Steal My Heart (Prosperity Ranch Book 2) Read online

  There was plenty of pressure to take over Hunt and Sons, but Carson had promised himself he’d stay open-minded, and that would start this coming weekend with his visit to Prosper. From everything he’d read about Prosper, the rodeo was the main draw, and when there wasn’t a rodeo going, the place was real quiet.

  That appealed to Carson more and more, the older he became. Here at this college, some recognized him from his football-playing days. But mostly, he was left alone. Back at his alma mater, he’d never had a moment’s peace. That is, until his brother died, and he shut himself off from all parties and social events.

  “Tell me about Prosper,” Carson said, pulling out a chair and sitting across from the two women.

  He saw the surprise on Evie’s face, and he also saw the blush on her cheeks. He wasn’t sure how to read that since last night, she’d been with Devon. Was she one of those women who fangirled over every athlete? Now that she knew he’d played football, would that impress her?

  “Um . . .” Evie looked down at her laptop, her brow creasing.

  “She’s not a big fan of Prosper,” Becca said with a laugh. “Sorry, I can’t stay. I’ve got to get going.”

  Evie looked at her roommate. “Wait, where are you going?”

  Becca merely smiled. “Bye. And nice to meet you, Carson Hunt.”

  He nodded. “Likewise.”

  Becca strode off, a smirk painting her face.

  Evie watched her friend leave, and then she turned back to her laptop and shut it down.

  He sensed she was about to bail as well. “You really hate Prosper that much? Won’t even talk about it?”

  “It’s not that,” Evie said, still not looking at him. “I mean, Prosper is great if you like small-town living. But . . .”

  He waited. Finally, she met his gaze. Her blue eyes seemed to be troubled, and he didn’t like that.

  “Let’s just say that growing up there, I felt like everything was planned out for me,” she said. “I was the mayor’s daughter, and with three older brothers, I never got to be myself. Or even figure out who I was. It was like my life had been planned since birth.”

  “What kind of plan?” Carson asked. This was not the answer he was expecting, but he was definitely intrigued.

  “Oh, you know,” Evie said, running her hand over her ponytail. “Marry a local boy, raise babies, Sunday dinner at my parents’, working the ranch or chasing kids from sunup to sundown, and then it would start all over the next day.”

  Carson nodded. “Some would call that an ideal life.”

  Evie’s cheeks pinked. “Right. And I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. I know I sound spoiled and selfish, but I’ve never felt that Prosper was my home. It’s always been my family’s home, but not mine.” She shrugged and slipped her laptop into her backpack. “I mean, you’ll probably love it.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  She waved a hand in his direction. “You’re like the perfect cowboy type.”

  Carson smiled. “I’m what?”

  “You know,” she said in a rush. “You’re all strong and sturdy, and you can probably rope steers on the first try.”

  “Who said I was a cowboy?”

  Her eyes widened. “Um, well, your beat-up truck, for one. And,” she scooted her chair back and peeked under the table, “those scuffed-up boots of yours. They’re not for decoration.”

  When her gaze met his again, she found that he was grinning. “You’re a smart woman, Evie Prosper.” He stood because she stood. “But you got one thing wrong.”

  Her brow quirked. “Like what?”

  “No one’s perfect, ma’am.”

  She rolled her eyes, which made Carson laugh. But there was no smile from her, only a final glance cast at him before she strode out of the library. He folded his arms and watched her go. He guessed her to be about five-eight, and those black jeans of hers made her look even taller. At six-three himself, he appreciated a taller woman.

  What was he thinking? Becoming interested in a woman right now wasn’t a good idea. He didn’t know where he’d be in a couple of months. And if he did end up at Prosper as a home base, it was clear that Evie Prosper wouldn’t be there.

  Not that he was thinking of her in that way . . . seeing her again had just been a coincidence. One that wouldn’t happen again. Unless she was going home for spring break?

  He had no time to wonder such things. He needed to get to Dr. Purcell’s office. He wanted to be there when Devon walked in the door, if only as a reminder that Carson knew the truth, and Devon had better man up.

