Read Online Crazy for Lovin’ You by Teresa Southwick - Free Book Online

wanted to set up his base of operation. What irked him was that seeing Taylor and Dev together had done it.
    â€œThere’s something else. And it could be a deal-breaker,” he said, putting his hands at her waist.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe championships will be at your ranch. But so will I.”

Chapter Four
    M itch watched Taylor’s face. One thing that hadn’t changed was her inability to hide what she was thinking. And right now it was a good bet she was wondering whether to say “Thank God” or “Good God.” Her eyes grew wide and her full lips parted slightly in a puzzled frown.
    His hands were still at her waist. She looked down at them, then met his gaze. Instantly he released her and they both backed up a step. He wished she would say something, anything to give him a clue about whether or not she was upset. She lifted her hat and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before settling it again.
    â€œI have to run it by the board of directors, but that’s just a formality,” he said.
    â€œYou mean about staying at the ranch?”
    â€œNo, holding the rodeo there. But I’ll be there, too,” he added.
    â€œIf the event is on my ranch, then it stands to reasonthat you’ll be there. Where else would the commissioner be?”
    He shook his head. “No. I mean I’m moving in beforehand to co-ordinate everything.”
    â€œFine.” She fiddled with the collar of her denim shirt.
    When he followed the nervous movement, he noticed the pulse in her neck fluttering wildly. “I think it’s necessary.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œI have a business to run in addition to everything involved in putting on a rodeo. I need a space to work in that has what I need. The Destiny motel doesn’t cut it.”
    â€œI understand.”
    â€œYou have a phone, I assume?”
    â€œYeah. I figured it was time to join the twenty-first century, bite the bullet and put in one of those new-fangled contraptions,” she said wryly.
    Her sarcasm didn’t faze him. He just smiled. “Do you have a computer and a fax?”
    She grinned right back as she nodded. “The bright young fella at the electronics store talked me into the whole nine yards when I got the phone.”
    â€œWell, little lady,” he said, mimicking her tone, “looks to me like you’ve got everything I need.”
    He couldn’t help lowering his gaze from her face, to that traitorous pounding pulse in her neck, down to her chest, waist, jean-clad legs, and scuffed brown boots. By the time he looked in her eyes again, something as dangerous as a sizzling fuse attached to a stick of dynamite was churning in his gut, sending a wave of excitement coursing through him. He almost wished she would tell him her ranch was off-limits. Almost.
    â€œTime is short, Taylor,” he said, all business. “I’ve got a lot to do in four weeks. I need to secure equipment and supplies. Someone will have to take deliveries. Meet vendors. I’m guessing that running a working ranch in addition to finalizing plans for your dude ranch grand opening will keep you too busy to do that.”
    â€œOkay, but—”
    He rested his hands on lean hips. “Not only that, there’s your whole dude ranch thing.”
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œYou want publicity, right?”
    â€œThat’s the idea,” she said.
    â€œYou want an endorsement from someone well-known, shall we say?”
    â€œRight again,” she answered.
    â€œThat well-known someone can’t recommend something he knows nothing about.”
    â€œMakes sense,” she said.
    He shifted his boots in the dirt. “If you want a genuine, no-holds-barred, positive come-on-down to the Circle S, I need to experience it firsthand.”
    â€œI wouldn’t have it any other way.”
    He shook his head. “There’s a lot of work to do to get the rodeo up and running