Galahad in Jeans (Louisiana Knights Book 2)

Galahad in Jeans (Louisiana Knights Book 2) by Jennifer Blake Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Galahad in Jeans (Louisiana Knights Book 2) by Jennifer Blake Read Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Blake
ground he was preparing.
    The doors at each end of the bigger houses were wide enough to drive a tractor and trailer through. He made a quick circuit through them to show Carla more of the operation. But it was the special house he wanted her to see, and where he cut the ATV’s engine and helped her off.
    His most prized cultivars sat on stair-step staging, each of them in its own special pot. He’d noticed those in bloom earlier, of course; he had his first cup of coffee every morning while strolling through these houses to see what he had wrought. The one he wanted to show Carla was only a step way.
    Silvery lavender in color, it had a deep purple heart, large, almost black eye, and close to half an inch of sparkling gold lace edging. Its petals were thick, heavily ridged and coated with diamond dusting. It was a monster in bloom size, though not nearly as big as his Aunt Tillie’s heart.
    Carla made a low, crooning sound, as he reached for the pot and brought it close so she could get the full benefit. “You created this?”
    “It’s called Tillie’s Dream . Her favorite color was purple.” He stared at the flower, not quite breathing, refusing to blink. “She never got to see it bloom.”
    Carla searched his face then looked back at the flower. “I’m sorry. It’s a lovely tribute. I don’t know much about daylilies, but it’s one of the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen.”
    “Then there’s this.” He set the first pot back in place and picked up another.
    This one’s bloom was vivid yellow with an enormous, diamond-dusted purple eye and almost flat, semi-double petals edged in a crinkled ribbon of purple lace. It was also as big as a salad plate.
    She breathed a quiet sigh, while her face relaxed in a smile of wonder.
    It was enough. Beau was satisfied.
    A tapping sound began on the glass overhead. Beau glanced up, but there was no doubt of the cause, even before the noise increased to a quick rattle.
    “Raining again,” he said. “We’d better get back to the house.”
    “I guess so.”
    She sounded almost reluctant, as she sent a quick look at other blooms of yellow and bronze, coral and red that shone here and there on the benches. Still, she climbed on the ATV and eased back out of the way until he took the driver’s seat.
    She was trying hard not to slide down against him; he could feel the tension in her muscles as she held back. She grasped a handful of his T-shirt as he started off at an easy pace along the greenhouse aisle, but didn’t ring his waist with her arm. Was she as aware of the heated, spine-tingling friction between their two bodies as he was?
    He had no time to consider it as he neared the greenhouse doors and saw the rain that speared down beyond them. It was growing heavier by the second. The wind was picking up, too. He’d need to race back down here after he delivered Carla to the house, make sure all the greenhouse doors were secure.
    “Hang on,” he said as he gunned the engine. Ducking his head, he let off the brake and sped out into the rain.
    Carla gave a small cry as the rain hit her in the face. At least he thought that was it. But an instant later, he felt a sharp pull at the waist area of his T-shirt. Then suddenly, there was nothing.
    He didn’t see her fall, didn’t hear her over the roar of the ATV’s engine. Her warmth was gone, though, replaced by wind and cold rain. Cursing himself for ten kinds of an idiot, feeling sick to his stomach from the sudden acceleration of his heart, Beau swung the ATV in a wide circle in order to look back.
    Carla lay crumpled on the muddy, rutted track with raindrops spattering around her. She wasn’t moving.

Chapter 4

    Carla couldn’t get her breath. It was trapped, aching, in her lungs. She kept her eyes shut, concentrating, trying to get air, feeling as if any second now…
    “Are you okay? Where are you hurt?”
    Beau Benedict. His hands, warm in contrast to the cold rain, briefly touched the artery in her

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