Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek) - By Tina Leonard Page 0,23
He had business to discuss with her, but mostly, he wanted to see her again. Something about her made him smile, and he wasn’t sure why.
Maybe it was the sass.
Parking his truck, he spied Sugar walking Paris in the pecan grove. He waved at Sugar. “Hello, ladies!”
She shifted the basket she carried and waved back. Paris galloped toward him, wearing a doggie smile and a new leather collar.
“Hey, girl.” He ruffled Paris’s fur and smiled at Sugar as she approached. “She’s putting on weight.”
“The vet says she’s gained five pounds. She has all her shots now, and has been checked for heartworms. Miraculously, she’s worm-free. She just needs TLC.” She petted the big, soft dog, who gazed up at her with liquid chocolate eyes. “To what do we owe the honor of your presence?”
“Can’t a guy come see his four favorite ladies without needing a reason?”
Sugar shrugged. “Three of us don’t trust you. Paris is nice to everyone.”
“Tell her, Paris. I’m harmless.”
The dog gazed up at both of them with adoration. “You’ve interrupted our walk. You’ll have to follow along if you decide to get on with the nature of your visit.” She began walking back into the grove with her basket full of pecans. After a moment’s indecision, Paris followed her.
“Story of my life,” Jake said. “All the ladies love me and leave me.”
“No pity points will be donated here,” Sugar said over her shoulder.
Jake strode to catch up. “What if I told you I came by just to see you?”
“I’d urge you to not waste my time.”
Jake laughed. “All right. I want to talk to you about Maggie.”
Sugar stopped, turned to look at him. It felt really fine to have her full attention on him. Jake was conscious of a heady desire to make her smile, just so he could bask in it.
Pretty selfish of him, but there it was.
“What about Maggie?” Sugar demanded.
He took a deep breath. “Vivian has decided that Maggie can be the town mayor for the Christmas parade.”
Sugar blinked. “Just for the parade?”
“It’s an honorary position. Newcomer-of-the-year kind of honorary stuff, I think.”
Sugar put a hand on her hip. “Cut to the chase, Jake. What does Vivian really want?”
Jake sighed. “While I admit your caution does you credit, this time there’s no hook in Vivian’s offer.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true.” Jake held up his palms in a gesture of search me. “I think Vivian just had a change of heart.”
Sugar started walking again. “Whatever.”
He laughed and followed. “You sound like Lucy.”
“Look, Jake.” Sugar wheeled on him. “Whatever story Vivian’s talking with you is just to stay on your good side. But your mother is not a friendly person, and I don’t believe for one moment that your mother is doing something nice for mine out of the blue.”
“Normally, I’d agree with you. This time, Vivian seemed anxious to make amends.”
Sugar shrugged and walked away.
He caught up with her easily, eager to press his point. “Sugar, listen, PC needs a mayor. Maggie will be awesome.”
“Okay,” Sugar said. “I’ll tell Maggie. See if she’s still up for it.”
“Thanks.” He had the sense Sugar wasn’t doing cartwheels for joy. “But I’m feeling some reservation from you. I could be wrong, but I’m not usually.”
Paris launched herself off the pier, leaping into the water with an exuberant splash. Sugar watched her dog swim for a minute. “I’m just trying to figure out if you’re pitching for Maggie to keep me quiet about your secret living, or because you kissed me, or because you’re genuinely a nice guy trying to help the new girls fit into the town shark tank.”
“Can’t it be all three?” Jake grinned, devil-may-care to the max.
Sugar sank onto the wooden pier with her basket, the pier he’d installed himself with the help of his three buddies. He was pretty proud of the pier. Hours had been put into honing the wood, sanding it to keep it from splintering into little barefoot feet, then weatherproofing it. Sugar looked nice on his pier, her long legs tanned and lean, topped by wrinkled khaki shorts that fit her butt like shorts should fit a woman. She had a blue spaghetti strap top on that made his eyes pop from the effort of not staring at the curves of bosoms rising above the lacy vee of the ribbed cotton. A tiny gold chain circled her collarbone. She wore no makeup, her hair yanked up in a careless, saucy ponytail.
“It could be all three,” Sugar said, “but it’s not. My