Getting Lucky (A Nugget Romance Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

okay?”
    “Sure. You have my cell phone number, right?”
    “I do,” Cindy said, well aware of Katie’s medical condition. “Don’t worry, I’ll text you a couple of times from Reno.”
    “Thank you.” Cindy’s husband backed the van out and Tawny waved goodbye.
    She watched them drive away, then went inside to change, settling on a pair of jeans with bling on the back pockets and a Western blouse she’d scooped up on sale at the Farm Supply store. She finished off the outfit with one of her hand-tooled belts and red boots. For some reason she wanted Lucky to see her at her best. The man had only gotten better with age, and at eighteen he’d been damned fine to begin with.
    She’d worshipped him all through adolescence, even though he hadn’t known she was alive. He was too busy chasing after Raylene Rosser, the meanest girl in town. But like the rest of Nugget, Lucky had only seen Raylene’s sweet façade. The girl voted most likely to be a beauty queen and have her own morning talk show. Kelly Ripa II.
    Tawny had seen Raylene bopping around Nugget in her new Ford F-150. Word on the street was that her husband, a wealthy Denver cattleman, had dumped her for her best friend and she’d come home to lick her wounds. Tawny thought there was probably more to the story.
    In the bathroom she fixed her hair, put on a little makeup, and headed for her truck. She didn’t have Lucky’s phone number, but the sooner they dealt with each other, the sooner he could be tested to see if he’d be a good donor match for Katie.
    No one was more surprised than she when he’d bought the old Roland summer camp with plans to turn it into a dude ranch. After what had happened ten years ago, she never thought he’d come back. At least not for good. But Cecilia was here. Everyone knew that Lucky had bought his mother that big house on Mule Deer Lane.
    Tawny looked at her gas gauge and, as usual, it was almost on empty. Before hopping on the highway, she cruised into the Nugget Gas and Go to fill up. Griffin Parks was in one of the bays with his head under a hood, but came over to the pumps.
    “Hey,” he said. “I’ve been meaning to drop by. When’s a good time? I want a pair of boots.”
    Ever since Katie’s leukemia had come back, a lot of the townsfolk had been buying boots. They knew she wouldn’t take charity. Instead, they came to her studio to purchase seconds and samples.
    “Really?” Her lips curved up in a suspicious grin, having never seen him in any footwear other than motorcycle boots. He was definitely more James Dean than John Wayne.
    He smiled back, and Lordy, the man was good-looking—and rich as a king. The summer before last, he’d come into Nugget and bought the Gas and Go and Sierra Heights, a bankrupt gated community on the outskirts of town. But you’d never know it. Griffin was salt of the earth and worked as hard as everyone else did in Nugget. If it hadn’t been a known fact that he pined after the police chief’s sister, she might’ve been tempted to go after him. Although Tawny had never been any good in the love department. Too shy to flirt and too busy to date.
    That’s okay. All she needed was Katie.
    “Yeah, really,” he said. “I think I’d rock a pair of shit-kickers.”
    He’d rock anything . “Then come over anytime. I’m sure there are a couple of pairs that have your name on them.”
    “How’s Katie?”
    “She’s doing okay.” And hopefully would be healthy soon if Lucky turned out to be a match.
    “You need anything, you let me know. I’m serious, Tawny.”
    She had to turn away before he saw her mist up, but managed to choke out a thank-you. Tawny didn’t know how it was in other places; Nugget was the only place she’d ever lived. But people here overflowed with kindness.
    With her tank full, she headed toward the old camp. She’d forgotten how beautiful the drive was. Although Lucky’s property was only a few miles from town, the landscape changed here