Texas Heat Read Free Page A

Emma asked quietly.
    The fear in Emma’s voice had Savannah pulling her niece into her arms. “Do you think I’d ever let anyone take you away from me?”
    The child shook her head.
    â€œOf course I wouldn’t. You and I are a team. And I intend to keep it that way.” Savannah tightened her hug. “And don’t you forget it.”
    â€œOkay.” Emma hugged her back.
    Smiling reassurance she didn’t feel, Savannah set her niece away from her and looked into her face. “And stay in the bedroom until I tell you to come out.”
    â€œOkay.”
    The doorbell chimed and they both jumped.
    Savannah’s stomach tightened. She looked anxiously at the door, then back to Emma. “Go on now, sweetie. I’ll let you know when it’s all right to come out.”
    Once her niece had left, Savannah took a deep breath and glanced at the window beside the front door. She saw the outline of a tall man through the partially closed blinds. Maybe he’d go away if she didn’t answer. Just give up and go back to Texas. But she knew better. A man didn’t spend months tracking someone down and fly all this way just to turn around and leave. He wasn’t going to give up and he wasn’t going to leave. She had to go through with this. Be done with it now.
    He knocked this time. Loudly.
    Heart pounding, she moved to the door and opened it.
    His black hat was the first thing she noticed about the man, and it struck her how appropriate that seemed. And tall. Good God, he towered over her own five-foot-seven frame, and his denim-clad chest and shoulders filled the doorway.
    â€œMiss...Roberts?”
    He did not smile as he stared down at her with intense blue eyes. If anything, he was frowning. She watched as he removed his Stetson, revealing hair dark enough to be considered black and a small jagged scar by his right temple.
    No doubt this man would try to use his size and menacing looks to intimidate her, Savannah thought with annoyance. He was probably used to women—and men—taking a step back. Resisting the temptation to do just that, she lifted her eyes and met his gaze squarely.
    â€œMr. Stone.” She offered her hand to him and he took it, closing his long fingers over hers. A working man’s hand. Large and callused. She felt strength emanate from him. And determination. Two qualities that could make this meeting difficult.
    She pulled her hand from his. “Come in, please.”
    He dropped his bag on the front porch and stepped inside. His boots sounded heavy on the marble entry. Drawing in a slow, deep breath to steady herself, Savannah closed the door, then gestured to the living room sofa. “Why don’t we talk in here?” she said, moving past him.
    Confused, Jake stared after the woman. He thought for a moment he had the wrong place, or maybe she was the one who was confused. But she’d looked right at him with eyes as green as a spring meadow and said his name. She couldn’t be Angela Roberts, he thought, narrowing his eyes.
    Could she?
    He watched as she walked away. From her tan high heels to the tips of her honey blond hair, she spelled money. And sex appeal. Definitely sex appeal. Her soft Southern accent flowed over him like warm silk and the faint scent of peaches drifted from her creamy white skin. Her legs were long and slender beneath her knee-length beige skirt, her breasts full and round under a long-sleeved white silk blouse.
    Jake could understand how J.T. might have been tempted to take this woman to his bed. Lord knew, he certainly was.
    She glanced over her shoulder at him and realized he hadn’t moved. “Is something wrong?” she asked.
    Something was wrong, he thought, and followed her into the other room. Very wrong.
    She sat on a rose-colored high-back chair and he heard the soft whisper of her stockings as she crossed her legs. He sat on the sofa across from her and sank into the cushions. Too