Death of a Country Fried Redneck (Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mysteries) by Lee Hollis Read Free Book Online

that’s right. Anyway, he came clean and told me about Hayley.”
    “I could have that restaurant shut down for something like that,” Billy Ray said.
    “Oh, don’t be squawking like a flustered hen, Billy Ray. I think it’s about the sweetest thing I ever heard,” Wade said, charmed.
    “I have some phone calls to make,” Billy Ray sniffed, knowing he wasn’t getting anywhere with his boss, so he may as well retreat to another room.
    “I’m sorry. I’ve been entirely inappropriate misrepresenting myself,” Hayley said.
    “You’re not misrepresenting yourself now. I know exactly who you are.”
    “Thank you for understanding. I better go.”
    “You’re not going anywhere.”
    Hayley couldn’t think of anything more exciting than being held against her will by Wade Springer.
    But she knew that was definitely a dream.
    “Not until I get a taste of that famous fried chicken I read about.”
    “So you read my column?”
    “Every word. And it just so happens I need someone to cook for me while I’m in town. Nothing fancy. Some grits for breakfast, maybe a packed lunch for when I go sightseeing, a light supper. Think you can handle that?”
    Hayley knew it would be impossible again for her to speak so she just nodded.
    “Great. You can start tomorrow.”
    “What about your dinner tonight? I can whip something up when I get off work.”
    “No, I already have plans.”
    “Oh. Okay.”
    “You and I are going to go out to celebrate your coming to work for me.”
    Hayley’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
    Did Wade Springer just ask her out on a date?
    No, of course he didn’t.
    On the other hand, it did sound a lot like he just asked her out.
    On a date.
    With him.
    Sometimes dreams really do come true.

Chapter 5
     
    Mass hysteria.
    That’s the best way to describe what was happening in Hayley’s house as she prepared for her dinner with Wade Springer.
    What to wear.
    How to flatten her hair.
    And why did she have to eat a tub of ice cream after work? Her stomach was now actually protruding over her belt. Would Wade mind her wearing stretch pants to dinner? Jenny Craig would be so disappointed in her. This was all too much.
    Deep breaths, Hayley. Deep breaths. She had to focus.
    Makeup. She needed to put on her makeup. And not too much mascara because she sometimes looked like a hungover raccoon.
    She hadn’t been this excited about a date since the first night she had gone out with Lex.
    Of course, that night she wound up arrested before she even left the driveway. But that was another story.
    Wait.
    Hayley stopped herself.
    Date.
    She was thinking about this dinner as a date. What on earth was she doing? This wasn’t a date. Wade was her employer as of today. She was letting her imagination run wild.
    She needed to calm down.
    Hayley fumbled through her bedroom closet for a sweater that didn’t have too much noticeable dog hair on it. She yanked out a sleek black one. Black was slimming, right?
    A pair of white pants.
    Some slip-on shoes.
    Nothing too dressy.
    But smart.
    And professional. Yes, that was key. She had to be professional.
    She applied some CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Foundation.
    Yeah, right. Simply Ageless . Who comes up with that stuff?
    She frowned at a small zit on her face as she stared at herself in the dresser mirror, and then rubbed more foundation on her face.
    This was such a complicated process.
    Gemma burst into the room. Hayley noticed that she was wearing a too tight t-shirt and way too short cut-off jeans for a girl her age, but she didn’t have time to argue with her daughter. She would deal with it later.
    “Mom, did you check the voice mail? We have a code red situation. Lex called and wants you to call him back when you get a chance.”
    “Now why would Lex calling be a code red situation?”
    “Because you’re going on a date with another man, and not just any man. A huge country-singing superstar and maybe he knows about it and is calling to test