Read Lone Star Courtship for Free Online

imaginary dagger, pulled it from his chest with a soft “Ugh!” and offered it to her. “You should keep this for yourself. You’ll need it to carve your budget figures after we review the finances tomorrow. Cheers, Miss Hardy.” He turned toward the door, feeling fortunate to be leaving with the last word said.
    â€œOh, Mr. Westbrook?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œWhen you’re full of bull it’s best to keep your mouth shut.”
    â€œAhhhhhhhh…” He tapped his index finger to his temple and nodded. “Now I get it.”

    Casey stood in the lobby of the Galvez Hotel and marveled over the turn-of-the-century opulence while she waited for Captain Jack’s delivery vehicle. She checked her wristwatch: 9:00 p.m. She should have called first, but it was on the way home and Captain Jack’s made the best fish and chips south of Keokuk, Iowa. Bringing Barrett something to eat was simply spur-of-the-moment Southern hospitality. At least, she hoped he’d believe that story.
    From the moment she’d peeked through her window shade to watch his huge Cadillac cross the dusty construction site, the seed of a plan had begun to germinate. Her background in corporate quality told her it was too quickly conceived. But Father Time was like the girl in high school who’d tried to convince Casey a perm would actually straighten her hair.
    The enemy!
    She didn’t have the luxury of plotting carefully and applying Six Sigma analysis to find the defects in her plans. Instead she’d keep copious notes and review her progress each day as she moved aggressively toward her goal.
    Project code name: Befriend the Brit!
    Okay, so it was about as firm as a soup sandwich, but she’d made worse conceived notions work before. This would be a snap.
    She’d drive him nuts with questions and develop a fascination for all things English that made her mistrust of the legal profession no longer seem relevant. She’d get to know him so well that she’d be poised to strike before he could derail her plans.
    Or worse, hurt her family.
    And then there was the side benefit of spending a few days with a man who was very easy on the eye. That would help turn this bitter pill into a jelly bean.
    â€œMa’am, is that the delivery you were expecting?” The bellman gestured toward the hotel’s circular drive. A mustard-yellow van bearing the likeness of a pirate waited with emergency lights flashing.
    She paid the driver, carried the warm bag to the front counter and used the house phone to ring Barrett’s suite.
    â€œYes, h’lo?” His voice was raspy.
    â€œWere you asleep, Barrett?”
    â€œIt’s…” There was a brief pause. “Four a.m. Of course I was asleep. Who is this?”
    â€œIt’s Casey. I’m so sorry to wake you. I didn’t consider the time difference.”
    In truth, she knew his body was on London time, seven hours ahead. Step one of her plan was to catch him unprepared, get a glimpse of his true nature.
    â€œI’ve come bearing gifts.”
    â€œGifts? At this unearthly hour?”
    She smiled at the crescendo of disbelief in his voice.
    â€œThis unearthly hour is only 9:00 p.m. I didn’t want you going to bed hungry so I brought fish and chips.” She dangled the bait.
    â€œAle-battered?” The Brit nibbled.
    â€œProbably.” She had no idea.
    â€œWith malt vinegar?”
    â€œOf course!” Picky, picky.
    â€œCod or haddock?”
    â€œI don’t knooooooow! If you’re not interested I’ll leave it for the security guard.”
    â€œNo! I’m fully recovered from the tamales and a bit of fish sounds spot-on. I’ll be waiting at the door of the Laredo Suite to tip the porter. And, Casey, thank you for such a thoughtful gesture. Quite civilized under the circumstances. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Civilized? Circumstances?
    Did that refer to her