StudinTexas by Calista Fox Read Free Book Online Page B

talking to him to make him see I’m one of the good guys.”
    “Think he already knows that. Just give him a little time,
darlin’. You might be surprised.”
    “I hope so.” She pulled away and ascended the short flight
of stairs. But over her shoulder, she said, “Thanks again, cowboy.”
    * * * * *
    On Wednesday night, Sky put sorbet samplers in the freezer
and chocolate mousse in the walk-in cooler for any dessert requests that might
come later in the evening, and knocked off early. She changed from her baker’s
jacket into a slinky black dress with spaghetti straps, a structured bodice and
a flirty, flared skirt. She paired the garment with black boots that had
decorative silver tips and thin silver embroidery up the sides.
    She applied a little more makeup than what she wore when she
worked in the kitchen, and added a crimson lipstick that popped against all the
neutral shades on her face and the black dress. She tossed the tube and her
compact into her silver snakeskin clutch and met Reese in the reception area.
    Her friend whistled in appreciation. “Good Lord, Sky. You
are a woman who knows how to turn heads.”
    “Actually, it’s nice to have an occasion to wear a dress.
I’ve been living in my jeans since moving back to Texas. And it’s a good thing
we’re going to Pietro’s tonight. I’m sure word has gotten ’round that I’m in
town, and my aunt and uncle will be rabid if I don’t visit them soon.”
    “You’ve been checking your cell phone a lot,” Reese noted.
“That’s not Ruby and Mike calling you?”
    Sky instantly tensed.
    “What?” Reese asked, clearly not missing Sky’s bunched
shoulders.
    “It’s not my family calling. It’s the sidewinder.” With
veiled threats. Apparently, he didn’t intend to leave her alone ’til he got his
hands on her money.
    Reese’s brows drew together. “I thought that was all over.”
    “Yeah, me too.” She’d issued her own threat, after all, when
he’d busted into her trailer in Luckenbach a month ago. “Apparently, he’s not
into giving up. Makes me wonder what he’s done that has put him in such a jam,
he’s near desperate for some cash.”
    “Well, you’re not giving him a dime, are you?”
    “Hell no,” she scoffed. “I made that damn clear. If he had a
legitimate need for it, I’d be more inclined. But after he snowed me in
Nashville… I just know he’s into something I don’t want to be a part of. And
the only way to get it through his head that I am o-u-t is to ignore
him.”
    She headed toward the double doors at the entrance of the
inn.
    “That’s not going to agitate him more, is it?” Reese asked
in a worried tone as she followed along. “He did destroy your last phone.”
    Not the worst he’d done to her, by any stretch of the
imagination. But Sky couldn’t say that to her best friend. Despite Reese’s
neverending support, Sky didn’t have the heart to explain what had really
happened with Mac Willett. And knew her own dignity would suffer a huge hit if
anyone ever found out.
    The staff at the Painted Horse Ranch & Inn didn’t need
to worry over one more abuse case.
    “He’s just rantin’ and ravin’,” Sky said, trying to sound
nonchalant. “I can deal with that. I let it go to voicemail and then hit
delete.” She was also fairly certain she’d gotten her point across that she
wouldn’t kowtow to him if he came after her again in Luckenbach. Sky kept a 9mm
close at hand these days. Not only did she know how to use it, she wasn’t
afraid to.
    “Maybe you ought to think about staying at the inn,” Reese
said when they stepped out onto the veranda. “We’re not getting a lot of
bookings just yet, and you taking a room isn’t going to hurt anything.”
    “Thanks, but I don’t want to be an imposition. And I’m certain
Mac won’t be coming back to Texas. On top of that, I have the cutest trailer in
Luckenbach. Bought it from a widower and remodeled it inside and out. It’s
about the most