Read Online The Texan's Bride by Linda Warren - Free Book Online
Authors: Linda Warren
Tags: Romance
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Jessie’s favorite things. Rosa knew her phobias.
They walked through the kitchen, dining room and living room to the large foyer. Jessie’s nerves were taut, and she turned quickly to talk to Cadde. His arms went around her waist and she forgot what she was going to say. He took her lips gently this time and, unable to stop herself, she returned his ardor. His hands trailed from her back to her hair, and desire, raw and potent, shot through her.
Breathing heavily, she whispered, “Cadde, could we talk?”
He sagged against her. “Jessie…” he groaned.
“Like you said—” she rushed into speech “—this is too fast. I need a little time.” She held her thumb and forefinger close together. “Just a little.”
“More rules, huh?” His voice held a note of complacency rather than anger.
She kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” she murmured, and ran up the stairs.
“This is not how you get a baby, Jessie,” he called after her.
CHAPTER FIVE
J ESSIE HURRIED INTO HER ROOM , smiling. Somehow, she’d known behind that hard exterior Cadde Hardin was a nice man. He was giving her time. Touching her lips, she still felt the heady sensation of his kiss. She fell across the bed and closed her eyes.
Something wet touched her cheek and that euphoric feeling vanished. She reached out, pulling Mirry into the crook of her arm. “Miss me?”
The dog snuggled closer, and Jessie could see dog hair clinging to her black dress. Oh, well, it was going to the cleaners anyway. Her cell buzzed. She grabbed her purse and fished it out. Seeing the name, she clicked on.
“Hi, Myra.”
“I called Mama earlier and she said you were out with Mr. Cadde.” Myra dragged out the last part.
“Yes, and I had a great time.”
There was a long pause. “So he agreed to the deal?” Myra was the only person she’d told about her plans, and she was vehemently against it. But Jessie had listened to her heart.
“Yes.” Jessie bit her lip, trying not to react to the disapproval in Myra’s voice.
“Just like that?”
“No, but we worked it out.” Jessie scooted up against the headboard, the dress sliding up to her hips.
“With strings, I’m sure, to his benefit.”
Jessie gave up on being tolerant. “Myrie, I’m not talking to you if you keep being so critical.”
“I’m just worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I could use my friend’s support.”
“Cadde Hardin is wrong for you.”
And the conversation went like so many in the past— Myra in her misguided wisdom was always trying to protect Jessie, and Jessie inevitably lost her cool. Why couldn’t the people closest to her understand that she had to live life—her way?
“You don’t know him.”
“I know his type.”
“And what is that?” Jessie stroked Mirry to calm herself.
“Strong, powerful, determined and in control…always. I see his type in the courtroom all the time.”
“Cadde’s not like that.” Well, that probably wasn’t true. Jessie barely knew Cadde, but she was trying to make a point.
“You’ve known him, what? Ten years or more? And ninety-nine percent of that time he’s ignored you. He was sucking up to your father for a big chunk of Shilah.”
“I didn’t meet him until I came home from college and that hasn’t been ten years. If you don’t apologize, I’m done talking to you.”
A tense pause. “Okay, I’m sorry, but he’s going to hurt you.”
“I might hurt him. Have you thought of that?”
“Since you’re besotted with the guy it hasn’t crossed my mind.”
Jessie sighed. “Myrie, I’m not that little girl you used to lead around by the hand. I can make my own decisions and handle the consequences.” She stuffed a pillow behind her back with more force than necessary. “I recall a certain lawyer I know who dated a man for nine months and then found out he was married. She cried for three days.”
Another pause. “Okay, I’m a lousy judge of men.”
“Yes, you are, so let me make my own
They walked through the kitchen, dining room and living room to the large foyer. Jessie’s nerves were taut, and she turned quickly to talk to Cadde. His arms went around her waist and she forgot what she was going to say. He took her lips gently this time and, unable to stop herself, she returned his ardor. His hands trailed from her back to her hair, and desire, raw and potent, shot through her.
Breathing heavily, she whispered, “Cadde, could we talk?”
He sagged against her. “Jessie…” he groaned.
“Like you said—” she rushed into speech “—this is too fast. I need a little time.” She held her thumb and forefinger close together. “Just a little.”
“More rules, huh?” His voice held a note of complacency rather than anger.
She kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” she murmured, and ran up the stairs.
“This is not how you get a baby, Jessie,” he called after her.
CHAPTER FIVE
J ESSIE HURRIED INTO HER ROOM , smiling. Somehow, she’d known behind that hard exterior Cadde Hardin was a nice man. He was giving her time. Touching her lips, she still felt the heady sensation of his kiss. She fell across the bed and closed her eyes.
Something wet touched her cheek and that euphoric feeling vanished. She reached out, pulling Mirry into the crook of her arm. “Miss me?”
The dog snuggled closer, and Jessie could see dog hair clinging to her black dress. Oh, well, it was going to the cleaners anyway. Her cell buzzed. She grabbed her purse and fished it out. Seeing the name, she clicked on.
“Hi, Myra.”
“I called Mama earlier and she said you were out with Mr. Cadde.” Myra dragged out the last part.
“Yes, and I had a great time.”
There was a long pause. “So he agreed to the deal?” Myra was the only person she’d told about her plans, and she was vehemently against it. But Jessie had listened to her heart.
“Yes.” Jessie bit her lip, trying not to react to the disapproval in Myra’s voice.
“Just like that?”
“No, but we worked it out.” Jessie scooted up against the headboard, the dress sliding up to her hips.
“With strings, I’m sure, to his benefit.”
Jessie gave up on being tolerant. “Myrie, I’m not talking to you if you keep being so critical.”
“I’m just worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I could use my friend’s support.”
“Cadde Hardin is wrong for you.”
And the conversation went like so many in the past— Myra in her misguided wisdom was always trying to protect Jessie, and Jessie inevitably lost her cool. Why couldn’t the people closest to her understand that she had to live life—her way?
“You don’t know him.”
“I know his type.”
“And what is that?” Jessie stroked Mirry to calm herself.
“Strong, powerful, determined and in control…always. I see his type in the courtroom all the time.”
“Cadde’s not like that.” Well, that probably wasn’t true. Jessie barely knew Cadde, but she was trying to make a point.
“You’ve known him, what? Ten years or more? And ninety-nine percent of that time he’s ignored you. He was sucking up to your father for a big chunk of Shilah.”
“I didn’t meet him until I came home from college and that hasn’t been ten years. If you don’t apologize, I’m done talking to you.”
A tense pause. “Okay, I’m sorry, but he’s going to hurt you.”
“I might hurt him. Have you thought of that?”
“Since you’re besotted with the guy it hasn’t crossed my mind.”
Jessie sighed. “Myrie, I’m not that little girl you used to lead around by the hand. I can make my own decisions and handle the consequences.” She stuffed a pillow behind her back with more force than necessary. “I recall a certain lawyer I know who dated a man for nine months and then found out he was married. She cried for three days.”
Another pause. “Okay, I’m a lousy judge of men.”
“Yes, you are, so let me make my own
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