Wanted: Fairy Godmother by Laurie LeClair Read Free Book Online Page A

sounded sarcastic even to his own ears.
    “Thanks, Jake,” Stan said, coming through the door. A tentative smile inched across the oldest boy’s thin face.
    “Hey, man,” Lance said, following close behind and holding a platter of delicious smelling brownies.
    Marvin turned a brilliant shade of red when he caught Jake’s scowl. “Hope we’re not bothering you.” He shifted his shoulders uncomfortably.
    “Of course we’re not,” Callie chastised him gently. She broke away from Les and stepped beside Marvin. Patting the boy on the back, she glanced at Jake. “Isn’t that right, Jake? I’m sure you and your friends could use a snack and some new blood in your card game.”
    The impish grin with the dimple playing at the corner of her mouth nearly drove him to distraction. Looking into her dazzling sea-green eyes didn’t help, either. His breath stayed trapped in his chest, stealing his ready denial. He just nodded instead, dumbfounded and lightheaded.
    “I knew it,” she said excitedly, hugging him briefly. Her impulsive action even surprised her, Jake realized as her cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink.
    “Who’s playing?” Gus asked around a mouthful of brownie. “Name’s Gus, by the way. This here is Lester.”
    Five minutes later, Callie sat across from Jake. Pure delight transformed her face to a radiant glow. The hot coil in his gut twisted, tugging tighter. A responding ache snapped through his groin, like a whip, leaving little room for comfort in his jeans.
    Lord, he needed a woman and fast; that was the only reason he arrived at every time he questioned this strange fascination with Callie.
    Babysitting his cousins these last several weeks and the heap of marriage proposals he’d been offered kept him miles away from fulfilling his baser needs. Hiring Callie solved both problems, sending a silent message: he wasn’t looking for a mother for his cousins or a wife for himself, now or ever.
    “You ever play five card stud before?” Jake forced the words out between gritted teeth.
    “A little here and there,” she answered evasively.
    He studied her closely. She averted her stare, perusing the long, rectangular bunkhouse. The old wooden building served its purpose well. Empty bunks lined each wall. Only two stood with blankets on them. The stands beside each were littered with personal items. The winter season called for little help at the main ranch.
    He knew the moment she spotted the nude girlie pictures hanging on the wall; she stiffened noticeably. Smiling tightly, she brought her attention back to the game. “Now remember, guys,” she addressed Jake’s cousins sitting in a semi-circle near her and chomping on some brownies, “don’t give anything away when I hold up my cards. I wouldn’t want these old pros to know if I had a good hand or not. I need all the help I can get.”
    “Is that right?” Gus asked, shuffling the deck once again. “You want to play for stakes?”
    “Do you mean money?” She frowned thoughtfully when Gus nodded. “Sure, why not?” She pulled a ten dollar bill out of the front pocket of her jeans and asked for some chips.
    Les quickly accommodated her, smiling shyly. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, this is just a nice friendly poker game.”
    “Wanna deal the first hand?” Gus held the deck out to her.
    “Oh, no. I don’t think so. How about the rest of you take a turn first, then I’ll give it a try?”
    Jake frowned. Something didn’t feel right to him. In the few hours he’d known Callie Andrews, he’d never peg her as being timid. Sweet, sexy, a little fire ball of energy, and downright pushy at times, yes, but bashful and afraid to try something new, no way, he mused.
    “Ante up.” Gus turned to Callie to explain the rules. After dealing the cards, he said, “Jake, your turn.”
    Jake glanced at his hand, realizing he only needed two more hearts to make a flush. Discarding two, he asked for replacements, smiling inwardly when his