Do Him Right Read Online Free PDF Page A

reception hall of the huge, old
Victorian house. “This is Shana Carpenter, she’s going to be working for us at
the rodeo.”
    “Welcome, Miz Carpenter.” Troy took a limping step forward
and reached across his reception desk to shake her hand. In his early thirties,
he rivaled Chet for tall, rugged and drop-dead gorgeous. With his silky black
hair and chocolate-brown eyes, he was definitely as handsome as Chet. His gaze
danced down her body. “I see that my buddy Chet, here, has good taste.”
    “Thank you,” Shana responded with a professional smile.
    “Shana needs a large room, Troy,” Chet announced, his gaze
rising slowly from Troy and Shana’s hands. “I hope you have the biggest casita
in the back available.”
    “Sure do, Chet. I can fix you up.” He turned to take a key
from the pigeonhole slots behind him. “The one with the kitchen, right?”
    “Yep and the hot tub in the back.”
    Troy took his time admiring Shana’s lips, making her wonder
if he could tell what she’d been doing with them only minutes ago.
    “What’s the rental fee?” she asked, careful to sound
professional.
    “How long will you stay?” Troy asked. “I can quote you a
really good rate if you’re here for a long while.”
    “Three months,” she told him before Chet could get a word
out.
    “Wow. That long? Terrific. Means we’ll get to know you
really well.”
    Chet smiled, but his expression was more rueful than pleasant.
“Easy, boy. Shana’s here to help me make strides with the rodeo.”
    Troy examined Chet in fine detail. Shana figured it had to
be Chet’s proprietary tone. “Is that right? Well then, you do need the biggest
little house in the back.” He fastened his dark gaze on Shana and quoted her a
rate per month.
    “Sounds like a deal,” she told him with a grin. “Do you want
me to sign an agreement for that?”
    “No, but you could give me a credit card. Usual check-in
practice.” He seemed more businesslike now, less predatory male. “I can bill
you monthly. First month in advance.”
    “Wonderful.” She searched in her briefcase for her wallet,
lifted out her personal card and let him complete the registration forms. She
signed and turned to Chet.
    He took her arm.
    Troy examined both of them with a critical eye. “If you need
anything, Shana, just call us here at the desk.”
    Chet stared at him and shook his head. “Troy prides himself
on doing everything for the single women who take rooms in his establishment.”
    “Oh.” She tried to be polite, side-stepping any words to
deepen the men’s tension. “Good to know. Thanks, Mr. Mallard.”
    “Troy,” he corrected her with laughter in his voice and his
eyes. “We don’t get many good-looking single women coming into town.”
    “Troy it is then,” she acknowledged. “Hopefully when we get
more people coming to town for the rodeo, there’ll be a bigger selection of
single women.”
    He laughed. “That would be great for the likes of me because
I see Chet here has already staked his claim.”
    She blushed.
    Chet let out a laugh. “Okay, man. We’re gonna settle Shana
into the back casita.”
    “Call me if you need help getting the air conditioner or the
whirlpool going.”
    “I think I’m capable, buddy,” Chet called over his shoulder
as he headed them out the front door. “I love the man. He’ll walk over hot
coals for his friends, but I have to tell you, ever since he got discharged
from the Guard, he’s an alley cat,” he told her as they took the sidewalk toward
the back of the property.
    “So was he in Afghanistan or Iraq?”
    “Yeah. Iraq. Hell in the sand. You saw him limp, right?”
    “What happened?”
    “Roadside bomb. Took part of his left foot. He’s still in
physical therapy. Goes twice a week into the VA Hospital in Kerrville for
treatment. He’s getting better slowly. Too slowly for him. His biggest problem
is not the foot.”
    “It’s his head?” she speculated.
    Chet didn’t respond but