Crazy Little Thing Called Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

a
search party.” Frankie explained.
    “Don’t you go tattling on me to my boys.”
Reba admonished.
    “It ain’t tattling if it’s the truth.”
    “Franklin Scott, I am allowed to worry about
my babies. It’s in a mama’s nature. You’d do well to remember
that.”
    “Yes ma’am.” Frankie grinned back at her.
    Zach watched them carefully and tried not to
cringe. Surely he was imagining things. There was no way the two of
them had been… flirting? A shudder ran down his spine at the
thought.
    “That part Riley needed is in the truck. Can
you run it out to the barn?”
    “Sure thing boss.” Frankie nodded and tipped
his cowboy hat, “Afternoon Reba.”
    When the door swung shut behind him Zach
frowned, “I think Frankie’s got a thing for you Mom.”
    “I think you’re right.”
    “Oh Jesus…” He groaned.
    “Now, now Zachary, I’m a grown woman with
needs and I’m as single as the day is long so there’s no point
taking that tone with me.”
    He rubbed his eyes again, the beginnings of a
headache cropping up. He was not having this conversation with his
mother. She was in her fifties for God’s sake and Frankie was
barely a few years older than him. The thought of his mother being
a cougar was downright ridiculous.
    “You are not dating Frankie.”
    “Who said anything about dating? Maybe I’ll
take a page out of your book. Love ‘em and leave ‘em.” She smiled
primly, her words so sugary he figured it’d rot her teeth if she
tried to say them again.
    “Now Mom,” He used the same tone of voice she
had when he chided, “You know love ain’t ever had a thing to do
with it.”
    Her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. Served
her right trying to goad him. Let her think about that. He crossed
to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.
    “It might if you’d stop jumping from bed to
bed and try a real, adult relationship for once.”
    He kept his back to her as he twisted off the
cap and took a long pull. Typical for his mom to hit the nail on
the head in one try. He didn’t do relationships, he’d never seen
one end well and he wasn’t going to set himself up for failure. His
younger brothers felt the same way. The West brothers’ hearts might
as well have been stamped with no trespassing signs. Any woman that
got involved with them knew exactly what she was getting, a good
time, no strings and a quick goodbye.
    “Stop trying to psychoanalyze me Mom.” He
turned back to her with a playful wink and noticed the food on the
table, “Mmm, is that homemade pecan pie?”
    She gave him another knowing look but nodded
with a sigh, “It sure is but you have to eat the dinner first. I
brought you some brisket sandwiches. Sit on down and eat.”
    He did as he was told. His mother could be
persistent when she wanted to be so he was thankful for the change
in subject. Discussing his sex life with his mother was not on his
list of things to ever do. Talking about hers… well he was just
lucky he still had an appetite.
    His mother slid into a chair next to him, “So
where’ve you been? I was expecting you an hour ago.”
    “Car trouble.”
    “With the truck?”
    “Nah, not mine.” Zach shook his head, “Saw a
little sports car on the side of the road just outside of town,
blown tire. I stopped and helped.”
    The brisket was amazing. He took another bite
of the sandwich and savored the deliciousness. He’d only been gone
two days but he’d missed home cooked meals. Getting out of Fate for
a few days was always a trade off. He could have had the tractor
part shipped, it would have saved time but cost more money.
Instead, he’d packed a bag and hit the road. Two days away had
sated some of his restlessness but not his stomach.
    “Of course you did.” She smiled softly, “Was
it somebody from town?”
    “Not exactly.”
    “A stranger? Don’t get too many of those
around here.”
    “Nah, she used to live here. She’s just in
town for Molly McBride’s wedding.”
    “Oh you