Read Online Diamonds and Dust (Lonesome Point, Texas) by Jessie Evans - Free Book Online
Authors: Jessie Evans
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they really are the cutest little family. They love each other so much.”
“I could tell.” Pike ignored the sudden flash of discomfort in his chest. He’d probably had too much coffee. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had more than one cup. Usually, he was in too much of a hurry to get to the gym to linger over breakfast.
“Then why are you a sad clown?” Mia’s brow furrowed.
“I’m not a sad clown.” Pike rolled his eyes as he reached around her to drop his coffee cup in the sink.
“Are you nervous about seeing Dad tonight at dinner?” Mia pressed. “I know he was awful last time, but he’s mellowed out a lot this past year. He only gave Sawyer shit for about two weeks after we moved in together. You guys are going to have a great visit. No need to stress.”
“I’m not stressed.” Pike backed out of the kitchen before Mia could succeed in making him that way. “It’s eight thirty in the morning, sis. I’m still half asleep.”
“Well, I’m here if you need to talk about Dad or the break-up or whatever,” Mia called after him. “I know break-up pain can linger, Pike. Don’t be afraid to bend my ear if you need to!”
“Okay!” he called back before shutting the door to the guest room and changing into his running clothes and knee brace, wishing he’d never invented the stupid break-up story. The longer he was in Lonesome Point, the more the lies seemed to mound up around him. He hadn’t technically lied to Mia this morning, but he hadn’t told the truth, either.
But what was the truth, he wondered as he slipped out the back door to Mia’s shop and started down the road at a slow jog. The past was clear, but Pike had no idea what was going on between him and Tulsi now. Logically, he knew that moment of chemistry in the stock room was better off forgotten, but he couldn’t seem to keep from replaying every moment of their brief interaction as he ran. The way Tulsi’s lips had parted and her breath rushed out. The way surprise had lowered her defenses, giving him a glimpse into what she was feeling. She’d seemed sad, lonely, and as hungry for a taste of what they’d once had as he was. He’d felt her longing thrumming in the air, plucking the strings inside him only Tulsi had ever been able to touch.
Even after an hour long run, a half hour of PT exercises, a cold shower, and another hour spent answering email from his agent, doctor, and physical therapist, he still couldn’t get her face out of his head. By the time Mia got back to the shop after her lunch date, Pike was itching to get out of the apartment and do something to get his mind off a certain curvy little blonde with eyes that saw to the bottom of his soul.
He dug Chad’s card out of the pocket of the shirt he’d worn last night and punched the number into his cell.
“Hey Cutter, it’s Sherman,” Pike said when the other man answered on the first ring. “I was wondering if you’d be up for that beer. I could use a couple before I head to my parents’ house for dinner tonight.”
“Sure thing, just a second.” Chad conferred with someone in the background before getting back on the line. “My secretary says I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes, but it won’t take long. Just have to tell this woman she’s not getting any more easy money and I’ll be free for the afternoon. Want to swing by the office and I can show you around before we hit the Blue Saloon’s happy hour? I’m on Main, next to the old theater.”
“Sounds good. See you in a few.” Pike hung up and grabbed his black Stetson from the bureau, settling it on his head before moving quietly down the stairs. He waved to Mia, who was busy with a gaggle of women loudly discussing the evils of the underwire bra, and escaped out the front door of the lingerie shop before he could attract attention.
Outside, the bright summer day made him grateful he’d remembered his hat. He rarely wore a cowboy hat when he wasn’t at the ranch, but
“I could tell.” Pike ignored the sudden flash of discomfort in his chest. He’d probably had too much coffee. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had more than one cup. Usually, he was in too much of a hurry to get to the gym to linger over breakfast.
“Then why are you a sad clown?” Mia’s brow furrowed.
“I’m not a sad clown.” Pike rolled his eyes as he reached around her to drop his coffee cup in the sink.
“Are you nervous about seeing Dad tonight at dinner?” Mia pressed. “I know he was awful last time, but he’s mellowed out a lot this past year. He only gave Sawyer shit for about two weeks after we moved in together. You guys are going to have a great visit. No need to stress.”
“I’m not stressed.” Pike backed out of the kitchen before Mia could succeed in making him that way. “It’s eight thirty in the morning, sis. I’m still half asleep.”
“Well, I’m here if you need to talk about Dad or the break-up or whatever,” Mia called after him. “I know break-up pain can linger, Pike. Don’t be afraid to bend my ear if you need to!”
“Okay!” he called back before shutting the door to the guest room and changing into his running clothes and knee brace, wishing he’d never invented the stupid break-up story. The longer he was in Lonesome Point, the more the lies seemed to mound up around him. He hadn’t technically lied to Mia this morning, but he hadn’t told the truth, either.
But what was the truth, he wondered as he slipped out the back door to Mia’s shop and started down the road at a slow jog. The past was clear, but Pike had no idea what was going on between him and Tulsi now. Logically, he knew that moment of chemistry in the stock room was better off forgotten, but he couldn’t seem to keep from replaying every moment of their brief interaction as he ran. The way Tulsi’s lips had parted and her breath rushed out. The way surprise had lowered her defenses, giving him a glimpse into what she was feeling. She’d seemed sad, lonely, and as hungry for a taste of what they’d once had as he was. He’d felt her longing thrumming in the air, plucking the strings inside him only Tulsi had ever been able to touch.
Even after an hour long run, a half hour of PT exercises, a cold shower, and another hour spent answering email from his agent, doctor, and physical therapist, he still couldn’t get her face out of his head. By the time Mia got back to the shop after her lunch date, Pike was itching to get out of the apartment and do something to get his mind off a certain curvy little blonde with eyes that saw to the bottom of his soul.
He dug Chad’s card out of the pocket of the shirt he’d worn last night and punched the number into his cell.
“Hey Cutter, it’s Sherman,” Pike said when the other man answered on the first ring. “I was wondering if you’d be up for that beer. I could use a couple before I head to my parents’ house for dinner tonight.”
“Sure thing, just a second.” Chad conferred with someone in the background before getting back on the line. “My secretary says I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes, but it won’t take long. Just have to tell this woman she’s not getting any more easy money and I’ll be free for the afternoon. Want to swing by the office and I can show you around before we hit the Blue Saloon’s happy hour? I’m on Main, next to the old theater.”
“Sounds good. See you in a few.” Pike hung up and grabbed his black Stetson from the bureau, settling it on his head before moving quietly down the stairs. He waved to Mia, who was busy with a gaggle of women loudly discussing the evils of the underwire bra, and escaped out the front door of the lingerie shop before he could attract attention.
Outside, the bright summer day made him grateful he’d remembered his hat. He rarely wore a cowboy hat when he wasn’t at the ranch, but
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