Texas Temptation Read Online Free PDF Page A

over her lips. Jared had probably beat the world record this morning in that masculine sport.
    â€œEmma made it for me.”
    â€œWhat?” She glanced up sharply.
    â€œThe paperweight.” He gestured to the crude sculpture in her hands. “Emma made it.”
    â€œEmma?” Annie turned it over and noticed the inscription on the bottom: To Jared. E.R.S. “Oh, yes. Your half sister. You want to tell me about her?”
    He handed Annie a sandwich. “We found out about her at the reading of J.T.’s will. Turns out that my father had an affair ten years ago with the architect who designed his house.”
    â€œYou mean Stone Manor?” Annie asked, remembering the huge house that J.T.’s wife, Myrna Stone, had been so proud of and lived in still. Annie had never liked the place. It was cold and pretentious, like the woman herself.
    Jared nodded. “The architect’s name was Angela Roberts. She left when she found out she was pregnant. She never told my father, and it was several years before he finally hired a private investigator to look for her. The man managed to uncover the fact that Angela had had a baby, but unfortunately J.T. died before the mother or child could be found.”
    Annie started to take a bite of her sandwich, then stopped. “But...then, how did you, I mean...”
    Jared reached behind him and opened the refrigerator. He pulled out two sodas and set one in front of Annie.
    â€œJake continued the search. The P.I. found the child five months later. Only problem—” he popped the lid of his soda and it fizzed loudly “—was that Angela Roberts had also died.”
    Annie closed her eyes and released a long slow breath. “Oh, Jared, I’m so sorry.”
    He stared at the soda can for a long moment, then nodded grimly.
    â€œAnyway,” Jared continued, “when we found Emma a few months ago she was living with an aunt. It wasn’t easy, but Jake talked the aunt into coming here with Emma for a visit.” A smile lifted one corner of Jared’s mouth. “Then he married her.”
    Annie still couldn’t believe it. Jake, of all people, remarried. She remembered that when Jonathan had told Jake he was getting married, the first thing Jake had said was, “Better you than me, bro. Have a dozen kids to make up for the ones I won’t.” Though he’d laughed as he said it, the smile never made it to his eyes.
    The sandwich she was eating suddenly tasted like sawdust in her mouth. Annie had never had the chance to even marry Jonathan, let alone have his children. She’d almost thought—even hoped—that she’d been pregnant when she’d left that summer. She’d desperately wanted something of Jonathan she could have with her always, a part of him that she could love. A child.
    But she hadn’t been pregnant. She realized later, of course, that it was for the best, but at the time she’d been disappointed.
    She set the sandwich down and looked at Jared. “And now you’re here, too.”
    â€œAnd now I’m here.”
    And so am I, she thought.
    For a few minutes there’d been an easiness between them, a connection that surprised her. But it was gone now, as if it were no more than a wisp of smoke.
    And they were both abruptly aware that her visit was not of a social nature.
    A weariness overcame her, and she felt a sudden desperate need to be alone. Away from here. She stood and rolled her shoulder to loosen the stiffness there.
    â€œThanks for the sandwich, Jared, but I think I’ve done all I’m capable of doing for now. I’m beat. It’s been a long drive here from Dallas. Why don’t we start fresh tomorrow and take a look at the rig first thing in the morning? Say about nine?”
    â€œAll right.” He set his sandwich down as if he, too, had lost his appetite. “Where are you staying?”
    Annie couldn’t help but notice