Not Just a Cowboy (Texas Rescue) (19 page)

“And this makes you happy?”

Patricia hoped Luke was just thick-headed. She prayed he hadn’t changed his mind about all the things he’d told her on a rented sailboat in the month of June.

“It makes me happy, because I need to pay my bills. I walked away from the trust fund. It wasn’t as easy as you made it sound. The law does want you to do something with your money, but I filed a formal declaration that I would not authorize any expenditures for the indefinite future. Any attempt by the bank to get me to do so is considered harassment.”

He put his hands on his hips as he loomed over her desk, but otherwise, he gave no indication that he was anything but a giant hunk of a firefighter statue.

“Do you know what happens to the money? Nothing. It just sits there, earning interest indefinitely.”

“Where does this leave your father?”

“He couldn’t win a job like this if he tried. He doesn’t want to work, anyway. I believe he’s moved to Houston, to mooch off some cousins there. I really don’t care. He’s never loved me.”

Luke stared down at her.

“But you did.”

Luke did not confirm this in any way.

So much for Plan A. He was supposed to be so amazed by her new independence that he’d sweep her into his arms, tell her that he loved her, and then quite possibly have sex with her in her new office.

Patricia stood and took a set of papers from her drawer. She set them on the edge closest to Luke. Plan B.

“I really do have an issue to discuss with you.” It was so easy to slip into her role as the boss. She needed to function on autopilot like this, because her heart was breaking with disappointment. “I must transfer you to the Dallas branch of Texas Rescue. As a paid employee of Texas Rescue, I can be sued for sexual harassment if I attempt to seduce any volunteer. If you’ll kindly sign these transfer papers, your reassignment will take effect immediately.”

She held out a pen. It trembled in her fingers, but there was nothing she could do about that. No way to hide it.

She looked into Luke’s blue eyes. “After you sign, I can seduce you. I’m quite determined, and I’ve planned a very long campaign. I intend to remind you of all the reasons we should be together, and none of them has anything to do with money and everything to do with—”

She finished her sentence in a yelp as Luke lunged for the pen. He dashed his name across the bottom of the paper, and practically vaulted over the desk to sweep her into his arms. He held her like she was a bride being carried over a threshold.

She was crying and laughing, both at the same time, which made it very hard to kiss. “I love you, Luke Waterson, with all the passion I have. It’s the kind that keeps a couple together, if you’ll let me prove it to you.” When she said the words, her laughter faded at their importance.

Luke took advantage of her more serious demeanor to kiss her properly. She loved every taste of him, but she finally broke off the kiss. She was the boss, and she was a Cargill, so she wanted to be sure everything was handled properly.

“I have a deal for you,” she said. “You love me for the rest of my life, and in return, I’ll love you until the day I die.” She held out her hand.

He had to set her down to shake her hand properly. “Mrs. Luke Waterson, you’ve got yourself a deal.”

* * * * *

If you enjoyed Luke and Patricia’s romance,

look for the next story in Caro Carson’s

new series for Special Edition,

TEXAS RESCUE

After long years away from the ranch that is his birthright, Trey Waterson returns for his brother Luke’s wedding—just in time to rescue Rebecca Cargill from an icy storm that cuts the ranch off from the outside world. As they share a snowbound Christmas, will the runaway heiress trust Trey with her secrets—and will Trey reveal the painful truth he’s kept hidden for so many years?

Don’t miss

A TEXAS RESCUE CHRISTMAS

by Caro Carson

On sale December 2014,

wherever Harlequin Books are sold.

Enjoy this sneak peek from
New York Times
bestselling author Diana
Palmer’s TEXAS BORN, the latest in
THE LONG, TALL TEXANS
miniseries.

Forced from her home by her cruel stepmother, Michelle
Godfrey is out of luck…until Gabriel Brandon comes to her rescue. The tall,
brooding cowboy is devilishly handsome, but he’s her guardian—and nothing more.
As Michelle grows into the woman she’s always wanted to be, can the shy beauty
show Gabriel that she’s the only one he needs?

***

J
ust for an instant, Gabriel worried about
putting Michelle in the line of fire, considering his line of work. He had
enemies. Dangerous enemies who wouldn’t hesitate to threaten anyone close to
him. Of course, there was his sister, Sara, but she’d lived in Wyoming for the
past few years, away from him, on a ranch they co-owned. Now he was putting her
in jeopardy along with Michelle.

But what could he do? The child had nobody. Now that her idiot
stepmother, Roberta, was dead, Michelle was truly on her own. It was dangerous
for a young woman to live alone, even in a small community. And there was also
the question of Roberta’s boyfriend, Bert.

Gabriel knew things about the man that he wasn’t eager to share
with Michelle. Bert was part of a criminal organization, and he knew Michelle’s
habits. He also had a yen for her, if what Michelle had blurted out to Gabriel
once was true—and he had no indication that she would lie about it. Bert might
decide to come try his luck with her now that her stepmother was out of the
picture. That couldn’t be allowed.

Gabriel was surprised by his own affection for Michelle. It
wasn’t paternal. She was, of course, far too young for anything heavy. She was a
beauty, kind and generous and sweet. She was the sort of woman he usually ran
from. No, strike that, she was no woman. She was still unfledged, a dove without
flight feathers. He had to keep his interest hidden. At least, until she was
grown up enough that it wouldn’t hurt his conscience to pursue her.
Afterward…well, who knew the future?

***
Don’t miss TEXAS BORN
by
New York Times
bestselling author Diana Palmer,
the latest installment in
THE LONG, TALL TEXANS
miniseries.

Available October 2014 wherever
Harlequin® Special Edition
books and ebooks are sold.

Copyright © 2014 by Diana Palmer

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Special Edition story.

You know that romance is for life.
Harlequin Special Edition
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ISBN-13: 9781460338759

Not Just a Cowboy

Copyright © 2014 by Caro Carson

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