Read Online Texas Haven by Kathleen Ball - Free Book Online Page B

asleep.
    A few hours later, Annie awoke crying out in pain. She sat up in the darkness and wondered how long she’d been sleeping. At least she’d learned her lesson about the hot Texas sun. She got out of bed making the least possible movements and gingerly went downstairs. She was hungry, and she needed more aloe. Aloe first, she decided, definitely aloe first. Walking into the kitchen, she noticed the dirty dish in the sink. He’d come home after all. Annie tried to tell herself to buck up, that it didn’t matter what he did. Nevertheless, deep inside her, she was both glad and very nervous. She knew she wasn’t in any condition to spar with him tonight.
    She grabbed the bottle of aloe and jumped when she felt Burke’s big hand take it from her. She turned in surprise ready to face him down. The look of concern on his face surprised her. He took her small hand in his and led her to the family room. Without a word, he sat her down and removed her shirt. She had taken her bra off earlier because the straps irritated her burn. Slowly he covered her arms and shoulders with the aloe. He even got the back of her neck and part of her back that she couldn’t reach earlier. His touch was tender, not sexual in any way. Annie had a hard time trying to reconcile this Burke with the one who had been so annoyed earlier over a little mistake. She was glad for the truce though.
    They sat in silence. What was there to say? She’d already apologized about the garden and she’d be damned if she would again. He needed to be more understanding. Didn’t he know that this was all new to her? Couldn’t he see that she was trying? Hell, he never even mentioned how good the house looked or how much the floors shone.
    Same story, different locale. She’d wasted her efforts once again. It would be so much easier if she didn’t feel so attracted to him.
    “Darlin’ you’re going to be in a world of hurt in the next few days,” he commiserated.
    Annie took a deep breath and turned her head to look at him. “I already am,” she said, with a halfhearted smile.
    “If you weren’t in pain I’d take you in my arms and hold you. I’m sorry about earlier. You don’t deserve my anger. In fact now that I think about it, it’s actually kind of funny that you don’t know a weed from a plant,” he said sincerely.
    Annie groaned. “I was just trying to show you what a wonderful wife you married and I failed miserably.”
    Burke kissed the top of her head. “As soon as I can touch you without hurting you I’ll show you just how little of a failure you are.”
    Annie looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
    Burke laughed at her confusion. “Honey, last night was the best in my life. We are as explosive in bed as we seem to be out of it. I’m determined to keep the fireworks in the bedroom from now on.”
    “So last night was good?”
    “Why, you didn’t think so? I thought you enjoyed it, Annie.”
    Annie looked away. “I thought it was fine.”
    “Fine? What’s that supposed to mean? I thought it was better than fine.”
    She studied him. “Are you being honest? I was good? I need you to be honest. I know it was my first time and I didn’t know what to do, yet again.”
    Burke carefully kissed her cheek. “I said it was the best and I meant it.”
    Annie relaxed. A glow emanated from her at his praise. It made her ecstatic to know that she had brought him as much pleasure as he had brought her. It made her wish for a brief moment that she could shove Burke’s words down Jeffrey’s throat. She wondered why she even thought of that creep anymore, but his words had really shattered her. Now she knew he could never hurt her again. She was a passionate pleasing woman who enjoyed sleeping with her husband.
    That night when they went to bed neither touched each other. Annie knew that Burke was afraid to hurt her sunburn and she was glad for his consideration. Even Cat slept at the bottom of the bed instead of on Annie’s pillow.