"I know you're against it, but I really think an
apartment might be your best bet. At least until something you like better comes
up," Gail said.
Frowning, he glanced at her. "I don't want to live in an apartment. I've
spent the past twelve years in an apartment. I want a house. With a yard for my
dogs."
Her eyebrow lifted in surprise. "I didn't know you had dogs. Where are
they?"
He lifted a shoulder, aware he was being unreasonable, but he didn't care
at that point. "I don't have any. Yet. But I'm getting them, as soon as I have a
place to live."
Propping her hands on her hips, Gail tilted her head and considered him.
"You're buying a house because of a dog–dogs-- you don't even have?"
"No, I'm buying a house--or I would if I could find one--because I'm sick
and tired of apartment living. I didn't move to Texas to live in another damn
sterile apartment complex. And I'm getting dogs--puppies--because I don't want
to live alone. I like dogs, and I've wanted some for a long time now."
Gail gazed at him a long moment, then heaved a deep sigh and muttered,
"Puppies. Oh, Lord." She jerked her head at the car. "Get in. There's one house
we haven't looked at yet."
She handed him the last flyer to read on the way over. A short time later,
she pulled up in front of a cream brick, one story house. Huge oleander bushes
grew in the front, sporting flowers of brilliant pink. A live oak tree, bent
from the prevailing winds, occupied a large spot in the green, St. Augustine
grass. A couple of bougainvillea, in shades of scarlet, flanked the front door.
They got out of the van and stood looking at it. "Nice. I like it
already." He cocked his head at Gail. "Why didn't you show me this one first?"
"Notice the location?"
He grinned, and nodded. "Two doors down from yours. Trying to keep the
riffraff out of the neighborhood, Gail?"
"Very funny." She shot him a dark glance. "You know that's not it." A
faint flush rose in her cheeks. "What would you have thought if I'd showed you
this one first?"
"Oh, I don't know." He glanced at it again, then back to her. "That you'd
found me a nice house?"
"Ha." She propped her hands on her hips. "You'd have thought I was making
a move."
"Are you?" he couldn't help asking.
Instead of backing down, she lifted her chin and asked, "What would you do
if I did?"
A little surprised, he stared at her. "What would I do if you made a move
on me?" A smile tugged at his mouth. "Why don't we try it and see?"
She laughed. "Sorry, that was a rhetorical question. Come on, let's go see
the inside."
"All right. I want to get this settled today, if I can."
"You know, most people want to think about it a while, once they see a
house they like."
"They don't have my time constraints. I want to be moved in and settled as
soon as possible. Tim wants to open the clinic next week, so the sooner I get
this done, the better."
"You're talking as if you've decided, and you haven't even seen the
interior yet."
"I'm waiting on my beautiful real estate agent to show me," he said, as
straight-faced as he could be.
They entered and walked through the empty rooms slowly. By the time they
reached the master bedroom, he knew he wanted it.
Pale blue walls rose above a lush, thick beige carpet. Glass-paned French
doors looked into a fenced back yard. Another live oak shaded part of it, and a
large palm tree graced one corner. Several beds were planted with a variety of
flowering plants. Plenty big enough for a couple of dogs, he thought.
"Okay, let's do it. Can you write up the offer now?"
Gail stared at him for a minute. "Are you sure? Don't you even want to
think about it over night?"
"Nope. I'm used to making quick decisions. I like the house. It's going to
suit me just fine."
Clearly baffled, she shook her head. "All right. I'll go get the papers."
He took her arm, detaining her before she could leave the room. "Are you
all right with this? With me moving in here, I mean?"
Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
It dawned on him that this wasn't the woman he remembered from five years
ago. Then she'd been a little tentative, a little unsure of herself. Still
reeling from her divorce. But in the five years since, she'd changed. Which
shouldn't surprise him. After all, he'd changed too. A very strong, confident
woman stood before him today. He had to admit she intrigued him as much or more
than the woman he remembered.
But he'd bet one thing hadn't changed. Those lips would taste every bit as
sweet now as they had at his brother's wedding.
She must have seen the speculation in his gaze. Her smile turned saucy,
and just a little bit wicked. Those slick, red lips pursed invitingly. Then she
turned and sauntered from the room. He'd also make a bet she knew he watched her
go. Man, when had she turned so dangerous?
Excerpt from A MARRIAGE MADE N TEXAS, copyright 2002 by
Eve Gaddy, Harlequin Superromance #1090, October 2002.
You can order from Eve Gaddy's currently
available titles at Author,
Author! or Amazon.
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