Texas Thunder Read Free

close.”
    She’d started working part-time for Les six years ago, answering phones and keeping track of his listings, and never once had he complained when she’d come in late thanks to one of her granddad’s all-night benders. Or when she’d had to take an extra half hour at lunch to check up on her sisters. He even worked around her school schedule, though he’d made it clear that if she had half a brain, she’d be taking real estate classes instead of attending the local junior college. Overall, Les was an easygoing guy. Except when it came to his archenemy Tanner Sawyer, founder of the number-one-ranked Sawyer Realty.
    Tanner had stolen more than one listing out from under Les, who’d countered with a flurry of promotional products, including fourteen cases of Les Is More! koozies and five hundred rolls of Do It with Les! preprinted toilet paper—two-ply.
    Surprisingly enough, the promo—including a heartfelt commercial with Les offering free turkeys to anyone who posted a Haverty Real Estate sign in their yard—had actually worked. Les was now running neck-and-neck with Tanner for year-to-date sales. Another biggie and he was sure to slide right past his nemesis, straight into first place.
    â€œI just want you to know you can take as much time as you need.” Les clapped Callie on the shoulder in a gesture that was meant to be friendly but came off more awkward. While Les was an easygoing guy, he wasn’t a touchy-feely person. Especially since he had an overpossessive wife named Selma who watched him like a hawk. He glanced around to make sure no one had seen the shoulder clap before he added, “No need to rush back to work tomorrow, even though we do have that big open house scheduled over at the Bachman place. I barely beat Tanner Sawyer out of that listing and I’m strapped to pull off a smooth open house. But don’t you worry, I can handle it all myself. I can pick up some crab dip at the Piggly Wiggly and maybe a cracker and cheese tray and some ginger ale.” He shrugged his narrow shoulders. “Granted, it won’t be nearly as good as your ham and cheese pinwheels and that tiki torch punch that you make, but I’ll make do. I’ll greet the customers. And hand out all the freebies. And talk up the features. And field the offers. And work the numbers.” He seemed to realize the enormity of what he was saying. “Then again, it might be good just to climb right back on that horse. You know, put in a few hours just to get your mind off of things. I hear distraction is good for the grief process.” Hope lit his gaze and he gave her his most persuasive smile. “I’ll even pay time and a half to help with funeral expenses.”
    â€œI’ll be there.”
    She had to be. Haverty Real Estate was her only source of income at the moment and while it wasn’t nearly enough to reconcile her debt, she needed all the help she could get.
    â€œFan-friggin’-tastic.” Les sighed as if the weight of the world had lifted off his shoulders. But then he caught sight of his wife, who stood across the room with a few ladies from the local bridge club, a frown on her face as if she’d glimpsed the shoulder clap. His shoulders slumped again. “But only if you’re sure.”
    â€œI’ll be there by eight.”
    He grinned again. “And don’t forget to pick up the new chip clips I had printed up over at the Print-N-Go. I’ve got a whole box of them back at the office. I’d swing by myself, but I have to drop Selma at her yoga class and it’s clear on the other side of town.”
    â€œI’ll pick up the chip clips. And the water bottles,” she added when he started to open his mouth. “And I’ll even grab a few rolls of the toilet paper.”
    â€œAtta girl. Oh, and don’t forget the pinwheels and punch.” He glanced around. “And maybe bring some of