up something to hold her. It would have to be a legitimate job that didn’t question her independence or smack of charity.

Room service delivered their breakfast just as Jordan emerged from her bedroom. They ate quickly and headed for the offices.

“Did you get all the notes from yesterday’s meeting typed?” Cade asked as their cab moved sluggishly through the rush-hour traffic.

“I did them on one of the computers and they were to be printed by Jason’s secretary first thing, so you’ll have them once we arrive.”

“Any problems?”

“None.”

He glanced at her, noting how the suit skirt had ridden up a bit, showing more of her tanned legs than he suspected she knew. Cade grew uncomfortable, realizing that he wanted to reach out and run his fingertips along that smooth skin, feel the satiny softness, revel in the sweet texture he was sure to find.

Taking a deep breath, he looked out of the window on his side of the taxi, deliberately turning his thoughts to work and the muddle the LA office seemed to be in. But Jordan’s scent tantalized, and her leaning forward from time to time to better see something had him constantly aware of her.

Maybe bringing her had been a mistake, but he’d wanted her with him. Not analyzing that closely, Cade was relieved to see the office building come into view. Work was always the answer.

Chapter Eight

By six o’clock Jordan wanted to go back to the hotel, take a hot bath, and go to sleep for twelve hours. Cade was incredible. He knew more than she could ever remember, from employees’ names and family situations, to the sales figures for the last several years, to the labor disputes and settlements that had been part of the company’s history going back to its inception. She tried to keep up, but was lost more than half the time.

And what really annoyed her was Cade looked as fresh and raring to go this late in the day as he had that morning. He had almost as much energy as Caleb.

She slipped away from the round of farewells and placed a quick call to the ranch. It was two hours later there, and she wanted to catch Caleb before he went to bed. Chatting briefly with Amelia, she then spoke to her son. Reassured he was happy and well looked after, she reluctantly severed the connection sometime later. She missed him so much, but he was doing fine.

“Any problems?”

Cade joined her at the reception station. Closed for the day, Jordan had used that area for her phone call.

“None. Caleb’s been up and around. Amelia said they were keeping him from bending over, or doing too much, but he’s glad to be out of bed. Are we ready to leave?”

“I told Jim to let the Wilsons know we’ll meet them all at seven thirty at Zorro’s Mark. Will that give you enough time to change?”

She nodded, the dream of the hot bath fading. They’d dash back to the hotel. She’d change from the suit to that darling black dress, and then it’d be back to business.

“Don’t you ever get tired?” she grumbled as she picked up her purse and the file folder of notes and reports she was keeping for Cade.

“Rarely. Are you tired?”

She straightened up and headed for the elevators.

“Not a bit,” she fibbed. “But I don’t keep up this pace all the time. I think I’d be exhausted if I did.”

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