Sinful Pleasures Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Do you think Genevieve Wheeler will be able to cause Jude any harm? The Wheelers have friends in high places. We’ve got to think of some way to keep Jude safe. You know they are looking for any excuse to shut down Sinful Pleasures.”
    “I don’t see what they can do,” Morgan said. “Besides, all we’re going to do is escort Jude to the ball. It’s not like we’re going to be having an orgy on the courthouse lawn to disgrace her precious Steven.”
    “I don’t know why Mrs. Wheeler thinks Jude, or the town of
Parrish
, is going to hurt Steven’s bid for senator,”
Dallas
complained. “Three-way marriages are legal here in Parrish and it won’t be that long till other communities adopt the same laws. And no one cares what Steven’s ex-wife does for a living. Why doesn’t she just leave Jude alone?”
    Morgan poured a handful of shampoo over his head and stepped under the heavy spray, lathering his hair until the foam ran down his back. “It’s all about power, but I’m going to make this work, bud. I’m not going to let the likes of Genevieve Wheeler stop me from the woman of my dreams. You’re either with me or you’re not, but I want to know which it’s going to be right now.”
    “Like I’ve got a choice.”
    Morgan turned to him, blinking the soapy water out of his eyes. “Sure you do. You can back off and let me have her for myself.”
    “That’s not going to happen.”
Dallas
felt his heart thumping like a drum. He could count the number of arguments he and Morgan had had on one hand. Not that this was an argument. At least it hadn’t turned into one yet.
    “Then we might as well be upfront and honest about this from the start. She’s going to be ours. If we have to fight with the Wheelers then we’ll do it. They don’t own Jude. She’s not Steven’s wife any longer.”
    Dallas
shook his head, letting the hot water sluice down his tired body. “And if they get us fired from the force? Or they get the city business ordinance changed and shut down Sinful Pleasures, what then?”
    Morgan stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his hips. “Are you that worried about those two? Hell, this is a small town, Dallas. You know these people, the mayor and the fire chief won’t be pushed too far. Not many people love the Wheelers. They’ve been causing trouble since I’ve been in town. That’s nothing new.”
    “I know, but I worry about them shutting Jude’s place down.”
    Morgan shrugged. “They’re going to push their weight around when they see us with her. Now or later, the three of us are going to be the topic of conversation. You might as well get used to it.”
    Dallas
stood under the hot spray long after his partner left. Morgan was right, of course. Trying to stop the Wheelers of Parrish would be like trying to stop the sun from shining. Jude was a hot topic after her divorce from Steven, and the family hadn’t forgiven her for standing her ground. She’d defied them at every turn, and so far, she’d managed to prosper despite their attempts to ruin her. Now it would be the three of them against two, and that made the odds a little better.
    Dallas
was aware that Jude already knew what it felt like to be on the receiving end of the Wheelers’s disapproval. She fought tooth and nail to open her business, fighting the mother-and-son team while they tried to implement an obscenity zoning law. It took a while, but Genevieve gradually backed down when she saw the community embrace Jude’s store and her tireless efforts to bring business and tourism into Parrish.
    Dallas
shut off the water and decided Morgan might be right after all. He toweled himself off until his skin glowed from the rough material, and then he dressed in his favorite jeans and old, comfortable Western shirt. It was time to collect the packages from Jude and ask when to pick her up for the ball.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    “What time do you want us to come over on Saturday?”