Texan Undercover (Romantic Suspense) by Anne Marie Novark Read Free Book Online Page B

you?"
    "I don't know. I got carried away, I guess.
It won't happen again. I don't do the relationship thing."
    "Good, I don't want a relationship," Dillon
said. "I just want to sleep with you."
    "I can't sleep with you. I told you. I don't
do relationships and I certainly don't do casual sex."
    "Why not? Neither of us wants to get
involved, but there's a chemistry between us. It's been there since
we first met. We could get it out of our systems. Enjoy ourselves
while it lasts."
    "I don't think it would work that way."
Claire straightened the front of her blouse, tucking it into the
waistband of her skirt.
    "You don't like me?"
    "I didn't say that."
    "We're hot together, Claire. You felt it when
we kissed." Smooth, Anderson. You weren't going to touch her and
now you're practically begging.
    "That's not enough for me."
    "Or maybe I'm not enough for you?" That old
feeling of inadequacy reared its ugly head.
    She narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed
to mean?"
    "Nothing," he said. "I shouldn't have kissed
you. I usually walk a wide path around women like you."
    Claire crossed her arms over her breasts.
"What do you mean women like me ?"
    Dillon tore his gaze from the enticing curves
and focused on her face. Her lovely aristocratic face. What had he
been thinking? That was the problem. He hadn't been thinking, but
he was now.
    "Rich, beautiful women. High maintenance.
Like you." He shrugged. "Maybe it's for the best. We're too
different. You're from up north, a vegetarian and a neat
freak."
    Claire lifted her chin. "Unlike yourself, Mr.
Meat and Potatoes? I bet you're a slob, too. I don't see any signs
of want or need. You own A & B Investigations. You use
expensive, high-tech equipment."
    He wanted. He needed. But he couldn't let her
know that. "I've worked damn hard getting where I am today. I'm
well off, but I'm not one of the wealthy. But I know how they live.
I know how they act."
    "You think you have me all figured out, don't
you? How do you know my family is wealthy? And how do you know I'm
from up north."
    "I'm a private investigator. Figure it
out."
    "You ran a background check on me?" Her eyes
simmered with anger, instead of desire. Dillon told himself it was
for the best.
    "I have a job to do, Claire. I may not be a
neat freak, but I thoroughly prepare for each and every
assignment."
    She took a deep breath. "Well then, I'm glad
this is settled between us."
    "You think this is settled?" Nothing would be
settled until they were naked in bed. But that wasn't going to
happen.
    "Isn't it?" Claire raised a brow.
    "No."
    "I think it is," she said. "You're attracted
to me. I'm attracted to you. We've acknowledged it and we're not
going to act on it. I think that just about settles it."
    "I don't think so. You're going to think
about that kiss. I'm going to think about that kiss. We're going to
see each other every day at work. We're going to want more."
    Claire took another deep breath. "We can't
always get what we want, now can we?" She turned and walked out of
the storeroom.
    Dillon heard the resignation and sadness in
her voice. An uncomfortable feeling lurched in his chest. What
could a rich, beautiful woman like Claire want, but not have?
     

CHAPTER FOUR
    Claire glanced at the clock on the bedside table and turned over,
burrowing under the covers. She could sleep late this morning
because she didn't have to go to work today.
    Thank goodness, e*Claire's was closed on
Sundays. With no classes, most of the kids slept the day away.
Claire made up for lost revenue by keeping the cafes open extra
late on Fridays and Saturdays, which worked out great.
    She needed this Sunday especially to
recuperate from the hectic week just past. After a mad dash to
Huntsville to avert a disaster, she had checked the other cafes in
Nacogdoches and College Station on the way back to Austin. Then
she'd worked Natalie's shift last night, so Claire was doubly glad
to sleep in this morning.
    When she finally tumbled out of bed, she
enjoyed a