Courting Trouble (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

just imagine trying to explain to Diedra why he'd messed up her schedule. She'd probably think he'd done it on purpose. He didn't want to spend up-close and personal time with her, but he didn't want to let her down, either.
    A.C. flipped off the overhead lights and grabbed Jeff's jacket off the coat rack. "Come on, then. Let's go."
    "What's the rush?"
    Jeff wasn't generally this dense. "Maybe it's just me, but at this time each night, I get hungry."
    "Very funny."
    A.C. jingled the change in his pocket and held out Jeff's jacket. "Are you coming or not?"
    "All right." Jeff stood and stretched.
    As Mimi glided to her feet, A.C. noted her dangerous stiletto heels. He made a mental bet with himself that she'd been wearing those shoes when husband number two filed assault charges against her. Foot stomping with intent to kill. The charges had been dismissed, but Mimi still wasn't a woman A.C. would be in a rush to anger.
    "Thank you so much for the great advice, Jeff." Mimi grabbed his Jeff's arm and wriggled. A.C. knew exactly the view Jeff was getting, the one A.C. had once enjoyed. But now he knew those mountains contained dangerous avalanches for unsuspecting men. Perhaps he should've warned Jeff, but passing on Mimi had seemed like a great idea at the time.
    Jeff wrapped his arm around Mimi's shoulders and A.C. scowled. "Let's go."
    "Where are you dragging us to in such a hurry?"
    Us? Oh, great balls of fire. No. Not us. "I'm sure Mimi already has plans for tonight."
    "Little ol' me?" she asked in her little ol' little girl voice. She batted her false eyelashes. "The only plans I have involve defrosting a TV dinner."
    "See? I knew you had plans. A woman like you always has plans."
    Mimi pouted.
    "He's just trying to be funny, Mimi," said Jeff, glaring at A.C. "Lousy joke, cuz."
    For the first time in his life, A.C. felt an urge to chew his nails. He might have known that anything Diedra planned would backfire on him. All he needed was to bring Mimi along on Jeff's date with Meagan.
    Diedra would tar and feather him. She'd make more appliances attack him. Maybe he could phone and cancel the whole thing. "I forgot. I need to make a call first."
    "Make the call from the restaurant. Mimi and I are starving."
    A.C. experienced another first: the desire to whimper. This was what hanging out with Diedra had done to him. He led the way morosely out the door, wondering how much lower he would sink trying to please Diedra.

 
     
     
    Chapter 5

     
    A.C. looked at his watch for the sixteenth time. He hadn't needed to rush after all. Where was she? Diedra was the one who'd insisted on such a strict schedule. His emotions fluctuated between anger and worry. He might have known she'd be late, although he'd hoped the years had made her more responsible.
    It might be just as well she was standing him up. The way Mimi was clinging to Jeff, A.C. felt sure she'd targeted Jeff as husband number five. Normally, he'd think it was humorous, but with Meagan and Diedra coming...
    He heard a laugh and knew it was her. He turned and saw the restaurant host leading Diedra and Meagan to his table.
    Diedra looked good. Very good. Her skirt was short and blue, his favorite color. It clung to her like plastic wrap. Whew. His blood pressure rose several notches and a bead of sweat trickled from his brow.
    And he wasn't the only one to admire her.
    Through slit eyes, he noticed a half dozen other gorillas ogling Diedra's skirt, too. Some Gargantua in a tux and pastel paisley tie followed them toward the table. If strange men were going to start following her, he had half a notion to cover her with his trench coat. She shouldn't dress that way in public. It was indecent. Now if they were alone...
    He was out of his mind. Why else would he keep imagining running his hands down that tight skirt, cupping Diedra's body and pulling her to him? The woman was trouble, but for the moment he didn't care one iota.
    Mimi giggled, pulling him back from fantasy. He