Page 32 of Stilettos and Outlaws

Dad scowled. “Not until we have to.”

“I’ll get a drone up and see how many Peeping Toms we have.” Mom’s tennis shoes squeaked loudly as she walked over to the armory.

I grimaced. “You might want to change first.”

“It’s 115 today. I’ll be dry within ten minutes.”

Julie and I exchanged looks and headed down the hallway.

Miss Kitty followed us into the kitchen.

“No, no, little one. The big, nasty bull might step on you. You need to stay in the house.” Julie pushed Miss Kitty back with her foot and quickly closed the kitchen door.

Halfway across the patio and I was already sweating badly. 115 my ass.

Angry meows sounded.

I glanced over my shoulder. The kitten gave us her death stare through the kitchen window.

Julie laughed. “She’s got your mother’s stink eye down pat.”

“That she does.”

Max, Dad’s cutting horse, knickered at me as we crossed the backyard. “Hang on. I’m gonna feed you.”

“The back of my neck is itching,” Julie announced.

I smiled brightly. “We’re probably under surveillance. Why don’t you do your seductress routine at the pool, and I’ll head to the barn and start the backup systems.”

“What? Your boobs are as big as mine,” Julie protested.

“But I’m not a homecoming queen like you are.”

“Oh, puh-lease, that was a million years ago and what about those sexy dance numbers you do with Dante?”

Julie had a valid point. “Okay. Rock, paper, scissors?”

“Don’t cheat this time,” Julie said.

I rolled my eyes. “You can’t cheat with rock, paper, scissors.”

“You always win.”

“Do not.” I wiped the sweat out of my eyes. “Can we just do this?”

“Fine.”

Together, we yelled, “Rock, paper, scissors, Shoot!”

“Rock!” My bruised fist still looked like I had been in a brawl.

Julie’s hand was closed except for the middle and index fingers.

I hooted. “Rock beats scissors.”

“Damn. Next time we see who can spit the farthest.”

Snickering, I asked, “Did you forget I was raised with five brothers?”

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