Read Online Hill Country Hero by Ann DeFee - Free Book Online

the sound of a creaking headboard and a pillow being fluffed up. “It’s Jake Culpepper.”
    “And?”
    “I’m confused. He’s irritating as all heck and he’s the last thing I need, but I’m still tempted to throw him down and ravage him.”
    Mac giggled, then chuckled and finally broke into a hearty laugh. “ Ravage him?”
    “That’s it. I’m not calling you again.” CiCi was about to punch off.
    “Hey, silly. Don’t hang up, please. I’m sorry. But you have to admit it’s funny. Miss I’m Going to Be Celibate the Rest of My Life is discussing ravaging someone.”
    “It’s not that funny.” CiCi wanted to pout, but couldn’t quite manage it.
    “Oh, but it is. And what’s wrong with being attracted to a handsome man? Is he nice?”
    “Yeah, he is,” CiCi admitted, then immediately wanted to change the subject. Which was ridiculous since she’d called Mac specifically to get some advice on what to do about Jake. “Did I tell you that we floated down to the river dam for a picnic?”
    “I love that place,” Mac said. “And then what happened?” She was definitely grinning.
    “We divided up the campers and played tag football.” This conversation was making CiCi hungry. She rummaged through her small refrigerator, looking for a snack. A can of Mountain Dew, a carton of strawberry yogurt and half of a leftover sandwich—nope nothing looked appealing.
    “Did his team win?” Mac asked. Now that she was awake, that girl could talk for hours.
    “Yes, darn it. But the only reason was he had a five-foot-nothing blond cheerleader who could probably kick for the pros. She made the winning field goal.” CiCi finally settled for a glass of ice water. She made a mental note to raid the downstairs kitchen later.
    “He’s single, isn’t he?” Mac was good at getting to the heart of the matter.
    “I’m pretty sure he is, but I’d bet my trust fund that he has his own little harem of female fans.”
    Mac was quiet for a few seconds before conceding the is sue. “I’ve heard a couple of rumors but I don’t know ifthey’re true.” Like CiCi, she was intimately familiar with the problem of groupies. Her extremely handsome pro quarterback ex-husband had had women following him as if he was the Pied Piper.
    “Why don’t you give him a chance?” Mac asked. “What could it hurt? All you have to do is be nice and see what happens. You certainly don’t have to marry him.”
    Her sister was right. Even if they never dated, they had to get along or this was going to be the longest month ever. As long as she could keep her attraction under wraps, everything would be okay.
     
    C I C I WASN’T the only person with insomnia. Jake swatted a mosquito and uttered vile curses, all related to Texas Bob’s parentage. He’d kill for a cold beer and a hot shower. Instead he had a lumpy cot and rain-forest humidity. Plus the damned bullfrogs never shut up. The air-conditioned lodge with its working shower was sounding more and more like heaven. He hadn’t been this miserable since middle school, when he’d had to share a bunk bed with Dwayne.
    A drop of sweat rolled down his chest and nestled in the center of his belly button, quickly followed by a second. Would Ms. Hurst bust his chops if he went skinny-dipping? Probably. She was undoubtedly sitting up there in her air-conditioned splendor, plotting ways to zing him.
    The familiar low rumble of a truck engine interrupted his mental diatribe. He jumped out of bed and into his jeans and a T-shirt, not bothering to zip his pants. Swear to God if those juvies broke the ignition on his Ram, he’d kill them with his bare hands. Without pausing for shoes, Jake roared out the door and sprinted toward the parking lot.
    Sure enough, the little morons were trying to steal his truck. Rondelle was in the driver’s seat and his cohorts in crime, Javier and Schultz, were about to hop in—that is untilJake grabbed them and held them up like a couple of fish on a