Texas Haven Read Online Free

after the disaster in New York. Jeffrey and Lisa’s betrayal had shattered her. In the end, she gave him the benefit of the doubt and hopped into her rental, heading for his house.
    Burke’s house was certainly big and Annie found it charming. It looked similar to the smaller farmhouse she had seen earlier but on a much grander scale. She smiled in delight as she studied it. It needed a coat of paint, but otherwise it seemed well-maintained, well-loved. This house also had a wraparound porch lined in front with roses, well-tended roses. She walked to the front door with butterflies in her stomach, but she also felt a lightness of spirit. She had a good feeling about the evening.
    Burke opened the door, smiling at her. “Welcome, I’m glad you’re here,” he said softly and ushered her inside.
    The kitten from before rushed to her, and she picked it up, rubbing her cheek against its soft fur.
    He led her into the kitchen, but not before Annie saw the massive fireplace in the family room.
    How beautiful . She could almost picture herself curled up on the leather couch in front of a roaring fire on a winter’s day. The wood floors and exposed beams added more rustic charm. From what she could see, it looked very masculine, not a curtain or knickknack in sight. It surprised her considering he was married until recently.
    If the family room made her want to curl up and be comfortable, then the kitchen made her want to twirl around in a circle. It looked enthralling with huge windows and it had to be the biggest kitchen she’d ever seen! The wooden cabinets, counters, and floors showed signs of great wear that Annie knew showed the love of the generations of Dawsons. The warmth of family in this room made her wistful for things she never had. Things she probably would never have.
    “I know it’s not much,” he started. “I guess I haven’t replaced anything since my father died.”
    “Oh!” exclaimed Annie. “This is wonderful! I mean I just love this house. The kitchen is magnificent!”
    The cat began to struggle in her arms. “What did you name him?” Annie put the kitten down.
    “The cat? It’s a she and her name is Cat.”
    “Why Cat? How about Betsy or Polly?”
    Burke looked at her in horror. “A man does not name his cat Betsy and definitely not Polly. Cat is as good as it gets.”
    Annie held back a laugh. It must be a Texas thing , she thought.
    He opened the fridge grabbed two beers and offered her one. Annie noted how he intensely observed her.
    Accepting the beer, she noticed that he didn’t offer her a glass. It was obvious by his hooded gaze that he did it on purpose. Did he expect her to be too prissy to drink beer straight out of the bottle? Well, she would show him. Pointedly looking at him, she took a nice long swig of beer. By the surprised look on his face, she surmised that she had just passed his unspoken challenge.
    Burke looked a bit flustered by her perusal of him. Scowling he led her and Cat to the back yard where he had dinner all ready to go.
    Burke set delicious looking steaks on the table. Annie shrieked as Cat suddenly took one of the big steaks in its tiny mouth and took off, leading her on a merry chase.
    “Don’t just stand there! Help me.”
    “Here, kitty,” Burke called.
    Annie laughed. “Like that’s going to work.”
    Burke squatted down and called for the kitten once again and to Annie’s amazement Cat went right to him, steak and all. “That was almost as much fun as watching a greenhorn trying to lasso a calf. Guess we’ll just have to share the other steak.” Burke petted Cat. He cut her a small piece and threw the rest out.
    Annie felt enchanted. For all the show of not liking cats, Burke seemed attached to this one. If only he had given her a better name.
    After a delicious dinner of steak, potatoes, and homemade biscuits, they sat on the porch swing in the front of the house. The night had cooled pleasantly with a refreshing breeze blowing the prairie