Page 10 of Red's Revenge

Unease fills my belly. Something is off with him. He’s never hung up without saying I love you. I close the laptop and sit in silence for a few minutes. When the feeling didn’t pass, I quickly changed into some workout clothes and headed to the gym the hotel staff told me about when I checked in.

“You have got to be kidding me.” I stand in the doorway of a room that is no bigger than my closet back home.

One treadmill, an elliptical, and some hand weights are the sole equipment inside. I sigh, put my earbuds in, and climb on the treadmill. It’s facing a window to the parking lot, so at least I’m not staring at a wall. I start my playlist and set the machine at a steady pace to warm up.

Two hours later, I’m showered and feeling much better as I exit the lobby, ready to explore this speck of dirt town. It takes me less than twenty minutes to drive across it, and I shake my head in disbelief. I’d never make it across Manhattan this quickly.

The temperatures have dropped, but it’s still warmer here than back home, so I’m having a hard time imagining the snowfall they’re suggesting on the news. Yet when I tried to reschedule my flight before leaving the hotel, I found that the local airports were all shutting down.

Over a few inches of snow? New York would never, but I guess they just aren’t prepared to handle it down here. Which means I’m going to need some supplies. I searched Texas in winter and found the average temperature was the mid-sixties, so other than my sweater, I have no winter clothes with me.

I find a small women’s boutique with beautiful jewelry in the window and pull into the open parking spot.

“Welcome, how can I help you?” The shopkeeper has a warm smile and tan skin.

She’s wrapped in a shawl that twinkles in the sunlight when she moves. Her long dark hair has a sprinkle of natural gray that women back home have been paying thousands to replicate. I like her style, but it’s the tilt of her mouth as she looks me over that tells me I’m going to enjoy her company.

“New York?” She guesses, making me laugh.

“Don’t hold it against me.” I nod as she waves off my comment.

“I’m a Philly transplant myself. What brings you to Serenity, Texas?” I try to hide my cringe at the name of the town.

“Work,” I try to evade her question because I’m here to cause trouble.

It’s my fucking job to undercut property deals and mergers. Unfortunately, I’m damn good at it. Which does not make the locals of the towns I visit fans.

“Which is?” She pushes while I glance around her shop and find a display of fleece-lined flannels.

“Property acquisition,” I admit while not looking her in the eyes.

“I see. So you’re here to steal someone’s land right from under them.” Well, at least she didn’t sound judgmental about it.

“It’s not personal.” I sigh and finally look back at her.

“Oh, it’s personal to the town folk of Serenity. I won’t hold it against you, though. You’re just doing your job, and you look like you’re doing it well. My question is, how do you sleep at night?” I arch my eyebrow but can’t help my response.

“On thousand-count Egyptian sheets in my Upper East Side penthouse.” She nods, seemingly impressed.

“All that money keeping you warm in that cold ass city?” She crosses her arms over her chest, waiting for my response.

The feeling I had this morning when I ended the conversation with Ryan fills me with anxiety again, and then the memories of my dreams featuring that hunk of a cowboy, Red, chase them all away.

“Look at that blush. That is not from anyone back home.” I blink and turn away again.

“Who names their kid Red anyway?” I mumble as I flip through the flannels and find my size.

“RED?” Oops, I must have said that louder than I thought.

“Big Red? Oh honey, you want to stay clear of that cowboy.” I take the flannel to the counter as she walks behind it and rings it up.

“Oh, I plan on it.” It’s an honest answer.

I’m avoiding that bar like it has the plague.

The store bell rings, and two ladies walk in giggling, making me glance over my shoulder.

“Hey Misty! Did my order arrive? I’m going to surprise Red with it later tonight.” It’s the girl from the Bar last night.

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