Millionaire on Her Doorstep Read Online Free Page A

began to thumb through the bills inside. Across the table, Adam shook his head. “Forget the check,” he told the two of them. “I’m footing the bill.”
    His mother frowned at him. “Adam, this is a celebration of sorts because you got your cast off. Your dad and I want to treat you.”
    â€œHaving your company was treat enough.”
    Wyatt put his wallet away, then scraped back his chair and patted his nonexistent belly. “Well, I must admit this has been a good day. My son got his foot back, the company just hired the best damn geologist in the gas business, and now I’ve had a free meal to top it all off.”
    â€œWell, if Miss Mighty Dash gives me the painted colt I want, then it will be a perfect day,” Chloe added as she fished her purse from beneath the chair.
    â€œBy the way,” Wyatt said to Adam, “do you know if Ms. York has a place to stay yet?”
    â€œShe mentioned something about meeting with a real-estate agent this afternoon,” Adam told him. “I suppose for right now, she’s staying in a motel.”

    Wyatt gave his chin a thoughtful rub. “She’s taking on a major relocation to work for us. We really should invite her to stay on the ranch until she can find a more permanent place and get her things shipped up from Houston. What do you think?” He turned a questioning look on his wife.
    Chloe smiled agreeably. “We’ve had some of your other employees stay at the ranch before. As far as I’m concerned, Ms. York is certainly welcome.”
    Adam stared at the two of them in utter dismay. Normally, it wouldn’t make any difference to him who stayed on the Bar M. The ranch was his parents’ home. Adam had his own place. But this past month he’d temporarily moved back to the Bar M while a pair of carpenters renovated the inside of his house. If Maureen moved out to the Bar M, that meant he’d have to live with her, too!
    â€œYou can’t be serious! She doesn’t need to be invited to the Bar M! No way! No how! Look, I may have to work with her, but that doesn’t mean I have to be in her company round the clock!”
    â€œWhy, Adam,” Chloe scolded, taken aback by her son’s sudden outburst, “Ms. York wouldn’t necessarily be your guest. She’d be your dad’s and mine. What’s with all the uproar anyway? It’s not like you to be so petty and childish.”
    There wasn’t anything childish about the feelings Maureen York stirred up in him, and he was relieved that the shadows of the evening were settling over the restaurant’s outdoor patio; otherwise, his parents would see a blush pouring over his face.
    â€œMother, I’m not being childish. The woman... well, we just rub each other the wrong way.
Believe me, you don’t want that much friction in the house.”
    She studied him thoughtfully, and just when Adam was certain she was going to accuse him of behaving boorishly, she surprised him by saying, “All right, Adam, I’m sure your dad will agree that we don’t want to force the woman down your throat. If that’s the way you feel, we’ll let her stay in a motel and the company can reimburse her for her expenses.”
    â€œIt’s the way I feel,” he clipped.
    Chloe and Wyatt rose to their feet, thanked him for the meal and bade him good-night. By the time they started to walk away from the table, Adam felt as if he’d shrunk to the height of two inches.
    â€œWait a minute,” he called out to them.
    Both his parents paused and glanced back at him. “Was there something else you wanted to say about Ms. York?” Wyatt asked with an innocence that irked Adam.
    â€œHell, yes! I’ll invite her out to the ranch myself! But don’t be surprised if she refuses to come. I think the woman would take particular pleasure in killing me.”
    Chloe smiled sweetly at her son. “Well,