To Yank a Tiger by the Tail by Bobbi Romans Read Free Book Online Page A

huff.
    *****
    Zhara swirled her crispy fried steak in the thick, white gravy covering the mound of homemade mashed potatoes and sighed as she raised the laden fork to her lips.
    “Told ya. This place is the best.” Starl shoveled in another mouthful.
    “Yeah. No joke. My hips are expanding with each bite.”
    “Worth it,” he mumbled with his mouth full while patting his stomach.
    “Well, hey, stranger.”
    Zhara glanced up as a cute redhead sauntered over. Yeah, sauntered. If she shook her ass any harder she’d be arrested on prostitution charges.
    “Maxine. Uh, how are you?” Starl choked over his food and his words.
    Zhara picked up a tense awkwardness between the two.
    “Still waiting.” The redhead pouted, planting a well-manicured hand on her hip.
    “Excuse me a moment. I need to return an important call.” Zhara scooted the chair back and purposely avoided the accusing glare Starl shot in her direction. Yep, she was bailing on this. Zhara felt a little guilty until she caught the other woman’s head bee-bopping in angry fashion in tune with her finger.
    Yeah. Not.
    Zhara parked herself on the wooden bench that sat out front of the quaint little diner and dialed Charisma’s number. The minute her friend answered, calm washed through her.
    “Okay, so like, you two weren’t in the middle of bumping uglies or anything, right?”
    “Bumping what? Girl you are not right in the head.” Zhara laughed, and the warmth of laughing with a good buddy stalled the turbulent emotions. “What’s up?” Charisma wouldn’t have bothered her on what was supposed to be a romantic Valentine’s trip unless something important had come up.
    “Well, remember that issue that came up with Mickey?”
    Zhara could clearly visualize her chewing nervously on her nails. “Yeah.” The “issue” Charisma spoke of was a restraining order against her asshole ex-boyfriend.
    “Well, in order to continue it, I need to file a permanent lifetime motion, which needs the same witness signature as the previous one.”
    “Ahh, gotcha. Honey, of course I’ll sign, but this can’t wait until I get back?” Yeah, she was en route now, but since she wasn’t sure how or when she was going to get home, she didn’t want to commit to a certain day.
    “Well...”
    “You waited until the last minute,” Zhara guessed.
    “Yeah. I’m so sorry, Zhara.”
    “Oh, hell, I don’t mind signing. Sweetie, I’ll sign with bells on the pen, but something’s come up and I’m trying to find a way home now. I’m calling the bus station as soon as we hang up. What’s the deadline on the order?”
    “Tomorrow.”
    “And you’re just now calling?” Zhara shrieked, garnering the attention of a few elderly folks passing by.
    “I thought the deadline was next month. I happened to pull out the form and noticed the date. I freaked out. I’ve called to ask if your signature has to be present, and the clerk said yes. Now you have me worried. What do you mean something happened?”
    Zhara glanced around. She didn’t really want to get into it with Charisma out in the open like this, and when she peeped behind her she saw the redhead flailing her arms about in an aggravated manner. Starl had rescued her when she’d needed a bit of help. Now was her chance to repay that favor, as she doubted she’d ever see him again.
    “You still in between jobs?” Zhara asked as an idea formed.
    “Yeah, why?”
    “I’m hiring you,” she announced.
    “What?” Charisma sounded confused but intrigued.
    “I want to hire you to come pick me up. Bring your paperwork, and while you drive down I’ll find a place where we can get it notarized and faxed over.”
    “Oh, yay, that sounds perfect. Give me some directions and I’ll hit the road now. It’s about what? A five-hour drive?”
    “Yes, so in order to get here and have me sign and fax the papers back, you need to hit the road.”
    Zhara shot off the directions and returned inside the diner. She owed