To Tempt a Wilde Read Free Page A

cook/owner had begged Althea to stay longer, at least for a few more nights, so he could find another waitress to help them out. Businesswas booming, as many ranchers and farmers from the surrounding areas were moving cattle and purchasingnew stock, which meant traveling and stopping by the café.
    Althea had been close to agreeing, mainly because the owner had been good to her, paying her weekly wages in cash versus a check without deeply questioning her reasons. That and the desire to get another few more days of tips had madeher debate her decision to leave that day.
    Piggybacking that thought, Althea had again gotten that eerie feeling of being watched.
    She’d glanced nervously around the busy café, surveying the late-morning crowd. She’d seen no signs of anyone paying her any particular attention, yet remembering the previous night’s unease had been enough to strengthen her resolve to go.
    When he’d realized Altheawasn’t going to waver, he’d asked her where she was headed, a concerned look crossing his deeply lined face. Althea had plastered a wide smile on her face, hoping the strain of what she really felt wasn’t showing, and told him she was headed east, that a friend had opened up a new restaurant and she had agreed to help.
    The lie tripped smoothly from her lips, and she squelched down the guilt shefelt. Mason was one of the few people she’d worked for who she’d actually begun to get close to.
    Although she hadn’t dared share her history with him, or even tell him her full name, after the diner closed she and the older man had fallen into an easy, unexpected camaraderie.
    He’d given her a look, one that had spoken volumes, and she’d squirmed a bit beneath his scrutinizing stare,but he hadn’tasked any more questions and had walked to the back to retrieve her pay, handing it to her and giving her an awkward hug goodbye.
    It wasn’t until she was in her car that she opened the envelope, a small smile of gratitude crossing her full lips. Besides her wages, Mason had added several more crisp one-hundred-dollar bills, along with a note telling her to be safe.
    Althea stifled the tears thatthreatened to fall.
    She’d then gassed up at the Gas ’n Go next to the diner, bought a few necessities and hopped inside her car, preparing to leave.
    That eerie feeling had crept over her again. She’d glanced into her rearview mirror, a shiver running over her spine, her heartbeat speeding up and thumping hard against her chest when she caught site of a dark green Mercedes coupe pulling intothe diner as she left the gas station. The same make and color as the car he drove.
    Keeping the car in sight as it came to a smooth halt, she’d watched a woman come from within, her high heels sinking into the unpaved parking lot as she walked inside the diner. Even though it wasn’t him, Althea’s instincts told her that he wasn’t far away.
    He never was.
    Without hesitating, she’d peeled outof the gravel parking lot and quickly headed east on I-90, once again on the move.
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    Now, as Althea heard the deep voice speak behind her, she spun around, her heart racing. She automatically stepped back several steps, warily glancing around looking for the can of mace she always carried andhad placed near her feet when she’d entered the horse’s stall.
    She eased her body down as subtly aspossible and grabbed the can, palming it within her hand.
    The man’s head swiveled, looked down at her hand before looking back at her. Although his eyes were shadowed beneath the Stetson he wore low on his head, leaving only a pair of well-defined, sensual lips visible, she felt his stare. She swallowed nervously.
    She stood and glanced up, way up, as he pushed away from the wall and ambled towardher.
    â€œWhat the hell are you doing with my horse…and who the hell let you in here?”
    The question was spoken in a low, deep rumble. Yet