Texas lightning, p.31
Texas Lightning, page 31
“Right now. Let me get set up. I like what you chose—pretty colors, tasteful. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Relax. It won’t be painless but I’ll do what I can to make it easy for you.” She nodded at a music system and headphones. “See if I have some tunes you like. Listening helps you zone out while I work.” She helped Scarlett climb down.
Then she left the room.
Scarlett went through the tall stack of CDs and loaded the changer there with a variety of music she hoped would help her chill. By the time Casey came back with a tool box and gear, she was lying on her stomach again, headphones on, and trying to relax to some slow tunes with a mellow vibe.
“Ready? I’m going to draw the design first. This is permanent marker so it won’t wash off in the shower unless you scrub the hell out of it.” She picked up a thin tipped marker. “Once I’m satisfied with the design, I’ll start with the ink. We can make another appointment to finish when we see how much I get done.”
“Fine.” Scarlett closed her eyes. Casey was still gentle, careful. No worries. She almost drifted off to sleep as the artist went to work outlining the pretty design of flowers. When the whirr penetrated through the music, at first it didn’t bother her. Like she was at the dentist. A minor cavity, no big deal. Then the needle touched her and she was back, in that van. The man loomed over her. He gripped her breast, pushed against her and breathed in her ear all the things he wanted to do to her. He’d violate her. What a pretty little ass she had. He would like to come inside it and make her scream. He sliced into her, hurting her…
“No!” She threw off the earphones and fell off the table. Jerking up her jeans, she had to get out of there. Scarlett didn’t see anyone or anything. All she knew was that she had to breathe fresh air. Run and get that hand off her butt. No one was going to hurt her, ever again.
“Scarlett!” Someone reached for her.
Blindly she slapped at them, pushing out one door, then another, until she almost fell on the sidewalk. Where could she go, where could she hide that he couldn’t find her? She heard him coming. A woman stood in her way, staring at her. Hell, no. Can’t trust anyone. Footsteps behind her. A door. Closed sign. He’d never look there. The knob turned and she was in. She leaned against it.
Breathe. Turn the lock. She flipped the dead bolt and waited. Someone jiggled the knob but it held. God. God. She sagged to the floor. Safe. Please let her be safe.
“Are you all right?” A man’s voice came from across the dark room.
No, she was not all right. What had she done? Locked herself in with him. Scarlett searched for a weapon. Shit. She didn’t even have her shoes.
“Calm down. I’m not going to hurt you.” He was coming closer.
“That’s what they all say.” Scarlett jerked her cell out of her bra. She’d started keeping it there after the attack. “Don’t come any closer. I’m calling 9-1-1.”
“And say what? That you broke into my bar?” He was too close. He hunkered down in front of her. “Ethan Calhoun. How can I help you?”
“You own this bar?” Scarlett hit reality. Hard. He was right. What was she doing here?
“Yeah, I do. Something scared you. Do I need to go outside and kick some butt?”
Scarlett checked him out. Tall, good-looking, a little young, but not too young. He looked like he could enjoy some butt kicking but would prefer something more civilized in his vintage rock band tee and jeans. She waited to see if he tried anything that screamed danger. Instead, he just sat there, patient and, damn it, kind. She took a steadying breath and made a decision.
“You can buy me a drink.”
“That, I can do.” He stood and held out his hand. “Usually, it’s no shoes, no service, but I’ll make an exception if you tell me your name.”
“Scarlett Hall.” Scarlett took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. “I have to warn you, I’m a head case right now.”
“Honey, I’m way too used to those.” He pulled her to the bar, then walked around and put two glasses in front of her. “Name your poison.”
“Tequila. I’ve had a rough day, rough month, rough year.” She sighed. “Told you I was messed up.”
“Then you’ve come to the right place.” Ethan smiled and poured them both a splash of top shelf tequila. “I think I’ve lost my mind too. Never owned a bar before. Now here I am probably about to lose my shirt. Moved to Austin because I loved going to college here. It’s a common thing with Texas Exes.” He picked up his glass, waited for her to pick up hers then clinked it. “Here’s to crazy.”
“Crazy.” Scarlett threw back the shot. She wasn’t about to turn to alcohol to solve her problems but she liked Ethan’s smile and that was a start. She needed her purse and her shoes. She had to go back and apologize to Casey. And she wanted that damned tattoo. She shook her head when Ethan offered her a refill.
“No, I’ve got to go back next door.”
