Ask Me to Stay (Honky Tonk Angels #4) by Ciana Stone Read Free Book Online

the Driller position.”
    Jayce frowned and settled his chair back on four legs. “Riggs. Why does that name sound familiar?”
    “Renegade Riggs?” Wes asked.
    Of course. Now it clicked. Jayce’s gaze shot over to Bronson. “You know him?”
    “Yeah. He wildcatted around here when I was a teenager and was friends with Dad. I guess you were around ten or so. I’ve seen him a few times over the years when he was passing through and you remember – he helped us on the two wells we sunk.”
    “I don’t think I ever met him. You think you can get him?”
    “I can try, but you know he’s not much for staying in one place too long.”
    “So what’s the deal with this Riggs guy?” Kyle asked.
    “He’s damn near a legend,” Wes said. “Man has survived three well cave-ins and there’s no one that can handle a drill crew the way Riggs does.”
    “So, how do we get him?” Bronson asked.
    “By offering him too much to turn down,” Wes said.
    “Okay, but is he worth it?”
    “Oh yeah.”
    “Then make it happen.”
    “I’ll try.”
    Kyle’s phone rang and he pulled it out. “Hey, sugar.” He listened for a moment before speaking again. “Yep, I’ll head on over.”
    He ended the call and slid the phone into the pocket of his shirt. “Seems the gals graduated from beer to whiskey. Liz needs me to pick her up.”
    “I guess that means you won’t be coming back?” Wes asked.
    “Doubt it.”
    “Then I’ll be seeing you.”
    “Yep. Drive safe.”
    Jayce waited until Kyle left, then asked, “What’s the deal with everyone being at Cody’s house drinking?”
    “Girl’s night,” JD replied.
    “Girl’s night?”
    “Yeah. They all get together, have dinner, drink and talk about men.”
    Jayce looked around at everyone. “And that doesn’t make you just a little nervous?”
    “Why should it?” JD asked.
    Jayce chuckled. “For a roomful of men who profess to knowing about women, ya’ll are some dumb fuckers.”
    “Pardon?” JD’s tone revealed a bit of ire.
    “No offense, but seriously. When you say they talk about men, you know what that means, right?”
    “No, what?” Wes asked.
    Jayce leaned his chair back on two legs. “They talk about what you’re doing that gets on their nerves and whether you’re satisfying all their sexual urges.”
    Every set of eyes at the table turned in his direction.
    “Say what?” Bronson asked.
    “You heard me. Women don’t hold back with their friends, bro. You can take it to the bank that if you’re not doing something right between the sheets, their friends are gonna hear about it.”
    “Now it bothers me,” JD said.
    “Unless, of course, you’re known for always getting it right,” Jayce said and grinned.
    “Like you, I suppose?” JD asked.
    “Hey, you were the one who called me legendary. Just trying to live up to my rep, brother.”
    “Says the man who’s afraid to ask Callie Williams on a date,” Bronson commented, earning a chuckle from JD and a fist bump from Wes.
    Jayce laughed it off, but inside he wondered. Did he really think it was just too soon to ask her out or was he hesitating because he thought she’d turn him down?
    *****
    Hannah felt like she’d been kicked in the head. She should have known better than to let herself be talked into shots. Unlike Cody, who could toss them back all night, Hannah’s tolerance for alcohol was not that high.
    Yes, she knew better, but the truth was she was trying to fit into the group of women who had formed a friendship around her sister. She liked all of them and felt they liked her, but she still wasn’t as comfortable around them as Cody.
    But then, Cody was rarely uncomfortable around anyone. Hannah envied Cody. She was always straightforward, pull-no-punches, what you see is what you get. Sometimes her lack of filters got her into hot water, but for the most part, the people who knew her loved her for who she was.
    The people who knew her. That phrase was at the root of