The Billionaire of Bluebonnet Read Free Page A

depressed, Risa had realized. She didn’t have anything to look forward to. Travis’s parents were terrible at checking in. They called every few months and regaled Pearl about all the exciting things they were doing as they sailed around Europe in the sailboat Travis had bought them. Risa had seen Pearl sinking into a depression and had been unsure what to do.
    Inspiration had struck at last year’s Bluebonnet Fall Festival. They’d seen the pet micro pigs for sale there, and Pearl had taken one look and fallen in love. Risa had, too. The pigs were clean, smart, and adorably funny; and the cutest piglet came home with them that day.
    And if he wasn’t quite as good as visits from her beloved grandson, well, Pearl never complained.
    Risa missed Pearl. The woman had been employer, friend, and grandmotherly figure all in one. She’d taken the job with Pearl out of necessity, but it had turned into a labor of love as they’d developed a close friendship.
    But that chapter of her life was closed, Risa supposed. Time to pack up and move ahead with her life, which meant returning to the city and looking for a job in her field of expertise—teaching.
    And that meant no Gregory, since her Dallas friend had cringed at the idea of a pig in her downtown apartment.
    Watching Travis Jesson stare down at the pig with his lip curled in disgust, though, it was hard to imagine that they’d get along like Pearl had anticipated.
    â€œHe’s a very good pig,” Risa said lamely, hitching her towel closer to her body. How embarrassing that he’d seen her in her swimsuit and without a stitch of makeup. God. She was worse than invisible right now. He probably thought she was hideous. “We’re very careful with his diet so he doesn’t get fat, and he doesn’t bite. He’s litter trained, too.”
    â€œWhat the fuck am I supposed to do with a pig?” His voice was cold and clipped as he pulled a phone out of his pocket.
    She studied his suit uncomfortably. Armani, probably. Or Versace. Or something equally pricey. He didn’t look like a man that was here to go through his grandmother’s things. He looked like a man late for a meeting. An uncomfortable sensation curled in her stomach as he punched in a number on his phone with his thumb and then raised it to his ear. “Amy? Have I had any calls? Uh-huh? Good. Okay. Tell them I’ll call back shortly. I need you to do something. I want you to call every animal shelter in Houston and find one that takes pigs.”
    Risa sucked in a breath. He wasn’t going to do that to such a sweet pig, was he? Even now, Gregory rubbed and leaned against her bare arm, wanting to be scratched. He was such a good, well behaved pet, and so smart. Which Travis would know, if only he’d give him a chance.
    Pearl would have been heartbroken at the thought of her beloved pig being turned over to a shelter by her adored grandson.
    She had to do something.
    â€œThat’s right, I said
pig
,” he snapped into the phone, ignoring Risa as she stood. “
P-I-G
. Ask how much in donations they’ll need to take one off of my—”
    Risa snatched the phone from his hand and began to walk away with it.
    â€œHey,” he called after her, furious. “What the fuck are you doing?”
    She walked a bit faster, her steps almost a run as she bolted for the pool. Gregory danced in happy circles at her feet, snorting and squealing with excitement. He thought they were playing a game.
    To her surprise, Travis Jesson caught her by the waist and her towel fell to the ground. Gregory immediately grabbed it and dashed off with it, grunting happily. A big hand wrestled the phone out of her hand, though she did her best to hold on to it. She was standing really close to the pool, too, and when he wrenched it out of her hand, she had to hold on to him to keep her balance.
    For some reason, though, he wasn’t letting her