  But when he got to the biology department, Devon was already leaving the office.

  “How’d it go?” Carson asked, expecting him to slow down, be civil. Maybe even apologize.

  But that’s not what happened.

  “Stay out of my business, Hunt,” Devon spat as he kept walking down the hall. Within seconds, he was out the door, leaving Carson to stare after him.

  Well, then.

  Carson shook his head and continued to Dr. Purcell’s office. He found the professor sitting at his desk, leafing through a booklet.

  “You’re here,” Dr. Purcell said, lifting his head. His thick brows nearly touched in the center, and his dark gray eyes could be intense, just like now.

  “What did Devon say?” Carson asked, leaning against the doorframe.

  “I assume you put him up to the meeting?”

  “I did.” Carson explained what he suspected and how he’d visited Devon the night before. He left out the door-bashing and the near choke hold, but he was sure that Dr. Purcell understood the fuller picture.

  “Well, our meeting was technically confidential,” Purcell said, his gray eyes narrowing. “But for your information, Devon denies cheating.”

  Carson scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Really?”

  “But . . .” Purcell hesitated. “Let’s just say he got the fear of God put into him.” The edge of his mouth lifted. “I went down the list of all he could lose, now and in the future. I think you’re going to see a different style of paper in his final project.”

  Carson wanted to slam a fist into the doorframe. Devon was such a punk. If he’d just owned up to his cheating ways . . . There would be some discipline, yeah, but Devon could rise above it and reform.

  “So we’re back to square one with Devon?” Carson asked.

  “I hope not,” Dr. Purcell said. “He knows what we suspect, and that might possibly be enough.”

  Carson gave a curt nod. “All right, then.” He paused. “I’m leaving early on Saturday, but I’ll get any grading done over spring break that’s needed.”

  “Ah, going home for the week?”

  “Not exactly,” Carson said. “I’m going to check out a place that might be my future job.”

  Dr. Purcell nodded. “Great. If you change your mind about needing a letter of reference, let me know.”

  “I will.” Carson left the professor’s office then. Devon’s actions were frustrating to say the least. That pompous—

  “Hey, Hunt,” someone said, and Carson looked up.

  “Hi, Brad.” The kid was in the biology class that Carson was the TA for. Brad was smart, and he’d definitely have a future in the medical field if he chose to pursue it.

  The two passed each other, and Carson continued to the empty classroom. He’d spend the next hour doing research on a case study for one of his group projects with the MBA program. He was in charge of the financial analysis that would tie in the recommendations his group would give about restructuring an athletic company. All fictitious, of course, but it was an interesting project. His grandad might enjoy hearing about it.

  Carson veered into a short hallway with the drinking fountains in order to fill up his water bottle. He stopped in his tracks when he saw a woman sitting on the bench on the other side of the drinking fountain. He stopped, because it wasn’t just any woman. “Evie?”

  Wow. What were the chances? Again?

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sp; Evie straightened from where she’d hunched over her laptop and looked up to see Carson Hunt, of all people. “Are you following me?”

  Carson’s mouth quirked. Had she noticed before that he had a very nice mouth? Possibly a kissable mouth, not that she’d know or had anyone to compare him to.

  “No . . . I’m the TA in one of the biology classes. What are you doing here?”

  “Oh.” Evie smoothed back her hair; why, she didn’t know. It was already in a ponytail. But Carson looming over her made her feel self-conscious. Like she should check her reflection in a mirror or something. And, yeah, seeing him standing there in his cowboys boots, there was no denying he was the type of guy she needed to stay away from. And . . . he was still waiting for an answer, apparently. “This area looked quiet and deserted. So I’m here working on stuff until my next class.”

  His nod was slow. “Are you taking biology?”

  “Oh, heavens no. I did the general class my freshman year,” she said. “Science is not really my thing. But apparently, you’re pretty good at it if you’re a TA?”

  Carson’s gaze perused her.

  Was she blushing?

