Lumberjack Weekend(Divine Creek Ranch 21)(64)

“It’s fine. If I’d known, I would’ve worried until I saw for myself. I feel better knowing everything was handled and that Tex is all right,” she added with a giggle. “I probably should’ve guessed what had happened to him.”

Hank halted at the door, grinned, and turned back to her. “Curiosity is getting the better of me. What’s with the false eyelashes and makeup?”

She put her hands up to her face, mortified, and then started laughing. “No wonder you and Bodie both gave me odd looks when I got here. I left in a hurry.” At least they couldn’t see the rest of her. And they’d missed out on her fluffy bunny tail as well. Boy, times had changed.

“Role play?” he asked.

“Sort of,” she replied through more giggles. “It was pretty great, actually,” she said as a sense of euphoria from the laughter swept over her. “It was an unbelievable weekend, in a good way, until I cut it short. I wish I could take this makeup off before I talk to Bodie.”

He glanced over at her security monitor. “I don’t think you have that kind of time, Violet. Looks like Josh and Lucas have tracked you down.”

“Uh-oh.”

Josh and Bodie were having a heated conversation while Lucas was trying to step between them.

Hank stopped her from going out the door. “Let me break this up before you get involved, okay?”

Hank opened the back door while she turned out the rest of the lights and reset the alarm. The argument filtered in from the loading dock before Hank interceded and got the men separated.

“I think that’s up to Violet to determine!” Bodie yelled back at Josh, flexing his fists as if he wanted to throw a punch. He settled down when he realized it was the sheriff trying to hold him off.

More decisions. Bodie’s poor timing only complicated things between her and the Abbott brothers.





Chapter Sixteen




It was time to march out there and have some difficult conversations. She hoped Josh and Lucas wouldn’t misunderstand what she would be asking of them. She had to talk to Bodie first, and they wouldn’t appreciate being put off.

No longer worried whether she was still in makeup or not, she stepped out, belatedly praying they didn’t draw further attention from the neighborhood.

Hank had separated Bodie from Josh and Lucas and nodded at her.

“Josh, Lucas? Could I talk to you privately for a minute?”

Josh frowned, but he nodded as they backed up toward Josh’s truck, parked a few yards away.

He stroked her shoulders as they came to a stop on the other side of the truck, out of view and earshot. “Are you okay, baby girl? Did that guy have something to do with what happened earlier today?”

She shook her head vigorously. “No, he just happened to be here when Hank checked on my shop. I think he’s here to talk to me.”

Lucas grasped her shoulders a little more firmly and turned her so she looked directly at him. “Baby, you already know why he’s here. He told us he’s your boyfriend.”

That explained why their discussion had grown heated.

“He’s not. You know that. I broke off…whatever it was we were doing the last time I talked to him. That’s all behind me now, obviously. Otherwise, I never would’ve gone on the weekend or played…you know.”

“You’re a big girl, and you know your own mind, but he’s here to see if he can get into your pants. You know that, right?” Lucas asked, his voice tinged with anxiety.

She touched his cheek. “I do. I think he’s already figuring out it’s really over, but I need to talk with him in private. I owe him that much.”

Lucas shook his head. “Baby, don’t let him charm you. I know we didn’t have a chance to take care of you this evening and work everything out, but we can give you so much more than—”

“Violet?” Hank called out. “I’ve got to go. Dispatch just called me. Are you okay?”

As she feared, neither man looked satisfied, but she needed to handle Bodie first. She hurriedly kissed them both and said, “I’ll call you in the morning.”

Josh and Lucas looked as if they wanted to argue, but Hank came around the truck bed and said, “I’m needed at the hospital, Violet. I hate to interrupt.”

“No problem, Hank. You go. We’ll be on our best behavior,” Lucas said with a nod before glancing over at Bodie, who was waiting by his truck.

Hank nodded and took off. Violet turned to them. “I need a little time alone, once I’m done talking to him.”

And a margarita. A margarita would help me sort out what I’m going to take away from this weekend.