“To Casey’s? You getting a tattoo?” Ethan walked her to the door.
“If I can find my nerve.” Scarlett looked around. The only light came from the dusty windows and a laptop on the bar. No furniture yet so obviously he wasn’t ready to open.
“Want me to hold your hand?” He grinned.
Scarlett could imagine that. For the first time since the abduction, she didn’t want to throw up a stop sign as soon as a man showed interest. And Ethan was definitely interested.
“No, thanks. This is something I have to do myself.” She handed him her phone. “Can I call you if I need moral support?”
“Hell, yes.” He tapped in his number. “Use that so I’ll have your number, Miss Scarlett. And come back. I sure need moral support. I’ve spent years on the customer side of the bar business, but only six months learning about the behind the scenes part. I’m flying pretty blind here.”
“I will.” Scarlett looked around. It had potential to be a nice place but needed something to stand out. She was no stranger to bars—in front or behind. “When are you opening?”
“Next month, I hope. Obviously the place needs work. Furniture, staff. I hired somebody to help with that, but we weren’t on the same page. She wanted to make it look just like every other bar on Second Street. I think it needs to be different. New. I fired her yesterday.” He turned the deadbolt and opened the door. “I’m getting desperate enough to call one of my sisters and see if they know somebody to come help.”
“What do you have in mind?” Scarlett tried to picture the place cleaned out.
“I’ve got a name, at least. Fuel. Fuel for the soul with live entertainment. Then there’s fuel for the body—I stole the best bartender in Austin from down the street. Luckily she wanted to bring her brother, who is a chef. She’s into those new craft cocktails and he’s known for his creative way with bar food. They’ve always wanted to work together but never got the chance before. This opportunity, a pretty free rein, and my offer to pay them more than the going rate sealed the deal.” Ethan was excited and it was a good look for him.
“I like it.” Scarlett could appreciate the idea. “Austin has a great music scene.”
“Yeah. I want a stage in here so we can feature up and coming artists on weekends.” He pointed to what had been a raised area at one end of the large room. “I can see this working. I have some connections I can use to get some names in here too.” He paced the length of the room. “My family thinks I’m nuts, but then Calhouns take chances. Daddy was a wildcatter.”
Scarlett let that pass. She had no idea what he meant. “You’ve never run a business like this before? You do need support, moral and otherwise. I worked my way through college as a cocktail waitress. I can’t tell you how hard it is to get and hold good help. You need a strong manager to keep things organized and to supervise your people.” Scarlett realized his enthusiasm was contagious.
She’d been stuck in office work since college, thanks to her sensible business degree. Her organizational abilities had brought her to Texas with the tech company she worked for. She enjoyed what she did, but it didn’t excite her. Would she be insane if she took the leave of absence her employer had offered her after her traumatic abduction and decided to help Ethan? Hey, she could do the research and then organize the hell out of him. He needed someone like her. And she did have those years of cocktail experience. The bar business in Boston and Austin couldn’t be that different. Her research would let her know about that. She was about to say something more when her phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Scarlett, are you all right?” Casey had decided to try calling her.
“Actually, I think I am. For the first time in months.” Scarlett stood in the doorway. “I’m sorry I ran out like that but I’m coming back. Let’s get this party started again.” She turned to Ethan who was on his own phone. He’d lost his smile. She decided to wait until he hung up to thank him for the drink. He finally laid his phone on the bar.
“Are you okay?” Scarlett walked back toward him. Casey could wait another minute. She didn’t know Ethan, but she did know worry when she saw it.
“Not really.” He reached for the bottle of tequila but stopped before he poured another shot. “Oh, hell no. Not going to try to drink this one away.” His laugh was bitter. “Bar owners can’t afford to do that, can they?”
“Nope. I’ve seen it happen and it doesn’t end well. You soon learn to leave the drinking to the customers.” She touched his hand. “Bad news?”
“The worst.” He looked her over. “I don’t suppose you want a job. I could use a woman with experience.” He shook his head. “That didn’t come out right. A waitress with experience.”
“I have a job. Office manager at Zenon Technology.” Scarlett stepped back and looked around again. She really would like to get her hands on the place. It had potential and Ethan seemed open to new ideas.
“Manager. Even better. Whatever you’re making, I’ll double it.” He picked up his phone when it buzzed again. “Damn. I’ve got to take this. More shit hitting the fan. Think about it? The job? Quick. I’m in a time crunch.”
