Dianne Venetta [Ladd Springs Hotel Ladd (epub)

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.I think you’re the best in the business, but I understand what you’re saying.The same goes for me.I need a new direction.I’ve been helping my Daddy out at the ranch but all he keeps trying to do is lasso me into the bank.It’s not what I want to do.”“Did you not like working in Arizona?”“Arizona was real fine, but once you sold one house, you sold them all.”“I thought you managed the community.”“I did, eventually, but even then it was all the same.Selling, or managing the selling, all began to feel the same.It made me itch for something new.” He paused, allowing a swell of regret to pass through him.He might have been bored with his work life, but not his personal.At home, he’d been happy.He loved his wife, loved his daughter.Unfortunately, it was they who got their fill of him.He tamped back a swell of regret.“I want to try my hand at something different.Ever since I gave up the drink, I’ve been driftin’.”“Is it hard for you to be back home?” she asked.“You know, with all the memories? Your brothers?”Cal shook his head.“Not really.Not when you’ve changed your heart, it isn’t.Now if I was still struggling with it, sure.But I’m not.” He couldn’t afford to struggle with the bottle.He had too much riding on his sobriety back in Arizona, and he was determined to make things right.Moving back to Tennessee was his chance to prove himself, prove he could remain sober, hold down a job, and be the man his daughter needed him to be.“What do you think you want to do?” Annie asked.“Not sure.” And that was the hardest part of all.Cal had no burning desire to do anything.He loved working with horses, but he was getting too old to spend every day in dusty corrals and pens with wild stallions.He liked investing money.Found he had a knack for it, but he didn’t want to invest other people’s money, only his own.Cal didn’t know what he wanted to do and that was his problem.A problem he needed to solve.Proving he could walk the straight and narrow meant getting his life back—the most important piece, anyway.His wife was through with him.She’d moved on and Cal didn’t blame her.But his daughter was a different matter.Emily needed him and he needed her.“Seems we both have a lot to think about,” Annie murmured.Cal nodded.“Agreed.” Why Annie had to withdraw her hand from his was perplexing.Did she want those thoughts of hers to include him?Chapter ThreeAnnie walked her last client of the day to the receptionist’s desk and caught a glimpse of a dark-haired woman walking in the front door.Long black hair fell in a straight, sleek line behind her back, her very narrow back.She was almost a stick of a figure, draped in gold jewelry and expensive leather jacket.As she neared, Annie noted her lips were glossed a tawny brown, a sheer tone that melted into her brown skin.But it was her eyes that leapt out at you.Cat eyes, turned up at the ends, or maybe it was the heavy black makeup that created the effect.Annie guessed her identity in a heartbeat.Jillian Devane.She had to hand it to Lacy.Her sister had described the woman perfectly.Wealthy, stylish, she looked right at home amidst the ultra-modern interior of the Trendz salon with its minimalist black and white design and cool blue ceramic lamps hanging overhead in the way of lighting.Annie turned to her client.“Bobbi Jo will get you scheduled for next time, okay?” The woman smiled and the two hugged.“See you then.”Ms.Devane hovered near the desk, waiting her turn to speak with the receptionist.But there was no need.Annie extended a hand.“Ms.Devane?”Jillian noted the gesture with a knowing smile, as though fully aware Annie had been forewarned of her intentions.“Ms.Owens,” she purred in a heavy Spanish accent.Her voice was smooth and sultry, and rather deep for a woman.As they shook hands, Annie marveled at her slender grasp, fine-boned yet firm in its connection.Her skin was silky in texture, her nails professionally maintained [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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