Bossing the Billionaire: Billionaire Brothers Kent - Ryder's Story (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) Read Free

couldn’t figure out. Instead of being
intimidated it looked like she was the one who usually did the intimidating.
    Before she could throw out a command Ryder cleared his throat and
tore his eyes away from the mesmerizing Texas rose then he glanced down at the
man who had invited him over. His unexpected host was still grinning up at him
so he figured the invitation was still open. With a shrug he headed over to the
table where the man sat with another, a smaller man, who stared up at him in
open curiosity.
    As he approached, the big man used his foot to push the free chair
away from the table. “Make yourself comfortable, stranger. It’s not everyday we
see a new face in these parts.”
    Ryder gave him a nod of appreciation for the welcome. “Thank you,”
he said as he took the seat that was being offered. “This is my first visit to
Marfa.”
    “Marfa?” The bearded man let out a hearty guffaw. “Did you hear
that, fellas? This stranger thinks he’s in Marfa.”
    The man got the reaction he’d probably been looking for. The whole
place erupted in raucous laughter and, to Ryder’s chagrin, even the woman
behind the bar was chuckling.
    Feeling like a fool, he cleared his throat again then frowned when
he realized he’d fallen right back into his nervous habit. Whenever he felt out
of his depth he was always clearing his throat. It was a habit he’d thought
he’d licked but now it was back, just when he didn’t need it causing him even
further embarrassment.
    “Where am I then?” he asked, now giving up hope of ever finding this
place called Marfa.
    “This is Pequoia,” the woman said as the laughter died down. “One of
the oldest towns in Texas.” Then she gave him a rueful grin. “Now one of the
smallest, what with all the youngsters leaving as soon as they're old enough.”
Then she dried her hands on a nearby towel, lifted the counter and came over to
him, a letter-sized laminated card in her hand. “Here’s the menu. You might as
well make yourself comfortable and grab a bite. Looks like you’ve been on the
road a while.”
    Ryder gladly took it from her hand but it wasn’t the food list that held
his attention. It was her. She was even lovelier close up.
    “What did I tell you about staring?” Her voice was brusque but her
lips twitched then curved into a crooked smile that had Ryder smiling back.
    “Sorry.” Suitably chastised he glanced down at the menu. “The roast
beef sandwich sounds good. Can I have that?”
    “It’s your lucky day,” she said. “That’s the most popular item on
the menu but it so happens I’ve got some left. Just enough for one.”
    “I’ll take it,” Ryder said, his mouth already watering at the thought
of the meal. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast and at this hour of the day he’d
reached starvation point.
    The woman nodded and took the menu from his hand and was just about
to turn away when Ryder stopped her. “Do you mind if I ask your name?”
    She stopped and actually looked surprised that he’d asked. “It’s
Blake. Blake Beaumont. And what’s yours, stranger?”
    “I’m Ryder Kent.” He put out his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you,
Blake.”
    She took it even as she cocked an eyebrow at him, the amusement back
in her eyes. “Are you sure about that? Maybe you should get to know me better
before you throw out such statements.”
    “Yeah,” one of the men from a neighboring table said. “This is one
tough gal, my friend. Don’t be fooled by all this beauty. When she’s ready she
can be a real b-”
    "Calvin, you mind your mouth, you hear me?” Blake’s voice was
stern. “No need to scare off Mr. Kent with your crude language.”
    “Call me Ryder,” he began but she’d already turned away and was
heading back to the bar. Well, so much for striking up a conversation with the
sole woman in the place. He might as well turn his attention to his new-found
friends.
    Within minutes of a lively conversation about the current issues