Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek) - By Tina Leonard Page 0,32
didn’t tell me that the highway sign needed an ad buyer,” Sugar said.
“I didn’t,” Jake said, meeting her gaze, “because rotating ads have been working just fine. And we’ve been booked solid.”
“Not since August,” Kel said. “The economy has dried up the billboard business in town, as local businesses are suffering. That’s the brilliant thing. We’ll take it over for Pecan Creek in January. That way, the sign doesn’t sit bare in our slowest month when we could use advertising.”
“The timing’s right,” Cat said. “We could all stand a little extra business here.”
“I did ask about the sign,” Sugar said.
Jake spoke carefully. “It’s a thorny problem.”
“Only for you,” Sugar said. “Who made you the keeper of the billboard?”
“We all did,” Sandy Goody said. “Jake’s pretty good at wheedling money out of people.”
Sugar looked at Jake. “It’s not thorny. It’s you being the keeper of the gate.”
“I know. But I was being honest when I said that it was probably best not to rile folks around here if you want to fit in. And I think Maggie does,” Jake said, directing his words for Sugar’s ears only.
“I just don’t think you should be the one to decide whether we’re accepted or not,” Sugar said, “since you know very well your mother would never accept anyone.”
“What are we talking about?” Cat asked, overhearing the last words.
“Nothing,” Jake said.
“The party sounds like a great idea,” Sugar said, so the edge wouldn’t be taken off the group’s excitement.
Jake squeezed her knee in thanks under the table, and Sugar pinched the hell out of his wrist so he’d move his hand. He did, lightning fast.
“Meany,” he said. “Can I buy you another beer?”
“Yes,” Sugar said.
“What do you do, Sugar?” Cat asked. “I heard you and your family moved to Pecan Creek. I’m sorry I haven’t been by to say hello.” She smiled, so friendly and cute that Sugar took heed of Jake’s wish that she keep their business secret for Maggie’s sake, for now. Besides, they didn’t have a recipe yet. No sense stirring the fire, although she was going to fire Jake up later.
“My mom is in remission from breast cancer,” Sugar said. “We came to Pecan Creek because it’s quiet here, and relaxing. We were looking for a small town with nice people, and Pecan Creek was everything we wanted.” She smiled, super-friendly in return, and everyone beamed at her.
Maybe Jake was right. Soft-shoe things a bit in the beginning. Make friends. Don’t go at everything headfirst, like she had all her life. Sugar relaxed, and Jake patted her knee again, and this time, she didn’t pinch him.
She did move his hand, though. No point in letting him off the hook too fast.
A big man ambled over to their table, and everyone turned their attention to him with big smiles.
“Hello, Lassiter,” Jake said. “Lassiter Johnson, this is Sugar Cassavechia. She and her family have rented our family place.”
Lassiter shook her hand, smiling with a well-groomed mustache and blue eyes that twinkled in his acorn-colored face. He lifted his tan Stetson to reveal a nice thatch of silver hair. Black boots, huge rodeo buckle, strong shoulders complemented his appearance. The effect was pretty stunning for a probably sixty-year-old man, and Sugar was charmed.
“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Cassavechia,” Lassiter said.
“Lassiter was a rodeo star,” Sandy told her.
“Lassiter was and is a helluva rider,” Jake said. “He’s won more buckles than we have teeth in our heads. Now he runs a horse ranch outside of town. Got a helluva setup.”
Not to mention he had a helluva physique and a well-worn, movie-star face. “It’s nice to meet you, Lassiter,” Sugar said, and as Kel pulled up a chair for Lassiter, a thought hit her like a lightning bolt from God. “Excuse me,” she told Jake. “I need to check in on Mom.”
“Sure.”
He pulled out her chair, stunning her since Ramon had never done that and she wasn’t expecting it from a “snake” like Jake. She was steamed with him about the billboard, but maybe he had a point too.
She’d think about that later. Outside, she speed-dialed Lucy. “Lucy, bring Maggie down to Pecan Fanny’s. Yes, I’m serious, that’s the name. I haven’t met Fanny yet, but I’m presuming her name is part of the small-town charm. Make sure Maggie looks beautiful,” she said, talking quickly in case Jake came looking for her. A tiny blonde doll walked past her, entering Pecan Fanny’s, but other than a brief smile at her, Sugar barely paid attention to her.