Caught Up in the Touch by Laura Trentham Read Free Book Online

didn’t stand a chance then.”
    What did she mean by that? Before he could find out, she asked, “Does this dinner meeting mean you’ll consider my offer?”
    The click of her heels echoed along the concrete. He should say no and opened his mouth to do just that. Yet, the word he’d tossed easily at her father didn’t come, and instead, he said, “Let’s call it a maybe.”

Chapter 4
    Logan Wilde hadn’t said “no.” Jessica schooled her face into a polite mask even though she was fist pumping on the inside. A “maybe” was more than she’d hoped for tonight.
    He led her back down the barren, dingy concrete hallway and back through the kitchen. This time none of the boys made a peep. She stared at the back of his head, his dark brown hair brushing the preppy checked button-down.
    Somewhere between the shock at recognizing the clean-cut handsome man in khakis as Logan Wilde and the embarrassment at accidentally calling him Mountain Man, her anger had dried up like a puddle in the Mojave.
    The floor of Adaline’s was packed. Conversation and laughter sounded over a quiet sound track of music. He dropped a word in one of the server’s ears, and they didn’t have long to wait for an out-of-the-way table in the corner. After pulling out a chair and scooting her under the hand-hewn oak table, he took the seat across from her and signaled a waiter with a snap in the air. A brawny handsome boy with short, brown hair strode over with order pad in hand.
    “I thought a sampling of some of most popular dishes. And sweet tea to drink? Or would you prefer something stronger?” he asked her.
    “Whatever you’re having is fine.” She folded her arms, leaning forward with her elbows braced on the wood.
    Logan ordered portions of several dishes and sweet tea for them both. Once the young man left, he settled back with a tight smile and tapped his fingers on the edge of the table. The entire day took on a farcical quality. Unexpected laughter bubbled up and out of her throat.
    “What’s so funny?” His smile grew to include his eyes.
    She flung her hands wide before resuming her position. “Everything. This entire trip has not gone to plan, which should freak me out, because I’m a planner to the nth degree, but it’s had its share of amusements too. This afternoon you…”
    She shook her head. Her plan to use their prenegotiation acquaintance to her advantage was backfiring. Instead of walking the knife-edge of give-and-take negotiations, she did the worst possible thing she could do. She relaxed.
    “Be honest. You thought I was a homegrown hick.”
    Instead of sharing her erotic-cowboy fantasy or her random suspicions about his real name, she said, “I’ll admit I’ve never met a restaurateur who looked like he’d dragged himself in from weeks in the wilderness.”
    His head fell back with his laughter, his muscled neck taut. “Actually, it wasn’t quite two weeks.”
    “Wait. You’d seriously been living in the woods?”
    “Yep. Communing with nature, hunting pigs, the usual.”
    She huffed a disbelieving laugh, but his sheepish grin verified the admission as the truth. Their teas and a sampling of food arrived.
    “Excellent. Thanks, Scott.” Logan chucked his chin toward the server who backed away with a mock salute. “Now, let’s find out if you want to retract your offer.”
    He scooped up something resembling macaroni and cheese with extras on a spoon while she shook out her silverware and placed a pristine white napkin on her lap. Might as well try to save her skirt since her shirt was ruined. His spoon headed toward her mouth. She grabbed his wrist.
    “Whoa there, Mountain Man. What are you doing?”
    “Feeding you. Now open up before we have another accident.”
    She opened to offer another protest, but the spoon slipped between her lips. Rich flavors exploded. She hummed and her eyes closed, her hand still around his wrist. Taste-testing new recipes had been part of her regular job when