Free Crazy for Lovin’ You by Teresa Southwick Page A

maid’s quarters.
    He turned from the window and met her gaze with a quizzical one of his own. “Earth to Taylor.”
    â€œSorry,” she said, rubbing the bridge of her nose with one finger. “I guess my mind was somewhere else. Did you say something?”
    He crossed the room and stood in front of her. “I just wondered if you found it lonely here, now that the rest of your family is gone.”
    â€œNo. Anywhere else I probably would be, but not here on Stevens land. My roots are here and they go deep,” she said. Then she noticed the flicker in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Mitch. I know that’s a sore spot. I didn’t mean to touch on something uncomfortable for you.”
    He shook his head. “It doesn’t bother me. Not anymore.”
    â€œSo you’ve come to terms with your past?”
    â€œPart of it,” he said.
    The part that didn’t include Jen, she guessed. But she’d already stuck her foot in her mouth once. Wild horses couldn’t drag a question about her sister from her lips.
    â€œSo where do you call home now?”
    He shrugged. “Nowhere. At least I don’t own property anywhere,” he clarified.
    â€œSurely you don’t live in a cave?” she teased. “That’d be tough. Cave property in Texas is scarce.”
    He grinned. “Under a rock is more like it,” he answered, joking back.
    Times like this were the hardest, Taylor thought. This was when she missed him most, when he baited, bantered and bothered her.
    This was when she was in the most danger of making a damn fool of herself all over again. Time to head for the hills.
    â€œWell, that’s the whole tour. I’ve got work to do, so I’ll leave you to settle in,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound too abrupt. But she had to get out of there. She started backing out of the room.
    He followed. “To answer your question, I lease a condo in L.A. My business is based there.”
    â€œI see,” she said, as they walked side by side down the hall. He would no doubt be going back when his obligations in Destiny were fulfilled. “Do you like California?”
    â€œYeah,” he said nodding. “But I’m looking for other opportunities around the country. There are areas of Texas growing faster than anywhere else in the country. Industrial and business centers and shopping malls are going up fast.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œThat’s right. Actually, Destiny is growing. I’m looking at some projects around here.”
    â€œSo is that why you took on volunteer work for the rodeo? Business contacts? Put your name out there?” Selfish reasons, she wondered to herself. She probably shouldn’t have asked. But when had she ever kept her mouth shut when she should have?
    â€œThe exposure doesn’t hurt,” he admitted. “Dev mentioned it when he put the bite on me. But, it’s not the only reason. I don’t need to work ever again, Taylor. I made enough money riding bulls that with sound investments I could live comfortably for the rest of my life.”
    â€œAssuming you didn’t squander it on wild living.” She flashed him a smile, then held the railing as she started downstairs.
    â€œYeah, assuming that,” he said with a chuckle. “Or if too many people hit me up.”
    â€œWho would do that?”
    â€œMy mother for one.”
    â€œYou heard from her?” Taylor asked, shocked. She stopped, midstairway, and looked at him.
    He stopped on the step below her so she met his gaze squarely. “Yeah. You know that whole under a rock thing is genetic. Ruby came out from under hers and managed to track me down when she found out about all the money I was making.”
    â€œIs she still married to the construction guy?”
    â€œStill would be the key word. I have no proof that they ever got hitched in the first place. But she’s single now, living in