Can't Stop Loving You Read Online Free PDF Page B

like we’ve got ourselves some major celebrating to do tonight.”
    â€œIs Dottie coming to dinner?”
    â€œShe’ll join us a little later, but we figured I should be alone with all of you when I dropped the bombshell. Give you and your folks some time to settle into it. Little bit of chicken in her, maybe. What do you think?”
    â€œI think she’s a smart woman. Very smart. And very, very fortunate.”
    Still more than a little shell-shocked, Maggie parked the car in the Roadhouse’s dusty lot. She spotted her dad’s big truck under an oak, so they were already here.
    After nearly smothering her grandfather in a hug, she and Fletch crossed arm in arm to the ramshackle building. Bubba’d hung a few early plants on the wide, wooden porch. Several Texas redbuds struggled to brighten the sides of the restaurant. But even at that, the place looked a little worse for wear, the siding weathered, the railing in need of stain.
    They walked up the stairs, and Pops, ever the gentleman, held the door for her. She stepped inside, half-blinded by the comparative darkness, and straight into Brawley Odell’s arms.
    â€œHello, sweetheart. Didn’t expect you here tonight.”
    She yelped and would have backed away had he not reached out and clasped both her arms.
    Pops, who didn’t seem to notice her discomfort, nodded at Brawley. “Heard you were in Lone Tree today.”
    â€œYes, sir, I was.”
    Pops turned his attention to Maggie. “Your mom and dad are already here. I’ll go on over while you two chat.”
    With that, he left her alone with her nemesis.
    â€œLet go, Brawley.” She kept her voice low.
    He dropped his hands to his sides.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” she bit out.
    â€œI might ask you the same.”
    â€œI came for dinner. With my folks.”
    â€œAnd I came for a beer. Cash is at the bar. He’s gonna help me draw up plans for a few renovations at the clinic. We decided to do it over a cold one.”
    â€œRenovations?”
    He nodded. “Doc hasn’t made a single change to that place in way too many years. It’s long overdue for a face-lift.”
    Even at five-eight, she had to tip her head to meet his eyes. “Why are you doing this, Brawley?”
    â€œI told you. Doc hasn’t—”
    â€œNo.” She shook her head. “I’m not talking about remodeling. Why are you really back here? Why this pretense?”
    â€œPretense?”
    She made a sound low in her throat. “We both know you’re not Maverick Junction. Not small-town Texas. You belong in the big city with all its money and nightlife. The social niceties. The socialites. You’re at home there. Go back to Dallas, Brawley, and leave us alone.”
    Us , she thought. She wouldn’t use me . That would make it too personal, feed his already inflated ego.
    She shrugged off his hand but hadn’t taken two steps before he was beside her again. He leaned into her, trapping her between the solid wall of his body and the building’s rough wooden one.
    â€œBrawley!” She shoved at him. “People are looking.”
    â€œLet them.”
    â€œMy parents are here.”
    â€œYep. Saw them come in.”
    â€œWhat do you want?”
    His eyes darkened to the color of midnight. “You.”
    â€œBullshit!” She shoved at him.
    â€œYou look good tonight.”
    â€œReally? Personally, I prefer seeing the backside of you—while you’re walking away. And it is, after all, what you do best.”
    He shook his head, straightening. “Maggie, sweetheart, God broke the mold after he made you.”
    â€œGo to hell, Brawley. And I’m not your sweetheart.”
    His face took on an edge. “You know, you accuse me of being big city, but who’s heading to New York, the biggest of them all? Have you told your grandpa?” His words stopped her. “It’s really not