Texas Fandango: Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 3 Read Free Page A

women for you,” she said.
    He lifted one shoulder and an eyebrow.
    Leo set another beer on the table for Drake. “On me. House rules. Man gets dumped in my bar, I buy him a beer.”
    “Hey,” KC protested. “What about women getting dumped?”
    “Sorry,” Leo replied with a smoldering grin. “Us guys have to stick together.” He walked away as two new patrons took seats at the bar.
    “You want to know the real pisser?”
    KC crossed her arms on the table’s edge and nodded. “Sure. What’s the pisser?”
    Drake pulled an envelope from his front pocket and dropped it on the table. “I’d planned to surprise her with this two-week vacation at the Sand Castle Resort and Spa. And let me tell you, it wasn’t cheap and I really needed the break.”
    “So what was your plan for this trip? Sand, sun and sex? Sounds great. Count me in.” Her heart shook against her ribs. Would he take her up on it?
    He chuckled. “Actually, sand, sun and surfing. After being a cave dweller to study for the bar for the last couple of months, I need some R&R.” He lifted his beer glass to his luscious lips and took a long swallow. “I’d thought taking Magda for company would be fun.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
    KC longed to use her tongue to clean the beer foam off his full lips. Yum.
    Then his words broke through her lust haze. Maybe she’d been too subtle or he hadn’t taken her offer seriously. Either way, she decided to give it one more try. She allowed the corners of her lips to turn up and looked at him through lowered lashes. As in poker, she went all in. No mincing of words. “I’m fun. I could use a vacation, not to mention my new bikini is dying to be worn.”
    She threw her offer on the table again and mentally crossed her fingers.
    His eyes took on the unfocused look of a man deep in thought; someone whose mind wasn’t present in the here and now conversation.
    “Thanks,” he said without emotion, “but I don’t want to put you out. I’m sure you have better things to do than keep me company.”
    A swell of disappointed nausea whirled in her stomach. At the same time an ember of ire sparked at the pity party he was throwing himself. Worse than the anger and disappointment was her mortification and embarrassment. She could feel the heat rising up her neck. She didn’t, as a habit, throw herself at men. She didn’t have to. She might not be as beautiful as Olivia or as exotic as Magda, but she didn’t have trouble attracting men, or at least she hadn’t until today.
    She slid from the booth and started to walk away but then came back to his table. Slapping her hands flat on the shiny wood, she leaned forward. “You know, there are women who value a man like you. You’re smart, funny and a damn fine-looking man. But sometimes you are an idiot, Drake Gentry.”
    His surprised expression had her shaking her head. He really had no clue.
    She strode to the door without a backward glance.

Chapter Two
    Drake scratched the back of his head. What was KC all in a huff about?
    Leo began collecting the empty beer mugs off the table.
    “Women,” Drake said with a confused frown. “KC just left in a snit and I have no idea what her problem is.”
    After a quick glance around his bar and seeing that no patrons were trying to get drinks at the moment, Leo slipped into the booth across from Drake. “What happened?”
    “I don’t know. I was telling her about my plan to get away for a couple of weeks of vacation and how Magda had…well…” Heat flared on the back of his neck. How humiliating to admit he’d been dumped.
    “I saw, remember?” Leo said. “Your lady friend decided to fish in other waters.”
    Drake nodded. “That sounds so much better than she dumped me.” He chuckled. “Anyway, I’ve got airline tickets and reservations for two at this great Caribbean resort and now no one to take. KC offered to go with me but I know how busy she is. I didn’t want to take advantage of