Her Prada Cowboy: McCulloch County Series #1 by Sabel Simmons Page B

thousands of dollars in the process.  It would have
meant postponing the launch by another two to three months.  She glanced at her
watch and growled.  Damien would only arrive in another hour.  She became
angrier by the minute. She made detailed notes of who did what and when on the
project.  Maybe the IT department would be able to pinpoint inconsistencies on
the entries.
    Her hair tingled at the back of her
neck and she knew Jarrod stood in the door, before she even lifted her head. 
Their eyes met and Shannon drew a deep breath into her lungs.  They’ve spoken
on the phone every day, but it is the first time she’s seen him since Sunday.
    Lord this man looks yummy in a suit!
    “What are you doin’ here so early?”
    “Good morning to you to, Mr. Parker.”
    He smiled briefly and sauntered
closer, clicking the door closed behind him.  Shannon’s eyes narrowed, her
stomach quivered and her heart started a rat-tat-tat race in her chest.
    “Mornin’, doll face.”
    He kept walking until he stood next to
her chair.  He swiveled her chair and pulled her into his arms in one motion. 
Before she could protest, his lips covered hers.  He started slow, savoring the
softness of her lips, the sweetness of her tongue and then he went deep. 
Drawing at her lips, drinking from her with drugging sensuality.
    He lifted his head and traced the
shape of her lips with a rough fingertip, watching her eyes flare.
    “You taste like my dream, doll face.”
    She chuckled.  “You dreamt of me?”
    “I dream of you every night, honey.”
    “Before or after you fall asleep?”
    This time he chuckled and rapped her
on the nose.
    “Oh, then she says I am vain!  You
look pale.  Are you workin’ too hard?”
    “I’m fine, just been battling to
sleep.  I am also worried.  I found some unauthorized changes made to nearly
every aspect of the campaign.”
    “What type of changes?”
    “Time and money wasters.  Time would
be spent on unnecessary and incorrect designs, statistics and advertising
placements.”
    “Resultin’ in?”
    “Wasting thousands of dollars and a major
postponement of the launch of the software.  I made some notes that I want IT
to look at.  Maybe they can find who is behind this.”
    “I’d rather do it myself.”
    “You … oh no!  Don’t tell me on top of
everything you’re a computer fundi too!”
    “Who do you think designed all the
software, doll face?”
    She just stared at him and frowned.
    “With all these accolades, why do you
spent so much time at the ranch and not here?”
    “This was my passion when I was younger. 
Now I prefer the ranch.  I do most of my work from there and only come to the
office once a week.  I can relax and breathe there.  I want to brin’ my
children up there.  Not in the middle of a concrete jungle.”
    Shannon’s heart jumped.
    “Children?  You, the womanizer, the
gigolo wants children?”
    He turned and scowled at her.  His
voice was rough and angry.
    “Maybe if you keep repeatin’ it all
the time, you might one day believe that is what I am.  Does it make it easier
to stay away from me thinkin’ like that, Shannon?”
    “I … you don’t have to jump on your
high horse!”
    “Yes, Shannon.  I do want children. At
least three or four.  And before you ask, no, there are no illegitimate
children of mine runnin’ around and there never will be.  My children will all
be born legitimate!”
    Oh dear Lord!  You’re in trouble doll
face.
    I am well aware of that!
    Tell him!  Now is the ideal time!
    “Jarrod, I have something to te …”
    Damien walked in after a brief knock
on the door.
    “Oh, my apologies.  I should not have
barged in like that.”
    “Its fine, Damien.  Shannon and I were
on our way to my office to look into somethin’.  Brin’ everythin’ to my office,
Shannon.  I just need to pop in at Chris’s office.”
    Hours later, Shannon, Jarrod and Chris
sat back in their chairs.  They have been scouring every