Courting Trouble (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

been through since entering Diedra's shop, when he opened them again it would prove to be a bad dream, he assured himself.
    He forced his lids open.
    No such luck.
    Diedra's face was within inches of his own and he could feel her soft breath feathering across the coolness created by the rubbing alcohol. "Are you certain the spots are coming off?"
    Diedra bit her lip, obviously upset. "Yes, Chuck, they're fading."
    He dismissed a feeling of pity. Either Diedra Palmer was the worst practical joker he'd ever had the misfortune to meet, or the most dangerous accident-waiting-to-happen. She shouldn't be allowed out in public.
    Hell, dealing with her was worse than trying to have a sensible conversation with his mother. He'd never met a looser screw—until he'd met Diedra. At least his mother's heart was in the right place. Diedra's might be as well, but she wasn't his responsibility.
    She was right, though. The rash didn't seem as bad now.
    As soon as the spots were gone, he'd make good his escape. If he was really careful, maybe he'd never set eyes on her again. And if he did, he'd run as fast as he could in the other direction.
    If absolutely necessary, perhaps the Peace Corps could be a viable option for him, too. After all, it had kept her far away from him for a very sane and uneventful two years. He dismissed the small guilt pang at having sent her their way. The Corps probably needed a good attorney to deal with all the mishaps Diedra left behind.
    When she'd nearly made him miss Jeff's wedding, all because of some damn fool joke with her car, he'd sworn to avoid her like the plague. Perhaps, he admitted for the first time, it had been an accident, as she'd claimed. However, that didn't change the results. He should never have agreed to see her today. It wasn't safe. She wasn't safe.
    He watched her work on the spots. Her golden gaze brushed over his skin, warming him, as though he were sitting out in the sun gathering rays. Her lips were slightly pursed, as if waiting for him to kiss her, and he was tempted to pull her closer to do just that.
    Good grief. What had come over him? It must be the after-effects of that herbal poison he'd so stupidly allowed her to put on his leg. "Aren't you done yet?"
    "Almost." She blinked at him, a different kind of blink, involving a quick flutter of lashes, a blink so fast it was over almost before it started. "Just a minute longer."
    He decided to look anywhere other than at her. His gaze fixed on the cat, who'd let him know in no uncertain terms that this shop and this woman belonged to him. The cat could have them.
    Interesting that the cat's coat shone with the same gold as Diedra's hair. They moved with the same slow, feline grace. They even blinked at him in the same manner. Identical gold eyes were hypnotizing him. They probably helped the cat catch its prey.
    His gaze shot to Diedra's face.
    She didn't think of him as prey, did she?
    He was being ridiculous. She wanted his help, that was all. Well, if he helped her, maybe that would help him get rid of her faster. What Jeff didn't know about the scheme wouldn't hurt him.
    "There." She took two nervous steps back.
    Not a good sign. "The spots are gone?"
    She nodded, and he headed back to the mirror. Not that he didn't trust her, but... One glance at his image and he verified that he looked as good as new, except his head probably sported new gray hair. Now, if he could just make good his escape.
    "I've been thinking about it, Diedra."
    She looked at him expectantly. Was that hope in her eyes?
    She seemed fragile and he felt like a heel. "I'd like to hear your plan."
    "I thought we could lock them into a closet or something." Diedra concentrated on folding a crease in her skirt, almost like she deliberately avoided looking him in the eye. "If they just sit down and talk, I'm sure they could work things out."
    Alec shook his head. "That would never work. Jeff would spend all his time on an escape plan rather than doing any serious