Read Online Texan Undercover (Romantic Suspense) by Anne Marie Novark - Free Book Online

directed at her
anymore. Behind the counter, she grabbed two cups. She didn't feel
neglected in the least. Pouring the coffee, she looked at Dillon
seated at the computer. Yeah, right.
    After setting Dillon's drink on the table
where he worked, Claire retreated to the other side of the cafe and
curled up in one of the overstuffed chairs. From her vantage point,
she watched Dillon. He was a puzzle. He didn't trust easily. Only
because of his job, or was it personal? She never could resist
puzzles. She wanted to find out what made him tick. She could
protest all she wanted, but she could feel her defenses crumbling.
Not only because of the mind-numbing attraction, but also because
of the vulnerability she sensed in Dillon.
    Claire finished her cappuccino and nestled
deeper into the plush cushions. She would just close her eyes a
moment. One moment turned into two, then three. The busy week
caught up with her and she drifted off to sleep.
    ****
    Dillon switched off the computers and stood.
Downloading the files had taken longer than he'd anticipated. He
rubbed the back of his neck, stretched and wondered where Claire
was. He hadn't seen her since she'd brought him his drink.
    He gathered the disks and tossed his coffee
cup in the trash. Heading toward Claire's office, he looked across
the cafe and saw her. Asleep. Something shifted inside him.
    Gone was the businesswoman he was accustomed
to seeing. At work, Claire always dressed neatly--elegant and
professional. Every hair in place, make-up just so. She still
looked neat, but with her hair in a ponytail and her face free from
make-up, she looked impossibly young. Her skin was creamy and
smooth. Her lips full and inviting. He wanted to taste her
again.
    Earlier, when she'd opened the door at her
condo, a bomb had detonated low in his stomach. He had never seen
Claire rumpled and casual. Fresh from a shower, a damp towel on her
head with tendrils of hair escaping and framing her face. No
make-up, bare feet, her toes painted a sexy red. He'd wanted to
kiss every one of them.
    The ragged football jersey had teased his
imagination. What was underneath? A lacy bra or no bra at all? He'd
hustled her out of the room, before he'd grabbed her and jerked up
the shirt to find out. He longed to caress her, feel her breasts in
his hands and his mouth. Since Monday night, that's all he could
think about. Kissing Claire. Touching Claire.
    Yeah, he'd changed his tune all right. He
wanted Claire and intended to have her.
    Dillon started across the cafe toward the
lounge area. He wanted to wake Claire with his kisses. See her
brown eyes shine with desire for him. Damn, he was getting hard
just thinking about it.
    The more Dillon saw of Claire, the more his
first impression changed. She was good with her employees and she
was good with her customers, too. No holding herself aloof or
staying locked in her office all the time. Claire mingled with the
students and other customers, offering help when needed. It hadn't
taken long to figure out she wasn't a snooty high society
bitch.
    And that made her fair game.
    Dillon still didn't trust Claire and he
wasn't looking for a relationship. He just wanted to sleep with
her. Like he'd said, he was in Austin temporarily. It was the
perfect setup. They could explore the attraction, enjoy each other.
And he'd be the one doing the leaving, not her.
    Surprisingly, Brozek's advice about asking
the lady out held merit. So, Dillon had asked Claire to dinner.
Okay, maybe coerced was a better word. The lady in question was
wary around him. Didn't trust him, either. He'd have to work on
that.
    In Claire's background check, he found out
she'd been married and divorced. Dillon had run a check on the
ex-husband. The Hamiltons of Boston were rich, elite and powerful.
Claire must have been burned by the bastard. That was probably the
reason behind her wariness.
    Had Claire come to Texas to get away from
Bennett Hamilton and his family? She'd obviously cut all ties,