Read Online A Texas Chance by Jean Brashear - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jean Brashear
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he hastened to agree. “I mean, yeah, only a fling, definitely. I’ll be gone soon and I don’t do long-term.”
“Neither do I.”
“Well, good.” He frowned. Somehow the sentiment sounded vaguely insulting coming from her. It was exactly what he wanted, of course, but…the woman gave him a headache.
“I still like a nice, clean bet,” he complained.
“Too bad. I don’t have one single dime to spare,” she said, and started to walk away.
“There are other things to wager besides money,” he called after her. Then he noticed a couple of workmen grinning at them.
And Queenie’s back going ramrod straight.
“Oh, hell.” He was usually smoother than this. Maybe not Zane-smooth, but he could hold his own.
Cade slapped his cap on his head and shoved his hands back in his work gloves. Women were so blasted much trouble. And what man understood them, anyway?
Before he went back to the weeds, though, he turned to watch her walk away. Damned if that woman didn’t have a body on her.
Unfortunately a razor-sharp mind and endless supply of stubbornness were part of the package.
He’d finish up, then go check on their dog.
Who’d probably be a lot happier to see him.
As he bent to rip out a root, he realized he’d already won one battle with her—she’d tacitly agreed to let him continue working today. It was only a matter of time before he won the war.
S HE SHOULDN ’ T BE USING so much water since every penny counted, but oh, how good the hot shower felt on her abused muscles. Sophie let the water beat down on her shoulders, tilting her head this way and that to ease the strain of too much time spent beneath the dining room table applying tung oil.
The area she was calling the gathering room was going to be gorgeous, an open space where a large area of comfy sofas and chairs flowed into the dining area, where the guests would be treated to breakfasts they would never forget. The spread would bear no resemblance to the sad, standardized fare most chains had no choice but to utilize. Hers would continue the theme of home away from home, featuring a full country breakfast prepared to order—not one warming tray in sight—or for those who wanted lighter fare, she’d have seasonal fruits chosen each day for their freshness, hot breads made that very morning, coffee from beans ground as each pot was prepared and special teas made locally by a woman who was even now creating a Hotel Serenity blend.
The dining room had an outside wall with three seven-foot-tall windows that rose from floor level, designed so that a person could walk right through. Those opened onto a section of the deep porch, and guests could dine there, as well. But inside or out, all would have a view of the pergola she’d decided would perfectly complement the cutting garden. Beneath the pergola, as well as scattered along the deep porch, would be willow furniture with thick, sink-into-me cushions.
She was determined to give her guests the full experience of a gracious old home, but with casual comfort and modern conveniences. Though finding space to accommodate everything required for abundant hot water, ample wiring and energy-efficient air-conditioning hadn’t been easy to do while maintaining the look of one hundred fifty years of history.
She had to marvel at how on earth people had survived living in Central Texas before air-conditioning. Sophie tried to imagine wearing a long skirt, long sleeves and petticoats in this heat. Or high-collared shirts with cravats.
Luckily, because Cade had accomplished so much outside, she’d been freed up to go indoors to finish oiling the table. Cade. She’d accepted his help on the grounds today because he seemed to need the activity and Jenna was so worried about him. It was only for one day, though.
She shut off the water and stepped from the shower, deeply grateful for the ceiling fan whirring overhead.
She glanced at the clock. Did she still have time to make it to the vet’s?
“Neither do I.”
“Well, good.” He frowned. Somehow the sentiment sounded vaguely insulting coming from her. It was exactly what he wanted, of course, but…the woman gave him a headache.
“I still like a nice, clean bet,” he complained.
“Too bad. I don’t have one single dime to spare,” she said, and started to walk away.
“There are other things to wager besides money,” he called after her. Then he noticed a couple of workmen grinning at them.
And Queenie’s back going ramrod straight.
“Oh, hell.” He was usually smoother than this. Maybe not Zane-smooth, but he could hold his own.
Cade slapped his cap on his head and shoved his hands back in his work gloves. Women were so blasted much trouble. And what man understood them, anyway?
Before he went back to the weeds, though, he turned to watch her walk away. Damned if that woman didn’t have a body on her.
Unfortunately a razor-sharp mind and endless supply of stubbornness were part of the package.
He’d finish up, then go check on their dog.
Who’d probably be a lot happier to see him.
As he bent to rip out a root, he realized he’d already won one battle with her—she’d tacitly agreed to let him continue working today. It was only a matter of time before he won the war.
S HE SHOULDN ’ T BE USING so much water since every penny counted, but oh, how good the hot shower felt on her abused muscles. Sophie let the water beat down on her shoulders, tilting her head this way and that to ease the strain of too much time spent beneath the dining room table applying tung oil.
The area she was calling the gathering room was going to be gorgeous, an open space where a large area of comfy sofas and chairs flowed into the dining area, where the guests would be treated to breakfasts they would never forget. The spread would bear no resemblance to the sad, standardized fare most chains had no choice but to utilize. Hers would continue the theme of home away from home, featuring a full country breakfast prepared to order—not one warming tray in sight—or for those who wanted lighter fare, she’d have seasonal fruits chosen each day for their freshness, hot breads made that very morning, coffee from beans ground as each pot was prepared and special teas made locally by a woman who was even now creating a Hotel Serenity blend.
The dining room had an outside wall with three seven-foot-tall windows that rose from floor level, designed so that a person could walk right through. Those opened onto a section of the deep porch, and guests could dine there, as well. But inside or out, all would have a view of the pergola she’d decided would perfectly complement the cutting garden. Beneath the pergola, as well as scattered along the deep porch, would be willow furniture with thick, sink-into-me cushions.
She was determined to give her guests the full experience of a gracious old home, but with casual comfort and modern conveniences. Though finding space to accommodate everything required for abundant hot water, ample wiring and energy-efficient air-conditioning hadn’t been easy to do while maintaining the look of one hundred fifty years of history.
She had to marvel at how on earth people had survived living in Central Texas before air-conditioning. Sophie tried to imagine wearing a long skirt, long sleeves and petticoats in this heat. Or high-collared shirts with cravats.
Luckily, because Cade had accomplished so much outside, she’d been freed up to go indoors to finish oiling the table. Cade. She’d accepted his help on the grounds today because he seemed to need the activity and Jenna was so worried about him. It was only for one day, though.
She shut off the water and stepped from the shower, deeply grateful for the ceiling fan whirring overhead.
She glanced at the clock. Did she still have time to make it to the vet’s?
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