Read Online Tying You Down by Cheyenne McCray - Free Book Online Page B

staring at me?”
    His lips twitched with amusement. “You’re so damned gorgeous. How could any man not be looking at you?” He glanced up and swept his gaze around the table before turning his gaze to her again. “These guys don’t count since they all have beautiful women they’re in love with.”
    If it was anyone other than Tate who was complimenting her, she might wonder at his motives. She’d been used too many times to trust men easily. But Tate was so genuine and he said things in a way that made her feel good.
    “I mean every word I say,” he added with an intense expression as if he’d read her mind.
    “I know,” she said quietly. “Thank you.”
    He squeezed her hand beneath the table. His touch and the sexiness of his smile caused wild flutters in her belly.
    Jo loved how in this family, the men shooed the women out of the kitchen when it came time to clean.
    “You women-folk did all of the work cooking so you can relax while we men clean up,” Bull said before kissing Del and swatting her on the bottom.
    While the men cleaned everything, Del showed Jo their collection of fine western oil paintings and pencil drawings at Jo’s request. She also looked over the family portraits and smiled as memories returned when she saw pictures of the McBride boys when they were young.
    There were many pictures that had been taken of them during the time she’d lived back East, showing the young men that they had grown up to be. Creed riding a bull, Tate lassoing a steer, Ryan working with 4-H kids, Blake riding a horse, Gage working on a pump in his drilling business. There were wedding pictures, too, including Bull and Del’s wedding.
    “This one is probably my favorite.” Del smiled as she picked up a photo of the seven of them—the five boys, Bull, and Del. The expressions the boys wore reflected their personalities, and Del looked like the proud mother and happy woman that she was.
    She set the photograph down and smiled at Jo. “Tate had a thing for you when you were young. Looks like he still does.”
    Jo wasn’t sure what to say but she smiled. “He’s a good guy.”
    So she was admitting it to herself and to others. Dangerous territory, Jo, she warned herself. Dangerous territory.
    Being with this group made her feel at home and loved. All she’d had was Charlee all of these years, and the thought of having a larger family who cared for her was almost heady.
    The evening stretched on with a lot of joking and kidding around, something that Jo had remembered from years ago. The youngest of the McBride brothers, Creed, was given hell as a huge birthday cake was brought to the table with candles flickering in the dimmed light of the dining room. On the center of the cake was a bull and its rider made out of frosting.
    After Creed blew out the candles, Del rubbed her son’s shoulder. “Here’s to your last year on the circuit.”
    “Thank God,” Danica said from Creed’s other side, a smile tipping the corner of her mouth. “I just about have a heart attack every time Creed rides.”
    “Need to settle down and get busy making us some grandkids to spoil.” Bull’s gaze went around the table. “You all do.”
    There was grinning and laughter around the table and Tate winked at Jo. She flushed, heat traveling through her body. After what she’d put her body through with her anorexia, the doctors didn’t even know that she could have children. Not that she should even be thinking of that right now. Sheesh, it was only her second time out with Tate, and it wasn’t even a planned date.
    “Are you going to Phoenix next weekend for Creed’s next event?” Del asked Jo.
    Jo blinked. “I—”
    “I haven’t had a chance to ask her.” Tate settled his arm around Jo’s shoulders as he turned to her. “I planned to when I took you home tonight.”
    Jo looked from Tate to Del and back. She’d been thrown off guard, but the idea intrigued her. “I’ve been trying to find time to visit my