Blame it on Texas Read Free Page A

pregnancy was the bottom of the respectability barrel. There was no getting out of that one. He shouldn’t have been surprised when she ran. But that didn’t make it hurt any less.

Chapter Two
    Promptly at three the next afternoon, Shelby entered the offices of Coltrane, Elliot, and Johnson. They had a cool and breezy look, like a slice of the Caribbean had been brought to the Texas panhandle. Pale, aqua-tinted walls, crisp white trim and large potted plants. Only the golden-toned wood floors added a touch of the real locale.
    A small brunette sat behind a large desk, her breezy white outfit in perfect harmony with her surroundings.
    “Shelby Patterson. I’m here to see Craig Combs.”
    The receptionist smiled and scanned her appointment calendar. “I have a Shelby McCoy.”
    How long had it been since someone had called her that? Seven years if a day. She’d never really gone by Ritt’s name. There hadn’t been any time. But using Patterson had taken away some of the sting and made the biggest mistake of her life seem like…less. “McCoy is my married name.”
    The woman raised one dark brow in question. “Second door on the left. Go on back. They’re expecting you.”
    Shelby nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. It was all about to end.
    Craig was seated behind a large dark wooden desk. A computer monitor flashed in front of him, a familiar envelope lying open on the large calendar/blotter.
    Ritt slouched in one of the leather chairs facing the desk, his booted feet stretched out in front.
    Shelby stopped short. Her breath caught in her throat. A hand fluttered to her hair to smooth down her tidy chignon. She was grateful she had taken the time to buy a new shirt and skirt for the occasion. She had been tempted to pick up a tracksuit at Penney’s to see her through, but instead had splurged on a short gray skirt and a silky white button-down from Dillard’s. It seemed like today she was going to need all the confidence she could muster.
    “What are you doing here?” she blurted.
    Ritt rolled his head in her direction, the brim of that stupid orange baseball hat hiding his eyes. “It’s my divorce too.”
    “There was no need…” Her words trailed off as Craig stood.
    He smoothed a hand over the front of his shirt and motioned with the other for her to sit. “Glad you could make it, Shelby.”
    She nodded, then cautiously picked her way around to the front of the chair. She had to step over Ritt’s feet to do so, and she wondered if he’d positioned himself like that to make it difficult for her. She wouldn’t put it past him. It seemed he had no desire to let things happen smoothly. He hadn’t been so opposed that one night down by the lake…
    She wiped that thought from her mind, setting her handbag on the floor next to her chair and giving Craig a respectful and attentive look. It beat the heck out of staring at Ritt’s biceps. Even out of the corner of her eye she could see the ripped muscles as he sat with his shoulders hunched, his arms crossed over that so broad chest.
    “You both know why we’re here. Now, in light of other circumstances, there are a few things we need to discuss before getting down to the business of signing.”
    “What? He hasn’t signed them?” Shelby was on her feet in a heartbeat.
    “Shelby, there’s more to talk about than—”
    “Why hasn’t he signed them?” Her temper would get her nowhere, but she was two days off already. She wasn’t about to spend any more time in Texas than absolutely necessary.
    “I’m right here. You can talk to me, you know.”
    She kept her eyes trained on Craig. “I came here to pick up the papers. Which meant they should be signed. I don’t understand why they’re not signed.”
    “See what I mean?” Ritt started. “I told you she was going to be like this.”
    She rounded on him. “Like what?”
    “Guys—” Craig interjected.
    “A brat.”
    “I am not a brat.” She stamped her foot to prove it.
    “I knew