Royal Trouble by Becky McGraw Read Free Book Online Page B

together to get a place in town?"
    Wes's heart skidded to a stop and he swallowed hard.  If he had the money, he'd offer to pay for her to stay somewhere else, anywhere other than at the house with him.  But he didn't.  He did have a spare bedroom though, and Rocky knew that.  She had done a lot for him, so how could he refuse?  If he agreed though, how could he keep his sanity?  Wes knew it was a no-win situation, but he didn't have any choice. 
    "Okay," he agreed, but added, "As long as she can put up with two guys who are used to living alone.  We're a little messy."  That was putting it lightly, and Wes knew if he didn't pick up soon, the place would probably look ready for an episode of that reality show Hoarders .  Well, not that bad, but bad enough. 
    He just wasn't home enough to keep up with it all.
    "I'm good at cleaning and organizing things, so I'll do that in exchange for you letting me stay awhile," Leigh Ann offered with another smile. 
    God, he could stare at her all day if given the chance.  Study every nuance of her beautiful face and magnificent body like a masterpiece painting, until he had a master's degree in it.  But he had other things to do, more important things, he just couldn't remember what they were.
    Leigh Ann didn't look like much of a cleaner, she looked too elegant and refined, even in the blue jeans and ugly shirt she wore.  A high-class city girl, masquerading as a country girl.  A picture of her in a fancy low cut evening gown wearing a crown, as she entertained the many men sitting at her feet begging for her attention, flashed through his mind.  That was the kind of woman she was under those clothes.  Just the kind of woman he didn't need in his life.  Exactly like his ex-wife.
    When Wes shook her hand a few minutes ago, he also noticed it was too soft for her to have done manual labor of any kind.  He didn't know why, but had a feeling this was a woman who was used to elegant things, and smooth men who could afford to supply her with those things.  Someone totally unlike Wes Jepson at this moment.
    What she was doing here out in the country, applying to be his vet assistant he had no idea.  There was a story there, and he was sure he'd eventually hear it, but until she decided to tell him, he wasn't asking.  And until she did something to make him feel otherwise, he was going to give her the benefit of the doubt, and a chance. 
    He owed it to Rocky, and if the woman was anything like her sister, she would work out just fine as his assistant.  But Wes used his private thoughts to brand the reasons he needed to avoid her on a personal level in his brain.
    "Okay, but don't say you weren't warned.  When ya'll finish up, just come up to the house and I'll show you the room." 
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    After a week of both working and living with Leigh Ann Baker, Wes realized he had made a mistake.  Probably the biggest of his life, second only to marrying Laura Jepson.  He had survived a week, but he wasn't sure he was going to last much longer.
    Wes hadn't had sex in over a year, and Leigh Ann Baker was temptation incarnate, sex on a stick, and as sweet as the cotton candy his dad had bought him at the county fair when he was a kid.  Visions of joining her in that big bed in his spare room across the hall had tortured him every night, since she had been under his roof. 
    Cold showers hadn't touched the yearning in his gut, so strong now it was almost a physical ache. Jogging hadn't helped either, or avoiding her all together.  He was a case study in pent up sexual frustration.  A man pushed way beyond his tolerance.  And Leigh Ann hadn't done a damned thing to provoke him, other than breathe.
    Wes had known it was going to be rough, but the reality of the situation was so much worse.  There wasn't a corner of his life she hadn't invaded with her honeysuckle scent.  Even his damned bathroom smelled like her.  How that happened he didn't know, but it was