Read Online A Texas Chance by Jean Brashear - Free Book Online

had to learn to. “I’ve taken thousands of pictures no one has seen.”
    “That sounds like it could take a while.”
    “Then give me the tour, talk to me about what you have in mind and I’ll cull through the files on my own, since time is not exactly your ally right now.” He hesitated. “Though you do get that artists don’t much like their work being chosen because the colors match the room, right?”
    “Cade, I told you I don’t need your photographs. I don’t want your photographs. And I don’t want you here. You’ve got to go. Now.”
    He really should stop for the day, anyway, but she got his back up ordering him around. He wanted to be useful. Needed to. Weird and unusual as the word need was for him to use or feel. “Look.” He exhaled in a gust. “We both care about Jenna, right?”
    She nodded cautiously.
    “And Jenna has her heart set on us working together.” An idea hit him, and he shook his head. “I don’t know why it took me this long to realize that if she’s been playing me on your account, telling me this sob story, she’s probably also drafted you to help out poor Cade who nearly died. Am I right?”
    Sophie looked distinctly uncomfortable but said nothing.
    He slapped his cap against his thigh. “That little…” He couldn’t help but laugh. “I should have seen it coming a mile away. I mean, Zane and Jesse and I had a bet going that she was up to something, but I just thought she was…” His voice trailed off as caution reared its head. “Never mind.”
    “You just thought what?”
    “Nope. Not sticking that foot in my mouth.”
    She studied him for a long minute. Then her face cleared and her mouth curved. “You thought she was setting us up. As a couple, I mean.” She shook her head slowly. “Oh, Jenna…”
    He shouldn’t feel so insulted. “Is it so incomprehensible? I mean, you’re gorgeous and I…well, I don’t clean up so bad.”
    “You think I’m gorgeous?”
    He scanned her head to toe and back up. “I may have been injured, but my eyes weren’t.”
    Her cheeks went red. “I’ll have to consider that,” she said.
    “Consider what? Whether you’re interested?”
    It was her turn for the slow once-over. But she remained silent.
    “You’re interested, all right.” He nodded in satisfaction. “And so am I.”
    “It couldn’t go anywhere.”
    “Who says it needs to?” Cade wasn’t accustomed to talking women into wanting him. “Or is it that you think I can’t pass muster, Queenie?” His grin widened. “I could have you boneless in my bed, so sexually satisfied you might not move for a very long time.”
    One dark eyebrow arched. “Oh, really? Well, maybe I would have you begging first.”
    “Oh, babe.” He hadn’t been with anyone since his fall, and he was just now realizing how long that had been. “You are on.” Sex wouldn’t fix his problems, but it could sure take his mind off them.
    “On for what?”
    He stuck out a hand. “How about a bet?”
    “Bet?”
    “A friendly wager. Let’s see who caves first.”
    She looked intrigued, but then she shook her head. “I don’t have time to fool around right now, Cade.”
    “Honey, everyone has time for great sex. It’ll recharge your batteries. You’ll sleep better. And you’ve got an extra set of hands here now. Hell, I’ll call in my brothers if need be.”
    Her eyes went wide. “Your brothers would come work on my hotel for the sake of your sex life?”
    He gaped. “I didn’t mean… I wasn’t saying…” He shut up. Hell, the family was so concerned about him, they actually might do such a thing. But hell would freeze over before he’d get within a mile of that topic.
    “Save your bet, Casanova. If we have sex, it will be with full understanding that no emotions are involved, that it’s just a fling. And it will be at the time and place of my choosing.”
    He laughed out loud. “Oh, Queenie…” His grin widened. “Honey, you just keep thinking that.” But