Love Under Two Montanans [The Lusty, Texas Collection] Cara Covington (acx book reading .txt) š
- Author: Cara Covington
Book online Ā«Love Under Two Montanans [The Lusty, Texas Collection] Cara Covington (acx book reading .txt) šĀ». Author Cara Covington
Dale looked from Parker to his cell phone. Then he picked up the phone and began to key.
Parkerās cell dinged, announcing a text.
Dale: What the fuck is that bitch doing here?
Parker smiled then texted back.
Parker: Damned if I know. Sheās fucking with my appetite. The good thing is, I donāt think she recognized us.
Dale: Why do you think Iām texting you? I didnāt want to take the chance sheād recognize our voices. That message was accompanied by an eye-rolling emoji.
Parker: Well, letās pretend we didnāt see her, either, and just eat our lunch. Then weāll leave as soon as weāre done.
Dale: Good idea.
Parker returned his attention to his steak. The food was damn good, and Parker really enjoyed the potato. As he ate, he fought a grin. He felt a bit ridiculous, playing this game. But sometimes, and with some of the Benedicts, pretending ignorance was not only the best defense, it was the only defense.
He thought of the woman sitting behind him and of some of the despicable things sheād done over the last couple of years. No wonder Cord and Jackson donāt come around anymore. In fact, over the last few years, every one of Norah and George Benedictās kids had fled to Texas, where theyād married and settled down.
He couldnāt blame them, though he did feel sorry for his Uncle George.
Proving his brother was on the same mental page, Dale texted him.
He read the message.
Dale: Gotta feel sorry for Uncle George. Feel sorry for the cousins, too. I mean, Dadās a bit of a bastard, and our big brother is right there with him, but neither of our folks are as bad as Norah.
Parker: Agreed.
More movement caught his attention, and he surreptitiously glanced at the well-dressed woman who came into the restaurant. He put his head down and hoped, again, that Dale caught his cue.
It didnāt surprise him when she was shown to the same table as their Aunt Norah. The booth jostled slightly as their auntās best friend, Elizabeth Maxwell, took her seat.
Parker set down his fork and knife and met his brotherās gaze. One look, and he knew Dale was thinking the same thing he was.
For that society maven to lower herself to a place like this, something was definitely up. And Parker was willing to bet it wasnāt anything good.
Mrs. Maxwell ordered a Crown and coke. So far, neither woman had said a word of greeting.
Moments later a waiter brought both their drinks and left.
āAll right, Iām here, Norah. Whatās this all about?ā
āI thought youād like to know Iāve come up with the perfect planāa way for us to each get our own back against those fucking Benedicts.ā
Parker still had his cell phone in hand. He activated the camera, reversed the lens and switched to video. He saw his own face, panned it to show the surroundings, including Dale.
Then he slowly and gently slid farther into the seat, toward the wall. He held his cell in his left hand until he was holding it so that it was just past the edge of his seat. He hadnāt known if this would work, but as soon as he saw his auntās sour face on the phoneās screen, her narrowed gaze focused on Liz Maxwell, he mentally breathed a sigh of relief.
āYouāre one of those āfucking Benedicts,ā Norah. Of course, George is divorcing you. Or is that already a done deal? How do you plan to get him back, and why should I care?ā
āWe havenāt settled the money yet because heās being a prick, as usual, and not giving me a tenth of what I deserve for all the bullshit I put up with all these years. But I know a way to fucking beggar the bastard, to ruin him, and then Iāll own that fucking ranch. And I can damn well guarantee you what I have planned will practically destroy those whelps of his, too.ā
Daleās eyes widened, and Parker knew how he felt. How could a mother talk that way about her own children?
It wasnāt just her monstrous attitude that pissed Parker off. Norah wasnāt being very discreet or quiet in her vitriol. Likely, the two women were meeting here because this restaurant was so far away from their usual stomping grounds, and so far beneath them, that they were certain no one they knew could possibly be here.
āAll right. Youāve roused my curiosity. Whatās your plan?ā Liz asked.
āIāve got an appointment with my lawyer in three days. Iāve been acting emotional for the last month with the guy, and heās convinced that Iām hiding something. On Thursday, I plan to break down and confess how George molested the kidsāthe girls, certainly, as well as those two little bastards, Jesse and Barry. Of course, itās all a big lie, but you can bet your ass Iāll do a damn good job of convincing him itās trueāand then, Iāll leak the whole fucking story to the press.ā
āYou think anyone is going to believe that, coming from you?ā
āHave you not been paying attention to the news, lately? All you have to do anymore is accuse someone of sexual misconductā¦and then sit back and let public opinion do the rest. Those fucking bastards wonāt know what hit them.ā
Liz Maxwell didnāt say anything for a long moment. āIt might go over better if we can come up with a young woman whoād be willing to testify against him, says he did her, too. I can pay for that. When the shit hits the fan, you can tell George you have a witness whoāll come forward, unless he stops fighting and gives you everything you want. That would clinch it.ā
āI like the way you think, Liz. Itās just like old times.ā
āIām not doing this for you, Norah. When this is over, weāll still
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