  “Not exactly,” he said. “I mean, I did fine in biology. The TA thing is a paid job.”

  “Right.” Evie should really get back to researching for her paper and stop talking to insanely good-looking former football players and current cowboys. She looked down at her laptop and tapped out a few things. Giving the guy a hint.

  He took it. Carson moved to the water fountain and proceeded to fill up a water bottle he’d dug out of his backpack. Evie might have peeked at him once or twice. His dark, wavy hair seemed more mussed up than she remembered. Maybe he’d ran his fingers through it? And by the tenseness of his shoulders, she wondered what he was thinking about.

  Whoops. He glanced up and caught her staring.

  Her gaze quickly reverted to her laptop.

  “You never told me why you’re in this building,” he said, twisting the cap on his water bottle. “I’m here a lot, and I’ve never seen you here before.”

  Evie swallowed. “Well, I usually study at the commons, like half the students do. But since my vow, I’m keeping to myself. You know, avoiding distractions.”

  He was watching her intently. “What vow?”

  Had she just told him she’d made a vow? Apparently, she had. She puffed out a breath. “A vow to stay away from idiots like Devon.”

  Carson’s mouth turned up. “Good plan.”

  When she didn’t say anything more, he said, “I feel like there’s more to this vow.”

  Evie really, really liked all this attention from Mr. Hot TA, but just hanging out with him was sort of against her vow. “There is. But why do you care?”

  Her retort didn’t even faze him. In fact, he bent and drank some water from the fountain. Then he straightened again. “Like I said, we’re going to be neighbors.”

  At least he hadn’t called her sweetness, like he had two times before. It was just a Texan endearment, meant very little, but still . . . coming from a guy like Carson Hunt, the butterflies in her stomach had sat up and paid attention. Evie gave the most nonchalant shrug possible. “I don’t spend much time in Prosper, but you’re welcome to hang out with my brothers.”

  Carson laughed, and she could swear that his eyes lightened in color. The deep rumble of his laugh stirred up those butterflies again. Evie wanted to press her hand to her stomach to stop them from spinning.

  “I’ll make a note of that, sweetness.” He tipped his hat—an imaginary hat—then strode away.

  When he disappeared around the corner, Evie squeezed her eyes shut. It was like the Fates were playing a terrible joke on her. She’d vowed, in good faith, to stay away from attractive men so she’d stop making a fool out of herself. Yet in the farthest corner of the biology department, she wasn’t safe.

  “Hey, Evie?”

  Her eyes flew open, and she turned her head.

  Carson was back, hovering near the end of the hallway.

  “Yeah?” she said in a faint voice.

  “You goin’ to Prosper for spring break?”

  She inhaled, then exhaled. “I am.”

  “Then I guess I’ll see you there,” he said in that low tone of his. “Maybe you can show me around the place.”

  “Maybe,” she said, because didn’t want to commit.

  “Do you need a ride?” he asked.

  Why was he still here? Still talking to her?

  “I have a car,” she said, “but thanks.”

  One of his brows lifted slightly. “If you change your mind, the offer still stands. No use wasting gas if we’re both going the same way.”

  She blinked a few times. As if. “I won’t change my mind.”

  With another nod, he was gone. Evie waited a few minutes, listening, until she was sure he wasn’t coming back. Then she covered her mouth and silently screamed out her frustration.

  By the time she returned to her dorm room that afternoon, she was finished with the research for her paper. See what a bit of focus and hiding out from all things male had accomplished?

  Becca wasn’t back yet, which was fine. Evie wouldn’t get bored. She could peruse social media as a bit of a break, then she’d start on outlining her paper. She turned her phone back on since she’d turned it off in her last class. Several alerts chimed, telling her that both her mom and dad had left voicemails.

  The hairs on the back of her neck stood, because with her mom being a cancer survivor, a phone call from both parents might not bode well. She listened to her dad’s first.

  “Hey, sweet pea, I wanted to check on your travel plans this weekend. Holt said the last time he was up there and visited, he thought your car might need some maintenance. So that needs to be taken care of, unless you want to take the bus.”

