Lone Star Wedding by Sandra Steffen Read Free Book Online

ankles. Once again, it wasn’t the color that drew his attention, but the fit and style. Her shirt bared her arms and part of her shoulders. It wasn’t tight, but it was cropped short at the waist. When she moved just right, he caught a glimpse of her navel. And the woman moved a great deal. If she ever found herself in need of another occupation, she could try her hand at modeling. Her mixture of wholesomeness and sensuality would undoubtedly sell everything from women’s jeans to lingerie.
    He was imagining her in lingerie right now. A serious mistake for any man who needed to keep his wits about him.
    Hannah stepped onto the paddleboat. The seat was wide enough for two people. It occurred to her that Parker wasn’t excited about climbing off the boardwalk and sitting on the other half of the seat. He appeared lost in thought, the same breeze that lifted the hair off her shoulders trifling with the collar of his knit shirt. “Are you coming?” she asked.
    He slid his hands to his hips, peering first one way and then the other. “How far do you want to go?”
    She stared up at him, remembering when he’d said they would have to arm wrestle to determine that. His gaze warmed at least ten degrees as it slid over her, letting her know he was thinking the same thing. Oh, no, he didn’t. She wasn’t touching that line.
    â€œThere’s a little ice-cream store just beyond that curvein the river.” She pointed to a series of lights upriver, but wound up waving at another paddleboat coming their way.
    â€œI don’t recall seeing an ice-cream place in the area.”
    â€œIt’s been there forever. I thought you said you grew up in San Antonio.”
    â€œMy family wasn’t the type to go out for ice cream.”
    This was the first time he’d mentioned his family all evening. She’d met his father, the legendary J. D. Malone, at Lily and Ryan’s party. She’d be hard pressed to say for sure whether she liked or disliked the man.
    â€œMy family didn’t always have a lot of money for things like going to ice-cream parlors,” she said. His eyes narrowed, and she threw up her hands. “My mother isn’t after Ryan’s money, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
    â€œI didn’t say she was.”
    â€œYou didn’t have to. My brother’s an attorney. I know how your minds work. My mother may have been poor as a child, but there’s no disgrace in that. She and my father worked hard in the grocery store they owned back in Leather Bucket. There’s no disgrace in working hard, either. After my father died, my mother went back to college. She’s perfectly capable of earning her own living on what she makes as manager of special functions at the Willow Creek Hotel. She’s marrying Ryan because she loves him.”
    In some far corner of her mind, Hannah was aware that Parker had taken the seat next to her, but she didn’t consciously acknowledge his presence until her voice had trailed away and the only sound was that of the water falling over the paddlewheel at the back of their boat. She glanced up at him. He was looking at her in silence, making no attempt whatsoever to hide the fact that he was watching her.
    â€œSometimes I get a little carried away defending the people I love.”
    â€œI like a woman who gets carried away.”
    Hannah knew better than to comment. She was becoming well enough acquainted with him to realize that Parker Malone rarely spoke without thinking. There were layers to what he said, hidden meanings, underlying messages. Cole was like that to an extent. Maybe all attorneys were. Her brother was good at what he did, and Hannah was proud of him, but Parker took innuendo farther than anyone she’d ever known.
    â€œLet’s get this boat moving, shall we?” she asked, manning the steering lever between them.
    At five feet seven, she’d always considered