Ace-High Flush by Patricia Green Read Free Book Online

straight."
    "Oh, that's straight. I'm sure we can find a proper woodshed." He mulled over a few ideas, but his stomach was growling. "Why don't you wash your hands, li'l girl, and dish up some dinner."
    Gabby eyed him warily, but a small smile curled at the corners of her lips. "Okay."
    He gave her a hard whack on her bottom and walked out of the kitchen.
    Once the small dinette table was set, Gabby helped her mother to a chair and then sat down. She pointed to a seat across from her and invited Ace to sit down.
    They ate in silence for a few minutes.
    "So, what do you do, Mr. Texan? Are you an oil guy?"
    He laughed. "No, ma'am. I'm a rancher mostly. I'm also a partner in a side business with my brothers and one of my sisters. It's a kind of dude ranch and corporate bondin' program, called Boot Camp Inc."
    Gabby's mother frowned. "Sounds risky."
    Ace used his chopsticks to eat a little more. "Not really, it’s pretty safe compared to some other professions."
    "Do you have a big ranch?"
    "About 250,000 acres, so about middlin' size. Are you familiar with ranchin'?"
    She snorted and food dropped off her fork. "No. What's your interest in Gabby?"
    "Ace, don't answer that!" Gabby pointed her chopsticks at him. "I mean it, don't answer."
    He arched an eyebrow at her. She was upset at her mother's inquisition, that was obvious enough, but he didn't like her telling him what to do.
    "Hush, Gabby," her mother told her, then turned back to Ace. "I asked you a question."
    Ace answered truthfully. "Gabby’s a sweet woman with a sense of humor. We get along."
    The woman's eyes narrowed. "You're too old for her."
    "I think that's for her to decide."
    "She's too young to be realistic about that kind of thing."
    "Hey! Ace, you're making matters worse. Knock it off. Mama, I know you mean well, but I wish you'd eat and stop giving Ace the third degree." She pushed food around on her plate. "You act like I've got no say in this."
    Irritation swept over Ace again. "Of course you do," he told her. He realized he'd been talking about her like she wasn't there, but as long as she was going to be so bratty, he was damned if he was going to apologize for it.
    She nodded at him and turned toward her mother. "I don't want to go over this again, Mama. Leave it be. Ace is only here for a few days anyway."
    "Hmph." Anita's gaze shifted to Ace. "Take what you want and leave us to clean up the mess, huh?"
    "Mama!"
    Ace sat back in his chair and met the woman's eyes. "There won't be a mess."
    "Look, Mister," Anita started. "You piss me off. My daughter doesn't need a boyfriend who lives a thousand miles away."
    Gabby groaned. "Damn it! Both of you, shut up!"
    Ace had had enough from Gabby, but had to give Anita credit. She'd hit the nail on the head. Gabby and he were from different parts of the country, different worlds, in fact. He would be in New Jersey for another couple of days, but soon enough he'd be back in Texas, leaving Gabby behind. While he had no intention of leaving her broken hearted or in trouble, he'd be leaving nonetheless.
    He wasn't about to take anymore of Gabby's sass, though. "You're skatin' on thin ice, li'l girl," he warned her.
    "Can we please change the subject?" Gabby asked, looking from Ace to her mother and back again.
    Ace nodded. He'd deal with Gabby later. She was fidgety with discomfort. More than that, he didn't know what to say in the face of Anita's animosity and, in some ways, annoying common sense.
    Gabby's cat began meowing from nearby, and she hurried back into the kitchen to feed him. When she came out, Ace saw an opportunity for a lighter conversation.
    "Did you teach him to do the tricks I saw yesterday?"
    Gabby nodded. "Yeah. He's a smart cat."
    "He sure is. But I'm thinkin' maybe he's got a smart owner, too. I've never seen a cat do tricks like that before."
    "Well, I—"
    "Gabby teaches all her pets tricks. Animals like her. She taught Mr. Rosenbaum's dog to roll over and fetch the old man's slippers.