Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Maverick Bargains for a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Read Online Free Page B

right? I didn’t mean to shock you.”
    “Who are you? You’ve taken over the body of the shy schoolteacher I met a few years ago.”
    “Two years and nine months.”
    “What?”
    This time it was her turn to go beet red.
    “Are you ready to order?”
    Saved by the waiter. Angie quickly picked up her menu. She chose the first item she saw, the fried catfish.
    “A specialty of the house. Would you like the regular salad or Caesar?”
    She took her time ordering the salad and potato, and then sat back and tried to regroup while Brent gave his order. What in the world possessed her to say exactly how long it had been since they’d seen each other? She hadn’t even realized she’d been counting. It just spilled out of her mouth. Boy, she was out of practice with dating.
    After the waiter left, Brent leaned back in his seat and studied her. “You are full of surprises and mystery. I love mysteries. Part of my work involves finding answers.”
    “What do you do? I’ve never heard exactly.”
    “I own a business that provides protection for people when needed. Or I locate people and other similar assignments.”
    Her heart jumped. No wonder he was curious. It came natural to him. Could her stepfather have hired him to find her and her mother? Of course she was using a fake name, but she’d just gotten rid of her disguise. Her stomach clenched and fear made goose bumps on her arms.
    “Are you cold? I saw you shiver.”
    She pulled her shawl around her arms. “The air conditioning blew across my neck. This will keep me warm.”
     
    * * * *

    She was lying. He saw it in her eyes and in the way her body tightened when he told her about his business. Miss Angelina McElvaine has a secret, and she’s afraid I’ll find out what it is. I doubt that’s even her name. Hmm, she gets more interesting by the minute. But not in the way he’d expected.
    For now, he’d calm her fears.
    He reached across the table and took her hand. It was soft and small. He clasped it firmly in his.
    “Let’s forget about jobs and other things and concentrate on us.” His thumb rubbed across the inside of her palm, and his dick stirred to attention. Down, boy, this isn’t going to be a simple jump into bed and have fun . No, the lady could be dangerous in more ways than one, and he certainly wasn’t looking for a wife and child.
    Damn, did she really think he’d act like a stallion, impregnate her, and forget he had a son or daughter? If she did, she had him figured all wrong. And yet the thought of her going to someone else with her request left a bad taste in his mouth and a pain in his chest.
     
    * * * *

    The touch of his hand clasping hers and his thumb raking across her skin sent a different kind of shiver down her spine. She tensed her body against the heat and desire curling inside her. After this date was over, she had to stay far from Brent. It had been stupid to consider him for a possible husband. The sperm bank made more sense. The townspeople would get over their shock of an unwed mother. This was a new century, even if Saddle Creek tried to ignore the difference in morality. It was on television frequently that some famous woman was having a baby on her own.
    The food coming was a relief. Brent pulled his hand back and they settled in to eat.
    “This is good fish, and the fries are just like I like them. They're hot on the outside and soft inside.” He looked at her with that twinkle in his eyes and laughed when her face flushed.
    The man was incorrigible. How could any woman keep her senses about her with him staring and making innuendoes out of every statement?
    They’d almost finished eating when the band began to play. Brent glanced around.
    Don’t ask me to dance . She’d never survive being held close to his body.
    “They’re playing a nice slow number.” He stood and put out his hand. When she hesitated, he raised his eyebrow. “Scared?”
    “Of course not.” She took his hand, and he pulled her around