Read Online The Patriot Girl by Toni Lynn Cloutier - Free Book Online Page A

entertained himself when he wasn’t on the golf course or watching TV.
    “Eventually, your mother realizes Rainbow is as stubborn as I am and she gives up.” Her father held her shoulder with one hand, and pointed at her heart with his other hand. “This business of yours will work out. And if not, better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all. Your heart will figure out the rest with this guy. You call me if you need anything, you hear?”
    “I will. I love you.” She turned to go and nearly plowed into her mother drying her hands on a dishtowel.
    “Is everything okay, honey?”
    “Everything’s fine, Mother.” MaKayla sidestepped and headed for the kitchen. “I’m leaving. I have phone calls to make for my new business.”
    Peggy followed. “What new business?”
    MaKayla rolled her eyes. Why did she have to open her big mouth? “I’m starting a PR business, Mother.”
    “Well, how much money will you make?”
    Blood zipped through her veins in a fury. Her mother’s only care seemed to be about how much money she earned, not what made her happy. She wasn’t in the mood to hear negative comments or try to explain that this business was for sanity purposes and not the almighty dollar. She had learned long ago that there was no pleasing Peggy Hall unless there was a dollar sign attached. “I don’t know how much money, Mother. But I think I have my first client and I hope this project will lead to more.”
    “Who’s the client? Anyone I know?”
    “He owns that new club at the top of my street.”
    “Well, a nightclub can’t earn much money. What else does he do?”
    Knock. Knock.
    Thankful for the distraction, MaKayla turned the doorknob and allowed Buck and Maggie Wilson to step inside. She hadn’t seen her parent’s best friends since she was a child.
    They’d retired from the country music scene and settled in Florida. From their wrinkled, tanned skins, she assumed they were still there.
    Buck’s silver hair had thinned. He was more hunched over than she remembered, but he still brightened the room with his presence and ice blue eyes.
    Maggie, as always, dressed as a celebrity’s wife would—not a single long black curl out of place, makeup applied to perfection, and gold jewelry complimenting her purple pantsuit.
    “What brings you to Dalton?” Peggy embraced her friends. “David, come look who’s here.”
    “Is that Little Mackey?” Buck took MaKayla into his arms. His frail bones startled her. “What are you doing these days?”
    “Hi, Buck.” She stepped back. “Good to see you two again. I’m getting ready to start a public relations business.”
    “Well, good for you.” He reached in his jacket pocket and handed her a cigar. “I guess we have two things to celebrate tonight now.”
    David and Alex entered the room, distracting him from relating what else they were celebrating.
    She pulled the cigar he gave her past her nose. The scent reminded her of No Bulls and its owner. She should be more excited about the contract being signed than being in Dustin’s company .
    Her father hugged the couple. “What brings you into town?”
    Buck handed out cigars to everyone. “Our granddaughter, Sara, had a baby boy.”
    Congratulations sounded, and hugs were exchanged.
    Jodi was probably on MaKayla’s voice mail at home right now informing her of their coworker’s new baby.
    Her mother and Maggie disappeared behind the counter in the kitchen while MaKayla followed the three men into the living room.
    “So, Little Mackey…” Buck puffed on his smoke. Hearing the nickname he branded her with the morning he had chased her around the house with a snake made her smile. He’d been more of an uncle to her than a friend. “Tell me about this business of yours.”
    How ironic to be sitting on the sofa with the one man whose brain she needed to pick. As a country music singer, he’d been promoting himself most of his life. If anyone could give her a few marketing