Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek) - By Tina Leonard Page 0,81
She looked fabulous in a red skirt and white sweater, almost Christmassy. He didn’t want to think about Christmas. Maggie would be mayor, the parade would wind through town and Sugar would go poof! Gone with the wind, like the bedroom décor that was no longer going to be in the house.
“Morning,” he said.
“Hi.” She filled a cup with coffee, one of the plastic kinds with a lid on it she could take in the Oldsmobile. “See ya.”
“Sugar.” She turned to look at him, her face blank.
“Yes?”
“How’s the business going?”
She nodded. “We’re about ready to launch.”
“That’s great. I’m happy to hear it.”
“Lucy told me she’s picked the décor. Once the decorating starts, I’ll…I’ll move back,” Sugar said.
“You’re always welcome here.” He could tell she was still unnerved. Her eyes were huge in her face. She was pale, didn’t look like her usual vibrant self.
“Thank you. But actually, this is a good time to give you notice,” Sugar said. “We won’t be renewing our lease.”
He’d expected that. It didn’t make it any easier to accept. In his heart, he’d been hanging on to the hope that everything would go smoothly with the Cassavechias in the family home, and it wasn’t because of the rent.
“I’d love to lease the land from you where the pecan grove is. But I remember you saying before that it was a package deal.” Sugar swallowed, her gaze moving away from his. “I’ve found another supplier that I can get pecans from.”
“No.” Jake shook his head. “I’ll lease you the pecan grove. You’ve been good tenants, and frankly, it’s the least I can do. I wish I’d been more supportive of your business all along,” he said truthfully.
“It’s okay. It wasn’t your place to give me moral support. Anyway, it’s going to work out for the best.”
He hated how distant she sounded. “Sugar, I—”
“I’m going to be late,” she said. “Come on, Paris.”
They left, and Jake sighed. Filled up a coffee cup, tried to think how to fix this.
He wanted to. He just didn’t know how.
Sugar looked over the pink ribbons in the fabric shop, trying to decide on the final detail of the packaging for the Hotter than Hell Nuts design. The designer had suggested red, but because of Maggie’s successful battle against breast cancer, Sugar was seriously considering something in the pink family. The packaging was a clear front with a white cardboard back with chocolate-brown letters on it. She loved the packaging. It was a dream come true, all of it; they’d come so far, and now, the dream was about to take off.
“Hi,” a female voice said, “are you Sugar Cassavechia?”
Sugar turned, a smile on her face. The small-set woman with the ruffled blonde hair didn’t smile back. “Yes, I am.”
“I thought you might be. They told me you were.” She pointed to the women behind them, a group of five dressed in pretty sundresses, trying to look like they weren’t interested in what she was doing.
“And you are?” Sugar asked.
“Debbie Underwood. Fixing to not be Underwood anymore.”
Sugar blinked. “Oh. You’re Kel’s wife?”
She nodded. “Not for much longer. The divorce goes through the day after Christmas.”
“That’s rough. I’m sorry.” Sugar was.
Debbie shrugged. “It’s because of your sister, Lucy.”
Sugar felt a little heat creep under her collar. “It’s not because of my sister. Lucy never thought anything about your husband. You’re making a decision to divorce your husband on misinformation.”
Debbie’s eyes widened. “My husband has a crush on her.”
“Lucy is dating Bobby German. In fact, they’re very, very close. I doubt Kel has a thing for Lucy.” Sugar looked at Debbie with sympathy. “I recently got a divorce myself. It’s rough. I don’t have kids, though, and you do. I’d think about that if I were you, before I went cutting loose a guy who really loves you.”
“How do you know Kel loves me?”
Sugar shrugged. “He said so.”
Debbie blinked. “To you?”
“Yeah. But that’s all I’m saying. I don’t want to be involved in your marriage.” Sugar turned away, went back to studying the ribbons.
After a moment, when she didn’t hear anything else behind her, Sugar turned back around. Debbie was gone, but the group of sundresses still watched her every move. “Don’t you have anything better to do?” Sugar asked, curious.
They looked at her, startled, and took off. Sugar sighed and picked up the hot-pink ribbon to top the packaged pecans with. Her temper was hot pink. Might as well stick with the theme. Hot, hot, hot.