Bewitching the Reclusive Billionaire Cowboy Read Free Page A

open.”
    “I’ll take this one. If anyone saw us they might figure I’d go in the next room.”
    “True. I thought you’d choose it.” He carried his bag in and left the entrance wide open. “I’m going to shower and change. Then we’ll look for a place to eat.”
    Regina opened her case and took out clean clothes. They’d traveled so many hours she felt dirty, tired, and hungry. It didn’t take her long to shower, wash her hair, and change into jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and her old running shoes. This was much more comfortable than her working clothes she’d worn for two days. Her energy peaked a little from the cool shower.
    “Ready?” Graham poked his head in the door. “Now you look like a cowgirl, except we’ll need to get you some boots.” He put his hand at her back and escorted her out to the car. “We’ll try the steak house the clerk mentioned. I’m starved.”
    The restaurant looked like a large log cabin. Inside it was dark with candles on the tables. Graham asked for a table in the back against the wall. The waiter glanced at Regina and grinned.
    “Yes, sir. Right this way.” There weren’t many people this late, so they had their pick.
    Once settled, Graham asked what wine she liked. “I like red, but it gives me a headache. Any white wine is fine with me.”
    He ordered her a glass of chardonnay and himself a glass of merlot. After the waiter brought it, they both ordered steaks, and he left. Graham lifted his wineglass.
    “To us and an interesting next few months.” He clicked his glass against hers.
    Regina took a sip and then asked, “You think it will be months?”
    He shrugged. “I hope not, but it might. I know you must be anxious to get back to your job.”
    She gave a deep sigh. “I have three weeks’ vacation and ninety days’ leave. After that I lose my job if I’m not back.”
    “Your sister is causing you a lot of trouble. She chose a dangerous career.”
    “How do you know her? I’d bet you worked with her.”
    He saluted her with his glass before he took a long swallow. “I did. I quit.”
    From his expression she guessed he expected her to ask why. She could almost see his walls going up, and she saw the hurt in his eyes. She changed the subject.
    “Can you tell me about the place where we’re going?” she asked.
    “It’s in the country, about twenty miles from the nearest town. I have a small cabin. We’ll have to get used to being in each other’s space.”
    “Something you don’t relish.”
    “Perhaps.”
    Their food came, and they both stopped the conversation to enjoy the thick steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans. There were two onion rings on top of each steak. Regina ate hers quickly.
    “Here, you can have mine.” Graham moved his onion rings onto her plate.
    “I love them, but I stay away from them most of the time, too much fat and calories.” She smiled. “How did you know they were my favorite food on the plate?”
    “Your expression of bliss on your face when you ate yours.”
    “As a kid my family teased me about my obsession with them. If it was between fries and onion rings, the fries lost out every time. What’s your favorite food?”
    Graham put down the piece of steak he’d just started to put in his mouth. “I guess anything my mother cooks. I’m not particular, but she’s the best. Millie, a lady who’s had a restaurant in town for years, is next to her.”
    “So no particular food, but very specific cooks. Who’ll cook at your cabin, me or you?”
    “If you wait for me to cook, it’ll be frozen dinners or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
    “Thanks for the warning. I like peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches.” She decided she wouldn’t tell him one of her hobbies was cooking. She’d have to buy a local cookbook for new recipes and surprise him.
    “A woman that agrees with me. I’m in shock.”
    The rest of the meal was eaten quickly as they were both hungry. The snack along the way had