Texas-Sized Temptation Read Online Free PDF

in to cook.” He went to the refrigerator to remove the steaks and put them on the grill.
    While he cooked, she helped him get salads and water on the table. When she was finished, she perched on the bar stool nearest him to talk to him. “This is a wonderful patio. You can sit outside, yet you’re protected from the elements here.”
    â€œI enjoy it when I’m here,” he said, glancing beyond the patio at the pool that was splashing as raindrops hit the blue surface. “No swimming in this weather.” Lightning streaked the sky in a brilliant flash. “If the lightning worries you, we can go inside.”
    â€œI’m fine.”
    â€œSo what does worry you, Caitlin?”
    â€œLosing the property, not being able to help the people who worked for Grandmother through the years.”
    â€œI walked into that one.”
    â€œSo what worries you, Jake?”
    â€œBusiness failure. My dad’s interference in my life.”
    â€œYou’re a little old for your daddy to interfere, especially since you’re running a large company,” she said and he detected the amusement in her voice.
    â€œOh, no. I have a manipulative father. At least he tries and I resist. It’s not quite the same for my brother. Sometimes I think Brittany dated Will out of rebellion against Dad’s constant attempt to dominate her life.”
    She laughed. “That’s mind-boggling. You are definitely not the type to have someone try to control you.”
    He grinned, turning from the steaks to sit near her for a few minutes. “I like your smile, your laughter. When you laugh, it’s a sunny spring day.”
    â€œThank you. That’s a nice compliment,” she replied. “Too bad you’re not Jake Smith and I’m not Caitlin Jones. The night might be incredibly different.”
    â€œFor tonight, we can try to be Jake Smith and Caitlin Jones. We’ve already agreed to forget business. Just stretch it a little more and pretend we don’t have family histories.”
    â€œThat’s a giant stretch with pitfalls all along the pathway, but it would have been nice,” she added and sipped her water.
    He leaned down so his face was closer to hers and her eyes widened. “Try. You have an imagination. See me as someone you just met,” he urged, thinking she had the greenest eyes he had ever seen. Her perfume tormented him and her mouth was a constant temptation.
    â€œWhile it’s an exciting prospect, it’s the way to disaster. Impossible,” she answered breathlessly and he was certain she felt the attraction, too.
    â€œCoward,” he teased with a faint smile, wanting to lean the last few inches and kiss her. She tilted her face up another degree.
    â€œWicked man,” she replied, smiling to make light of her words.
    It would be so easy to close the mere inches of distance and kiss her and she wanted the kiss as much as he, but he resisted. He wanted her to be eager to kiss with no hesitation. The tantalizing moments were building his desire. Hopefully, hers, too.
    â€œYour steaks may be crispy now,” she remarked.
    He hurried to flip the steaks. He turned, catching her studying him. “Now, wine with dinner?” he asked.
    â€œYes, thank you,” she replied and he moved behind the bar to get a bottle of Shiraz.
    In a short time they were seated near the fireplace with dinner in front of them. She was a dainty eater, telling himabout her gallery in Santa Fe while he mentally peeled away the blue Western shirt. His appetite for steak diminished. To his surprise, he wanted to see her again beyond tonight and he wanted to take her dancing so he could hold her in his arms.
    Common sense told him to forget both things. As a Santerre, when they got down to business, she was going to be unhappy with him because he didn’t want to leave a Santerre house standing. The people who had worked for her grandmother could