The Billionaire Single Dad Read Online Free Page A

doing chores for her whenever I was around.”
    â€œSteph was your wife?” The words left Tess’s mouth in little more than a whisper.
    Carter’s T-shirt stretched taut across his shoulders as his body tensed. He leaned over the irrigation valve and paused as though taking a much needed moment. “It’s funny,” he said as he closed the valve. “It’s been almost two years, and it’s hard for me to think of her in the past tense.”
    Tess’s heart clenched. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
    â€œDon’t worry about it.” Carter straightened. When he turned to face her, the depth of sadness in his hazel eyes was so intense that Tess felt it in her gut. “Just turn the valve all the way to the right when you don’t want to flood the lawn.”
    â€œAt this point, I doubt I’ll need to water it for the rest of the summer.”
    â€œCome August, you’re going to change your tune.” Carter canted his head as he studied her. “Where’re you from, anyway?”
    Though Tess appreciated the change in topic, she still felt bad that she’d managed to sour it in the first place. “New York City,” she said.
    A rueful grin spread across his full lips, and he gave a sad shake of his head. “City girl.”
    She bucked up her chin a notch. Just because she was from the city, it didn’t make her some clueless idiot. “And where’re you from?”
    This time Carter flashed a dazzling grin that blinded her. “Dallas.”
    Tess’s mouth puckered. “Not so small town yourself. I’m getting the impression you like jerking people’s chains.”
    Carter chuckled, and the sound warmed Tess from the inside out. “Come on…?” Carter’s mouth quirked in a half smile. “I don’t think I got your name.”
    Oh good lord. Tess couldn’t help but prove she was socially defunct. “Tess Adams,” she said.
    â€œOkay, Tess. Let’s go check out the barn.”
    *   *   *
    He was a total fucking downer, wasn’t he?
    Steph was your wife? Tess’s words had speared him right through the chest. They’d been high school sweethearts. And they’d had their ups and downs—especially after Carter started playing pro ball—but he’d figured they’d gotten through the worst of it. What he hadn’t realized at the time was that the worst was yet to come.
    But it wasn’t the reminder that Steph was gone that caused the sharp pang in Carter’s chest. Rather it was the guilt that stemmed from the fact that since yesterday, he hadn’t been able to get his new neighbor out of his mind. She was beautiful, feisty, obviously patient considering she hadn’t run Jenny and Jane off her property for good. But what most intrigued him was the inner strength she exuded without even trying. As though she could take on the world singlehandedly.
    He’d come over to apologize to her because he really didn’t want to leave her with the impression that he was a raging dick. That and he’d wanted an excuse to see her again.
    â€œSo, what do you do in Dallas?” Tess asked as she slid open the heavy barn door. The structure leaned a little and the roof looked like it might need some work, but overall, it was pretty sound. “Wait, let me guess. You’re a contractor?”
    Cater laughed. It was sort of refreshing to have someone not know who he was. The Christensen’s were oil magnate royalty in Dallas social circles. And though Carter and his brothers had never had anything to do with the family business until after their father had died six months ago, his name came with a notoriety that bugged the hell out of him. As for his career as a pro-baller, unless Tess was a football fanatic, she never would have heard of him. The anonymity was sort of refreshing.
    â€œI’m not a