Crashing Into Tess Read Online Free PDF

adjustment for them.”
“It’ll be a huge adjustment for all of you. You’re far
away, I’m sure they’re gonna miss you,” he said easily. “Is
your sister in Philly?”
Tess shook her head. “Manhattan. She does PR for a
think-tank. She’s a brilliant writer, but my parent’s
persuaded her to do something practical, so she puts
together newsletters and press releases, handles all of their
website content. I guess she likes her job. Do your parents
live in Green Junction?”
“My dad lives at the ranch with me during the summer,
but he’ll stay in Texas this winter, at my uncle’s place. The
warmer weather suits him,” Jake said evenly. “I’ve been
managing the ranches here for the past eight years.”

“And your mom?” Tess asked.
“Mom died when I was ten.”
Did I seriously just complain about my parents to him ?
Caught off-guard, she grasped for something to say. “I’m so
sorry. That’s sad, Jake. You were just a little kid.”
“There’s never a good time to lose a mom, I guess,” he
said.
*****
When Jake pulled in front of Elmer Freethy’s big white
Victorian on Chambers Street, pink-streaks of sunlight
hovered above the Sangre de Christo Mountains, casting
the morning in rosy brilliance.
Tess dug into her hip pocket for her key, and he noticed
her hands. They were pale, fine boned and elegant, her
fingers long and thin. Piano hands.That’s what Aunt Olivia
calls hands like hers. He opened her door, steadying her as
she stepped down. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” she assured him, with an eager smile.
“C’mon Rhiannon, this is home. Let’s go check it out!”
Tongue lolling, the dog hopped from the truck. Jake
grabbed ice packs and discharge instructions from the seat
and followed Tess up the green painted steps of a deep
covered porch. Turning the key in the old-fashioned lock,
she pushed against the gleaming oak entry door.
In the hallway, a curved wooden stairway led to the
second floor. As Tess unlocked the door to the right, he
inhaled baby powder and antiseptic and something lemony,
clean and light.
In the apartment, tall living room windows faced the
front porch. Her footsteps echoed on recently refinished
wood floors, then she stepped into the room beyond, a
kitchen tiled in black and white, occupying the old sun
porch.A wide smile lit her face.“Wow, this is really super!
Come see it, Jake!”
The windows at the front of the eating nook had a view
of the Sangre de Christos on all three sides. “It’ll be bright
and sunny in the morning,” he agreed. Next to him,
Rhiannon wagged her tail enthusiastically.
Tess walked down the hall and into the bedroom,
calling, “Can you believe there’s a claw foot tub in the
bathroom? My sister will be so jealous. . . How many girls
get claw foot tubs in their first apartment?” Her voice
trailed off, and she came back towards him. “What day is
it?”
“Today’s Friday.”She was right in front of him now,
blonde, curly ringlets almost at his fingertips, eyes
glistening, pink cheeks smooth. He put his hands in his
pockets. “It was a long drive, huh?”
“Ridiculously long, and it got a whole lot more
confusing last night,” she said, rolling her eyes and shaking
her head. “I start work on Monday, so I have to get settled
in here.”
He cleared his throat. “You’ve got time.”
“I guess so. I’m feeling much better since I’ve seen this
place, anyway.” Her full lips were rosy, a little chapped,
and she was still smiling. “Can we head for the grocery and
drug store, now? Do you mind?”
“Let’s go,” he grinned, opening the door.
3
“New Vet in Town”
    The sun hit the dashboard of Victoria ScalamagottiMcGreer’s white Acura as she zipped into the shopping
center, late for work.
    Cassie had missed the starting bell at school, but she’d
taken a call from Ronald Karachek, and the news had been
good.
    She passed her ex-husband’s green diesel pickup, idling
in front of