Home Sweet Home: A Sweet, Texas Novella by Candis Terry Read Free Book Online

of tennis shoes and skateboards down at the sporting-goods store.”
    Her red-stained tongue licked up the side of the Popsicle and triggered an instant reaction in his jeans.
    “Is that so?” she said with a tilt of her head.
    “Yep.”
    “Well, I’m sure Ben appreciates your help cutting this tree down. Especially since he was never one who liked to get dirty.”
    “Yeah.” He chuckled, thinking of his brother’s fastidious ways. “Never knew two kids from the same parents could be so different.”
    “And yet you both served in the Army.”
    “True.”
    “I always thought he’d grow up to be a lawyer or something. Some kind of professional, where he could wear a suit and tie every day.”
    “That’s definitely more his style than cargo shorts and Hawaiian shirts.”
    “Have to give him credit, though. He’s done a great job with the store and carrying on tradition since your father passed.”
    “He has done that.” And why, exactly, were they discussing his brother? “So … what are you doing here?” he asked although he didn’t mind having her in front of him with next to nothing on, smelling like heaven, and licking that Popsicle like it was … tasty.
    The corners of her soft lips tipped as she tossed the remainder of the Popsicle to Cricket. Then she turned her blue eyes on him, swept them down his body and back up again. “I’ve come to make you a proposition.”
    A LAYER OF sweat glistened across the tops of Aiden’s broad strong shoulders and highlighted that soaring-eagle tattoo. It beaded down his chest and tight, rippled stomach toward the waistband of his low-slung Levi’s. Unlike the thugs one saw walking the streets of the big city, Aiden did not have a mile of underwear showing. Which only made Paige wonder if he had any on at all or if he’d gone commando. A blue bandana stuck out from his back pocket, and sawdust coated the toes of his work boots.
    A low hum of need vibrated low in her pelvis. There was just something about a shirtless, sweaty, hardworking man that made her want to tear off her clothes. When that hardworking man was as gorgeous and amazing as Aiden, it was a wonder she hadn’t given in to the desire. It took everything she had to compose herself and stick to what she’d come here for in the first place. Which did not include gawking at him or being tempted to stick dollar bills in his shorts.
    “A proposition?” A furrow crinkled between his brown eyes.
    “Not that kind of proposition.” Although it had crossed her mind. “I’m going to respect what you said the other night even though I don’t agree. Are you willing to listen to my offer?”
    He leaned the axe handle against the tree trunk he’d been chopping and folded his arms across that deliciously muscular, sweaty chest. “Shoot.”
    She hopped up on the back of his truck and settled her behind between the steel ridges of the tailgate. “When I made the decision to buy Honey Hill, I knew I couldn’t have that much property or responsibility without a good business plan. And as much as I calculated …” She swung her legs back and forth in time with the thoughts swinging through her brain. “I might have dreamed a little too big.”
    “Are you afraid of losing the place?”
    “Oh. No. Nothing like that.” The concern on his face forced her to quit stalling. “Part of my plan is to expand the orchard. Instead of just trying to sell apples, I want to produce apple products—butter, jelly, cider. That kind of thing. I need to do more research. Crunch some more numbers. Come up with a marketing plan. And—”
    “And?” Dark brows shot up his forehead. “That’s not enough?”
    “Oh, you know me.” She waved her hand. “Complete one project, come up with ten more.”
    “I do remember that about you.”
    The smile and slow glide of his eyes over her body said that wasn’t all he remembered.
    “I also intend to turn the house into a bed-and-breakfast.”
    “Wow. You are ambitious.” He laughed, and the happy sound sent a little flutter through her heart. “But