Texas Pride. Barbara McCauley
insistent barking. “In fact, it’s the first building I want renovated.”
When she’d dragged him several yards from the church, the wind calmed to a breeze again. Weird, Dylan thought as he slapped at the dust covering his jeans and shirt. “It will cost a lot more to renovate than rebuild,” he said. “What difference does it make?”
Her fingers tightened on his arm. “We aren’t tearing it down, Dylan.”
Jessica’s statement went beyond an opinion or recommendation. It was an absolute, emphatic mandate. He looked down at the slender fingers gripping his arm and couldn’t help but wonder if the rest of her skin was as smooth and soft. He quickly pushed the thought from his mind.
“Promise me you won’t replace even one nail unless it’s absolutely necessary,” she said earnestly.
The way she was looking at him he would have promised her anything. Her eyes darkened to a smoky, deeper shade of blue, and the unexpected need he felt for her shifted to an ache. But he wasn’t the only one affected, he realized. He recognized the desire in her eyes, as well, mixed with surprise. It was like looking into a mirror.
They both stepped away at the same time.
“You’re the boss,” he said, and heard the strained sound of his voice. “I’ve seen enough today, anyway. I’ve got to get back to Cactus Flat and round up a crew.”
“How are you going to do that?” she asked with a sigh. “I’ve already seen what’s available.”
He smiled. “I’ve been around this business a few years more than you. I know where to look. I’ll set it up and be back tomorrow with my things.” He began to head down the street.
“Dylan.”
He turned back at the quiet summons. Jessica walked toward him, hands in her pockets, her cheeks bright red.
“There’s something I think you should know,” she said, staring down at her boots. “Something that might make a difference to your desire to work here.”
He didn’t want her to say it. If she admitted this physical attraction between them, it would only make things more difficult. If they said nothing, it would be easier to pretend it didn’t exist. Yeah, right.
“Look, Jessica,” he said, “I already know.”
“You do?”
He nodded. “And I admit it’s pretty intense. But if we just ignore it, it won’t get in the way.”
She stared at him. “Ignore it?”
“Right.”
“You can do that?”
“Sure.” He started to feel awkward, discussing it like this.
“It doesn’t frighten you?” she asked in amazement.
It scared the hell out of him. But he wasn’t ready to admit that, either. “I can deal with it,” he said, determined to make himself believe it. “After all, we are both rational mature adults and—”
“Dylan, that’s wonderful.” She smiled. “Few people even believe in them, let alone accept them.”
He was really missing something here. “Accept who?”
“Lucas and Meggie.”
“Lucas and Meggie?”
“The ghosts of course. According to the town records, they died in the church fire the night before their wedding. They’re still here.”
He simply stared at her.
She furrowed her brow. “What did you think I was talking about?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “The ghosts. Right.”
“So you don’t mind?” she asked.
“Well, I...” Did he mind? She’d obviously lost hers. “Let’s just say I’m not quite convinced yet.”
She smiled slowly. “You stick around, you will be,” she said. “But don’t worry. You don’t bother them and they won’t bother you. Right, Hannibal?”
Hannibal barked twice.
“Thanks for the warning,” he muttered.
He shook his head, watching as Jessica chased Hannibal back to the hotel. He looked at the church, remembering the strange gust of wind.
Ghosts.
Yeah. Sure.
Never a dull moment, he thought, wondering what other little surprises Jessica Stone had up her sleeve.
* * *
If there was one thing Dylan hated more than anything else, it was parties. The first two months he’d been married he’d been forced into an endless stream of socializing with people he didn’t know, and certainly didn’t care about. He’d never been one for idle conversation, and from his experience, the talk at family gatherings was as idle as it came.
He should have known that the Stone family would not fit that mold.
The second he’d stepped into Jake’s house he felt as if he’d been whisked into a tornado. Three little girls ran past, shrieking, and when Jessica called to one of them, a dark-haired child ran back and hugged her. Dylan was stunned at the resemblance between them.
“Dylan, this is my half sister, Emma,” Jessica said. “Emma, this is Dylan Grant.”
The child smiled, then ran off to join the other two girls. From then on, Dylan was busy shaking hands and trying to remember names. Savannah, Jake’s wife, was a blonde with iridescent green eyes and a soft Southern drawl. Annie, Jared’s fiancée, was also a blonde, with expressive hazel eyes and the glow of a woman about to be married to a man she loved.
Dylan felt a tug of envy, wondering what it would be like to see that look on a woman’s face for him. When Dylan shook Jared’s hand and congratulated him, Jared nodded stiffly. When Dylan glanced at Jessica, he saw her frown at her brother.
Then there were neighbors and friends. A giant of a man named Hugh Slater, who was Jared’s foreman on his oil rig. A crusty older man named Digger who didn’t speak—he boomed. And a neighboring rancher, Sam McCants, who smiled politely as they shook hands, but never took his eyes off Jessica.
Not that he blamed the man, Dylan thought. Jessica looked radiant tonight. She had on a deep blue long cotton dress that clung to her curves. The scooped neckline revealed the soft swell of her breasts, but was not so suggestive as to show cleavage. When he’d offered to drive her truck here tonight and he’d helped her into the cab, a brief flash of one long leg had elevated his body temperature several degrees.
Dylan felt his body tighten when Sam put an arm around Jessica and kissed her on the lips. It wasn’t a long kiss, and it certainly wasn’t passionate, but Dylan decided he didn’t like the man.
“So, Dylan,” Sam said, his arm still draped around Jessica, “why don’t you tell us your secret?”
Dylan hesitated. He had the strangest feeling everyone had quieted and was listening for his answer. Jake and Jared watched him intently. “Secret?”
“I understand you’re staying at Makeshift,” Sam said good-naturedly. “I’ve been trying for years to get around Jake and Jared where Jessica is concerned, with no luck. So what’s your secret?”
Jessica blushed and slipped out from Sam’s hold. “You’re incorrigible, Sam McCants. Room and board is part of Dylan’s pay. It’s as simple as that.”
“Room and board?” Jake raised one eyebrow and looked at Dylan first, then Jessica. “You mean you’re going to cook, too?”
Jessica ground her teeth. She hadn’t intended to mention that fact. Her brothers would never