Read Online Southern Spice (Southern Desires Series Book 1) by Jeannette Winters - Free Book Online Page B

surprise that she had obeyed his request. Maybe that’s because he scares the hell out of everyone and they are too afraid not to obey. Let my knee feel better, Mr. Nash, and you’ll see, I’m not usually so compliant.
    When he finished with her knee, he stood up and walked to the door. “I agreed to let you stay here for one week. But this is my ranch. Stay away from my men. And if you’re smart, you will stay away from me as well, unless you want me to explore what I see in your eyes.”
    Derrick closed the door before she could set his arrogant ass straight. How dare you think that I want to . . . well, damn. This is going to be a long week.

Chapter Four

    “J ack, I don’t care what I promised or how much of an inconvenience this is for you, I want her out of my house.”
    “Derrick, did you come all the way into town just to tell me this?” Jack asked as he rocked back on the wooden desk chair.
    “Why else would I be here?” Derrick shot back.
    Jack set his chair straight and leaned forward with his arms resting on the desk. “We’ve been friends a long time, Derrick, so I’m going to say it straight up. We don’t have options here. I know you don’t take kindly to strangers. Heck, you don’t even take kindly to your friends, but these are desperate times for our town.”
    “I have a business to run. You can’t expect me to sit around here babysitting some woman while she pretends to give a crap about what happens.”
    “Derrick, I never asked you to stay. Go back to New York. McLean is obviously very capable of handling everything, so I’m sure he won’t have any complaints about keeping an eye on Miss Casey while she’s here.”
    Derrick didn’t miss the smirk on Jack’s face as he spoke. They had a long history of pushing each other’s buttons. But they weren’t kids anymore, and he didn’t find Jack’s insinuation funny.
    “I don’t pay McLean to play babysitter.”
    Jack looked at him sternly. “Then I guess you’re hanging around here for a while, because you can voluntarily allow Casey to stay at your ranch, or you can consider it a direct order from the sheriff’s office, but we need FEMA right now whether you like it or not.” He stood up and walked to his office door and held it open. “Now if you’ll excuse me, unlike you, I have people in this town who are counting on me.”
    Derrick got up and headed toward Jack. If it hadn’t been for their friendship, he would have gladly broken Jack’s nose again. The first time had been one night after the flood that had destroyed his heart and life, and all he’d wanted was to drink himself to death. But Jack had refused to let that happen. Sometimes, buddy, I wish you had.
    Before leaving Jack’s office, he said, “We both know I can’t be counted on.” Then brushing past Jack he walked out the door and climbed into his Ford F350.
    Derrick didn’t drive away. Instead, he sat there, looking down the street. Part of it was practically gone as though the buildings had never existed. The other side was completely untouched. It never ceased to amaze him how destructive and powerful wind could be. This storm had left Honeywell in a mess, but there had been no loss of life. They would recover, rebuild, and move on like it never happened. I hate how much I still miss them. I’m sick with what could have been. What should have been.
    A rapping noise echoed through his truck, over the noise of the radio and air conditioning. Only one person had ever proven themselves to be that damn persistent. Sissie. The one person who made it her job to know everything about everyone. She never forgets an anniversary or birthday, even if you didn’t want to celebrate. Many folks found it comforting. Derrick didn’t want any reminders, as all it did was put the spotlight on what he no longer had.
    Derrick should have left as soon as he knew the ranch had been untouched. Now people like Sissie were going to get the wrong impression from his