Tying You Down Read Online Free PDF

beautiful.
    She glanced around them at the busy dining room. “It’s different now that Tess doesn’t work here anymore.”
    Tate nodded. “I’m happy to have her as a new sister-in-law. She’s a sweet little thing.”
    Jo smiled. “She’s a special woman.”
    “Well hello, Tate McBride.” A familiar woman’s voice had Tate looking up to see Daphne Warren standing beside the table. “Imagine running into you here.”
    “Hi, Daphne,” he said after a slight pause and got to his feet. He reached out his hand, but she moved in close, kissed his cheek and hugged him. He was enveloped in her flowery scent that brought back a rush of memories.
    He stepped out of her embrace and gave a nod to Jo. “Daphne, I don’t know if you’ve met Jo Burke. She owns Jo-Jo’s.” He turned to Jo. “This is Daphne Warren. She’s an old friend.”
    “A friend?” Daphne laughed. “Try an old long-time girlfriend.”
    Jo’s pleasant expression didn’t change. “Nice to meet you.”
    Daphne didn’t return the greeting, instead she returned her gaze to Tate. “Some time has passed since we’ve gotten together.”
    He studied the pretty blonde. “It’s been a while.”
    It had been just over two years. Not only had she been an old girlfriend, but Tate had been infatuated with the petite woman. He’d been in love with her before she’d stomped her cowgirl boots all over his heart. Even then he hadn’t been able to forget her. A part of him had pined for her and had hoped she’d realize that she loved him, too.
    But that had been then. Things had changed.
    “You don’t mind if I join you, do you?” Without waiting for a response, Daphne pulled out a chair, slipped into it, and scooted up to the table. She barely acknowledged Jo.
    Tate felt the awkward moment stretch out as he took his own seat again and he glanced at Jo. It was hard to tell how she felt about Daphne joining them.
    “I was going to track you down, and here you are.” Daphne gave him a broad smile. “This saves some time.”
    Thankfully, Penny stopped by with Tate’s and Jo’s glasses of iced tea. “Hi, Daphne,” Penny said. “Can I get you a menu?”
    Daphne waved the suggestion away. “I’d love one of your great hamburgers with everything on it,” she told the waitress. “Make the burger well done. Oh, and I’ll have a Coke.”
    Penny nodded. “I’ll put in your order and bring you a drink.”
    After the waitress left, Daphne smiled at Jo. “Tate and I used to come here all of the time. Did he order the cornbread and chili? That’s his favorite.”
    Jo’s smile remained pleasant but Tate thought he saw a flicker of fire in her green eyes.
    He didn’t know what the hell to do. It was clear what Daphne was doing and he didn’t like it one damned bit. He didn’t see how he could get out of the uncomfortable situation Daphne had put them all in.
    When Penny returned with the Coke for Daphne, Jo turned her smile on the waitress. “Penny, I just realized that I have a meeting with my staff in about fifteen minutes. Please wrap up my sandwich to go.”
    Tate wasn’t sure whether he was relieved or not. He’d wanted to spend the time with Jo, but Daphne had made everything more than awkward. He thought about telling Penny to make his meal to go, too, but it wasn’t in his nature to dismiss a woman like he’d be doing to Daphne.
    What had happened to Daphne? He didn’t remember her ever being this rude to another woman when they’d been dating. But then he hadn’t been around her with another woman since Daphne had broken up with him.
    “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I stopped by,” Daphne said to Tate. “You’d have to eat all alone since your friend is leaving.”
    He met Jo’s gaze and tried to tell her that she was the one he wanted to be with at that moment.
    “What have you been up to since I saw you last?” Daphne turned to Tate, shutting Jo out of the conversation.
     
    Jo tried to keep her breathing even as the