Her Sexy Texas Cowboy. Ali Olson

right now I really want to hear what’s happening back in New York.”

      Renee raised an eyebrow. “We talk every week. How much do you think you’re missing?”

      “Lots!” Jessica exclaimed. “I want face-to-face communication. So start talking.”

      “Actually, I do have some news.”

      Jessica leaned forward. “Guy news?”

      Renee had to laugh. “No, work news.”

      Jessica deflated a little. “All you ever have is work news. You work too much. When was the last time you went out with a guy?”

      Renee thought for a moment. Not counting those kisses with Jeremiah, it had been... Well, longer than she’d like to admit.

      Before she could formulate an answer, Jessica shook her head and said, “I thought so. What’s your work news?”

      Renee told her sister about the meeting with Patty. By the time she finished, Jessica’s eyes were wide. “That’s a lot of responsibility. I’m so happy for you, but does this mean you’ll be working more than you already do?”

      Jessica, always the worrier. Renee shrugged. “Patty always managed to keep things in balance. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

      She didn’t want to admit to her sister that she was prepared to throw herself into this job with everything she had. If it meant a few more hours at the office, what did it matter? What else did she have to do?

      The evening passed quickly, the two sisters swapping stories from their lives. Renee tried to stay focused on the moment, but her mind kept wandering to its two favorite subjects: work and Jeremiah.

      If she wasn’t designing the perfect layout for the magazine’s next issue, she was imagining Jeremiah’s hands running all over her.

      After the third time she caught herself with no idea what Jessica had been saying, Renee smiled apologetically at her sister. “I’m sorry, but I’m exhausted.”

      Jessica jumped up, shaking her head. “Of course you are. I don’t know what I was thinking. We can talk more tomorrow.”

      With that, she disappeared down a hallway and came back with fluffy yellow towels in her arms. “Here are some towels in case you want to rinse off before going to bed.”

      Renee was amused. “And I was betting the towels would be green to match my room. I guess I was wrong on that one.”

      Jessica looked appalled. “You put your things in the green room? You’re supposed to be in the yellow room across the hall.”

      Renee tried not to laugh. The towels were color-coordinated with each room. The woman was insane. Aloud, she just said, “It’s fine, I can move. I’m sure you went to a lot of trouble to get towels that matched the rooms exactly. I can’t go ruining that.”

      Jessica seemed relieved. “Thanks. I didn’t buy towels that matched each room, though. Aaron’s mom did that.”

      Before Renee could comment on how neurotic that was, Jessica sighed and looked down at the towels. “Such a good organizer. I wish I could have met her. We would have gotten along so well.”

      Renee shut her mouth and said nothing. Jessica turned and began leading her to the stairs. Over her shoulder, she said, “I don’t know why I didn’t think to tell Jeremiah to put you in the yellow room. Since that’s usually his room, he would never have known that you needed to take it over for this week, but we just don’t have space to spare with everyone coming in for the wedding.”

      Renee stumbled, but managed to get her feet back under her. She was going to be staying in the guest room Jeremiah had slept in. With the sheets he slept in and the towels he used if he ever took a shower here.

      She pictured him, slick with water, wearing only one of the canary yellow towels, somehow managing to make the color incredibly sensual.

      Oh Lordy. She needed help.

      Be casual, she reminded herself. “Jeremiah has his own room here?”

      Jessica nodded without turning around. “We have more room than we need, and it means he can spend the evening over here drinking and hanging out without worrying about how to get home. We like having him around. He’s a great guy.”

      Renee didn’t need to be told that. He was a lot of adjectives. Sexy, fun, incredibly attractive. Great was certainly on the list.

      After Jessica helped Renee move her luggage into the correct room, Jessica turned to her sister and threw her arms around her in a tight hug. “I’m really glad you’re here, Renee. I know that you don’t like to take time off work. I just want my wedding to go smoothly, with no surprises, and I don’t think I could do it without your help.”

      Renee thought of Jeremiah and felt guilty. If she was going to keep Jessica from finding out, they would need to be more discreet than they had been so far. She didn’t want to be the reason Jessica was unhappy so close to the wedding.

      Really, it would be better if she just broke off the thing with him entirely. It’s not like she had time in her life for a guy anyway, and a one-week fling wasn’t like her. Maybe it would be best to stop now before things became even more complicated than they already were.