The Barons of Texas: Jill Read Online Free PDF Page B

having the headaches?”
    “Never mind that. How did I get this gown on?”
    “I put it on you.”
    “Which means you took off my clothes.”
    He gave her one of his lazy grins, fascinating dimple included. “Don’t worry. I didn’t take advantage of you.”
    “It never crossed my mind that you did.”
    The fact that he’d seen her nearly naked was enough to make her want to hide under the covers until he left. Even worse, if she had slid her leg between his, it meant that her gown could have ridden up, which brought on another thought. She shifted her bottom ever so slightly.
    She began to chew on her lip. She had never been as embarrassed about anything as she was about this. From now on, whenever their eyes met, they would both know that he’d practically seen her naked. The only thing she could think to do now was to try to avoid him as much as possible in the days to come. Hopefully she would soon be able to regain her composure around him. Hopefully.
    “Have you ever had to use that inhalant before? It seemed pretty potent stuff.”
    “No.” Her doctor had warned her to be standing by her bed when she used it, because it would probably knock her out. Now she knew he had been right. But he hadn’t warned her what she would do if there happened to be a man in her bed. She barely stifled a groan.
    “That means that last night’s headache was one of your worst. I think you should call your doctor today and tell him about it.”
    It took a tremendous effort, but somehow she pulled herself together. “Look, I really appreciateyour being here for me last night. The headache was a bad one. But I’m late.” She glanced again at the clock and saw that it was already eight. She was surprised Molly hadn’t called her, but since she’d known about the oncoming headache last night, she’d probably decided not to bother her. “I’m very late, and I need to get up and get dressed.”
    She slid off the bed and stood. “Before you go, though, I’d like to ask a favor.”
    Damn. She really hated to be beholden to anyone, especially someone who now knew more about her—and had experienced more of her—than even her doctors. Irrationally, she wanted to get back into bed and pull the covers over her head. But that wasn’t the way she had been taught to handle things. Instead, she looked at him and saw that his gaze was fixed on her breasts. She didn’t even have to glance down to know that her nipples had tightened. She folded her arms across herself.
    “Colin?” She waited until his gaze was once again level with hers, and her knees went weak at the heat she saw in his eyes. She cleared her throat. “I said I’d like to ask a favor of you.”
    “I heard you. Ask away.”
    “I’d appreciate it if you would keep the information regarding my problem to yourself.”
    “Problem? You mean the fact that you suffer from migraines?”
    “That’s what I mean.”
    He slung his tie around his neck. “What’s the matter, Jill? Are you afraid someone might actually think you’ve got a chink in your armor?”
    As he had so many times before, he was baitingher. But this time, she wasn’t going to bite. “Will you keep the information to yourself?”
    “You know, migraines shouldn’t be looked at as some sort of failure on your part, or a weakness. Besides, you’re not the only one who has migraines. Quite a few of our acquaintances also have them.”
    “How do you know?”
    He shrugged. “I listen.”
    She took a deep breath, disgusted with herself at how easily she let him divert her. “Will you?”
    “Of course I won’t tell anyone.”
    “And, uh…the rest?” Once again, she caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
    He lifted his jacket off a chair and, holding it with two fingers, slung it over his shoulder. “What happened between us will stay between us.”
    She exhaled. He hadn’t made her say the words. “Thank you.”
    His golden-brown eyes on her, he slowly strolled toward her. Stopping in