Texas Wild by Brenda Jackson Read Free Book Online

never see her parents again. She would never forget how Dillon and Ramsey
had sat her down at the age of twelve and told her that not only her parents,
but also her aunt and uncle, whom she’d adored, had been killed in a plane
crash.
    Dillon and Ramsey had assured her that they would keep the
family together and take care of everyone, although the youngest—Bane and
Bailey—were both under nine at the time. On that day, Ramsey had asked her to
stay strong and in control. As the oldest girl in the Denver Westmoreland
family, they had depended on her to help Gemma and Bailey through their grief.
That didn’t mean she’d needed to put her own grief aside, but it had meant that
in spite of her grief, she’d had to be strong for the others. And she had. When
the younger ones would come to her crying, she was the one who would comfort
them, regardless of the circumstances or her emotions.
    The ability to become emotionally detached, to stay in control,
was how she’d known being an anesthesiologist was her calling. She went into
surgery knowing some patients wouldn’t make it through. Although she assured the
patient of her skill in putting them to sleep, she never promised they would
pull through. That decision was out of her hands. Some of the surgeons had lost
patients and, in a way, she felt she’d lost them, as well. But no matter what,
she remained in control.
    Drawing in a deep breath, she eyed Rico. “You might have a
problem with control, but I don’t. I admit I find you desirable, but I can
regulate my emotions. I can turn them on and off when I need to, Rico. Don’t
worry that I’ll lose control one day and jump your bones, because it won’t
happen. There’s not that much desire in the world.”
    Rico shook his head. “You honestly believe that, don’t
you?”
    She placed her coffee cup on the counter. “Honestly believe
what?”
    “That you can control a desire as intense as ours.”
    “Yes, why wouldn’t I?”
    “I agree that certain desires can be controlled, Megan. But I’m
trying to tell you, what you refuse to acknowledge or accept—desire as intense
as ours can’t always be controlled. What we have isn’t normal.”
    She bunched her forehead. “Not normal? That’s
preposterous.”
    Rico knew then that she really didn’t have a clue. This was no
act. He could stand here until he was blue in the face and she still wouldn’t
understand. “What I’m trying to say, Megan,” he said slowly, trying not to let
frustration get the best of him, “is that I feel a degree of desire for you that
I’ve never felt for any woman before.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Should
I get excited or feel flattered about it?”
    He gritted his teeth. “Look, Megan…”
    “No, you look, Rico,” she said,
crossing the room to stand in front of him. “I don’t know what to tell you.
Honestly, I don’t. I admitted that I’m attracted to you, as well. Okay, I’ll
admit it again. But on that same note, I’m also telling you I won’t lose control
over it. For crying out loud, there’re more important things in life than sexual
attraction, desire and passion. It’s not about all of that.”
    “Isn’t it?” He paused a moment, trying to keep his vexation in
check. And it wasn’t helping matters that she was there, standing right in front
of him, with a stubborn expression on her face and looking as beautiful as any
woman could. And he picked up her scent, which made him fight to keep a grip on
his lust. The woman was driving him mad in so many ways.
    “Let me ask you something, Megan,” he said in a voice he was
fighting to keep calm. “When was the last time you were with a man you
desired?”
    Rico’s question surprised Megan, and she didn’t say anything.
Hell, she’d never been with a man she truly desired because she’d never been
with a man period. She had dated guys in high school, college, and even doctors
at the hospital. Unfortunately, they’d all