A Texas Chance by Jean Brashear Read Free Book Online Page B

booked. This isn’t just a business, it’s very personal to her, and her reputation is on the line. If she can’t open on time, well…she’ll lose everything. I can tell she’s really worried. And working way too hard.”
    Maybe there was more to this Sophie than he’d assumed. “But what do my photos have to do with anything?”
    Jenna rolled her eyes. “You may be merely an irritating older brother to me, but you’re as famous as Zane in your field, only it’s your photos that get plastered on the covers of magazines, not your face. Having Cade MacAllister originals hanging on her walls would be a big drawing card for this unique refuge Sophie is trying to create.”
    “Originals? Jen, I told you…”
    Jenna flushed. “Why not take new ones? What else have you got to do while you’re here?”
    “She put you up to this?”
    “No!” Jenna hissed. “I thought of it, okay? And she’d be thrilled with third-rate rejects from you if that’s all you would sell to her, but the more I think about it, why shouldn’t you create new work so she’d have something truly unique?”
    Because I lost my eye at the bottom of an Andean mountain beside the broken body of my friend. Because I can’t even touch a camera without having a panic attack . “Jenna…”
    But his sister had moved forward already to greet someone. “Hey, Sophie!” she hailed.
    Ahead, a figure clad in threadbare blue jeans and a ratty T-shirt had pulled up the shirttail to wipe her face, leaving a sweet glimpse of smooth, taut belly that snagged Cade’s full attention.
    “Jenna,” she said, smiling widely. “What are you…” Her voice trailed off as her gaze traveled to him.
    He couldn’t quite make out her face beneath the bill of the ball cap she wore with a ponytail sticking through the opening in the back, but he could see that she’d gone very still.
    She whirled and grabbed the overloaded wheelbarrow. “Let me just empty this.” She began striding away too quickly and her load tilted, about to topple.
    Cade loped ahead and bent to restack it. “Here, let me help.”
    “I’m fine,” she said, her head turned away, her shoulders stiff.
    She was tall but slender. “This load is too much for you. Where do you want it?” he asked as they resettled all the vegetation inside the wheelbarrow.
    Her head remained ducked down, and her voice went cold. “I don’t need your help.”
    Something in that tone grabbed his attention. His brows snapped together.
    She started to pick up the handles, and he caught a glimpse of her profile at the same instant her hair color registered. He gripped her shoulder and turned her to him.
    “Let go of me.” The ice was unmistakable. She tensed to push the load again, but he wouldn’t release her.
    “Well, well. Hello, Queenie.”
    Her head whipped around, and wary green eyes locked on his. “Let me go,” she whispered fiercely. “Do not make a scene in front of Jenna. Better yet, just go away.” She shrugged him off and quickly put distance between them.
    Cade stood there, staring after her.
    “What was that about?” Jenna asked as she approached.
    “Nothing.”
    “Didn’t look like nothing. What did you say to her?” Jenna demanded.
    Which time? he wanted to ask as he recalled their conversations the night before. My sister’s trying to guilt me into helping her latest charity case and plans to empty my wallet along the way .
    He removed his cap and raked fingers through his shaggy hair, staring in the direction Sophie had disappeared. Then he looked at the sister who was glaring at him. He sighed. “It’s a long story.”
    “I’m going after her,” Jenna insisted.
    “No,” he said. “I will.”
    “You? Why?”
    “Go on to work, Jen. This is mine to fix.”
    “But…”
    He turned her gently toward her car. “You’ll be late.”
    “You don’t have a car here.”
    “Walking is part of my physical therapy. It’s not that far. I’ll see you later.”
    “Cade, what on