Tex's Revenge: Military Discipline, Book Two Read Free Page B

the fact that one shackled wrist was unavailable for full body pouting.
    “We can stop at McDonald's.”
    “I want proper food.”
    “Do you really think you're in a position to be making demands?”
    That question might have cowed a less experienced captive and made them think about their situation, but not Zora. “Sure, why not? You want me for something. I doubt it's to observe the effects of saturated fats on middle aged women.”
    Tex shook his head at the road in an expression of frustration. She was probably being a lot more difficult than he wanted her to be. Good. She decided to add insult to injury by taunting him gently. “Oh I know,” she said brightly. “I could tell you that Savage is certain to come rescue me now that you've abducted me from my glamorous home. Would that help?”
    He shot her a dark look. “Is it true?”
    “Probably not,” she said. “I haven't heard from him in a long time. Not exactly his type anymore.” She poked a finger at the spare tire around her waist and had to keep from giggling at the confused expression on Tex's face. Whatever he'd thought she was, she wasn't turning out to be that at all. With any luck he'd come to the conclusion that she was a waste of time and drop her off somewhere along the road, hopefully alive.
    “You wanted to help him though. When I told you he was in trouble, you were interested,” Tex kept probing.
    “Sure,” she agreed. “What woman wouldn't help a dodgy man find her cheating ex?”
    His brow furrowed all the more and Zora knew her plan was working.
    “He cheated on you?”
    “Oh yeah, ages ago with some girl he worked with.” Zora was starting to get into the swing of the story. It wasn't hard to conjure up feelings of abandonment and betrayal. “They're probably married with three kids by now.” She added a bitter laugh for good measure.
    “Is that so?”
    “Yep. It is so. Can we go to Red Lobster?”
    He went with the change of subject. “A fan of seafood?”
    “It's alright.”
    Tex tried a charming smile. It worked for the most part. “How about somewhere a little more intimate?”
    “No thanks,” Zora shook her head emphatically. “Not a fan of intimacy.”
    “Now that I don't believe.” In spite of her carefully casual, one might even have said semi-detached facade, his suave chuckle still made her heart skip a beat.
     
    * * *
     
    Melissa wiped the bar down with a tatty rag, which, like the rest of Iron Horse, had seen better days. The patrons of the Iron Horse, the bar being named after the township, weren't exactly discerning types with minds for high hygiene. As long as they got a good draught in a glass that was more or less clear they didn't complain.
    It had been a good day at the bar, all sorts of excitement had been taking place in the little town and she couldn't wait for the evening influx of patrons so she could share her observations and theories. It had just gone five o'clock according to the Mickey Mouse clock that sat on the wall above the dishwasher's station, so she wouldn't have long to wait by her estimation.
    She was just done wiping when the bar door opened. Melissa first looked up eagerly, then her face fell slightly when she realized it wasn't one of her gossip pals, but her lips turned up at the corners once more when she saw that it was yet another handsome stranger. This one was quite different from the one she'd chatted up in the morning. He was very tall and broad with the sort of chiseled face she was only used to seeing in movies. Instead of wearing slick city clothes he was wearing a faded pair of jeans that accentuated his powerful hips and a casual checkered shirt that hung slightly open at the collar, though not quite enough to let Melissa get a good view of his chest, which seemed to be very well formed.
    “Well hello,” Melissa smiled her broadest, most welcoming smile.
    “Hello,” the man smiled back at her, then turned his gaze to the menu boards at the sides of the bar.