Only His Read Online Free

oldest of six kids, with a heartbroken mother, Ethan hadn’t had a whole lot of choices.
    Tucker opened the door to the construction office and smiled at the receptionist sitting behind the desk. “I’d like to see Nevada, please.”
    He’d arrived early enough in the morning to catch her before she headed to a job site, but still expected to be asked if he had an appointment. Instead, the receptionist pointed toward a door at the rear of the big room.
    â€œShe’s in her office.”
    â€œThanks.”
    He circled around a couple of empty desks and knocked on the open door.
    Nevada stood with her back to him, pulling out a file drawer. In the second it took her to turn, he saw she wore jeans and a T-shirt instead of the trousers and blazer from the day before. Heavy work boots added a couple of inches of height, bringing her closer to his eye level. She was tall and lean, with curves in all the right places.
    Attractive, he thought absently. Sexy. And she’dprobably been back in college. Not that he would have noticed. Being around Cat had been like looking at the sun—he couldn’t see anything else. Life would have been a whole lot easier if he’d fallen for someone normal like Nevada instead of Cat.
    As Nevada spun to face him, he noticed she wasn’t wearing much in the way of makeup and her face was pale.
    â€œGood morning.”
    She blinked at him. “Maybe for you.”
    Her eyes were red and looked a little puffy. Judging by the shadows underneath, he guessed she’d had a difficult night.
    â€œHangover?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
    â€œI don’t want to talk about it.”
    Had she been out drinking because of him? Well, them. He hoped he was the cause of her morning pain. If only for proof that their meeting had affected her as much as it had affected him.
    â€œWhatever you’re thinking, stop,” she told him.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œYou’re looking smug. It’s annoying. In fact, you should go away. Why are you here, anyway? Are you looking for Ethan?”
    â€œI’m looking for you.”
    She touched her forehead, as if trying to rub away pain. “I can’t imagine why.”
    â€œSure you can.”
    Despite the dark circles and her pallor, she was still appealing. He liked Nevada in jeans and a T-shirt, rather than dressed for an interview. These clothes were more like the woman he remembered.
    â€œI want a do-over,” he told her. “The interview,” he added, just in case she thought he was talking about sex. Not that he would say no to a chance to prove himself.
    â€œI have nothing left to say to you. You have my résumé. That’s enough.”
    â€œYou’re right. It is. I want to hire you as a construction manager.”
    â€œGo to hell.”
    â€œIs that an ‘I’ll think about it’?”
    â€œIt’s a go to hell. I’m not interested in being played.”
    â€œWhy would you think I’m playing you?”
    â€œYou’re only offering me the job because I said you were lousy in bed.”
    He winced, hoping her voice wouldn’t carry. “This is a project worth tens of millions of dollars. Do you think I’d risk that because of my ego?” He moved toward her. “You’re more than qualified, which is important, but as you pointed out yesterday, you’re a local. You know how things are done around here. You can help us avoid making mistakes.”
    It was a lesson he’d learned the hard way more than once. Paying attention to the seemingly foolish rituals and expectations of the locals could often mean the difference between coming in on time and on budget and blowing through all projections.
    â€œI know you’re interested,” he continued. “Otherwise you wouldn’t have bothered applying or showing up for the interview.”
    â€œIt was supposed to be with your father,” she snapped.