Texas Tall by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online

know the sound of it anywhere. But this vehicle was almost silent, more like a late-model high-end sedan.
    Tires crunched on gravel as it pulled up to the porch. Will was already grabbing for his clothes, yanking them on, shoving his bare feet into his boots. Was it a highway patrol car, its driver coming to tell him that Tori had been in some horrible accident? Or could it be one of Stella’s minions sneaking up to the house to do some damage?
    Heart pumping adrenaline, he opened the top drawer in the nightstand and took out the pistol he kept there. By the time he reached the living room, the sound of the engine had stopped. Headlights were shining through the front window. Whoever it was, at least they weren’t trying to sneak up on the place. But this could still mean bad news.
    Now Will could hear footsteps and voices—one of them a man’s, one of them Tori’s. At least she sounded all right—more than all right. She was laughing. He stepped back into the shadows of the hallway—not wanting to be seen, but too curious to turn away and go back to bed. Why would Middleton—if that’s who it was—be bringing her here? Why hadn’t she driven herself? Was he about to meet his ex-wife’s new boyfriend?
    The parked car’s headlights shone blindingly bright through the plate glass window. As Will’s eyes adjusted to the glare, he could make out a silhouette on the porch—two people, one taller, locked in a passionate kiss. His pulse slammed.
    Don’t look, you damnfool idiot! Go back to bed! Will chastised himself. But he was rooted to the spot, fighting emotions he had no right to feel as the silhouette separated and became two people, the taller one leaving. An instant later, Tori’s key turned in the lock. She stepped into the darkened living room.
    Will backed into the shadows, but not soon enough. Tori must’ve heard him, or sensed he was there.
    â€œWill?” Clutching her overnight bag, she stood outlined in the open doorway. Her hair fluttered in the night breeze. “Is that you?”
    He stepped out of the shadows. Her breath caught in a low gasp. “Good grief, don’t tell me that’s a gun in your hand! Who were you planning to shoot?”
    â€œThis isn’t anything to joke about, Tori. I heard a strange car. I thought it might be a prowler.”
    She closed the door and locked it behind her. “I told you not to wait up for me. If you’d been asleep, you wouldn’t have heard the car.”
    â€œI’m not exactly sleeping well lately,” Will growled. “Where’s your wagon?”
    â€œDead in my driveway. Bad starter, I think. Drew drove me here.”
    â€œToo bad he didn’t stick around for an introduction. After seeing how he said good night to you, I wouldn’t have minded meeting him.”
    Her chin went up in defiance. “Stop badgering me, Will. I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”
    He stood his ground, his silence asking the unspoken question that hung between them.
    Tori’s patience snapped. “For your information, I haven’t slept with the man. If I decide to—which I might—that will be none of your business, Will Tyler. Now get out of my way. I want to check on Erin. Then I’m going to sleep.”
    Ignoring the knot in his gut, Will stepped aside to let her get by. Part of him ached to crush her in his arms, sweep her off to his bed, and stake his claim on her all over again. But the time when that might have happened was long past. Tori would never be his again.
    As they passed in the entrance to the hallway, something awakened and cried out in him. He reached out and caught her cheek with his hand, lightly cupping her face, lifting it to the pale light that filtered from the front window. The pupils of her eyes were large and dark, her lips moistly swollen. He ached to bend close, to brush those lips with his, but she pulled back with a