His for the Taking - Ann Major

About the Author

Besides writing, ANN MAJOR enjoys her husband, kids, grandchildren, cats, hobbies, and travels. A Texan, Ann holds a B.A. from UT, and an M.A. from Texas A & M. A former teacher on both the secondary and college levels, Ann is an experienced speaker. Shes written over sixty books for Mills & Boon and frequently makes bestseller lists.

His for the Taking

Ann Major

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Epilogue

About the Publisher

To Ted

One

The last thing John Coleman had planned to do when he woke up to the stench of petroleum and the roar of his oil rig was to go chasing after Maddie Gray.

Jamming the phone against his ear, Coleas everybody from Yella, Texas, called himleaned back in his leather office chair and rubbed his throbbing temple. What do you mean Maddies come back to Yella and shes nursin Miss Jennie?

Miss Jennie had been their beloved high school English teacher.

Cole knew his soft drawl sounded mild, even disinterested, as he spoke to Adam, his older half brother, yet Cole was anything but calm.

During his marriage to Lizzie, which had ended when shed died almost a year ago, hed dreaded the thought of his childhood sweetheart coming back to town. Because hed feared how he might react. But he was a widower now, and hed been thinking about Maddie of late, thinking he might just drive to Austin and look her up. So far hed always managed to talk himself out of it.

What kind of sap carries on a secret teenage affair with the towns bad girl and then cant move on after she treats him like dirt?

Hell, six long years had come and gone. And still his mind burned with memories of Maddies fine-boned face, her heart-shaped lips, her violet eyes and ebony hair, and ample breasts. Why couldnt he forget how radiant her face had been every time shed lain beneath him? Because shed been more than beautiful. Shed been smart and gifted, especially with contrary horses.

But she had bad genes. Maddies mother had stolen husbands, fathersindeed any man who would have her. And in the end, her own daughter had turned the tables on her by stealing her boyfriend and running off with him, leaving Cole behind.

Miss Jennie fell over a garden hose and cracked her pelvic bone, Adam said, interrupting Coles thoughts. Maddies here to take care of her until Miss Jennies niece from up in Canada can get down here. Nobody in town can stop talking about Maddie. About how well educated and classy she is now. About hows shes got herself a college degree and all. Cole, shes so damn beautiful she takes your breath away.

Youve seen her?

His half brother hadnt moved to Yella until after their dads death, which had occurred shortly after Maddie had run off, so Adam hadnt known Maddie when she and Cole had been together.

I dropped by first thing this mornin! All the guys have been stopping by Miss Jennies place to check on her, so I figured Id better check on her myself.

Right.

Just to make sure shes gettin proper care and all. Oh, is Maddie ever beautiful. All curves and creamy skin. She has the softest voice and the sweetest smileone that lights everything up.

Enough! Cole growled.

The brothers telephone call had centered on ranch business until this last bit of local gossip. When Cole was away from Yella, Adam usually ended their calls about the family business by filling him in on the latest scuttlebutt.

Well, dont you be going back there just to see Maddie, you hear. It was strange how much more annoyed than usual Cole suddenly was with his older brother. Youre to steer clear of Maddie Gray. I dont care how polished she is now, shes no good. Never was. And never will be.

Somethings sure got you riled this morning. There was an edge in Adams voice now, too.

Pressure here on the rig. You know how I was telling you this damn drought has shale frac water in short supply? Well, Im facing the possibility of having to drill a deepwater well. All the drillers are overbooked except for one bandit who says hell put me first, but only if I make it worth his time by paying him triple. And now youre distracting me with idle gossip about a no-good woman like Maddie.

Shes the interim CEO of some nonprofit in Austin called My Sisters House. Shes worrying herself to death over some fundraiser shes in charge of in a couple of weeks. Sounds like shes trying to do some good, at least, doesnt it?

Camouflage! Its an ancient trick.

Well, I liked her. Oh, and shes got a little boy she left back in Austin at camp. Hes six years old. Noah. Miss Jennies got loads of pictures of him. Hes cuter than a bug. Black hairgreen eyes. He reminds me of someone. There was an odd note in his brothers voice. All in all, Maddie didnt seem the least bit bad. Shes nothin like her mother.

