A Baby...Maybe? & How to Hunt a Husband Read Online Free PDF Page B

the busiest restaurant in Texas. Automobiles and trucks were guided to Mama Jo’s on the smoky barbecue fumes alone. His friend Tony often joked that it was a good thing Donetti’s Irish Pub and Sushi Bar was just outside the fragrant limits of Mama Jo’s Bar-B-Q, or he’d be out of business. There was nothing in the world like the aroma of Texas barbecue.
    On the other side of the freeway the wind carried the smoke puffing out of the bull’s nostrils right toward him. That smoke, on the other hand, didn’t leave him with the same feeling as Mama Jo’s Bar-B-Q did. Not even close.
    Rex peered up at the cow billboard. Either way, up close or fifty feet away, the view was the same. He feared the image of shimmering udders would be branded on his brain forever.
    Clay’s black Mercedes screeched to a stop behind Rex’s truck. Clay, using his hand as a shield against the sun, stood next to his car as he looked up at the sign. “Whaddya think?” he asked, his smile bright, his eyes optimistic. “Great advertising campaign, eh?”
    â€œNo Bull?” That was the first thing Rex asked. “When did you come up with that slogan?”
    â€œIt just came to me. Pure inspiration at work, that’s what it is.”
    â€œInspiration?” He didn’t see any kind of divine entities at work here.
    â€œIsn’t it great? Noble, no bull. No-ble. Get it? Huh?” Clay nudged Rex in the ribs.
    Rex stepped away from Clay’s elbow. “I get it. The problem is, I didn’t get what I paid for.”
    That seemed to stop Clay cold. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œI did not pay for bestial pornography.”
    Clay looked confused.
    â€œYou glittered her udders.”
    â€œThe pièce de résistance. Great, huh?”
    â€œYou had the mock-up. This is nothing like the mock-up. The billboards were supposed to look more like that.” He nodded at the Noble Sperm Bank Association, A Breed Apart logo painted on his truck. “It’s a very simple, very subtle proclamation that tells everyone in Pegleg, Texas, and breeders across the country what I do.”
    â€œYou have stiff competition.” He glanced at the bull. “No pun intended. You said that yourself. How do you expect to get breeders interested in your bull with some pansy-looking logo like that?”
    â€œLet’s get something straight. My business is doing just fine. I hired you as a favor to your brother. These billboards may ruin me.” And it wasn’t just himself that was at stake. He had his investors to think about. This wasn’t a one-man operation.
    â€œThey’re not going to ruin you. They’re going to make you. You need a bull that looks like he’s got what it takes to make things happen. And that’s what I gave you.”
    â€œWhat you gave me is a bull who looks like he’s getting ready to hump the cow.”
    â€œThat’s the idea.” Clay nodded, as if Rex was finally getting it.
    Only Clay was the one who didn’t get the program. “Look at what kind of interest these billboards are generating,” Rex said as vehicles whizzed past, honking their horns, making catcalls out the windows. “I want some of that,” some lady yelled. “Whoo-whoo,” another hooted.
    â€œYou’re not going to be sorry you put your advertising needs in my hands. Your business will boom.”
    â€œIt’s already booming.”
    â€œNow it will explode. I see putting these billboards everywhere. Maybe even have cow and bull magnets, the kind that have the lips that come together to kiss. Or we could put the magnets on their—” Clay gave Rex a man-to-man look. When Rex’s expression finally appeared to sink into the ad executive’s brain, Clay’s voice became serious and he mumbled, “Just a thought.” He cleared his throat. “We’ll add the magnets as inserts to