Page 53 of Piece Of Me

“I told you I’d be early because I was meeting a friend.”

“I remember.”

“That friend is Manley.”

Surprised, Scarlett’s eyes widened as Martha glanced her way. “You ready? I don’t want to be late.”

CHAPTER 17

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, but now it was early afternoon and the rain had started. Taz spent the better part of the morning in the barns, the girls trailing behind him while he fed the animals, turned out the horses, and mucked stalls. His part-timers normally did the grunt work on the weekends, but he’d given them both time off so they could compete in the rodeo.

And now with the rain, Cameron and Ryan were inside, playing with their dolls, while he was on the porch, sprawled on a chair, enjoying a nice cold beer. Normally, this would be the time for him to relax. Clear his head and enjoy this life he’d been given. But this afternoon his thoughts were elsewhere, centered on a dark-haired woman with blue eyes and a smile that was made for him.

He pulled out his cell and scrolled through his text messages, bypassing several from his pals, one from Millie Sue, and another from his mom. He’d sent Scarlett a message as soon as she’d left.

We need to do that again. What do you think?

Her reply.

Ditto.

He was trying to come up with something interesting to say, other than I want you here with me, when he heard the rumble of an engine and glanced up. A large black truck came to a stop just in front of the house and Mike Paul appeared. He made his way over and paused on the top step.

“You got any more of those?” He pointed to the cold beer in Taz’s hand.

“You know where they are.”

Mike Paul slipped inside the house and Taz grinned when the girls squealed. Loudly. The guy wouldn’t be able to sneak away so easily. It was nearly ten minutes later before his buddy came out, beer in hand, and sat down in the other chair.

“Damn, but their voices hit a pitch that can break a man’s eardrum.”

“They’re little girls.”

“And they don’t take no for an answer. I had to play horse before they’d let me leave.”

Taz chuckled. “Welcome to my world.” He glanced over to Mike Paul. “Something up?”

“You left the dance early.”

“I did.”

“I get why but you missed the fireworks is all. Thought I’d fill you in.”

“Yeah?”

“Yep.” He took a sip from the bottle. “Fire. Works.”

A few moments passed and Taz frowned. “You gonna spill or are you just replaying things inside your head.”

“Val showed up.”

“Val.”

Mike Paul nodded. “Showed up.”

It took a bit, but the lightbulb went off. “Val from the Frisky Coyote.”

“That’s the one.”

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