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told William
with an imploring look.
    William gave her a sad smile. “I’m afraid you
don’t understand, Annie. If you want this position, you don’t have
a choice.”
    Mitch grinned maddeningly. “Well I guess we
should go pack our bags…roomie.”
    Annie didn’t bother saying what she was
thinking. If hell was in Texas, she’d be there shortly.

Chapter Four
    Indeed, hell was in Texas. Or at least it felt like it. Annie
pulled at her fashionable fall tunic as she trudged across the hot
tarmac outside of the small Petersville airport and wished that
she’d had the forethought to wear something more suited to a Texas
autumn.
    Like Mitch, Annie thought irritably, glaring
at his broad, summer-knit covered back. Much to her annoyance, he’d
arrived bright-eyed and chipper this morning. Annie had never been
a morning person, and quite frankly, didn’t enjoy being around one
either. That Mitch appeared to have that very disposition only
irritated Annie further and reminded her of their differences. How
could she possibly live with the man for two weeks?
    Mitch paused for her to catch up, then aimed
a devastating smile in her direction. “Isn’t this great?”
    Annie eyed him warily. “Isn’t what
great?”
    Mitch pulled in a deep breath and savored the
air as Annie would a spoonful of homemade ice cream. “The climate,
the heat. It’s an Indian summer,” he confided with a wink. “The
very best.”
    Annie gave him a whatever-you-say look and
brushed by him. Okay, so he had a point. Annie imagined that if she
were dressed properly she would be enjoying the warm air on her
skin, and the clean dry scent wafting on the light breeze.
    But she wasn’t. She was dressed for winter,
therefore she was hot. Besides, Annie wasn’t in the mood to be
happy. Her orderly life was spinning out of control and Mitch
Hightower was no small part in the problem. Furthermore, it would
be a whole lot easier to stay annoyed with the man if he weren’t so
damned charming.
    Mitch loped up beside her as they neared the
limo, shortening his long stride to accommodate her shorter one.
“So how far is it from here to the ranch?” he asked.
    “ How should I know? I’ve
never been here before.”
    “ You haven’t?”
    “ No.” Annie handed her
carry-on to the driver, made sure her other bags were stored, then
slid into the car. Mitch did the same, then crowded next to her.
Annie frowned. There were several yards of seat back here. Did he
have to sit so close? It was hard to ignore him in any amount of
space, much less with his thigh intimately pressed against
hers.
    The driver informed them the journey to the
Triple P would only take a few minutes and encouraged them to make
the most of the mini-bar. While Annie could have used a drink, she
didn’t allow herself the luxury. She’d need all her wits about her
when they arrived at the ranch.
    Mitch smiled as though he’d read her mind.
“You aren’t going to have anything to drink?”
    “ No,” Annie said, resisting
the urge to clench her teeth.
    Mitch nodded favorably. “Good, Annie. I’m
proud of you. Going cold turkey is the best way to beat a drinking
problem.”
    Annie whirled to face him, prepared to blast
him out of the car for that remark, when she noticed the
infuriatingly amused grin he wore. Those unusual blue eyes twinkled
mischievously.
    “ Very funny,” she said with
a smirk. “Do you enjoy goading me? Is that how you plan to
entertain yourself for the next two weeks?”
    Mitch smiled and licked his lips, then
leveled an entirely too sexy look at Annie. Her stomach did a
flip-flop as she waited for his response.
    “ Among other things,” Mitch
commented. “What do you plan to do to entertain
yourself?”
    How did he manage to load that much innuendo
into one simple question? Annie wondered. Her toes curled in her
shoes until they pinched, a silent reminder that she wasn’t
supposed to like this man, much less be attracted to him.
    “ How do I intend