Deadly Ties by Jaycee Clark Read Free Book Online Page B

down so that he stared at her over the rims of his shades. His eyes twinkled, catching up at the corners.
    Gavin Kinncaid could be dangerous, no doubt about it. His full charming smile caught her breath.
    “Do you really want to know?” he asked, his voice low and deep.
    Yes. No. Probably. Taylor sighed.
    This time a laugh rumbled out before he tapped her nose. “Yes. No. Probably?”
    Oh, God, did she say that out loud?
    Again his chuckle vibrated the air between them. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
    It was from spending too much time with him yesterday, that’s what all this was about.
    A man. He was just a man.
    And she knew most men were pigs, jerks, or worse. Friends. Yeah, they could just be friends--even if she did have fantasies about him.
    Taylor wasn’t up for anything else. Was she? No. She had Ryan, her new job, and…. And that’s all she needed. His cologne assaulted her. It was.
    Then why did she wonder if there was more out there for her or if she’d already had her chance on the love merry-go-round and blew it?
    That was a depressing thought. Charles, her one and only? No, don’t think so.
    But right now, she needed to concentrate on her job, getting Ryan settled, and starting life over. And that’s what she would do. Concentrate on Ryan and her work. But this dark-headed doctor kept intruding. Thoughts of the man had kept her up half the night. Either she had it really bad for some guy she’d just met--okay that was probably a given--or she’d been too long without sex. Probably another given.
    Sex with her ex had just been sex. But with Gavin?
    Where had that thought come from ?
    “Hello?” Gavin said loudly in her face, his expression questioning.
    Taylor shook her head. Lord, he’d think she was an idiot.
    “Um. Sorry,” she muttered.
    “I’d dearly love to know what you were thinking about,” he said in that soft, rumble of voice. She just bet her would. She could feel her face flaming.
    “Nothing.”

    31
    His expression, one brow cocked, one lowered, said he was trying to figure her out. “And just where were you going to meet me?” he asked.
    “Meet you?”
    He poked his tongue in his cheek before saying. “Lunch? You said you lied and told someone you had a lunch appointment, and I fell nicely into place.”
    “Oh!” God help her! “I haven’t a clue,” she admitted. “Maybe you have an idea. Though I’m telling you now, I’m paying.” She held up her hand. “And spare me your gentleman’s speech.”Another crooked smile, this one devastating charm, and she felt nerves dance at the flash of teeth.“Fine. I get to drive though, and we’re taking my car.” A hand was held out to her, and she simply stared at it. His sigh filled the air between them. “Don’t tell me, besides no one taking your elbow, no one ever offered you their hand either. What’s wrong with those Texas cowboys?”
    Taylor rolled her eyes and reached for his hand. Her breath caught in her throat. Such a simple thing, a glance of fingers on palm, but it felt like her entire being had suddenly awakened.
    Nerves no longer danced--they reeled as blood pumped through her veins. She blinked, staring at her long pale fingers still lying on his tanned large palm.
    “They must be too busy with their horses,” he continued as his fingers closed over hers.
    By the grace of God, she didn’t stumble along after him. Even managed to remember to lock her car. Talk about humiliating. Did he not feel it? Amazingly enough, her mind still functioned within the context of his dumb remark.
    “Not all men in Texas are cowboys. Not all of them go to rodeos, know how to saddle a horse, or own cattle contrary to popular belief. You couldn’t have caught Charles or any of his cronies dead in a pair of boots or a hat if you had all but paid them.” Great! Just great. Can I say anything more idiotic than bringing up my ex ?
    They walked in silence to his SUV.
    Gavin held her hand in his, and like the