Read Online Texas Bossa Nova (Texas Montgomery Mavericks Book 5) by Cynthia D’Alba - Free Book Online

their doors. Reno rode in on Gordo and Darren on Archie. Water sluiced off men and horses.
    Magda pulled a couple more towels from the supply and handed one to each man as he climbed down.
    “Thanks,” Darren said. “That caught us off-guard. I swear there wasn’t any rain forecasted for today. Cold weather for sure, but no rain.”
    Reno rubbed the towel over his short hair. “Welcome to Texas, my brother. The weather can change hourly.” He tossed the damp towel over a railing. “How’s your dad?”
    “Good. The stent procedure went like clockwork.”
    “He home?” Darren asked as he unbuckled the strap around Archie’s girth.
    “Yep. You know he’s got a girlfriend, right? Blanche Jenkins?”
    “Olivia’s housekeeper is dating Mitch’s foreman?” Darren asked.
    “That’s her.”
    “Gee, bro,” Darren said to Reno. “The man’s more than twice our age and he can get a girlfriend.” He slapped Reno’s back. “There’s hope for you yet.”
    Magda laughed. Reno snarled, which only made her laugh more.
    “Dinner will be ready in about an hour. Should be enough time for all of us to get into dry clothes.” She was glad she’d checked the weather that morning and had known she’d need the warmth of her leather jacket today. Otherwise, she’d have been standing there like a contestant in a wet T-shirt contest.
    “Great,” Darren said.
    “Why don’t you go on and get cleaned up. I’ll finish the horses,” Reno said.
    “I’m not looking that gift horse in the mouth.” Darren laughed at his own joke. “Get it? Gift horse and you’re doing the horses?”
    Reno shook his head. “Pitiful attempt, but I got it.”
    Darren dashed from the barn, leaving Reno and Magda alone.
    “Can I help?” she said, indicating the horses with a tilt of her head.
    “No. I’ve got it.” He turned away and began brushing Gordo.
    “It’d be faster if I helped.”
    The cold look he gave her over his shoulder chilled her worse than the ice storm that had brought her to town. “I said I’ve got it.”
    “Fine.” She snatched her helmet off the floor and ran to the house, the rain mixing with the tears of frustration and anger on her cheeks.
    The weather continued to worsen. The rain stopped by the next morning, but the temperatures began to steadily drop. By the weekend, the daytime highs were forecasted to be only in the twenties.
    Thunder rolled as they sat down to dinner Friday night.
    “Good thing we got that fence repaired in the back forty,” Reno said. “If it’s going to rain again, the mud would be a mess.”
    “No posthole digging in the mud.” Darren raised a hunk of pork chop to his mouth. “I’m heading into town tonight,” he said around his chews. “Be late when I get back, but do you need anything, Magda?”
    She stopped eating to think about their supplies. “Yeah, I do. I got a list started. If I call in the order to Parker Market, can you pick it up for me?”
    “As long as nothing will spoil in my truck. Headed out to Leo’s Bar and Grill. He’s got live music tonight. Either of you want to come along?” His eyes got wide as he looked at Magda. “Don’t slap my head. I’m not asking you out.”
    She laughed. “I’m not sure if I should be insulted that you don’t want to ask me out or relieved that you don’t want to ask me out.”
    “Well, ma’am,” he said with an exaggerated drawl. “You’re one fine-looking lady, but hands off means hands off.” He grinned. “Besides, I’m sure I’d get my head slapped more than once during the evening.”
    Reno didn’t contribute to the conversation. He continued to eat as though it were the last meal of his life. He didn’t even laugh at Darren’s really bad southern drawl.
    Standing at the kitchen with her hands in sudsy water, Magda heard the first ping of ice on the window. She leaned to the right to see the thermometer nailed to the tree. The needle was sitting right at thirty-two.
    Heavy boots thumped on the