AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So, then there’s no… girlfriend. You never said.”
He shook his head left and right, stuck in her eyes until she took the hat off his head and headed up to the counter. A young man flashed her a smile that said he was interested.
“Maria Michele,” he said. She probably thought that accent was sexy. “It’s so good to see you here. I heard you’re still single. Billy Bob must be loco, to let a gal like you get away.”
“Nobodyletsme do anything, Monolito. I do as I please.” She plunked the hat onto the counter. “Don’t wrap it, he’s wearing it out.”
He nodded, but the looks he sent Harrison were not friendly. Not hostile exactly, more like he’d cut ahead in the line of men awaiting a shot at Maria Brand. It must be a long, long line, he thought. She was amazing. Maybe it was just hitting him how amazing. Confident. Beautiful. Smart. Comfortable in her skin. Authentic, probably the most authentic person he’d ever met. She knew what she wanted and was going after it— the clinic, her house on Bluebonnet Lane. She’d have no trouble finding a husband so she could get on with the rest of her plan. All she’d have to do is pick the one she wanted.
She tapped a card, took the hat. They moved toward the front, but didn’t leave the shop. It wasn’t time for a few more minutes. They pretended to browse near a window that facedthe place where they were supposed to meet Carrie— or whoever had her phone.
Maria reached up to push a hand through his hair, sending a tingle all the way to his toes. Then she settled the hat onto his head, adjusted the angle, and said, “There,” in a kind of raspy whisper that sounded like sex.
Harrison swallowed hard and didn’t say anything.
“So yeah, my family’s wealthy,” she said, resuming the earlier topic. “A while back, my mom and uncles had to make a decision. To continue to make it in cattle ranching, you either had to go toward a factory feedlot model, or lean all the way into the new regenerative agriculture model. There was no more in-between. My family loves this land. We feel connected to it. A feedlot would’ve destroyed it. So, they went regenerative. Because they got in early, they made a bundle, invested it wisely, rinse and repeat. Now every last one of their offspring gets a check every month.”
“Nice.”
“It is.” She glanced up. “That hat looks good on you.”
“Doesn’t go with my shoes,” he said, looking down at his casual loafers.
“Maybe you need some boots.”
“No, the hat’s plenty.”
“For now,” she said. Then she went quiet, gazing out the window. Every once in a while, the shopkeep looked their way, but he didn’t seem worried.
“You know, Maria, you had a narrow escape with Billy Bob.”
“You can say that again. Who knew he had a violent streak?”
“No, I mean… you can do better. He’s nowhere near good enough for a girl like you.”
“Are you flirtin’ with me, Harry Hyde?”
“Am I?” he asked, and he hadn’t meant to say it aloud.
“Time to go,” she said. “Five of.”
They stepped out of the shop, and the bell on the door jingled. They had to walk to the corner then cross the street. A group of people was walking toward them, and Harrison used it as an excuse to put his arm around Maria’s shoulders. She moved closer, so their hips brushed when they walked, and it felt good.
She pointed out her uncle Ben’s dojo, the volunteer fire department, the post office, all within sight. She nodded across the street. “You wouldn’t know it to look, but that diner right there has the best barbecue in the county.”
“You’re gonna have to prove that.” He grinned at her, and they pivoted to cross the street.
There wasn’t another vehicle in sight, until there was. It came out of nowhere, a truck, careening full-speed. Maria was looking at him, so she didn’t see it. He lunged, pulling her with him, dove because he wasn’t going to make it in time. He pushed her as hard as he could, launched her off her feet, and then he felt a glancing blow to his shoulder that sent him skidding across the pavement and just barely out of the path of the massive tires.
“Harry!” Maria shrieked, and then she was pulling him up onto his feet on the sidewalk where he’d landed, brushing at his clothes, looking him over. His hat was long gone. “Are you okay? Lord almighty, it looked like he plowed right into you!” As she said it, she looked toward the road, and so did Harrison, but the truck had already sped away.
“I’m okay.” She had blood on her forehead.
“You’re hurt.”
“Hit the lamppost is all. I’m good.”
“You’re bleeding,” he said, and he felt sick to his stomach.
