When It's Right Read Online Free PDF

something he’d never felt. The damn thing wanted to jump out of his chest and drop at her small feet. What the hell was wrong with him?
    His parents had been married for more than thirty-­five years, and he always thought of them as a one-­in-­a-­million kind of ­couple. They were happy together. The kind of happy that had his father whistling in the barn early in the morning and his mother smiling over the dirty dishes as she cleaned his plate. It was the kind of love that had them snuggling on the couch, catching a movie, and his father stealing a kiss. Over and over he’d heard them tell the story of how they’d met at a Fourth of July picnic. Love at first sight. Blake had always rolled his eyes. Yeah, right.
    His father had told him once that when he found the right woman, she’d stop him in his tracks. Yeah, well, he couldn’t move now. He couldn’t stop staring at her. Looking at Gillian, with her beaten face, the defensive edge to her posture, and the distance she kept between them, he didn’t know how to begin to get her to trust him. But he already knew he’d work damn hard at it, because the compulsion to protect her overwhelmed him.
    This other stuff swirling in his chest and gut, he didn’t know what to make of it.
    He wondered if this was how his big brother, Gabe, felt the first time he met his girl, Ella. She’d been in bad shape too, but that hadn’t stopped Gabe from protecting and falling in love with her. In fact, it sparked everything.
    Maybe that’s all this was, his inner need to protect someone who needed protecting.
    Against who? Her father is dead. You just want her.
    Yep. That simple and that complicated. Because wanting her meant putting his personal and professional life with Bud and the ranch on the line. Not an option.
    Gillian kept her distance from the porch, sucked in a deep breath, and mustered up her courage. A flash of pure rage lit the younger man’s eyes when she stepped closer, making them narrow on her. A split second later, his eyes went soft with something she didn’t recognize but made her want to take a closer look into his tawny eyes. She’d never seen someone look at her that way. Difficult to read, she’d keep her guard up around this man.
    The guy and her grandfather shared a look, then turned back to stare at her. Her grandfather wasn’t smiling. He seemed to expect her to come to him.
    Beyond tired, she hurt everywhere. Driving for three days had really taken the life out of her. The doctor had warned her that she needed plenty of rest and time to heal. What she needed was a fresh start.
    This is your chance, Gillian. Don’t mess it up . “Hello.”
    â€œGillian, where have you been?” The question came out gruff and filled with rage, tinged with sympathy. She didn’t know how to decipher the opposing emotions, which increased her anxiety.
    Gillian opened her mouth to answer her grandfather, but for the life of her, she didn’t know what to call him. She didn’t know this man. She didn’t remember ever meeting him. “Grandfather” seemed appropriate, because he seemed to be larger than life and had an air of confidence that could wear a title like that. Still, not her style. “Grandpa” seemed too familiar. At a complete loss, she kept her mouth shut.
    Since she wasn’t inclined to speak, he took the lead.
    â€œWhy didn’t you fly? I told the doctor I’d pick you up at the airport. Didn’t you get the money I sent?”
    She raised her chin defiantly. “I got it. I can work here at the ranch, or in town. I’ll make the money back and pay you as soon as I can.”
    â€œI don’t want you to pay me back. I want to know where you’ve been for the last six days.”
    She didn’t like the gruff tone and took a step back, putting more distance between them. It only made him frown more. “Um, I had to get