A Long Tall Texan Summer: Tom Walker Read Free Page A

whose wife had divorced him to marry someone richer, just when he was diagnosed
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html with cancer. They'd both been deserted
    by the people they loved most. Marriage had been a sensible solution. He wouldn't have to die alone, and her child would have a name.
    The thought of telling Tom Walker about his daughter had never occurred to her. His cold avoidance of Elysia after they were intimate
    had told her all she needed to know. He no longer wanted her. Certainly he wouldn't want a child.
    She went into the insurance office to pay her bill without a backward glance. Their time was over, before
    it even began. He would never have to know about Crissy, anyway. And if he could bear to live here with the constant
    sight of her to remind him of the past, she could endure it as well. She was a successful
    businesswoman with rich clients at her exclusive fashion boutique that shipped couture and
    locally designed garments all over the world. She had a wonderful child and a bright future. She didn't need Tom Walker to complete

    her life, even if the sight of him had knocked the breath out of her all over again. She'd just have to exercise some strong self-control, that was all. Because judging by his behavior, he hadn't missed her. She wished that she could have said the same.
    Tom sat down behind his desk, shaken. Elysia
    looked as lovely to his eyes as she ever had. She was
    more mature, much more desirable.
    He felt ashamed all over again. She'd married and had a child. He couldn't have had much of a place in her heart after what he'd done. He wished things had gone differently for them. If he'd been able to communicate, a little less proud about his past, a little more open
    with her, who knew what might have happened. But he'd let his chance for happiness slip right by him.
    He'd given her the idea that he found her easy and undesirable after one night. How could he blame her for being bitter?
    The phone rang. He picked it up. It was a potential client. He put on his best business manner and forced the thought of Elysia to the back of his mind for the moment.
    It was inevitable that he was going to run into the Craigs sooner or later. As it happened, it was Luke he saw first, and he had Elysia's daughter with him.
    Tom stopped dead at the sight of the child. There was something about her that reminded him vividly of his sister, Kate. The child had olive skin and light green eyes. Her hair was long and straight and jet black. She was almost the image of Kate. He smiled in spite of himself.
    What a beautiful child!
    "Hi, Tom," Luke said with his easy friendliness.
    He had the little girl by the hand. He drew her forward.
    "I'm taking my niece to a movie. Crissy, honey, this is Mr. Walker. He's Uncle Luke's investment counselor."
    "Hello," the child said politely, eyeing the tall man curiously. "You look like an Indian."
    His eyebrow quirked. He smiled faintly. "I had a Sioux great-grandfather."
    "I like to wear my hair in braids. Mama took me to an Indian powwow. That's a festival where you can
    learn all about their culture
    and history, and all sorts of crafts. I had fun."
    That interesting fact piqued Tom's curiosity,
    but before he could say anything, Luke cut the child off.
    "Christine, you're babbling," Luke chided gently, chuckling as he glanced at Tom. "She'll talk your leg off. She's only in kindergarten,
    too."
    "Uncle Luke thinks I talk too much," the little girl muttered, glowering up at her uncle.
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    "No, I don't, pet," her relative assured her. "She wants to see the pig movie." He sighed. "I'm not keen, but I don't have much to do around the ranch today, so I was free. Elysia's at home with every pot we own on the stove putting up sauce. We're going to die of tomato poisoning. Honest to God, she's put up enough sauce to float a small ship!" He eyed Tom. "I don't guess you