Anyplace But Here (Oklahoma Lovers Series Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

again.
    His friends at the club had been watching him under lowered eyelids despite the rumor he’d put out about her visiting a sick relative. He’d seen the smirks on their faces. She would pay for that, too. No one laughed at Louis Smith. No one made a fool of him. Especially a woman. And definitely not one who belonged to him.
    “What?” he growled at Miss Blake, his secretary, as she entered his office.
    “Mr. Smith, Mrs. Fenster is here to see you. Again.”
    Louis waved his hand at the woman. “Tell her I’m not in.”
    “But, sir, this is the fourth time she’s come to see you.”
    “Have my partner deal with her.”
    “Mr. Sanders is out for the afternoon.”
    God damn . What was the point of having a partner if he couldn’t take on this annoying client? Another reason to punish Emily once he dragged her back. She was supposed to be getting the juicy gossip from the Fenster bitch so he could hold her off from questioning him about her money.
    “I don’t care how many times she’s been here. Tell Mrs. Fenster that I am out for the afternoon and she can make an appointment with Sanders tomorrow.”
    When the woman didn’t move fast enough, Louis slammed his hand on the desk. “Get rid of her!”
    “Yes sir.” She closed the door, the latch barely making a sound. Louis swiveled in his chair and stared out the window to the grounds below.
    Yes, the bitch would pay for all the trouble she’d caused him.
    Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory
    Emily smiled when she saw Mr. Henderson—or Hunter, as he had asked her to call him—standing on West Oklahoma Avenue, within sight of the train depot. This was the fifth night in a row he’d met her. Although she didn’t completely trust him, he obviously had not been sent to drag her back to Galveston. He would have done so by now.
    “Good evening, Emily.” He tugged on the brim of his hat and extended his arm so she could take it. Amazed at how familiar this all seemed, she allowed him to pull her closer as they began their stroll to the boardinghouse.
    “Since your curfew is ten o’clock and it’s barely past eight, I thought we might enjoy coffee and a piece of pie at the Café.”
    She really should stop this now. After all, she was a married woman, and until she got her life straightened out she had no right to continue this. It wasn’t fair to Hunter, and it simply was not the honorable thing to do. As much as she hated to, she had to do the correct thing and decline his offer.
    “Yes, I would love to do that.”
    So much for taking the high road.
    They chatted as they walked the darkened streets of the town. Shadows cast from the street gaslights gave the usually busy street an eerie feel. Most stores were closed, but the taverns were doing a brisk business. The sound of the tinny piano and raucous laughter followed them down the street.
    The Café, at the corner of Harrison and Broad Streets, was winding down for the night. It would feel good to get off her feet and let someone else wait on her for a change. A few tables held late diners, men who had most likely arrived by train after the Harvey House had closed for the evening. Rumor had it that the restaurant would soon extend its hours, which Emily did not appreciate. Her day was long enough.
    After giving their orders for apple pie and coffee, Hunter leaned back in his chair and studied her. “In the past few days I’ve told you quite a bit about myself and my family. Actually more than I’ve probably told anyone else in my entire life.” He grinned that little boy smile that always made her smile, too.
    “Now, tonight it’s your turn, Miss Cabot.”
    She hadn’t realized he remembered her last name from their first disastrous encounter when Mr. Tinsdale had chastised her in front of the entire restaurant. Not that it mattered, since the name she’d chosen to use at the Harvey House—her maiden name—was not well known in Galveston. She regarded him. Open, friendly, curious. And she was