Chasing Victory (The Winters Sisters) by Joanne Jaytanie Read Free Book Online Page B

stubby tails started wagging feverishly and they began whining. Payton appeared, beside her a small black Doberman bitch carrying a red Kong in her mouth. Tristan’s attention was drawn to the sight of the three guardians.
    “Boy, I guess nothing gets by them,” he commented.
    Victory’s gaze followed Tristan’s. “Not a thing. That’s the bonus with having Dobermans, forever on guard.”
    Payton approached the Prevost. “I was only gone for part of the day and you found a new friend,” she remarked with a dazzling smile on her face. Tristan could easily see the resemblance between the sisters, even with Payton’s deep auburn hair and hazel eyes, the two girls were no doubt related.
    “Hey sis, have a nice walk? This is Tristan. He was nice enough to use himself as a human can opener to pry out my bike and chairs from the back storage. I swear to God, I don’t know how you possibly pack so much stuff into such a small space.” Victory shook her head at her sister.
    “Believe me, it’s an art.” Payton opened the exercise pen and let the little black Doberman enter first. The other three all ran up to her and gave her the smell test to find out where she had been. Asia ignored them and walked up to Tristan. Both Payton and Victory looked dumbfounded at one another. “It seems you have a way with our dogs. Asia is usually very standoffish with strangers, mainly because she is still young and unsure,” Payton said.
    “Nice to meet you, Asia,” Tristan reached down to scratch under her chin.
    “It seems dogs really like Tristan,” Victory remarked as she stared surprisingly at Asia.
    “So it seems,” Payton replied. “Hi Tristan, I’m Payton, Victory’s older sister.”
    “Funny, you don’t look older.” Tristan grinned.
    “I like him already. I’m not that much older, about ten minutes.”
    “You’re twins?” That was one detail that had been overlooked in their initial research.
    “Actually, we’re triples. Willow is the baby.”
    “Really.” Tristan was at a loss for words. He knew what it was like to be a twin, but wondered how different it would be to be one of three. “Will Willow be joining us for dinner?”
    “No, she didn’t come with us on this trip,” Payton replied.
    Tristan noticed that Payton wasn’t quite as forthcoming and open as her sister seemed to be.

    * * *

    “Status,” Max barked as Jerry walked in the door of the Winnebago.
    “Not much. The girls are having dinner with some local camper,” Jerry said.
    “What’s he look like?” Max pressed.
    “Just some local yahoo, they’ve been talking bushes and stuff, nothing worthwhile.” Jerry inhaled a deep breath through his nose, savoring the smell of steaks that were on the table. “They’re not going anywhere. Can I stay and have dinner now?”
    Dave looked up from his newspaper into Jerry’s pleading brown puppy dog eyes. “Jesus. Jerry, you act like you haven’t eaten in a week. Yeah, sit down. We should be hearing from the office first thing tomorrow.”

SIX

    At eight in the morning Dave was on his laptop engaged in a conference call with headquarters. He insisted on being alone in the Winnebago so Jerry and Max were exiled, left to wrap themselves in blankets and huddle around the fire pit in the chill morning air. One hour later the door to the RV swung open and Dave stood in it holding a large steaming cup of coffee. The two men looked at him with murder in their eyes.
    “You guys look cold. You should come in and get some coffee.” Jerry and Max look at one another, got up and headed toward the RV.
    “Took ya long enough,” Max grumbled on his way in.
    Jerry and Max got their coffee and joined Dave around the table.
    “Headquarters researched Victory; she has the expertise we need and they want her to take Jeffery’s position. In fact, they feel that she probably has more knowledge and will be a better fit.”
    “So, now she has to be convinced to come to work for Biotec.” Max