“I will.” Scarlett walked to the door. Behind her she heard Ethan curse.
“How could you let this happen? She’s dangerous. Who the hell is this person with her?”
Whoever he was talking to clearly didn’t have good answers because Ethan was cursing again when Scarlett stepped outside into the sunshine then shut the door behind her. She paused and looked around like she always did these days. Paranoid? Maybe, but then she had a reason to be cautious. No rough-looking men were hanging out between her and the tattoo parlor but that woman… Wasn’t she there earlier? Just standing and staring. She looked straight at Scarlett. Or was she watching the bar?
Was there a Help Wanted sign in the window? No, nothing. When the woman noticed Scarlett paying attention to her, she glared and started walking rapidly away. Weird. For a moment Scarlett had felt like she’d received visual hate mail. Damn. Now she really was being paranoid. She could swear she’d never seen the tall thin woman before in her life. Forget her. She was gone and Scarlett had a serious step to take.
She took a steadying breath. Time to start erasing her past and thinking about her future.
About the Author
A nationally best-selling author, Gerry Bartlett is a native Texan who lives halfway between Houston and Galveston. She freely admits to a shopping addiction which is why she has an antiques business on the historic Strand on Galveston Island. She used to be a gourmet cook but has decided it’s more fun to indulge in gourmet eating instead. You can visit Gerry on Facebook, twitter or Instagram. You can also check out her latest releases on her website at http://gerrybartlett.com where you can sign up for her newsletter or read her articles with advice for aspiring writers, The Perils of Publishing.
A surprise inheritance. A family of strangers. And a man she can’t avoid...
Cassidy Calhoun can’t believe she’s the secret daughter of an oil billionaire. This small-town Texas girl with student loans by the barrel has never gotten a thing she didn’t earn for herself.
The terms of her late father’s will say Cassidy—and her newfound spoiled half-siblings—must work a year at the family’s floundering business before they inherit a dime. Too bad the only thing Cass knows about oil is that it makes the junker she drives go.
Mason MacKenzie, the evaluator for their test, will help her get up to speed. Or will he? Mason is a boot-wearing, truck-driving Houston hottie who runs Calhoun Petroleum’s biggest rival. The sparks between him and Cassidy could combust any minute. But the closer they get, the more strange near-accidents Cassidy seems to be having. And Mason has plenty of reasons to play up their attraction for his own benefit.
If she can trust him, the two of them working together might save a crumbling dynasty. But if she can’t, Cass might just lose both her fortune and her heart...
Her father’s dream. Her crossroads. And a man who sees just her...
Megan Calhoun doesn’t stick with anything long. She’s the daughter of a billionaire—why pretend to be somebody else?
Until she finds out her father’s will says she has to. She has to last a year in the oil patch, in the dust and heat of West Texas, working for her daddy’s company. Otherwise she’s cut off without a cent—and no way to earn one.
The only upside is her new pal Rowdy Baker, ex-football star, Calhoun engineer, and grade-A stud. If she has to live in a trailer, his doesn’t sound so bad.
Rowdy knows the roughnecks running the rigs won’t take kindly to a smartass blonde rookie whose last name matches their paychecks. He can’t control his attraction to her. And with everyone from the foremen to the stockholders spitting mad at the Calhouns, he expects trouble ahead.
But Megan has never been scared in her life. And with Rowdy to help her plot, she has the chance of a lifetime: to find her calling, to fix her company, and, if she doesn’t screw it up—to capture a heart...
A fight for her rights. A job she can’t quit. And a man who makes her burn…
It’s not Shannon Calhoun’s first rodeo. She’s supposed to be running the show. But since her father’s will landed her in a wretched cubicle, typing out press releases for her own family’s company, she’s been trapped in a job with no prospects, no control—and barely any cash.
When her old flame Billy Pagan turns up with a hundred rude questions and a thousand-dollar suit, Shannon isn’t sure if the heat she feels is from humiliation, fury, or desire. But whatever else has happened, the chemistry between them has only intensified.
Long before he became Houston’s best defense attorney, Billy had a thing for the spoiled rich girl who got away. But now that Shannon is hustling to save the family business, she’s more irresistible than ever. Too bad about the murder investigation and the fraud that’s going to bring the company crashing down around her.
Unless, of course, his Texas princess actually pulls off the save of a lifetime. With Billy’s negotiating skills and Shannon’s determination, the hardest part might be keeping the business away from the pleasure…
Gerry Bartlett, Texas Lightning
