Deacon's Touch Read Online Free PDF Page A

back all the civilized layers she'd wrapped herself in and revealed the true hunger simmering within. He was willing to bet there was a highly sensual woman in there somewhere.
    The thought didn't help the fit of his jeans, so he switched the subject. “I was going to head into San Antonio, but Bandera's got a coffee shop you might like."
    Her smile was genuine and full of pleasure, and he liked being the one to put it there. “Sounds great."
    He drove her into town and went into the shop with her while she finished up her work, then sat and drank the coffee she'd insisted on buying him. As much as her neurotic need to work during her vacation perplexed him, he admired her for it, too.
    "Your man ever get jealous of your laptop?” he asked her once she'd finished.
    She swallowed a sip of coffee and set her cup down. “What? No, I'm single."
    Good to know. Not that it mattered because she wasn't his type, and vice versa. “Not dating anyone?"
    She looked down at her cup and shook her head. “No. You?"
    "Divorced."
    "Oh, I'm sorry."
    "Don't be. It's for the best."
    She lifted her gaze to his and smiled. “I know what you mean. It's a long story, but I was engaged until a few months ago."
    He frowned. “The piece of shit cheat on you?"
    "No, nothing like that.” She toyed with her cup. “I just didn't feel like we were in love anymore, so after counselling didn't seem to help I called it off.” When she tilted her head, her gaze was sincere and full of empathy. “Why? Did your ex...cheat on you?"
    He nodded, and she winced. “It was more than that, though. At first things were rocky because she couldn't handle me being away for long stretches."
    Jessica tilted her head, giving him her full attention. Like she was truly interested in what he had to say. “And that's it?"
    "No. Then I buggered up my back real bad, and she found someone else while I was laid up in the hospital."
    Her eyes narrowed in outrage. “She cheated on you while you were in the hospital ?"
    "Yep. During my rehab stint at Walter Reed."
    She made a sound of disgust, then quickly smoothed out her features. “I'm sorry. That must have been really hard."
    "I'm better off."
    "Yes, you are.” The fierce note in her voice took him off guard, and he grinned. She definitely had passion in her. He'd love to find out firsthand how much.
    She shrugged. “Loyalty's a big deal to me."
    Her words made him think while he walked her around the rows of shops in Bandera later, and on the way back to the ranch afterward. Loyalty was a big deal to him, too. In the end, that's why he'd agreed to the divorce. His ex's affair had shown a fundamental lack of respect on her part, and he'd known even before all the counselling that the marriage was over.
    That small glimpse of fire beneath Jessica's reserved exterior intrigued him. She chatted away during the drive and had him laughing a few times with her sharp wit. Funny how she was so confident with her job, yet seemed shy and slow to warm up with him. When he parked in front of the ranch house, he was actually sorry to see her go. It was dark out, and no one was around. None of the cabin windows were lit either. “Looks like we missed the bonfire."
    "I'm not sorry. I had a good time."
    "Me, too.” Imagine that. When was the last time he'd spent a platonic evening with a woman and enjoyed it? He shook his head. “You know what? I've never met him, but your ex is an idiot."
    Her low laugh made him want to lean forward and nibble at the tender spot beneath her ear, turn that sound into a moan. “Yours, too.” She glanced back at him when she opened her door, the dome light making her hair and eyes shine. “Thanks again, for everything. I appreciate it."
    "Anytime."
    She started to slide out of the truck.
    Before he realized what he was doing, he grabbed her arm to stop her and crowded in close. She froze in the seat, staring up at him with wide amber eyes when he leaned into her. He slid a hand into her thick