Wild About A Texan. Jan Hudson

from Thomas since he’d tracked her to Akron and crashed Irish’s wedding reception.

      “Relax,” Jackson whispered in her ear, drawing her close.

      “Pardon?”

      “You suddenly went stiff as a post.”

      “Sorry. I must be getting a bit tired.”

      “Oh, hell, I’m the one that’s sorry. I’ve been dancing your feet off for an hour. Only way I figured I could hold you and stay decent in front of my mama and daddy. Let’s go sit down, and I’ll get you something from the buffet. Oh, shoot, Mama’s waving at us. You mind visiting with my folks some more?”

      “Not at all. I like your parents. They’re very nice.”

      “They’re curious is what they are.”

      “About me? Why?”

      “Let’s just say that they’re sizing you up as a future daughter-in-law.”

      Her breath caught. “A what?”

      He chuckled and kissed her nose. “Don’t worry about it, darlin’. I’m a long way from being ready to make that trip down the aisle.”

      Olivia was cordial with Mr. and Mrs. Crow and chatted amiably with them for a few minutes. She really did like his parents, but when Jackson left for the buffet table, she excused herself politely and stole away. Distance was what she needed. Distance from Jackson Crow. She had no plans to take up with him where they left off in Akron. If she hadn’t become so frightened when she’d spotted Thomas across the room, she wouldn’t have thrown herself at Jackson and dragged him from the reception.

      She retreated to a courtyard outside the elegant inn, a spot lush with tropical plants and hanging baskets. She sat on a stone bench, hoping to make herself invisible behind the ficus tree growing beside the seat.

      She felt foolish, a woman hiding like a child to avoid a confrontation, but she’d spent so many years fleeing and hiding, simply to survive, that the response was as conditioned as those of Pavlov’s dogs. Instinctively, whenever she felt threatened, she ran.

      Jackson Crow posed no physical threat to her—at least she didn’t think so. Yet, she seemed to have a penchant for picking abusive men. She’d thought Rick, her college fiancé, was a kind, caring person until the first time he’d lost his temper. And her ex-husband Thomas—

      She shuddered.

      Olivia had sworn off any sort of significant relationship with men. She didn’t have the emotional stamina for it—at least not now. And maybe not ever.

      Her brief fling with Jackson had been a mistake, just as she knew that rekindling their affair would be a mistake. She sensed that although Jackson played the clown on the surface, he was a deeply intense individual underneath. The first time their eyes met, she had responded with a visceral feeling that stunned her. The first time he’d kissed her, she’d gone up in flames. The first time they had made love, she’d been lost.

      Those feelings were still there.

      Jackson Crow was Trouble. She was glad that they would be living over two hundred miles apart.

      Holding a heaping plate of food in each hand, Jackson scanned the room.

      Mitch Harris strolled up. “Lose something?”

      “Yeah.” Ignoring Mitch, his gaze scanned the clusters of people again. Where in the dickens had she gone now?

      “You thought any more about accepting that appointment to the Railroad Commission?”

      “I’ve had other things on my mind.”

      Mitch chuckled. “Yeah, I noticed. Beautiful woman.”

      Jackson glared at his friend. “Keep your mitts off her, Mitch. I mean it. This one is special. If you try to move in on her, I’ll break both your legs and all your writin’ fingers.”

      “I got the message earlier, my friend. Jackson, I really wish you’d take that spot for Bledsoe’s unexpired term. Things are getting backed up over there. I need to make an appointment this week, and you’re my first choice. You’re sharp, and I don’t know of anybody any more fair-minded than you are.”

      Jackson snorted. “You’re laying it on a little thick, aren’t you?”

      “No, I’m serious. You know the oil business backward and forward, and I know you keep up with the other areas that the commission regulates. I think you’d be perfect for the job.”

      “Actually, I have been thinking some about it. I’d have to move to Austin, wouldn’t I?”

      “Be a devil of a commute if you didn’t. Come on, Jackson, it’s not permanent—just till the next general election. I know you like Austin, and remember, we’ve got some fine golf courses in the area.”

      “None of them as good as Crow’s Nest—the first tee is only ten yards from my front door. Austin’s golf courses aren’t the big drawing card for me.”

      “Ah,” Mitch said, grinning, “but we’re soon going to have a drawing card that no place else has. The lovely Olivia.”

      Jackson answered with a slow grin of his own.

      “Tell you what, if you’ll agree to take the appointment, I’ll show you which way Olivia went.”

      “Buddy, you’re on.”