Personal Assets (Texas Nights) Read Online Free PDF Page B

football and baseball.”
    “I don’t know about that, but I did play.” Cameron clasped Tiny’s much smaller palm in a firm handshake and smiled. Allie’s insides warmed. Sexy and nice. A little surly, but that was just what she needed. This bad boy all grown up was going to help her banish her good girl forever.
    “Play? The word’s you were a major badass at Memorial Stadium while you were at the University of Texas.” Tiny had the grace to look sheepish for cussing in front of Allie. Silly when she heard the boys’ ribald teasing and farting jokes on the field anyway.
    Cameron focused on the toe of his boot, currently digging ruts into the dying grass. “Can’t say I’m much of a badass these days.”
    She checked out the fit of his faded jeans. Badass, maybe. Fine ass, absolutely.
    “What was it like, being first string running back for the Horns? Why’d you pick football over baseball? I also heard you got the hell knocked out of you your sophomore year. What was that all about?” Tiny bounced up and down on the balls of his feet in time with his rapid-fire questions.
    “Kid, I haven’t thought about all that in years. It’ll take me time to remember my best stories. Why don’t you and your buddies stop by Scoot’s old place sometime and we can talk sports then? Right now, I need to chat with Ms. Shelby.”
    His tone was hard when he said her name, and Allie winced inside. So far, this situation wasn’t leaning in her favor.
    “Wait till I tell the guys about this.” Tiny’s bounce turned into a celebration shuffle. “Hey, maybe you could watch us play the big July Fourth game.”
    “Maybe.”
    Tiny took off toward his friends and tossed Allie’s Popsicle over his shoulder. Cameron snagged it in midair.
    Allie grabbed for it, but he held it out of reach. “Hey, I offered you one. That’s mine.”
    “Just saving it from landing in the dirt.” Cameron tucked the ice pop into his back pocket and motioned to a late-model truck behind him. “C’mon, you can sit on the tailgate and eat. I’ll give you a hand over the fence.”
    Next practice, she would bring Blue Bell fudge bars, Tiny’s favorite. He deserved that and more for warming Cameron up for her. Allie got a solid toehold halfway up the fence, threw a leg over the chain-link, and Cameron grabbed her hand and waist. He swung her down and she caught the scent of car wax and Dr Pepper. Unlikely aftershave combo, but Allie’s hormones perked up and took a deep sniff.
    Under the guise of keeping her balance, she squeezed his shoulder muscles. Warm and firm to the touch. She could feel his rough palm through her T-shirt, and she shivered. “Thanks.” Lord, where had all her oxygen disappeared to?
    “No problem.” They strolled toward the truck and he passed her the Popsicle.
    Once they were settled, their legs dangling companionably off the lowered tailgate, Allie peeled open the package and tried to catch the melted juice on her tongue. Grape syrup ran down her arm, off her elbow and onto her bare legs. Could she possibly be less of a temptation? To heck with trying to look seductive or even graceful. She took a big bite, risking a brain freeze.
    “Look, I don’t want to drag this out,” he said.
    Struggling not to slurp, she mumbled, “I’m sorry about the accident.” Sorry about his car, but not about running into him, her new special project. She covered her smile by taking another bite.
    “If you’ll pay for BB’s repairs, we’ll call it even.”
    “I’ll write a check, but somehow that doesn’t feel like enough. I’ve seen Scoot’s garage and I bet you could use some help cleaning up the place.”
    He laughed. “What, princess? You planning to push the broom, set up the toolboxes or strip down all the nudie pictures?”
    “I’ve done all that and more.” Except she’d hung the nudie pictures, rather than taking them down. “I do have some business experience in this town. I could give you a few