Read Only You for Free Online

graduate school. Mrs. McKay would never allow someone who only had a B.S. to run the place.
    When Mrs. McKay sat her down and offered to finance her graduate education if she committed to taking over for old Mrs. White when she retired, Josie couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t given the decision any thought.
    “Well, I know everybody’s glad you did,” Cole drawled, drawing her attention back to their conversation. “You’re about all this town’s talked about for years. And now that you’re back—”
    “Please,” Josie held up a hand. She couldn’t take another minute of what great things the town expected of her. Reaching back, she pulled the pins from her hair. “Let’s don’t talk about that, okay?” She shook her hair out and rubbed her scalp. It felt good to let the weight of it fall loose around her shoulders.
    “Sure.”
    Josie met Cole’s eyes. Stunned was the only adequate word to describe his expression. She opened her mouth to ask what was the matter when Dixie returned with their drinks.
    “You look like you need some fattening up, Josie Lee,” she commented as she set big glasses of iced tea in front of them and a plate full of lemon quarters. “You know, I still make those chicken salad sandwiches you used to love.”
    “I’ll have to make a point to pull myself away from work and come over for lunch.”
    “That place sure is keepin’ you busy.” She shook her head. “Well, if you can’t come by, just call. I’ll have Blake run one over to you. Like most of the town, he’s usually around at lunchtime.”
    “What’s that brother of yours into these days?” Cole asked. “Haven’t seen him in awhile.”
    “He’s contributing to suburban sprawl. You know, takin’ somebody’s farmland and turnin’ it into a subdivision.”
    Cole chuckled. “It pays the bills.”
    “It oughta be a crime,” Dixie said in that matter-of-fact way of hers, laced with the remnants of a Texan accent. “Those dumplings are comin’ right up,” she said over her shoulder as she hurried away.
    “Good to see some things haven’t changed. You can always count on Dixie for a definite opinion.”
    “I heard that!” Dixie called from the kitchen.
    Josie and Cole both laughed.
    “How’s it feel to be back after all these years?”
    Josie tucked her hair behind her ears. “In some ways, it’s like I never left. Not much has changed.”
    “People change. I bet you’ve changed a lot.”
    Josie thought for a minute. “Not really.” She’d grown older, matured from the eighteen-year-old she’d been when she left. She’d accumulated a lot of knowledge, but typically, she hadn’t experienced much outside her books.
    “Your glasses are gone.”
    Another comment she hadn’t expected. She sipped her tea. “I had corrective surgery a couple of years ago. Now I just wear computer glasses. They’re mainly to alleviate eyestrain.”
    Cole’s gaze swept her face. “I never noticed how beautiful your eyes are.”
    Josie rearranged the silverware on her napkin. “How could you? My glasses were so thick.”
    “I’m noticing now. They remind me of warm honey.”
    His husky tone ran through her veins like choice brandy.
    Josie laughed nervously. “I think you’re just hungry.”
    Their food arrived, diffusing the sensually charged moment. They turned their attention to the delicious meal. “ Mmm . . . I’d forgotten what good home cooking tasted like.”
    “I’m sure you do just as well,” Cole said.
    “Oh, no. I never learned how to cook. If it weren’t for the microwave, prepared frozen meals, and peanut butter, I’m afraid I’d starve.”
    “Well, I’ll have to see to it that you eat out more often.”
    There it was. He would ask her out again. She should tell him there wouldn’t be a next time, but she couldn’t deny that she was tempted to throw convention to the wind . . . maybe even experience a real date. Cole was so different from the men of her narrow experience.
    But