Texan Undercover (Romantic Suspense) Read Online Free PDF Page A

He didn't want to consider the
possibility of her involvement.
    "Then ask her out," Brozek said. "You haven't
dated in God knows how long. You could use a tension reliever,
buddy. A hot lady and a soft bed. Ask the woman out. It would do
you good. Do me good, too. Maybe you wouldn't be such a
grouch."
    "She's not my type. Too high maintenance. Too
expensive for my tastes." Keep telling yourself that,
Anderson.
    "Hey, not all rich ladies are like your
mother. You need to get over that. Move on."
    Dillon took a swig of Dr. Pepper. "Yeah,
well. Your mother didn't dump you when you were seven years old.
I'm over it. I've moved on. I just don't care for snobby rich
girls, that's all."
    "The Maxwell dame's not snobby," Brozek said.
"I've been in the cafe enough to see how she treats her customers.
She might wear designer clothes and expensive jewelry, but she's
not snobby."
    "Leave it alone, Brozek." Maybe Claire wasn't
a snob, but she still made him feel like he wasn't good enough.
Dillon didn't like the feeling. He'd fought it all his life.
    "You have to get over this phobia of yours,
pal. So what if your mom's parents gave you a bad rap when you were
a kid, you are not hurting for money now. You could move in the
best circles, if you wanted."
    "That's not what I want." His early years had
convinced him of that. Dillon's mother and grandparents really were
snobs. He'd lived in Lubbock with them, after his mother left his
father. He'd never fit in. And they'd never let him forget it.
    "How's that program going?" Dillon asked.
    "Trying to change the subject?"
    "Two points for the Polack."
    "Hey, now. I'm just trying to help."
    "I don't want help. I want to get this job
over and done with. We have a company to run. In Dallas. Six months
away from home is too long."
    "Yeah, yeah. I'm tired of living in this
apartment with you, too."
    "Then stop talking and start working." Dillon
tossed a couple of peanuts in his mouth. Brozek was right. He had
to get over this phobia with the rich upper class. But it was hard
to forgive and forget.
    On his seventh birthday, his mother had flown
him to Houston for a rare visit to his father. She'd signed over
full custody and Dillon had never seen her again.
    His dad had been kind and loving in an
absent-minded way. An intense and dedicated scholar, he taught
history at Rice University. Dillon had made good grades in school,
but he wasn't in the same league with his dad. Again, he found
himself not fitting in. Not good enough.
    Dillon logged on to the Internet and checked
his email. It was ironic that he'd chosen the field of private
investigation for a career. Going undercover required blending in
with the environment. All those years of trying to fit in was put
to good use. And for short periods of time, he could live as
someone else. Didn't have to think about who he really was or where
he'd come from. A cop-out? Maybe. Everyone had to deal with life in
his own way.
    "Damn it. I'm getting another error," Brozek
said. "Come look at this. Man, I don't believe it. Why don't you
take over? I'm going to grab some food."
    Dillon took his soda and settled down on the
sofa. This program was proving to be a bitch. He read over the code
Brozek had written. Lines and lines of it. One little mistake and
the whole thing unraveled.
    "I feel like Chinese," Brozek said,
stretching. "You feel like Chinese?"
    Dillon didn't look up from the laptop.
"Chinese is good. Don't forget the mustard this time."
    "Grouchy, grouchy. Do us both a favor. Ask
the lady out." Brozek shrugged on his leather jacket and adjusted
the collar.
    "You're way too interested in my personal
life," Dillon said. "We're on a job, remember? Kinda tough to start
a relationship."
    "All work and no play . . . You know what
they say? Not healthy. Not healthy at all."
    "Go get the food, Brozek."
    "Just think about it. You need a woman, man.
It's been too long. That's not healthy, either."
    "Thank you, doctor. Now get off it, will
you?"
    "Okay, okay. I'm