Page 8 of One Scorching Summer

“Of course, I didn’t. It’s impossible to stay mad at Skye.”

Rake’s niece, his ward, was the only child of his sister Nell and his brother-in-law Luis. Four years after the tragic accident, the two of them were still working through unimaginableloss and becoming immediate family. Loving Skye was like breathing, because he had loved her from the moment she was born. Disciplining her was a challenge. She was a handful, like her mother had been, but she had adapted to ranch life with ease.

“You’re a real dickhead when you’re pissed.” Levi stopped chalking his stick. “So what happened with Jorja?”

“Nothin', other than the that spill she took. It was in the gravel section of the original entrance, close to the Creek House. It was somethin' else.” Rake chuckled. “Plays on a loop in my head. The meeting didn’t happen. I ran her off as soon as I realized what she was up to.”

“Which was what?”

“To discuss a lease, or better yet, sign one.”

“Aha! She’s a landman?” Levi was an oil and gas attorney as well as Rake’s closest friend. “You do understand that you’re between a rock and a hard place. With the release of the updated seismic surveys indicating potential untapped reserves, interest in the Carpenter Ranch has intensified.”

“I know, and I’m thankful that you and your firm represent my family and our interests.”

“As one of your attorneys and your best friend, I’m reminding you again. You have no recourse. Leasing will happen with or without her. That’s Texas law. You can sign with her as the representative of Ogden-Keller, and maybe if you’re nice, she’ll offer a little more margin or other provisions. Or you can sign with someone else.”

Rake snarled. “Thanks for stating the obvious, asshole.”

“I’m simply giving you advice,” Levi said, letting the insult pass. “Seems Miss Ogden was dressed to negotiate.” He guffawed, seeming to enjoy irking Rake, signaling with two fingers to the passing waitress for another round of beers for thetwo of them. “She must have heard what a dog you are. Did you bite?”

“Nope, but now that she’s visiting your girlfriend through the weekend, I’m tempted.”

Catching Nettie’s attention in the other room, Levi flashed a broad grin and waved to her. “Jorja’s a tall drink of water. Ballsy to show up on your property like that. Maybe let whatever is sticking in your craw slide tonight.”

“Nothin’s in my craw.”

“Bullshit. I hear it every time you open your mouth. I see it in your face. You have a major conflict. You’re as attracted as hell to her, but she holds the power of oil and gas over you. Ouch.”

Levi summed it up perfectly. Rake had been unable to think of much else after his encounter with Jorja. He could not remember experiencing such an immediate and intense reaction with a woman. But he was also fiercely protective of the Carpenter land, which brought out the best and the worst in him. Jorja had gotten a taste of the worst—a bad-tempered sonovabitch with a shotgun. The idea of having to cave to a descendent of the man who had fucked over his great-grandfather rankled him to no end. His entire body tightened in response. What a quandary. Did she know the entire story? She had to.

“Don’t worry about that,” Rake said with a smug grin. “I’ll lay on the charm.”

“You can be a real bastard.” Levi pulled his phone from a hip pocket and glanced at it. “From Nettie. It’s trivia night in the bar. She’s snagging a table. Let’s go check in with them. Maybe join.” He poked Rake in the chest, his lips drawn into a hard line. “Don’t fuck me over with my woman. Got it?”

“Got it.”

Nettie dragged Jorja toward the bar area. “We’re playing trivia. Damn, it’s filling up fast. Oh,” –she pointed and fast-walked toward the back of the room— “there’s a table.”

The women claimed a high top with two stools close to the stage. Jorja hitched her hip onto a stool, rested her elbows on the table’s thickly lacquered wood top, and admired the beauty of the vintage hand-carved back bar. Beugy’s was nicer and more fun than she had expected. And the food was delicious. Similar to the restaurant side of the business, her friend’s design—industrial rustic—subtly balanced and elevated the decades-old establishment. Her eyes locked with Nettie’s across from her. “Can I tell you again how proud I am of you?”

Nettie’s eyes sparkled. “Thank you.”

“How long does trivia last?”

“A few hours. It gets really competitive and rowdy, which will help me not think of Levi playing pool in the other room with his friends.”

“Oh, girlfriend. You’ve got it bad.”

“I told you, Jorja, I really think he’sthe one.”

“Later you’re going to have to fill me in on the details, beyond how you met at the market, which is so cute … him picking up the escaped lemons when the handle on your bag broke. We got so absorbed in the movie and then?—”

“You” –Nettie fixed Jorja with a stare— “conked out halfway through it. That latte certainly didn’t do its job. I was sure you’d be up a lot later.”

“In my defense, you plied me with divine pizza and great wine and provided snuggly blankets for viewing. I think the preparation and anticipation about yesterday’s meeting tookmore out of me than expected. It has the potential to be a mega-deal. And I had too much to drink.” Add the tumble. And the heat. And the exhaustive craving for the panty-melting rancher. Her system was in overdrive. Despite her best efforts, she spent the time at the spa in her head when not slipping in and out of naps. “Tonight I’m rested and up for some friendly competition.”

“And maybe more?” Nettie elbowed Jorja good-naturedly. “I texted Levi to let him know we’ve got a table.”

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