Read Online Leather and Lace (Tempered Steel Book 2) by Maggie Adams - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Maggie Adams
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gently.
Ginny squealed in delight and ran around the table to hug the happy couple, while everyone began talking at once. Amid the congratulations, Sam leaned back and surveyed the family. God he missed this! This was what mattered most to him. That warm feeling that was a part of every family function. No matter how bad things got in the outside world, here there would always be safety and compassion, love and understanding.
He felt Angel take his hand in hers. He lifted it to his lips and kissed her. She was right where she belonged. “To the future.” He smiled and raised his glass, the others joining in his toast.
After a wonderful meal of fried chicken, potato salad, and corn on the cob, the family sat back, drinking coffee and finishing off Ginny’s Gentleman’s Orange Layer Cake. Discussions turned to the latest news about the fire.
“So we’re all agreed that until this psycho is caught we watch our backs and increase security. The company will continue to operate here, at the orchard. We can deal with most of the problems from the fire, including paperwork, using the computers set up here. They’re hooked up to mine at home, and luckily, Dottie had finished the back-up procedures for the files before the fire broke out,” Mac said.
“I have a feeling that once our current contracts are fulfilled, business is going to go downhill fast unless we catch this guy, so let’s make that our number one priority. Mom and Dad have generously offered to help us over any financial problems that may arise before we get back up and running at full potential. We can pay them back when the insurance claims are finalized and approved.”
Nick spoke up. “I suspect some of us are going to be a bit at loose ends, since our jobs are somewhat hampered by the fire. We can give Mom and Dad a hand with the orchard, but that leaves the winter ahead with few prospects. As you know, I’ve been after old man Wyatt to sell Montana Max’s to me. Well, he’s finally decided to retire, but if you need me on a more than part time basis, I’m sure we can work something out with him. If not, I can always start my place sometime down the road.”
“Don’t be crazy, man. This is your dream.” Mac shook his head.
“Yeah, and yours went up in flames, Mac. I’m not going to leave you high and dry.”
“I’m happy for you, Nick, really. I know you’ll enjoy it. As for me, I think part time is going to work just fine. We’ve just about finished up the last three houses in the subdivision. With the fire, I was afraid I was going to have to lay somebody off. This works for me,” Mac replied. “Anyone else wanna jump ship?” Mac teased.
“Well, now that you mention it,” Chance said. “I stopped by Georgia’s to thank her for getting me out of that fire a few days ago. She twisted her ankle and has to stay off it for a few days. Missy Dee can’t handle it all by herself. I’d like to help her out.”
Dixie giggled into her napkin. Mac smirked. Angel bit her lip, and Sam just laughed. Town gossip lines were running clear on how Chance’s attempts at seducing the pretty firefighter had led to her downfall, literally.
“How’d she twist her ankle, Chance?” Nick asked.
Chance’s ears turned red at the tips. “She fell.”
“Really? I heard you were giving her the full court press, and she was running away from you.” Lucky grinned.
“I hadn’t even talked to her yet. She slipped on a baseball in the yard. I carried her to the house,” Chance explained with a frown.
“That’s one way to keep her close to you,” Lucky challenged. “Yessir, knock her down and break her leg. A bit barbaric, but if that’s what you old guys have to do…” He left the sentence hanging as Chance threw his napkin at him.
“I’m five years older than you, smartass. That’s not what happened and you know it.”
Nick cut in. “No? I heard you picked her up like a sack of flour and carried her off.”
“I didn’t carry
Ginny squealed in delight and ran around the table to hug the happy couple, while everyone began talking at once. Amid the congratulations, Sam leaned back and surveyed the family. God he missed this! This was what mattered most to him. That warm feeling that was a part of every family function. No matter how bad things got in the outside world, here there would always be safety and compassion, love and understanding.
He felt Angel take his hand in hers. He lifted it to his lips and kissed her. She was right where she belonged. “To the future.” He smiled and raised his glass, the others joining in his toast.
After a wonderful meal of fried chicken, potato salad, and corn on the cob, the family sat back, drinking coffee and finishing off Ginny’s Gentleman’s Orange Layer Cake. Discussions turned to the latest news about the fire.
“So we’re all agreed that until this psycho is caught we watch our backs and increase security. The company will continue to operate here, at the orchard. We can deal with most of the problems from the fire, including paperwork, using the computers set up here. They’re hooked up to mine at home, and luckily, Dottie had finished the back-up procedures for the files before the fire broke out,” Mac said.
“I have a feeling that once our current contracts are fulfilled, business is going to go downhill fast unless we catch this guy, so let’s make that our number one priority. Mom and Dad have generously offered to help us over any financial problems that may arise before we get back up and running at full potential. We can pay them back when the insurance claims are finalized and approved.”
Nick spoke up. “I suspect some of us are going to be a bit at loose ends, since our jobs are somewhat hampered by the fire. We can give Mom and Dad a hand with the orchard, but that leaves the winter ahead with few prospects. As you know, I’ve been after old man Wyatt to sell Montana Max’s to me. Well, he’s finally decided to retire, but if you need me on a more than part time basis, I’m sure we can work something out with him. If not, I can always start my place sometime down the road.”
“Don’t be crazy, man. This is your dream.” Mac shook his head.
“Yeah, and yours went up in flames, Mac. I’m not going to leave you high and dry.”
“I’m happy for you, Nick, really. I know you’ll enjoy it. As for me, I think part time is going to work just fine. We’ve just about finished up the last three houses in the subdivision. With the fire, I was afraid I was going to have to lay somebody off. This works for me,” Mac replied. “Anyone else wanna jump ship?” Mac teased.
“Well, now that you mention it,” Chance said. “I stopped by Georgia’s to thank her for getting me out of that fire a few days ago. She twisted her ankle and has to stay off it for a few days. Missy Dee can’t handle it all by herself. I’d like to help her out.”
Dixie giggled into her napkin. Mac smirked. Angel bit her lip, and Sam just laughed. Town gossip lines were running clear on how Chance’s attempts at seducing the pretty firefighter had led to her downfall, literally.
“How’d she twist her ankle, Chance?” Nick asked.
Chance’s ears turned red at the tips. “She fell.”
“Really? I heard you were giving her the full court press, and she was running away from you.” Lucky grinned.
“I hadn’t even talked to her yet. She slipped on a baseball in the yard. I carried her to the house,” Chance explained with a frown.
“That’s one way to keep her close to you,” Lucky challenged. “Yessir, knock her down and break her leg. A bit barbaric, but if that’s what you old guys have to do…” He left the sentence hanging as Chance threw his napkin at him.
“I’m five years older than you, smartass. That’s not what happened and you know it.”
Nick cut in. “No? I heard you picked her up like a sack of flour and carried her off.”
“I didn’t carry
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