The Billionaire Cowboy's Carolina Girl (Contemporary BWWM Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

coming. Donny, you can go back to the rooms, and you can have my suite if you want." Joe tossed Donny a set of keys.

    "No, Billy... I mean, Joe. I want to be alone. I have a lot to think about..." I let my voice trail off, fully aware that Billy Joe Wootton intended to stay at my place for the night. I hoped he liked animals as much as he used to. Without another word, he opened the car door and hoisted me out. In all the times he'd lifted me in the past several hours, he hadn't even made a sound. I wasn't exactly a lightweight ballerina anymore -- my curves had filled in over time. But it seemed that Billy Joe was just as strong as he ever was. And just as prone to sweep a girl off her feet. He placed me gently in the wheelchair and pushed me up to the house.

    "I don't want to hear another word about it. You can make me sleep on your little porch there if you want. But I just found you... and I'm not about to leave you."

    "Eleni texted me and told me she would come."

    "Tell her that no pregnant woman needs to be looking after a woman who needs help walking around. Y'all would be fallin' all over each other in no time flat. And I ain't got time to take another trip to that fancy L.A. hospital."  

    "I told her you'd probably be staying anyway." I smiled. I didn't want my sister to be here trying to lift me up any more than Billy Joe did. But still, there was that little problem of the man in my house who was shamelessly flirting with me... and maybe trying to propose. At the very least he was getting me to consider leaving my home and moving to a ranch in Austin. I sighed and handed Joe the key.

    "Wait a second before you open--" Before I could finish my sentence, Billy Joe had opened the door, and two of my dogs were on him, jumping up and making whining noises. The one-eyed cat named Katie joined in, purring and circling Joe's leg.  

    "I guess this here's the welcome committee. Y'all go on and scoot for a second. Your mama's got a little hurt here, and we gotta get her on inside." Joe leaned down and scratched the retired greyhound behind her ears. The pug ran in circles, vying for the handsome cowboy's attention too.  

    "Looks like they already got a crush on you, Billy. I mean, Joe. I can't quite wrap my head around this new name of yours." He pushed me up into the house, easily lifting the wheelchair into the house.  

    "Sorry about the mess... and the animals." He wheeled me over to my bedroom, not saying a word. Another cat joined me on the bed, nuzzling my hand and purring softly.  

    "It's all you, Anita. And it's exactly what I've been waiting for. Now tell me you'll think about coming back with me to Austin. It's all I've ever wanted... at least since I met you, anyway."  

    "I told you I'd think about it. But it can't happen right away..." I clicked on a light and looked into Joe's eyes, taking in his serious expression. He lifted me onto the bed, sending a jolt straight to my center. Any time he touched me, I was hyperaware of my skin, my flesh... and how much it wanted this man.  

    "Why can't it happen right away? What's tyin' you here, my Carolina girl?" I blushed, and he sat down next to me. He raked his fingers through his close-cropped brown hair and gave me the smile that I'd fallen in love with. That smile could light up a room, and it brought every memory of that summer back to me. My heart beat hard in my chest, sending chills through my entire body. He brought a hand to my cheek and traced his fingers down over my neck. The chills flooded through my body, my skin turning to gooseflesh.  

    "My sister... my friend. The agency." I looked to the side, avoiding those cornflower blue eyes. They seemed to stare into my soul, breaking me apart.  

    "That ain't you. That ain't what you said you wanted."

    "I'm a different person than I was back then. I lost all those dreams a long time ago."

    "You can build them again with me. Move into the house, work with me... make us some beautiful babies.