Texas Pride Read Online Free Page A

I would never sell.”
    â€œSo everything doesn’t have to be about money, does it?” Dylan asked. “There are other reasons that motivate people, aren’t there?”
    Dylan saw the suspicion in Jessica’s blue eyes. Not that he blamed her. He’d certainly be suspicious if he were in her place. He hadn’t even listed all his past experience, but since he wasn’t sure of the competition, he’d given her enough to assure him the job. He just had to convince her he was the right man.
    The problem was he wasn’t so sure anymore that he was the right man. He hadn’t been prepared for his reaction to Jessica. Even as he watched her now, with her hair loose and the top of her blouse undone, he felt a wave of overwhelming lust for her. That was all it was, of course. Lust. But it was certainly stronger than anything he’d experienced before. And it certainly would complicate matters. As she nibbled delicately on a french fry, he couldn’t stop the sweat breaking out on his skin.
    He’d have to control his more basic instincts, that was all. Jessica was off-limits. Way off-limits.
    â€œOkay, Mr. Grant,” she said, finally breaking the long silence.
    â€œDylan.”
    She nodded. “Okay, Dylan. So maybe there are other reasons that motivate people. Tell me what yours are. I think you owe me at least that much.”
    He thought about that for a moment. “Let’s just say I’ve never done anything like this before.”
    â€œAnother notch in the experience belt, huh?”
    â€œSomething like that.”
    Jessica couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from curving upward. It was hard to believe, incredible even, that a man with Dylan’s qualifications would work for the pay she offered. “Christmas is just a few weeks away. Are you going to need time off to be with your family?”
    He shook his head. “There’s no notch in my belt for family, Miss Stone. Christmas is just another day to me.”
    She couldn’t imagine anyone feeling that way about Christmas. It was her favorite holiday. The most special day of the year, as far as she was concerned. She was torn between being happy he didn’t need time off and feeling sorry for him. Dylan, however, did not appear to be a man that wanted sympathy from anyone.
    â€œAll right, then.” She met his steady gaze. “You’re hired.”
    â€œThere is one more thing.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œI need a room.”
    She nearly choked. “What!”
    â€œYour salary isn’t enough to live on. I need a place to stay.”
    What was the saying? If something was too good to be true, then it probably wasn’t? “I can’t afford that. It would cost a fortune to rent you a room here in town.”
    â€œI don’t want to stay here. I want to stay out at Makeshift, to cut down on travel time and the expense of gas. Plus, if there’s any problems, I’ll be right there.”
    It didn’t matter that everything he said made sense. It wasn’t possible. “You can’t be serious. I can’t stay out there with you, alone.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    Her cheeks flushed bright red. “Because...well, because I can’t.”
    â€œI won’t attack you, Jessica, if that’s what you’re afraid of. All I’m interested in here is a job.”
    She was glad to hear that, but nevertheless, her ego still winced at the outright rejection. “I’m most certainly not afraid. It’s just that, well, I like my privacy and...” She straightened the silverware on the table and fiddled with the napkin.
    â€œAnd your brothers will kill you?”
    She shook her head. “No. They’ll kill you most likely.”
    â€œLet me worry about your brothers. I’m sure they’re reasonable men.”
    â€œReasonable?” Jessica gave a dry laugh. “Dylan, that word