Crazy for Lovin’ You Read Online Free PDF Page B

do was hold the rodeo somewhere else. Her plan wouldn’t necessarily fail, but it would take her a lot longer to succeed. Time was her enemy. The added boost of publicity right out of the chute would give her a leg up on a win.
    Maybe she could sidestep his question. “What are you looking for in a rodeo site?” she asked.
    He thumbed his black hat higher on his forehead. “Lots of land, first off,” he said. “There has to be room for vehicle parking and that includes horse trailers and campers. You’re not too far off Interstate 20, so that’s a plus.”
    â€œWhat else?”
    â€œSpace for portable grandstands and food vendors, a freestanding corral big enough for the events.”
    â€œI’ve got that,” she said pointing to the areas encircled by pipe fencing. “Three arenas, and one is long enough for the barrel racing, goat tying, and pole bending events.”
    â€œI noticed. What I want to know is why.”
    â€œWhy what?” she asked.
    â€œWhy you have three. What do you need them for and why is the dirt soft and churned up?” He met her gaze again and asked, “What have you got up your sleeve?”
    â€œYou make it sound like I’m trying to pull a fast one.”
    â€œI didn’t mean to.” He turned away from the corral and leaned back against the fence, folding his arms over a pretty impressive chest.
    To distract herself from his masculine pose, Taylor took the brunt of his full-on stare. Then she stepped off the fence and stood up straight. “I’m getting ready to open the ranch to visitors.”
    â€œYou don’t mean a dude ranch,” he said, looking as shocked as when he’d gone backwards into the pool.
    She nodded. “B&B, Texas style. The arenas are for activities—riding, roping. If a greenhorn takes a tumble, soft dirt is more forgiving.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause it’s softer and—”
    He shook his head. “I meant why are you altering the operation from a working ranch?”
    â€œIt will still be a working ranch. As long as there’sbreath in my body I’ll do that kind of work. But I think that will add to the charm. This is something I’ve always wanted to do—take people with harried lifestyles and show them what silence is like. Give them a taste of a traditional Western lifestyle.”
    â€œAnd?”
    She didn’t pretend to misunderstand. Anyone in Destiny could tell him if he asked. “I needed to do something not so closely tied to agriculture. Drought, beef and feed prices, all that can make a financial difference.”
    â€œWhy is that so important now?”
    â€œI’ve got a mortgage.”
    â€œSince when?” He frowned. “I thought your dad owned the land outright. Did something happen?”
    â€œHe died. Mom put the ranch up for sale.”
    â€œWhy would she do that?”
    â€œWhy does that surprise you?” she asked, studying the expression on his face.
    â€œYour family is proud. A pillar of the community. Landowners in Destiny for several generations. It just wouldn’t occur to me that a Stevens would sell out.” A frown settled in his eyes, making his expression dark.
    Was he thinking about her sister? Jensen had sold him out with another guy. At least Mitch believed she had, even though her sister had followed her heart.
    She sighed. “My mother was born and raised in North Dallas, a sophisticated city girl through and through. She was happy here as long as my dad was alive and running the operation.”
    â€œBut not after he was gone?”
    She shook her head. “She missed him. And there were too many memories here. He inherited the landso she had no emotional connection except through him.”
    â€œBut to sell it out from under you,” he said. “That seems a little harsh.”
    â€œEven for a Stevens,” she finished for him.
    â€œYou said it, I