Read Online Sidelines (Wounded Hearts #1) by S. M. Smith - Free Book Online

able to get the bull back. It seems that he’s still harboring ill feelings against my not taking his warning to heart. How was I supposed to know that there would be snakes? All he said was to wear jeans out. Sheesh.
    After setting my plate a little too harshly in the sink, I sense him tense up. “Sorry.”
    With an impassive look, he nods his head toward the living room. “Go get your stuff. I’ll just set these in the dishwasher and meet you in there.”
    “I don’t mind helping clean up—”
    “You’ve done enough. Just…just go.”
    Blowing out a frustrated breath, I turn and excuse myself to my room and shut the door. Face planting onto the bed, I hold the down-filled pillow to my face and let out a scream. Once that one’s out, I take a deep breath and do it again. If there is a more confusing person on this planet, I’ve yet to meet them. Rolling over onto my back, I stare at the wide paddle ceiling fan and wonder if I actually have the patience to do this today. Or any day for that matter. As if knowing that I needed a healthy dose of suck-it-up-buttercup, my phone rings, Walt’s wrinkly, smiling face looking up at me.
    “Hey, Walt.”
    “What’s wrong, Allie Cat? You sound upset.”
    “Bad day on the job,” I grumble as I hug a pillow, wishing it was the squishy old man on the other end of the line.
    “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. Mac being a jerk again?”
    “Oh, no. It’s the favorite Mr. Lassiter. The man is more complex than a Rubik’s cube.” The soft chuckle on the line makes me roll my eyes.
    “Oh, Allie. You’re just used to batting those pretty blue eyes of yours and having men spew their deepest secrets at you.”
    I scoff. “You make it sound like I’m some dirty seductress.”
    “Nah, honey, I know you’re not like that. I’m just saying that most of the people you interview find you irresistibly charming.”
    “I don’t think you’re helping yourself here, Walt.” I groan.
    “I’m sure Logan finds you charming, maybe he’s just not as easily persuaded by your winning personality as most people are.”
    “I’m pretty sure the only thing he finds charming is my morning hair.”
    I can tell the moment I said the wrong thing when Walt’s tone goes from placating to stern in a nanosecond. “Allie, no one finds your morning hair charming. What was he doing seeing your morning hair anyway?”
    “One word: bacon.”
    “I’m not following here, kid.” His seriousness actually makes me want to giggle.
    “Relax, Walt. He made bacon before I got up and I left my room before I could make any fully conscious decisions.”
    “So Mr. Lassiter is behaving himself then?”
    “In the way you’re insinuating, yes. But to say the man is a challenge to get any information out of would be understating the circumstances quite a bit.”
    “Good. Well, not good that he’s being difficult but good that he’s being a gentleman.”
    I actually laugh out loud at that. “Listen, Walt, I need to get off here. We’re going to attempt another interview here in a minute and I need to gather some patience before I say something unprofessional.”
    “You’ve got this, Allie Cat. Don’t worry about a thing. I know there’s a reason you’re going through all this, just be patient.”
    I just nod, even though I totally fail to see why on earth I need to put up with the reticence of Logan Lassiter. I know that if I say anything though, Walt will go on his spiel about how God has a purpose for everything and that’s just something else I don’t have the patience for today.
    “I love you, kid.”
    “I love you too.”
    “Be patient. I know something good will come of all this. I believe it.”
    “Okay, Walt. Talk to you soon.”
    I hang up the phone and take another deep breath.
    Time to get this show on the road.
    Picking up my notebook, pen, and phone, I stall a few more moments trying to find anything else I might need even though I’m confident this interview won’t last long