The Art of Love (The Windswept Saga) by Tommie Conrad Read Free Book Online Page B

and brand new.
    Her eyes met his, reflecting back an emotion he was seeing for the very first time.  “Yes,” she said quietly. 
    He dipped his head and shot her a cheerful smile.  “Really?”   
    “Yes, really.  I’d like to b e your exclusive, personal, one and only girlfriend.”
    “Good,” he replied, placing his lips to her forehead.  “Because I’d like to be your one and only boyfriend.  Just promise you’ll go out on a date with me this weekend.”
    She stared at him quizzically.  “Time and location?”
    “Big I Ranch, Saturday.”
    “You want me to come over to your house for a date?  Sounds like the wrong way to start a relationship.”
    He squeezed her body to his.  “Horseback riding, Miss Holt.  A gentleman’s pursuit.  What kind of cowboy d o you think I am?”
    “Please accept my apologies, Chandler.  I’d love to go riding with you.”
    His eyes opened slowly, as he became cognizant that he was no longer a wiry, lanky teenager.  The realization hit him hard, and he cursed.  Taylor’s homecoming had knocked that confident buckaroo flat on his ass, and hiring her had been a major lapse in judgment.
    But he didn’t regret it.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
    CJ stuck his head through the apartment door and grinned.  “You awake?”
    Chandler dragged a shirt over his chest and shook his head.  “Nope, I’m sleepwalking.  Leave me a message and I’ll get back to you later.”
    “The funny bone is working overtime, man, and I know what that means.”
    He arched an eyebrow at his brother and frowned.  “And?”
    “And nothing.”
    Chandler groaned. “I had a rough night, bro—so cut to the chase, Chase.”
    CJ laughed.  “Sorry, man.  It’s been a while and I just wanted to check in with you.”  He pursed his lips together in a flimsy smile.  “The ranch isn’t the same without you, bud.” 
    “I can’t get Taylo r out of my head.  Can’t stop wanting her.  Can’t stop needing her.”  He massaged some tension from his neck and coughed.  “Feels like I’m objectifying her, and I never meant for that to happen.”
    CJ yanked off his hat and jacket, hung them up and followed Chandler to the couch.  “It sounds normal to me.  You loved her way back when—really loved her, and not in the horny teenage way.”  He chuckled.  “I can tell the difference.  Anyway, she’s been through some tough times and you’re all alone, by choice, so why wouldn’t you wanna…”  He trailed off, putting his words together judiciously.  “You’d like to hold her in your arms and take the pain away, even though in her case it’s just not possible.”
    Chandler looked away from his brother, wanted to censure him, bu t couldn’t find it in his heart to fib.  “Maybe she’s back in my life for a reason.  I don’t mean that fate or whatever dealt her a bad hand just so I could be happy, but…CJ, what the hell am I trying to say here?”  He threw his hands up in frustration.
    CJ gripped his shoulder firmly.  “Stop worrying so much and let the pieces fall into place.  Or as Dad might say, ‘Steady, cowboy, steady’.  His advice usually works in any situation.”
    “Everything that spills from your mouth these days is the cold hard truth .  It’s a world gone mad,” Chandler joked.  He struggled to rub the sleep from his eyes.  “Can you keep a secret?”
    “You can count on me and Mark, always—but my wife, and that sister of ours, can’t hold water.  In other words, yeah, spill the beans and I’ll keep them locked up tighter than a drum.”
    “I’m worried that this art gallery in this small town was a fool-headed idea, an d I’m in up to my neck.”
    CJ lifted his brow, scrunched up his entire forehead.  “Would Dad have cosigned on a fool-headed idea?  I’m thinking hell, no.  Besides, you worry too much, always have.  That why you’re having trouble sleeping?”
    He nodded, reluctant to admit the