The Diva Digs up the Dirt by Krista Davis Read Free Book Online

entertaining clashes.
    After I signed a stack of papers we shot an opening for the show in which I pretended to be both surprised and delighted. I hoped I would be.
    Troy asked Natasha to supervise the unloading of the bulldozer. As soon as she was out of earshot, he rolled his eyes. “Is she always like that?”
    I had to laugh. “Oh, yeah.”
    He lowered his head as though thinking. “Okay. I need to come up with little tasks to keep her out of the way. Good to know.”
    The engine in the back stopped running. In the abrupt quiet, the sound of my gate slamming open had all the impact of a gun being fired. A man barged through and loped determinedly toward Troy. Natasha followed behind him, her heels slowing her progress as they caught in the grass and soil.
    Although his face was stormy with anger, he was almost as good looking as Troy. Sandy hair fell into his forehead. When he pushed it back, he revealed green eyes that matched the color of his T-shirt and pants.
    Nina yanked on my arm, her eyes wide.
    I knew why Nina was surprised.

CHAPTER SIX
    Dear Natasha,
    I love pots of annuals because they’re so practical. I’m bored with terra-cotta, though. I’ve tried painting it, but it never looks quite right. How can I dress up my pots?
    —Crafter in Pansy, Ohio
    Dear Crafter,
    Break some dishes! Use tile snips to cut chipped dishes or tiles, and adhere them to your pots in bright mosaics. Add grout and you’re done!
    —Natasha
    There was no doubt about it—this guy had been one of the party watchers in the woods at Roscoe’s house.
    Troy gestured toward him. “Ladies, this is Heath Blankenship, my number two man. If you need something and I’m not around, you just ask Heath.”
    Heath brightened up. “I aim to please. Which one of you is Sophie?”
    I wiggled my fingers at him.
    He acknowledged me by bobbing his head. “Pleased to meet ya.”
    Natasha finally caught up to him, her nostrils flaring with fury. She pushed her hair out of her face and glared at Heath. “Excuse me. Troy put
me
in charge of unloading the bulldozer.”
    Heath’s long dimples disappeared when he turned an amused gaze on Natasha. “No problem, darlin’. You go right ahead and put the backhoe wherever you want.”
    Natasha sputtered. I couldn’t recall having seen her speechless.
    Watching Troy and Heath side by side was an interesting study in contrasts. Heath didn’t have Troy’s polish, nor, apparently, his deft touch for dealing with the public. Heath didn’t sport an expensive haircut. In fact, he seemed a little bit scruffy. His face bore weathered creases surely brought on by too much time outdoors in the sun. Yet I had no doubt that his rugged I-just-chopped-the-wood appearance brought women to him like puppies chasing bacon.
    Troy slung an arm around Natasha’s shoulder. “You have to help me with Heath. He can get a little bit testy, but he’s a good guy.” He walked her away from us and continued talking.
    Heath looked heavenward, as though he’d seen Troy do this song and dance before. He flashed those dimples at us—“There’s one at every shoot”—and headed in the direction of the backhoe.
    Wolf strode into my backyard as Troy was steering Natasha toward the street. I suspected Troy used the dazzling smile on him. They nodded at each other.
    “What’s going on?” asked Wolf. “Should I be jealous?”
    Nina snorted. “Any man would be a fool not to be worried about Troy. It’s like having a Roman god walk intoyour life. And that other guy has a certain untamed charm. I bet he’s the bad boy of the group.”
    Wolf pretended to be appalled. “I can’t leave you alone for a second.”
    I wrapped an arm around his waist and laughed. “Only in our dreams. Troy must have loads of women running after him.” Wolf might not be as young, slender, or drop-dead gorgeous as Troy, but he was a good guy, which was far more important to me.
    “Is he the fellow who rips up people’s yards?”
    I wished he