Luck of the Draw Read Free Page B

case I need to work on, so I better go. Breck will be there later today, does that work?”
    Today? Give a girl some warning. “S-sure, that works. I need to go, then, too. I have to get things ready.”
    “Thanks, Rowan. I owe you one.” The line clicked and Jace was gone.
    This Breck guy could be the perfect distraction. She needed something to keep her mind off Destiny Knocks and wondering if she made a huge mistake by opening so soon. If taking out the loan had been her using her heart instead of her brain. Nothing distracted her like cooking—well, except maybe fishing, but Kade was her fishing buddy and he’d been busy with Sidney and his bar/bowling alley, Lucky’s.
    Hopefully her guest would like homemade macaroni and cheese and apple crisp.
    Rowan went about the house, making sure everything was just right. As she pulled dinner out of the oven, the doorbell rang. Excitement skittered through her veins. She’d only had a few customers so far and with each one, it was like electricity zipping inside her. It was exciting getting to know different people, taking care of them. She’d always wanted to be a caretaker, to make others feel important. She had never wanted anything else and now she finally had it.
    Rowan turned off the oven, removed her apron, and walked to the door. Out of habit, she ran her fingers through her curly red hair to make sure she looked at least halfway put together before she pulled the door open.
    And her heart stopped.
    Holy crap! Visions of sexy kisses, skilled hands…and sneaking out on a naked man filled her brain.
    “I thought your name was Wilder!”

Chapter Two
    Geez. What the hell was this? Considering Rowan had laughed with him, slept with him, and, okay, snuck out on him, hadn’t she at least been worth a real name?
    A smile pulled at his lips. A sexy smile. That cocky half smile with the dimple that sent an unwanted spike of heat to rush through her. He actually seemed happy to see her and all she wanted was to shut down her hormones that were ridiculously responsive to him.
    “If it isn’t Houdini. Are you stalking me?”
    Stalking him. Stalking him? Of all the pigheaded things he could say! “You’re the one who’s standing on my doorstep. And if I remember correctly, you’re the one who approached me at the hotel, too!”
    Crap. Why had she brought up that night?
    Wilder—or whatever his name was—winked at her. “You weren’t complaining that night.” He still had his grin in place. She’d never hit anyone in her life, but she wanted to punch him now.
    “Great. Thanks for stopping by. See you later!” She tried to close the door, but he had his foot in it. And a bag in his hand. He planned to stay with her. How could this be happening?
    “I’m not sure how you ended up here too, but I’ve arranged to stay. The place is owned by a friend of a buddy of mine.”
    She pointed at herself. “Me! It’s owned by me. And you absolutely are not staying here.”
    Her heart kicked up and she was breathing heavily. Good Lord she felt like she was about to have a nervous breakdown. Could this day get any wilder? Ugh. Scratch that. Scratch that word out of her vocabulary all together.
    “Aww, come on. It’ll be fun, Houdini,” he drawled, leaning farther into the doorway in his sexy slacks and his stupid sexy button-down shirt.
    He was messing with her. The glint in his eyes told her that, but it still pissed her off. “Sorry. Wasn’t that fun the first time and I’m sure it wouldn’t be better a second.”
    Again she tried to push the door closed, but he held his hand out to stop it. He sighed, quiet for a few seconds before he spoke. “Listen…I apologize for being an ass. I didn’t know you were here. Besides the fact that you can tie a mean cherry stem with your tongue, I didn’t know much about you, including where you live, since you disappeared on me and all. But that’s not the point. I’m really looking for a place I can get away to for about a