Texas Temptation by Bárbara McCauley Page B

do.”
    She nodded. “Bailey for me.”
    They grinned at each other.
    Jared raised an eyebrow at Slater’s smile. That was something that happened about as frequently as Halley’s comet. If nothing else, Jared noted, it was going to be interesting around here.
    â€œI’d like to take a look at the rig.” Slater turned to Jared. “Why don’t you join me when you’re done in here?”
    Jared knew that was Slater’s way of asking for a few minutes alone. Jared also understood why. “I’ll be out in a while.”
    Annie stared silently after the big man as he left the office. After a long moment, she sucked in a deep breath and leaned back on the desk beside Jared. “Wow.”
    He smiled. “That’s a common word describing Slater.”
    â€œNo kidding.” She gave her head a shake. “I take it you’ve worked with him before?”
    â€œTwo years in Venezuela.”
    There was an uneasiness, a tension that Annie suddenly felt from Jared. He was leaving something out, she realized. Then it dawned on her what it was.
    â€œAnd here?” she asked quietly. “Was Slater the foreman on this rig four years ago?”
    His lips thinned. “Yes.”
    â€œWas he here, I mean, when...”
    â€œYes.”
    She closed her eyes, letting the wave of sadness wash through her. “He wasn’t at the funeral.”
    â€œSlater doesn’t do funerals.”
    Annie had the distinct feeling that Jared and Slater had been through more than one loss together. She also realized that, whatever it was, it wasn’t something Jared wanted to talk about.
    Men.
    Business was the only thing Jared wanted to talk about, she thought with annoyance. With a sigh, she stood and stared down at the map spread across the desk. “So how did it go in town?”
    â€œNot so well. Three crew members quit.”
    â€œQuit!” She glanced up at him. “Why would they do that? You haven’t even started drilling yet.”
    He shook his head. “Said they got a better offer in Odessa. If Slater hadn’t brought most of the men with him from Cisco, I probably wouldn’t have a crew at all.”
    â€œHow do you know they won’t quit, too?”
    â€œNot Slater’s men. I’ve never seen such loyalty in a crew.” He raised a brow. “Would you tell Slater you quit?”
    She smiled. “No, I guess not.” Still, an uneasiness crept through her. “Will you be able to replace the men you lost?”
    â€œSlater’s got a few calls out. I have to take him back to town shortly, and we’ll see if there’s been any response.”
    â€œWhy don’t I take him?” she offered. “I’ll be heading that way in a little while, anyway.”
    Jared’s jaw tightened imperceptibly. “Not necessary.”
    â€œBut it’s silly for you to—”
    â€œI said I’d take him.”
    The sharp edge in Jared’s voice made Annie fall silent. His jaw was set, his eyes narrowed as he stared over her shoulder at the map. It didn’t make any sense. She knew he had things to do here at the rig, and going back to town was out of his way. If she didn’t know better, she could have sworn that he didn’t want her to be alone with Slater. But why? Was it possible...? Could he be jealous?
    No. She shook the silly thought away. Protective, maybe. But that’s all it could be.
    But it was there again between them. She felt it building right now. A tension, like a coil being slowly tightened around them. He was a mere hand’s width away, and the heat of his body singed her. Her heart lurched in the sudden stillness, and the tension became almost unbearable.
    His arm moved up and reached toward her. His eyes darkened to the color of midnight as he stared at her, and she held her breath as he ran his fingertips over her ear. She shivered at the contact, and her eyes drifted