What a Texas Girl Dreams (Crimson Romance) Read Online Free PDF

biological clock is ticking. I could hear it all the way in Utah. I find it hard to keep my hands and lips off you all the time.” She swallowed. “But you know I’m not built for commitment.”
    “What I know is you’re so afraid of commitment you don’t like writing in pen. I’m not asking you to marry me, Monica. I’m asking you to treat this relationship like an adult, not like some dirty secret you have to hide from your dad after the homecoming game.”
    She measured him for a long moment. “Is this need for a grown-up relationship behind your diagnosis of my horse?”
    Trick slammed his hand against the side of the trailer and clenched his jaw at the pain. “God, you don’t let up, do you? No, my need for a grown-up relationship is not clouding my veterinary judgment. Is your fear of commitment clouding yours? Because last month, Jinx had a small mouth sore and you sat up with him all night. Five minutes ago, he could barely put weight on that back leg and you’re eager to put in him back in the ring? Why is that? Afraid of what you might feel if you stay in Lockhardt for more than a night?” He watched her for a long moment. Monica opened her mouth to speak, but then snapped her jaw closed again. He took a step forward. “My diagnosis of Jinx has nothing to do with your phobias and everything to do with his well-being.”
    “Because if he really can’t race any longer, I’ll just train another horse.” The words were defensive, but not of her treatment of the horse. There was pain underneath the statement. Pain and guilt and a healthy dose of fear because for all the people she kept at arm’s length, Monica was attached to the horse.
    Damn. And now he was jealous of a horse because Trick wanted Monica to feel one tenth of that connection to him.
    “God, you’re so frustrating.” He took her by the shoulders and turned her around so she could see her horse in the paddock. “Look at him. He’s exhausted, and that’s part of it. But really look. He’s barely putting any pressure on that back leg unless he absolutely has to. He needs a long rest, Mon, we won’t know more than that for several weeks.”
    Her shoulders shook under his hands. Trick wanted to gather her to him, but he knew she wouldn’t accept a simple hug. Kisses and lovemaking were fine for Monica. She resisted more loving gestures.
    “He just needs to rest.”
    “Yeah. He might also need to retire.”
    “He’ll be fine.” The words were a whisper. He couldn’t stop himself. Trick pulled her back against his chest. For a split second, she relaxed against him.
    “With time,” he whispered in her ear.
    She twisted away from him. “I think … ”
    “Mon?” Kathleen’s voice came from outside the trailer.
    Monica jumped away from Trick as if he was on fire. “You should go.” She stepped down from the trailer. “I’ll call you. Later.”
    “Monica.” But she was gone, talking with her sister. Trick watched the two walk away, heads bent together.
    Trick tapped his forehead against the metal trailer frame. Every ounce of self-preservation yelled at him to hand the case over to Dr. Vaughn. To stay as far from Monica Witte as he could because he was thisclose to falling head over feet for her. But he couldn’t turn his back on her any more than he could turn his back on the horse in the paddock.
    She would call. The question was; when would he stop answering?
    • • •
    Monica wrapped Jinx’s lead around her palm, walking the big horse into the warm therapy pool. Her sister, Kathleen, sat on the side, bare feet dangling into the water and navy flip-flops by her side. She was too far along in her pregnancy to get into the water, and the other trainers were busy with the two-year-olds that would be up for sale in a few months.
    “Slowly. This isn’t a full session. Just get him into the water and some of the pressure off that back leg.” Kathleen kept her voice low, soothing. For the horse or her, Monica wasn’t