Spurs and Heels Read Free Page B

front of his door.
    Staring at it for a few seconds, she wondered why she’d invested five years in their relationship and all she had to show for it was one box.
    She hated the little twist of guilt she felt when she looked at it and remembered his words. He’d all but called her a workaholic. She shared a small portion of culpability at the demise of their
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    relationship. Sure, he was a lying, cheating dickhead, but maybe there was some truth to what he’d said.
    Juliana returned to the store and ate her now-cold lunch in miserable silence, grunting when Evelyn imparted Ash’s message to her. I am such a bitch . She looked morosely at the cheerful yellow roses in the pretty porcelain teacup. Her brain had completely short-circuited at the smart words that had come out of his mouth. The embarrassing part was that she had thought that he looked good enough to eat. Literally mouth-watering, “get me a spoon” good enough to eat . Resting her head in her hand, she sighed heavily and continued eating her lunch. She was certain now she’d never hear from the cowboy again.
    Juliana came awake with a start, still holding her fork in her hand.
    She’d dozed off, only for a few seconds, but she’d actually fallen asleep while eating . That was probably part of her problem. She was tired, and he set her on edge. She was usually good-humored and ready with a quick comeback, but she was off her game. Ash had flustered her, and she’d reacted poorly. She could just as easily have invited him back to the office to sit and visit while she ate. Yeah, she was a bitch all right.
    She slipped her hand in her pocket when it vibrated, pulled out her cell phone and opened the new text message.

    I heard about this new disease. Maybe you heard of it, too?
    Foot-in-mouth syndrome? It’s terrible. I’m sorry.

    She sighed, chuckled, and began typing her reply.
    Well, at least it doesn’t have as negative a connotation as another condition I’ve heard of. Hellacious Bitch syndrome.
    It’s hard to be cured of and may have cost me a friendship today. I’m sorry.
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    Her phone vibrated again.
    I forgive you, if you forgive me.
    I know you’re tired. You need to rest.
    See you Wednesday, pretty lady.
    Why did that endearment set her heart to fluttering? How could he forgive her so easily? Where was he going to be Wednesday?
    Wednesday?
    I’m helping the guys move some furniture and boxes for Teresa.
    Oh.

     
    * * * *

     
    Juliana strapped the last box out of the bathroom closed with packing tape and placed it with several others in the hallway.
    Grabbing larger empty boxes, she went into Teresa’s tidy bedroom and packed up her neat and organized closet, marveling at the simplicity with which Teresa kept her home. No one could accuse her of being a packrat like they could of Juliana.
    While she was in the closet, she heard keys rattle in the front door and masculine voices as the men arrived to start moving the big items.
    One of them laughed as they continued their conversation.
    Jack’s voice travelled down the hallway to the bedroom.
    “Juliana’s car is parked out front, so she must be in here somewhere.”
    Poking her head out of the closet, she called, “Hi! I’m in here.”
    She was on her hands and knees in the closet when she felt a presence in the doorway behind her then heard a faint chuckle.
    She stilled but didn’t turn back to look at him. “Cowboy?”

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    “Yep. You can call me Ash.” Maybe he was being economical on words for fear of sticking his foot in his mouth again. “You look different in jeans.” Or maybe not.
    Risking a peek back at him, from underneath a row of blouses, she caught him devouring her great, big derriere with his eyes. Heat tingled in her cheeks as she backed out of the closet, to face him head on. Ash offered his hand, which she reluctantly accepted, and helped her to rise. Her heart pounded in humiliation. A tiny voice told her to shut up, but she didn’t listen.
    “What