  Evie wouldn’t be taking the bus. She did that over Christmas break and ended up catching a head cold from one of the passengers who kept coughing. Not that she was a huge germaphobe, but public transportation was sketchy.

  Next, she listened to her mom’s voicemail.

  “Sweetie, I’m wondering if you can get one of those university sweatshirts in a kid size. Holt’s got Ruby all worked up that you’re coming home for spring break, and I think it would be a nice gift. I can transfer the amount to your account.”

  Evie deleted both voicemails, then called her mom.

  “Is this a prank call?” her mom answered with a laugh.

  Okay, so Evie was terrible at returning phone calls. “No, I got your message. And I can get that sweatshirt. What size is she?”

  “I don’t know,” her mom said, a smile in her voice. “Little girl size?”

  “Right.” Ruby was Evie’s niece, and she was adorable. Had the whole family wrapped around her little finger, especially Evie’s dad.

  “Did you hear about Cara?” her mom continued.

  Evie refrained from rolling her eyes. Her younger sister was on a full-ride scholarship to a top culinary school in Texas, and she’d been awarded an internship in Dallas with some fancy chef. It wasn’t just that she was getting some recognition at the age of twenty, but it seemed like every time Evie talked to her mom, she had to hear all about how amazing Cara was. “Yeah, I read the email.”

  “Oh, I wasn’t sure, since you never reply to them.”

  Ouch. “I’m excited for her. When does she start?”

  “In April,” her mom said. “Although, I think she’ll be too busy until then to make it back home.”

  It was always about home for her mom. When one person was coming, and when one person was leaving.

  “Did you call her with a congratulations?” her mom said.

  “I texted her,” Evie said, then winced. Texting was never good enough for her parents. Phone calls were acceptable. Then emails were number two on the tier. Texting was probably below old-fashioned letter-writing.

  Her mom’s exhale was faint.

  “How are you feeling, Mom?”
Evie asked. Her mom had received the six-month bill of health, but that only started the countdown to the next oncology appointment.

  “Great, actually,” her mom said. “I’m helping Barb out with the 4-H club now.”

  If a queen could be elected for Prosper, it would be Barb. She ran every committee for every event. She’d been a couple of years older in school than Evie, but she was the reigning queen of the popular girls. “Sounds fun,” Evie said, trying to keep any sarcasm out of her tone.

  “We can’t wait to see you, dear,” her mom continued. “What time are you leaving on Friday?”

  “Um, first thing in the morning,” she said. “Hey, I wondered if the old Anderson place had sold yet?”

  Her mom went silent for a heartbeat. “Funny you should ask. It sold right after New Year’s.”

  “Huh, interesting,” Evie said, wanting to ask more, but then her mom would set in with the questions. Besides, it wasn’t like she’d be hanging out with Carson Hunt, anyway. He could get a tour of the town from someone else. “So it will only be Lane and Holt around during spring break?”

  “Yes, Knox is on the rodeo circuit.”

  Right, her brother who’d shattered his life, and now was trying to pick up the pieces. Hopefully, this time it would work, and he wouldn’t fall back on his self-destructive ways.

  “Have you given more thought to the Prosper Weekly?” her mom continued.

  Evie should have expected the question. It had been a question over and over.

  “You could meet with Bev Jarvis,” her mom said. “I told her you were coming.”

  Evie already knew that, too. “I’ll think about it,” she finally said. “I’ve got my resume several places right now.” It was true, but no major newspapers had replied.

  Her mother’s silence said more than words could have.

  Evie hated that she felt like she was disappointing her mother, but she was an adult woman now, and she’d been living away from Prosper for four years already.

  “I should go,” Evie said. “I’m working on a paper. You can tell Dad that I’m driving. Holt gave me a rundown of things to check on my car, and I’m going to do that before I leave.”

  “All right, sweetie,” her mom said with a small sigh in her voice. “Can’t wait to see you. Love you.”