Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek) - By Tina Leonard Page 0,54
a feeling of discontentment stirring inside him. The problem was, he shouldn’t have told her—anyone—he was going to his private hangout. It sort of ruined the effect of going off to work things out.
What had really ruined it was Sugar saying she understood that he had his ways. He hadn’t known he had “a way” until she’d said that.
He wasn’t really like Lassiter. He didn’t do private benders. Just a six pack alone with his thoughts.
He didn’t really want to be alone with his thoughts. He wanted to be alone with her.
“Hey,” he said, pulling up alongside Sugar again, “would Paris consider a trip to the creek a treat?”
Sugar looked at him but didn’t stop walking, forcing him to slowly edge the truck forward to keep up with her. “She probably would. But she has to decline your invitation. She has social calls in town to make.”
“The invitation was for both of you.”
Sugar smiled. “Thank you. But we have other engagements.” She peeked over the window at his stash. “Is that your picnic?”
“Yeah. Beer and chocolate chip cookies.”
“Ew.” Sugar resumed walking. “Whatever floats your boat.”
“Cute.”
Sugar rewarded him with a smile.
“Get in,” he said, “both of you.”
“No,” she said, “I’m not the kind of girl to intrude on a man’s cave time. And Paris definitely isn’t. Well, she is, she’s an attention drain, but I’m bribing her with treats so she says maybe another time, thanks.”
He grinned listening to her create a story for Paris. Sugar could not be the horrible person his mother’s investigator seemed to think she was. He knew it wasn’t possible, because until he’d met Sugar, he hadn’t known how happy he could be with a woman.
Jake got out of the truck and stood in the road. Sugar turned around. “What are you doing?”
“Either you go with me, or I’m going with you.”
“But what about your ways?”
He walked up to her, kissing her until she rose up on her toes and put her arms around his neck. “I’m trying to find a new way,” Jake said against her lips. “You coming?”
“I have to take Paris back home.”
“Why can’t she come?”
“In your canoe?”
She looked adorably concerned. “Yeah,” Jake said. “And we’ll stop in town first to get her treat, because if there’s one thing I can’t bear, it’s doggie disappointment. We’ll also pick up something for you to toss in the cooler that goes better with beer.”
“If you’re sure.”
He led her to the truck. Paris got in the middle with a big doggie grin, and Sugar laughed, making him smile.
He’d never been more sure of anything in his life.
“So the purpose of the secret hangout,” Sugar said, “is for you to have time to sort things out. Anything you want to share?” She flicked some water at him as they floated in the creek. Jake had brought a couple of rafts and so they floated side by side while Paris lay on the bank, chewing a bone Jake had commandeered from somewhere.
“Yeah,” Jake said. “It occurs to me that I’ve shared two of my secret hangouts with you, while you’ve been keeping yours remarkably quiet.”
“I don’t have a hangout.”
“Well, you should. I don’t even get invited inside your house, though.”
“That’s true. Not likely to change.”
He jiggled her raft a little just to shake her up. “You could at least invite me over for a movie night like you have with Paris.”
“That would involve you getting into my bed.”
“Oh. Something wrong with the DVD player in the den? I put that in not four years ago.”
Sugar smiled. “Haven’t used it once. The one in the bedroom gets all the playtime.”
“I like it,” Jake said. “I envy Paris like I’ve never envied a dog before.”
“The vet says she’s coming along nicely. Gained weight, her coat looks better, and she’s even acting more secure.” Sugar smiled. “Don’t envy her. She deserves all the good times she’s getting in Pecan Creek.”
“I know.” He sighed. “Pecan Creek is good times.”
She looked at him. “How’s Kel?”
“Terrible. Miserable.” Jake took her fingers in his, lacing them together as they floated. “He’s a dimwit, but I hate to see him suffer like this.”
“I told Lucy.”
“I’m sure she was just thrilled to find out someone’s wife blames her for the breakup of her marriage.”
“Lucy’s pretty emotionally well defended.” Sugar looked up at the sky. “I tried to talk her into going back to college.”
“Did she bite?”
“No. She says she’s learning too much in Pecan Creek.”
“Uh-oh,” Jake said. “That’s a knife that cuts both ways.”