FUEL (DirtSlap Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

soft lips on his.
    “She wasn’t my girlfriend,” he said.
    “Good,” then she kissed his arm, patted his ass, and grabbed her bags. “Which way is my room?”
    He pointed to the open door to the left of the living room. He realized, as she walked away with hips swaying, he was in big trouble.
    He pulled off his hat, rubbed his head and the scruff on his face. So far, Cassie landing in his new hometown had been about as calm as a tornado touchdown. She was a nothing like the fourteen-year-old girl he had left behind. She had always been stubborn but never so straightforward and fearless. Nor had she been rockin’ curves like that.
    Her head poked around the corner of the door. “Bedlam, I’m hungry now.”
    He grinned at the nickname he hadn’t heard in forever. “You got it, Buzzkill. You ready for the best BBQ this town has to offer?”
    “Hell, yeah.” Her playful innocent smile about did him in.
    Thrand smirked as Cassie bit into a rib and moaned with satisfaction.
    “You were right. This is amazing.” She licked BBQ sauce off her fingers in blatant appreciation.
    They were tucked against a window in the upstairs part of Buck’s BBQ and sunlight turned her hair to spun gold. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Trying to merge the girl he’d left with the woman before him muddled his brain. There was nothing fancy about her. Just a woman with long, tanned legs, frayed shorts, black boots, and his baggy shirt. But she was like walking sunshine with all that hair and a mischievous smile.
    “Glad you approve. Service sucks. But the food is incredible.”
    She laughed. “Service is always this bad?”
    “Yup, but as you can tell, it’s always packed.”
    “So you said you might have a job idea. Don’t mean to rush it, but after this morning, I need a job. Quick.”
    “Sure. Jobs on the strip can be hard to get with all the people who come through this town, but I can pull some strings. You okay with serving liquor?”
    Her left shoulder came up in a shrug and the wide neck of his shirt slipped, baring a little bit of skin.
    “No problem. I just want to get paid.” She turned her attention to the window and shook her head. “I’ve never seen so many people.”
    He glanced out the window at the crowd. “This is nothing. Wait until Friday and Saturday night. Traffic is backed up and you can barely maneuver up and down the sidewalks.”
    He hadn’t thought it possible, but her face lit up even more.
    “Really? I can’t wait.” Her attention went right back to the commotion out the window, a smile never leaving her face.
    She tossed her napkin on the plate and abruptly stood. “Let’s go. I want to see more.”
    Without waiting on him, she shoved back her chair and headed toward the exit. When she reached the stairs, she turned toward him, those green eyes sparkling. Her wavy hair trailed down her back and her lips curled up, teasing him. “Come on, Thrand.”
    Oh yeah…He was in trouble because she was trouble.
    It was all he could do to keep up with her as she strode down the street, tossing question after question, barely letting him answer before the next one was out.
    “Man, I wish I had my camera,” she said in awe as they admired the ‘Batman’ building.
    “Were you really into photography?” Hands in his pockets, he walked beside her. He had been in Nashville for years, so the new had worn off long ago. But seeing it through her eyes reminded him of how amazing this town was. How full of life.
    “I guess. Got one at a garage sale for fun and realized…” She paused and studied the concrete. “Well, pictures are always there. They don’t disappear.”
    She glanced up at him and he stopped in his tracks.
    Pain flickered in her eyes before she turned away. It twisted up the ugly shame he had felt from the moment he had driven off. He’d disappeared on her. Without a word. He had tried to get her help but hadn’t told her good-bye.
    Before it could begin to fester, something