Killing Casanova Read Free Page A

against the silver Mitsubishi.
    “What’s wrong, sweetie?” Jake drawled in the husky cowboy voice Heidi always softened for.
    Last year Jake had starred in a magazine spread for Mustang men’s cologne, and the local TV stations picked up the web commercial the company made at the same time. Heidi had seen him on television and thought he’d left home to go run wild mustangs across Wyoming, instead of in Las Vegas shooting the commercial. Now whenever he pulled the cowboy from his repertoire, Heidi would always forgive him. Most of the women around their small rural area recognized him from that commercial, too, and it had the same effect on them. Well, not exactly the same. Heidi was terrified that he would go back to Wyoming because he liked horses more than her. That was her complaint every time Jake even hinted about running the mustangs. The others just couldn’t resist his brilliant blue eyes or his rugged features. The rough bad boy look and tall, muscular frame always did the trick. He could almost see knees buckle and hearts melt if he just gave them one of his signature smiles.
    Drawing his fingers through his dark tangle of hair, he waited for Heidi to stop quivering her lower lip.
    “I’ll keep my promise, Heidi, but it’s not time to go yet.” Jake soothed, flicking his palm toward the sky. “It’s still light out, and they can’t do Cinco de Mayo fireworks while the sun is up.”
    Jake straightened from the car and put his arm around Heidi, pulling her back toward the house.
    “I know, Yake,” she said. “But Miriam said I could help with the barbecue if you would take me before eight, and it’s seven already.”
    Jake did not falter or let her escape as he moved swiftly toward the kitchen door to deposit her back in the ranch house.
    “Why are they having dinner so late?” Jake asked, trying to distract her.
    Heidi was not giving in, and she spun out from under his arm to stand glowering at him, arms crossed and feet planted in the gravel.
    “Miriam hired a new counselor at the ranch, and she needed all day today to settle her. We all need to help put the party together, that’s why I have to be there as soon as possible, Yake. You know how much work it is without Yason.”
    Jake grimaced guiltily with her final statement, casting an abashed glare into the graveled road. Jason Sorenson had owned The Rocking J ranch since Jake could remember. Last year, Jason had been killed when his horse had broken its leg and fallen into the rushing flood waters of the San Madera River. Miriam Sorensen was saddled with a mortgage and an autistic boy of nine. She could not run the training and breeding facility by herself, and she had needed an alternative, quickly. Using grant money, Miriam had turned the former horse ranch into an equestrian therapeutic service center.
    Heidi had become the beneficiary of not only the soothing constancy of the specially trained horses, but the friendship of the Sorensen family.
    Now Jake crossed his arms and met his sister’s pleading look.
    “Come on, Heidi, I’d have to take you all the way out there, and then come back to help with the heifers. I’ve got plans tonight, too.”
    Heidi made an unhappy sound at the back of her throat but said nothing, letting the tears of disappointment brim her dark blue eyes. Jake closed his and sighed, dropping his hands helplessly at his sides.
    “Okay, Heidi,” he mumbled as she wiped her lashes clear. “Go get in the car.”
    • • •
    Jake glanced at his phone again as he dropped Heidi by the bleached white rails that ran the length of The Rocking J’s long drive. Cody Sorensen was counting the spiny rails along the western fence line to calm himself in the chaos, and Heidi went to walk the length of the fence with him.
    The early May night was lit by a fraction of moonlight, along with the Chinese lanterns Miriam had pulled out of storage from the New Year’s party. Parties were now a monthly occurrence at The Rocking