Western Pleasure (The Texas Two-Step Series, a Novella) Read Online Free PDF Page A

That would be great. Thanks." Ellen smiled in relief, and he relaxed.
    Whatever was bothering her couldn't be too bad when she could smile at him that way, with her eyes crinkling and mirroring the smile on her lips.
    "I've got the charity thing tonight. Want to repeat dinner at my house tomorrow? I'll make your favorite chicken-fried steak while you set things up on my laptop."
    "Six o'clock okay?" At least that way, he'd have twenty-four-plus hours to come up with the courage once and for all to tell her how he felt. Twenty-four hours to find just the right words to make her his own.
    Surely that would be enough time?
    She nodded. "Perfect. See you then."
    Jim stepped back as Ellen started her engine and drove away. Emptiness rattled in his stomach. Loneliness rang in his heart. And that blasted little voice growled in his ear. Don't blow this.
    He turned the change over in his pocket, hoping it would bring him luck.

 
     
     
    Chapter 6

     
    Ellen loved the aroma of her breaded steak cooking. From where she stood at the stove, she could turn her head just to the left and see Jim in the family room.
    She couldn't help but enjoy this little scenario. As traditional as it was, she relished taking care of Jim by cooking a meal while he took care of her, tending to her laptop. She could get used to this small pleasure—for the rest of her life, if she were truthful.
    Living her life with Jim in it came too naturally. The notion left her baffled. No sense in getting too used to this domestic harmony, however. After all, Jim's adventuresome streak would soon have him flying off to some other country and dating sophisticated women from all over the world.
    As for her, she'd soon begin her own little adventure, dating other men.
    As in, not Jim.
    Her heart sank. The truth was they were merely playing house, enjoying each other's company, even if for a short while. Nothing more, nothing less. Although she sure wished it could be more.
    The TV played softly in the background, but the sound of Jim happily humming as he worked drowned out the TV.
    Ellen stirred the gravy, then turned around to pull her home-made biscuits from the oven. As she brought them to the marble-topped island countertop beside the embedded stovetop, she realized Jim had stopped humming.
    He scrambled out of the recliner he'd been ensconced in. "Done."
    "All set up already?"
    "It took next to no time to connect it to the wireless network your cable company installed. Setting up your email was a piece of cake. I created a file for you with the user IDs and passwords you'll need."
    "You think of everything." She couldn't help but admire him. He certainly knew his way around financial matters and the latest computer technology, but his cowboy boots and well-worn jeans reminded her that the man also knew his way around a ranch.
    He could run rings around any financial report, or set up a computer in next to no time. She'd seen him in action, working a horse and wrangling a spooked calf—only to leave to wrap up a multi-million-dollar business deal. Thinking of him on that horse brought her attention to his mighty-fine physique.
    She had to stop doing this. She had to stop thinking of him as anything other than merely a friend.
    Yesterday, it had taken all of her strength to keep from grabbing Jim and accosting him there in the parking lot. She'd wanted to kiss him so badly it made her insides burn.
    As if she'd silently summoned him, Jim crossed the room to the breakfast bar between the kitchen and family room. She watched him stand there on the other side of that bar. If only he'd leap over it and grab her into his arms and kiss her.
    Instead, he remained firmly on his side.
    She stayed on hers.
    Maybe she should do the leaping, and fly into his arms.
    The very boldness of such a move sent a tiny shock of terror down her body. What would he think of her?
    He'd think she was a libido-driven desperate woman frantic for some attention.
    And he wouldn't be far