Read Online Texas Temptation by Bárbara McCauley - Free Book Online Page B

rumpled, he also looked incredibly sexy. He was pure masculinity with his bare broad chest and sleepy eyes. Her pulse responded with a resounding high-speed skip.
    Stop it, she told herself. Don’t set yourself up for another fall.
    She sat stiffly, combing the hair away from her face as she struggled to gain some semblance of control. “Are you going to just torture me with that coffee,” she said, staring at the cup in his hand, “or are you going to share?”
    After the night he’d had, a little torture would be fair measure, Jared thought as he extended the cup toward her. His bed had looked like a war zone this morning. The image of her soft slender body so close, with only a wall separating them, had driven him crazy. He’d lost count of the times he’d sat on the edge of his mattress, arguing with himself about dragging Annie into his bedroom with him. One time he’d even made it to the door before he came to his senses.
    Needless to say, he hadn’t exactly woken up cheerful.
    Her fingers closed over his as she reached for the coffee, and he felt that same wild need, that same jolt of electricity that shot through him every time she touched him. His hand tightened on the cup, and he slowly lifted his gaze to hers.
    Her eyes were smoky, heavy with a passion he’d only dreamed about. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips moist and inviting. He knew they’d be warm and soft under his own.
    There was no past at this moment, no future. Just a man and a woman where time had ceased to intrude.
    â€œAnnie.”
    His voice was no more than a ragged whisper, a plea. He set down the coffee cup and started to reach for her—
    Someone knocked at the front door. Loudly.
    â€œJared! Wake up, you lazy bum. Your baby sister’s here!”
    He closed his eyes and swore heatedly. Of all the lousy timing! An expression of sheer panic flashed across Annie’s face. She grabbed for the blanket in a knee-jerk reaction.
    Jessica Stone burst through the front door, her arms filled with department-store bags. She stopped abruptly as she took in Annie and Jared.
    â€œOops.” She started to turn, mumbling an apology, then quickly spun back around, her eyes widening. “Annie?” she whispered. “Annie Bailey?”
    Annie couldn’t help but smile at Jessica. They hadn’t seen each other in almost four years, but Jared’s sister looked the same, although maybe more beautiful. With her dark shining hair and blue eyes, she was a Stone sibling through and through.
    What must she think! Annie thought as she bit back a groan. The last time Jessica had seen her, Annie was engaged to Jonathan. Now here she was, with Jared, after obviously spending the night in his trailer.
    What else could she think?
    Jared jumped up and stepped away, shoving his hands into his pockets. Good Lord, the way both she and Jared were acting, who wouldn’t think something was going on?
    With a laugh, Jessica dropped her bags, then bounced on the couch beside Annie and threw her arms around her. “Annie! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? When did you get here? How long are you staying?” Before she could even answer, Jessica hugged her again. “Oh, it’s so good to see you!”
    Warmed by Jessica’s welcome but speechless, Annie sent an imploring look to Jared.
    â€œArloco Oil has agreed to back me,” Jared said. “Annie is their geologist.”
    Jessica stared at Annie. “I’d almost forgotten. You were studying to be a geologist. Jonathan graduated a year before you.”
    Annie nodded.
    Jessica shook her head in disbelief. “And now you’re back here. Incredible.”
    â€œIncredible” didn’t begin to describe it, Jared thought. “Why did you come back early? I thought you were in San Antonio with Jake and Savannah and Emma.”
    â€œWe all got home last night, Jared. Like we were supposed to.” Jessica