Free Texas Temptation by Bárbara McCauley

frowned at him. “You never were very good at dates, big brother. I suppose you’ve also forgotten that Emma’s tenth-birthday party is this afternoon, too.”
    â€œIt is not.” Jared grabbed the black T-shirt he’d set on the coffee table earlier and pulled it on. “It’s next Saturday.”
    Jessica looked at Annie and sighed. “He’s cute, but hopeless. I’ll expect you both at the ranch this afternoon. Four o’clock.”
    â€œOh, no.” Annie shook her head. “I can’t. I...well, I’m staying in town, and—”
    â€œGreat!” Jessica said brightly as she stood. “You can ride in from town with me then. We’ll have lots of time to catch up.”
    Jessica gathered up the bags she’d dropped and deposited them in Jared’s arms. “I know how much you love to shop,” she said sarcastically, “so I picked up a few things for you in San Antonio. I’ll send you the bill.” She winked at him, then reached up and kissed his cheek. “Wear the shirt in the white bag this afternoon.”
    Jared frowned down at his sister. She had a mischievous look in her eyes, and he knew it meant trouble.
    But there was no escaping whatever it was she was up to, he thought with a sigh. And so what if Annie was at the party? What harm was there in that? There’d be enough other people around to keep a safe distance from her, and it wasn’t as if they were going home together.
    He stared after his sister as she sashayed out the door with a wave, thinking there were tornadoes that caused less damage.
    * * *
    The last time Annie had been to Stone Creek Ranch there hadn’t been pink balloons or streamers decorating the inside of the one-story brick house. There’d been no real laughter, as she heard now, no smiling faces. No brightly colored cake with huge pink roses. The people hadn’t been dressed in party clothes. They’d worn black, and they’d come to say goodbye to friend and neighbor, Jonathan Stone.
    For Annie, that day had been a blur. She’d sat with the family, talked with everyone there, but even now, she couldn’t recall one conversation she’d had or the name of one person she’d met. All she remembered was the cocoon of pain, and the horrible overwhelming feeling that she’d forgotten something and couldn’t remember what it was.
    But today, when she’d stepped through the front door in a sheer floral-print dress, it was as if she’d moved from one time zone into another, from a dark place into a bright place, and though she’d felt a moment of panic, she also felt as if she belonged here. And when Jessica dragged her through all the other guests to Jake, the minute he wrapped his arms around her, whatever anxiety she’d been feeling was gone.
    She felt as if she’d come home.
    She hugged Jake back, then gasped when he lifted her off the floor, not a difficult feat for him, considering the fact that he was six foot four.
    Jake set her down, then held her away from him and smiled the Stone smile that drove women crazy. “Annie Bailey. Tell me you’re single, you gorgeous creature.”
    It was at that moment that Annie’s gaze caught Jared’s. He was leaning against the fireplace a few feet away, a bottle of beer in his hand, watching her intently. Black jeans hugged his narrow hips, and a deep blue Western-style shirt emphasized the blue of his eyes and dark hair. She felt her pulse race as he nodded at her, but made no move to join them.
    Shaken, she turned her attention back to Jake and forced herself to grin at him. “I am single, but I hear you’re not.”
    â€œCan’t take my eyes off this man or he’s into trouble.” A slender blonde moved beside Jake and slid her arm through his. Her soft Southern accent was honey-smooth. “Watch out, Annie, or he’ll break your heart like he did