Read Online Lone Star Burn: Taken by Surprise (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Desiree Holt - Free Book Online

best coffee in town. He’d also had to listen to Dean and some of the other deputies raving abut the new rolls they were serving. He knew all about those rolls. Jessie used to bring him some, and he’d sworn they were made by an angel. Every time someone made another enthusiastic comment about the new owner of the diner, he wanted to either plug his ears or deck them.
    “Jack!”
    He snapped his brain into place as Lynne hissed his name at him.
    “What? Oh, sorry.” He lifted his wine glass and took a sip. Shit. Tonight was turning into a five-star disaster.
    “I said, what’s the deal?” She leaned forward over the table. “Do you even know I’m here?”
    “Of course I do.” He wanted to add “unfortunately” but he didn’t think that would win him any prizes. “I know I’ve been a little distracted lately, but we’ve been very busy.”
    She snorted. “With what? Jeb Raiford’s dog tearing up the neighbor’s flower beds? Larry Norton’s horse jumping the corral fence and galloping down the highway? Or maybe a spitball fight at the middle school? I know this town, remember?”
    Too true, he thought. No one could get away with a damn thing here.
    He managed to pull out a smile. “I apologize for being distracted in the presence of a beautiful woman.”
    “I’m not sure you’ve even known I’ve been present for the last three weeks.” Her lips curved in a hungry smile. “But if we could get out of here, I could make you very aware of my presence.” She ran her tongue over her lower lip. “In a very special way.”
    It was a testament to his total lack of interest in her that his cock didn’t even twitch. He thought about a story Dean had told him regarding a horse at his brother’s ranch that had been gelded. The poor horse might not have had any balls but somehow he hadn’t lost the urge. And here he was, still in full possession of his cock as well as his balls, but the way he was responding, he might as well have been gelded, too.
    Okay. He owed it to himself to get out of this funk. He and Jessie were done. Finished. Over. Kaput. And any other language he could think of. It was time to let go of his anger. If they were going to be living in the same town, he’d have to find a way to get past this.
    “You’re right.” He drained the rest of his wine. “I haven’t been much of a date lately. Or anything else. Let’s fix that.”
    Lynne’s smile was filled with satisfaction as he signaled for the check. They’d go to her house. He had never brought her to his. Somehow, it had never seemed right to him, and he didn’t plan to start now. Maybe because in the back of his mind he knew she didn’t belong there. But in her house she had a nice big bed with a great mattress. It was time to try it out again.
    But, two hours later, he had to admit this had been a bad idea. Maybe he should get a T-shirt with Limp Dick written on it because that certainly described his. Beside him, Lynne was seething.
    “You know, Jack, no one has ever questioned my skills in bed, but I must be missing a step because we’ve got nothing here.”
    “Lynne, I’m sorry—”
    “Please.” She spat the word out. “Do not insult me by apologizing. We both know the problem here, and it isn’t me. But I don’t remember the last time I was naked in bed with a good-looking man and he just could not get it up.”
    Would it be bad form if he asked her not to share his secret with the world? Oh, not just bad form but a sure way to make it happen. With a sigh, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and pushed himself to his feet. Neither of them said a word while he dressed. Finally, he turned to her and tried again to say something.
    “Lynne, I really regret—”
    “Just shut up, Jack. I mean it. Stuff it. Get out of here before I forget myself and cut off your dick. Go on.” She raised her voice. “Beat it. But don’t think if you ever get that little cook out of your system I’ll be here waiting for