Free Crazy for Lovin’ You by Teresa Southwick Page B

Vegas. Working in a casino.”
    â€œSo she wanted money,” Taylor mused. “Did you give it to her?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she realized how invasive they were. “Scratch that. Sorry to be so nosy. You don’t need to answer.”
    He shook his head and they continued down the stairs. “No big deal. Yeah, I gave it to her. I’ve learned that everyone wants something. At least she’s kin.”
    It was a small glimpse into the most eligible cowboy’s life. She remembered the magazine stories. Her head told her that was a long time ago. Her heart believed he traveled in fast-paced, exciting, glitzy circles. Places she couldn’t go. But now he was telling her there was a downside to money and fame. She could see it in his eyes and the look there tugged at her sympathy.
    â€œEveryone wants something,” she said quietly. “Including me.”
    He stepped off the bottom stair and turned, blocking her. Her front was touching his front and they saw eye to eye. It would be easy to rest her forearms on his shoulders, the familiar way couples did. She could touch her mouth to his, with little or no effort, and let him deepen the contact. She wanted him to fold her in his arms and hold her.
    Suddenly this house she knew better than the back of her hand was the loneliest place on earth.
    He shrugged. “You never get something for nothing,” he said. “That’s something else I learned.”
    â€œI wouldn’t have it any other way. When I get your seal of approval, I’ll have earned it fair and square. Or I don’t want it at all.”
    Otherwise it would mean Mitch Rafferty was just being nice to her. Or worse—feeling sorry for her. And that meant she would have to watch her back as far as her heart was concerned.
    A sweet and considerate Mitch Rafferty was more dangerous than a no-limit card game with the devil.

Chapter Five
    T he morning after a restless night, his first in Taylor’s house, Mitch stepped out of the shower. He knew she’d been there not long before. Her scent lingered, giving him an instant visual of her naked—soft skin, lush curves, sleek and wet and—whoa. Annoyed at the train of thought he couldn’t tame, he grabbed his shaving kit and unzipped it. After pulling out razor, toothbrush, toothpaste and comb, he looked for a spot to put them on the vanity. A good portion of the space held Taylor’s toiletries.
    Body lotion, body splash, body mist. Body. The word jumped out at him from every single, solitary product in the whole damn bathroom.
    His annoyance kicked up a notch. What had he been thinking to pick the only room in the place where he had to share such intimate space with Taylor? Only her bedroom would be worse.
    Or better.
    Jeez. He couldn’t seem to stop. He hadn’t had a sensible thought since the day he’d come to the ranch to check it out. The day he’d seen Taylor Stevens again—all grown up.
    He grabbed a towel and dried his hair, then wrapped the thick, luxurious terry cloth around his waist. After brushing his teeth and hair, he dressed quickly in his room. There was a lot to do in a short amount of time to get the show on the road. He needed to get his mind off Taylor and things he had no right thinking about. But he needed caffeine first to do both.
    When he opened his door, the aroma of fresh brewed coffee drifted to him, as if the B&B fairy had read his mind. That smell along with the aroma of freshly baked biscuits, sweet rolls and bacon made a hole in his gut as wide as the Texas prairie. Even stronger than his hunger was an urgency to see Taylor. And for the life of him he didn’t understand why, let alone have the will to control it.
    He peeked through the open door into her room, and wasn’t surprised to see that her bed was neatly made. Following where his nose led, he found his way along the upstairs hall and down to the