Read To Tame A Texan for Free Online Page B

He took a deep breath and imagined Lynnie coming out still wearing rags in her hair, goo on her face, and that tacky bathrobe and fluffy slippers. He looked down at the flowers in his hand, wondering idly if Lynnie would insist he pin them on her. Maybe he could stick her with the pin and claim it was an accident.
    Holding his corsage, he walked slowly up the stairs, weaving slightly So this was what it felt like to walk toward the hangman. He was going to be disgraced tonight; he was sure of it—escorting the prim old maid to this ball where everyone in Texas would know about it. There was no telling what she’d be wearing and what she’d look like.
    Taking a deep breath, Ace rapped on the hotel door.
    Lynnie opened it. “Ace Durango, you’re late. I was beginning to wonder if you were coming at all.”
    He was weaving only slightly as he stared at her. She looked different, very different indeed. Lynnie wore a fluffy pink dress of some soft fabric. Her reddish hair was pulled back in a twist of curls. Of course, being a respectable girl, she wore no makeup, but somehow, the freckles across her clean, shiny face looked appealing, and the lashes around those green eyes were quite long. She was slender, but the front of her ball gown was filled out nicely.
    â€œStop looking at my bosom,” she snapped. “I swear, you men only think about one thing.”
    With Lynnie? Not on your life.
    â€œUh, you look nice,” he mumbled awkwardly, and thrust out the flowers. “I brought you a corsage.”
    â€œYou look nice, too.” She acted hesitant, which was unusual for Lynnie, and he realized that she was not used to men calling on her. He almost pitied her: twenty years old and probably had never been invited out by any man—the ultimate old maid. “Thanks for the flowers.”
    She took them, and he realized suddenly that they clashed with her dress. How stupid of him, not remembering to ask the color of her dress. He’d always been so smooth with women. It wasn’t like him to make such a blunder. “You don’t have to wear them,” he mumbled.
    Now she became the Lynnie he remembered. “Wear them? Of course I’m going to wear them. Well, don’t just stand there; come in.” She gestured and stepped backward. The dim light on her delicate features made her almost pretty.
    Pretty? Ace, my boy, you really have had too much to drink.
    Lynnie took a deep breath and wrinkled her nose. “You smell like a distillery.”
    â€œSorry.” He took a deep breath and realized she smelled of some delicate floral scent. “You want me to pin the corsage on?”
    â€œSo you can paw my bosom? Not on your life. I’ll pin it on myself, thank you.”
    He felt the flush creep up his rugged face. Okay, so he had touched a few girls in inappropriate places when he pinned flowers to their dresses, while they giggled with delight. The thought crossed his mind that probably Lynnie had never giggled in her life, and if he was reckless enough to touch Lynnie McBride’s bosom, she would certainly poke her small fist in his eye. He looked around and realized the whole family was standing in the background watching. “Well, we’d better be goin’.”
    â€œI’ll get my shawl and bag.”
    He watched her glide away and thought she was graceful and not too bad-looking—at least not coyote ugly. Maybe he could bribe some of his friends to dance with her so he wouldn’t be saddled with her all evening. There were plenty of fellows who owed him a favor or a gambling debt. “Where’s your spectacles?”
    â€œIn my purse.”
    â€œDon’t you need them?”
    â€œOnly if I want to see,” she answered matter-of factly “This is going to be an interesting evening; I’m sure of it.”
    â€œAt least a very long evening.” He offered her his arm and imagined a ballroom full of beautiful,