Her Mother's Killer Read Free Page A

the chair behind his desk and thought about his encounter with Thea. Not like he’d thought about much else since she’d left him at the gas station. It was decidedly uncomfortable that every time he thought of her, his blood heated. If he’d known from the beginning it was her, he probably wouldn’t have reacted the way he did.
    He closed his eyes as he leaned his head back. The image of the faded, worn denim stretching across her full ass. He could imagine slipping his hands over her flesh, the way it would pinken after he smacked it. His cock jerked at the image and he opened his eyes. Okay, so maybe it wouldn’t have mattered if he’d known who she was. He wouldn’t let it bother him, or affect him in any way. It wasn’t like he would act on the attraction.
    Thinking of her at the gas station brought back to mind the conversation and her evasion of what she was doing there. With that, he decided to give Jed a call and see if he knew or if he had any idea just what the hell Thea was up to.
    * * * *
    Thea stepped out of her SUV in the parking lot at Yardley’s. She’d predicted correctly when she said it would be dead. Football season in the small towns of Texas left very few people out on the streets. As she watched the tan sedan park in the front row, she thought it a shame not everyone followed that tradition.
    She didn’t fight the irritation or the groan when she recognized Richard White. Five years older than Thea, and a football buddy of her brother’s, Richard had tormented her endlessly whenever they had crossed paths. His favorite taunt was usually calling her tubbo. Richard wasn’t known for his witty humor.
    He stepped out of the car and waited for her to gain the sidewalk. When she did, he stepped into her path. She looked up at him noting the changes in him, none of them in his favor. Any remaining evidence he had been the starting center for the Crocker High School football team that had won the 2-A championship twenty-one years ago had vanished. Gone were the muscles and the good looks. Before he had put on his hat, she’d seen the balding head where there had once been thick wheat-colored hair. His physique suffered from a beer gut that threatened the durability of his belt and the buttons on his shirt.
    He licked his lips, and asked, “Can I help you with something?”
    “No. Just picking up a few things.”
    “I know just about everyone in this town, but I don’t recognize you.” His pale blue eyes narrowed and then lit with recognition. “Thea Johnson? Holy shit, I had no idea you were back in town.”
    “Well, now you do.” She moved to brush past him but he slipped into her path.
    “Last time I saw Jed, he didn’t say anything about you coming back.”
    Considering that Jed didn’t talk to Richard, he wasn’t exactly lying, but she figured she wouldn’t mention it.
    “It’s been nice talking to you.”
    He took a menacing step closer, his body within inches of hers and she fought the urge to move back. His licked his lips again and then they turned up in a mocking smile.
    “So, I see you finally went on a diet.”
    Facing him, her stomach roiled as the scent of onions and cheap aftershave mixed with sweat drifted over her. She clenched her fists and took a deep breath. She would not lose her temper or back down. She forced herself to smile.
    “You know, once again I’m amazed at your quick wit,   Dick .”
    His smile faded, his nostrils flared. The familiar unease she’d always felt around him settled in her belly churning the little bit of coffee she’d drank at Gwen’s. It was always like this with Richard. He’d never been anything but a bully. Still, whenever he got within five feet of her, her skin crawled.
    Before he could return the jab, someone called his name. She watched the inner struggle between answering the summons and blasting her. After a few seconds, he clenched his jaw, spun around and walked over to the older gentleman who’d called him.
    Seeing