Regan's Pride Read Free Page B

Sandy corrected.
    â€œYou’re the only person in Jacobsville who believes that,” her friend said. She sipped her coffee, aware of voices in the hall, one deep and gentle, the other sharp and impatient.
    â€œI thought that lawyer would be here by now,” Tina Tarleton said irritably, stripping off her white gloves asshe joined the women. She was resplendent in a black suit by Chanel and had on only the finest accessories to match.
    â€œI imagine he had to go by his office and get the paperwork first,” Coreen said.
    Tina glared at her. “No doubt he’ll be here soon. I’d start packing if I were you.”
    â€œI already have,” Coreen said. “It didn’t take long,” she added enigmatically.
    Another car came up. Sandy went to the hall window. “The lawyer,” she announced, and went to open the door.
    â€œFinally,” Tina snapped. “It’s about time!”
    Coreen didn’t reply. She was staring at the chair where Barry used to sit, remembering. Her eyes were suddenly haunted, almost afraid.
    Ted glared at her from his own chair. So she felt guilty, did she? And well she should. He hoped her conscience hurt her. He hoped she never had another minute’s peace.
    She felt his glare and looked at him. His hands almost broke the arms of the chair he was occupying as he stared into her dead eyes with violence in his own.
    The lawyer, a tall, graying gentleman, came into the room with Sandy and broke the spell. Coreen was ready to give thanks. She couldn’t really understand why Ted should hate her so much over the death of a cousin he wasn’t really that close to. But, then, he’d always hated her. Or at least, he’d given the appearance of hating her. He’d been hostile since that first time, two years ago, when he’d found himself forced into her company….

Chapter 2
    C oreen had been friends with Sandy Regan for four years, but she was in her second year of college before she really got to know Ted Regan. She was helping her father in his feed store in Jacobsville and Ted had come in with the new foreman at his ranch to open an account.
    In the past, he’d always done business with a rival feed store, but it had just gone out of business. He was forced to buy from Coreen’s father, or drive to Victoria for supplies. He was courteous to Coreen, but not overly friendly. That wasn’t new. From the beginning of her friendship with his sister, he’d been cool to her.
    Coreen had found him fascinating from the first time she’d looked into those pale eyes, when Sandy had introduced them. Ted had given her a long, careful appraisal, and obviously found the sight of her offensive because he absented himself immediately after the introductionand thereafter maintained a careful distance whenever Coreen came out to the ranch.
    Coreen wasn’t hurt; she took it for granted that a sophisticated man like Ted wouldn’t want to encourage her by being friendly. She’d been gangly and tomboyish in her jeans and sweatshirt and sneakers. Ted was almost a generation older, and already a millionaire. His name had been linked with some of the most beautiful and eligible women around Texas, even if his distaste for marriage was well-known.
    But he noticed Coreen. Although it might have been reluctant on his part, his pale eyes followed her around the store every week while she filled his orders. But he came no closer than necessary.
    As time went by, Coreen heard about him from Sandy and got to know him in a secondhand sort of way. Slowly she began to fall in love, until two years ago, he had become her whole life. He pretended not to see her interest, but it became more obvious as she fumbled and stammered when he came around the store.
    It was inevitable that he would touch her from time to time as they passed paperwork back and forth, and suddenly it was like electricity between them. Once, she stood with her back