Silk and Spurs Read Online Free PDF

before you proposed?”
    “Five months.”
    “That’s fast after the death of her husband isn’t it?” Jessie winced. “I’m sorry, that was out of line. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    “Don’t worry about it. You just said what you think, which is the same as everyone else around here.” He paused then flipped the conversation. “You have someone you’re seeing?”
    “Nope.” She pushed her hair over her shoulder and held back a frown. “Not anymore.”
    “Bad breakup?” he asked.
    Considering how personal her questions had been, she felt compelled to answer. “It wasn’t pretty.”
    He wiped his hands with a napkin and put it on the table. “How long ago?”
    She gave him a pained smile. “As long as you’ve been engaged.” She wasn’t sure why she let it out when she added, “Doesn’t seem that long ago that he screwed around on me.” Up until now the pain had stayed fresh for far too long.
    Maybe that was why she was so fascinated by Zane. He was safe. She could flirt with him and that was as far as it would go. He wouldn’t hurt her.
    Apparently he saw the pain in her eyes because he put his hand over hers. “I’m sorry, honey.”
    His touch caused her to go still. It sent warmth throughout her and something more. From his expression he was having the same reaction and he moved his hand away from hers.
    “Better I find out when I did than later.” She did her best to give a casual shrug. “So that’s my exciting love life for you.”
    “Yeah.” He studied her. “It’s better to find out before it’s too late.”
    With a half-smile she said, “You could say I dodged a bullet.”
    He looked like he was deep in thought. “Sounds like that’s exactly what you did.”
    The way he said it made her wonder if he was realizing that he was in the path of a bullet himself.
    •  •  •
    After dinner, Jessie and Zane cleared the table, put away the leftovers, and washed the dishes. She thought about how companionable and comfortable it felt, like they’d done it together a thousand times before.
    Not a good way to be thinking, Jess.
    When they finished putting away the last dish, she tilted her head to look at him. For a long moment their eyes met and held. She felt captured by his gaze, as if she couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe.
    “I need some fresh air.” She finally managed to get the words out.
    “You probably don’t get enough of that in the city.” He looked as if he was fighting for something neutral to say. “Come on out to the patio. You’ll be able to see the stars real well—it’s a clear night.”
    “We don’t get a good view of the stars in the city, either.” She moved with him to the French doors that led to the kitchen and out onto the patio.
    This is not a good idea, she told herself.  
    When he closed the door behind them, she walked out from under the porch and tilted her head back and looked up. “Beautiful,” she said as she looked at the bright swath that made up the Milky Way. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the stars more beautiful than they are tonight.”
    “I could never leave this.” His voice was low, soft. “It’s in my blood. The ranching, the land, and even the stars.”
    “I can’t blame you.” Her gaze met his. “In your place, I know I couldn’t.”
    He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “How long have you lived in Tucson?”
    “About ten years.” She shoved her hands in her front pockets, trying to figure out what to do with them. “I left Houston to go to the University of Arizona. I fell in love with the area and that was that.”
    “Some things are easy to fall in love with.” The way he said it, as if his words carried a heavier weight, made her look back at him. His eyes were focused on the stars again but then he moved his gaze back to her. “I have some paperwork to do before I hit the sack. You’re welcome to make yourself at home.”
    “I brought my e-reader, so I think I’ll finish up a story