Brody: The Bang Shift Read Online Free PDF

to town and get a few things.”
    “Well, this is a small town and the neighborhood is quiet, so you’ll like it if that’s your thing. If you like partying and the night life, then not so much. There’s not much to do out in these parts. So where’re you from, anyway?”
    Xan was used to all kinds of neighbors. She didn’t even have to think about her answers when people probed her about where she’d been in life because her responses flowed without effort. “All over. I’m a traveling nurse, going where the needs are.”
    “Oh, you working at the hospital in Conway? Surely you ain’t working in Little Rock? That commute’s a bitch.”
    “No. I’m working here for Dr. Peters.”
    “Oh, that’s right. Joann’s quitin’ after she has that baby. She’s due any day now.”
    The front door opened, making Xan turn around to watch Scott walk out. Her son shamelessly stared at Roxie’s breasts before looking at her eyes. The boy needed a father to teach him how to look at a rack without getting caught. Xan felt as if she’d be betraying her sisterhood if she coached him on that.
    “Scott, this is our neighbor, Roxie Willis.” She turned to look at Roxie. “This is my son, Scott.”
    Roxie smiled brightly. Xan felt her mother claws extending. She didn’t know Roxie from a hole in the ground, but the last thing she wanted was some cougar prowling around her son.
    “Oh, this is great,” she said excitedly, then turned toward her house. “Chad!” She whipped her head back around. “I have a boy too. Looks about your age.”
    The boy in question came out of the house across the street and headed their way. Xan was relieved that Roxie’s sudden interest in her son seemed more genuine now.
    “Yeah, Mom?”
    “C’mere and meet our new neighbors.” She turned back to Xan. “It’s just the two of us. His daddy left when he was seven.”
    Chad closed the distance between them and nodded to Scott who returned the manly nod of recognition.
    “Chad, this is Xan and Scott Bradley. Y’all, this is my son, Chad. He’ll be a junior this year.” Roxie wrapped her arm around Chad’s shoulder and rubbed it affectionately, motherly pride shining in her eyes, and Xan’s relief from her earlier assessment grew. Roxie wasn’t interested in her son. She was just animated.
    “Scott’s starting his junior year too.”
    The boys looked each other up and down, and Scott’s eyes narrowed briefly. “You got Battle Warfare ?”
    “Nah, but I got Bloodbath Four ,” Chad said, shoving his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels. “You wanna play?”
    Scott shrugged his shoulders as if it didn’t matter much to him, but Xan saw the excitement in his eyes. Her boy loved those damn video games, and if Chad was anything like him, then he just found his new best friend.
    “I’ll be back later, Mom,” Scott said casually as he followed Chad.
    She fought a smile as she nodded at him.
    “I swear Chad is drawn to those games of his like a fly on a honeysuckle. If your boy’s the same, they’ll be fast friends.”
    Xan laughed. “I was thinking the same thing. It’s nice to have someone his age around and someone to show him around school if they hit it off.”
    “Oh, Chad’ll give’em the dime tour.” She paused as she looked around, her gaze landing on the car in her driveway. “Say, what’re you doin’ with one of Laverty’s cars?”
    “Who?”
    “Bill Laverty. He owns Laverty Rentals in Conway. Rents cars and limos.”
    “Oh, I, er, had some car trouble just outside town. Had to have the car towed.”
    That piqued her interest. Her eyes gleamed and a wicked grin flashed on her face. It seemed like the smallest thing got this lady’s attention. Xan wasn’t used to expressive women. Hell, she wasn’t really used to women period. She understood why she never got too close to men, but she never really got close to women, either. Attachments were hard to break, and once a gal got a girlfriend,