The last thing Cole wanted to hear was praise for Maddie, or her son. Especially not from his half brother, who often resented him because of their fathers mistakes, so he told Adam he was a fool to fall for anything Maddie Gray said and ended the call.

So, Maddie was back, dazzling the town, even his brother. And she had a kid. Who was the father? Vernon? The timing would be about right. Cole had always been careful to protect her, so he knew the boy wasnt his.

Cole pushed his mug of strong black coffee aside so roughly, the steaming liquid sloshed onto several important drilling leases. With thoughts of Maddie stirring his blood, he didnt need more caffeine.

Edgily he shoved the papers aside and stared out the window. He slid his jean-clad legs onto the top of his desk and stacked one scuffed, black, ostrich-skinned cowboy boot on top of the other. It was early yet, but already a brilliant sun blasted the desolate Texas landscape. Thanks to his air conditioner, the interior of his trailer was icy. That was the only thing he liked about living at the drill site for weeks on end while he worked a field. But even the chilled air couldnt keep out the hot memories of Maddie.

Too well he recalled the first time hed actually spoken to Maddie, whod been younger and poorer than him, and hadnt run in his social circle.

Hed driven home from the University of Texas on a Friday and had gone looking for his girlfriend, Lizzie Collier, over at her daddys ranch. It had been spring and the pastures had been filled with bluebonnets.

When Cole had stepped inside the barn and hollered for Lizzie, one of the horses, Wild Thing, had gone off like dynamite, neighing and kicking his stall door. Cole thought Wild Thing was too dangerous to fool with but Lizzie had the softest heart in the world. When shed found out Old Man Green was starving Wild Thing and beating him, shed talked her dad into buying the horse. Her father had hired more than a dozen horse whisperers to save the animal, and when theyd failed, Lizzies father had wanted to put him down. Lizzie wouldnt hear of it.

Cole hadnt thought too much about the ruckus the horse was making until he heard a crooning voice inside the stall. Thinking Lizzie might be trapped, Cole had rushed toward the stall door.

Lizzie?

Shh! chided a young, defiant voice from inside the stall.

Since Cole couldnt see too clearly in the shadows, he took the slim figure wearing jeans and a baseball cap turned backward for the young male groom who worked for Lizzies dad.

Fixating on Cole, the geldings ears swept so far back against his narrow gray skull they all but vanished. Then the big animal lowered his head as his pale forelock shot over terrible eyes that rolled backward. Half rearing, the animal charged, his hooves splintering a board.

Get out of that stall, boy! Cole commanded.

Wild Things eyes rolled crazily. Again the gelding reared to his full height and heaved himself with murderous intent against the stable door.

The boy jumped back and flattened against the wall. Are you trying to kill me? In the confusion the kids baseball cap hit the sawdust, and a lustrous mane of black hair tumbled down the imps shoulders. And across breasts.

Maddie Gray?

What male with an ounce of testosterone wouldnt have recognized her sinfully gorgeous, exotic featuresMaddies creamy pale skin, her voluptuous mouth, her violet-blue eyes? Hell, she looked exactly like her no-good mother, Jesse Ray Gray, the towns most notorious slut.

Coles gaze seared her ample breasts, which heaved against her faded blue cotton work shirt. Shed filled out since hed seen her last. If her tight clothes were any clue, shed probably be up to her mothers tricksif she wasnt already.

Youre Maddie Gray, he repeated accusingly, disliking her more than a little because she stirred him.

So what if I am? Her beautiful mouth tightened rebelliously.

Wild Things eyes rolled, and he neighed shrilly.

Please lower your voice and start backing away, she ordered.

At least she wasnt a total simpleton. She saw the folly of being penned in such a small enclosure with a monster like Wild Thing.

I said back away! she repeated. Cant you see youre scaring him?

She began to speak to the startled horse in a sweet, soothing murmur Cole would have envied if he wasnt so furious at her for her foolhardiness and willingness to blame him for her own stupidity.