Sugar on Top Read Online Free PDF

to talk no matter what,” she said. “Plus, it’s the first Monday of the month.”
    “Meaning?”
    “Meaning that it is the official Sugar Peaches meeting day and in about two minutes that little angora flock over there will become an annoying herd. Especially since they are picking the committees for the Miss Peach Pageant today.”
    As a horny young teen, Cal had loved that pageant. As a parent of a girl old enough to enter, he was determined to have it outlawed. Especially when he came across the stack of ads with pictures of dresses in her room—not a single dress age-appropriate.
    “Yeah, well, I’m more interested in you breaking your neck and me having to haul your stubborn ass to the hospital,” he said, tightening his arms when she seemed set on squirming away.
    Taking out his cell, he dialed the sheriff’s department. When Gunther answered, Cal asked him to open the gate.
    A second later a loud beeping echoed across the lot, followed by the sound of jangling metal. By the time it opened, the steps were filled with the clicking of pearls and judgment. It appeared Glory was right—every Sugar Peach from the beginning of time until last election was lined up and looking their way.
    “I guess they have already assembled a jury of my peers,” Glory joked with a tight strain in her voice.
    “My truck is just down the street. It’ll only take me a minute.”
    She looked at the pack of Peaches and faltered. From the depths of the courthouse emerged a bulldog of a woman dressed in mourning black and clutching one of those little basket purses and a good ten-plus years of indignation tightly to her chest.
    “No way.” Glory shoved Cal aside. “And miss all the fun?”
    Before Cal could stop her, Glory stepped out onto the curb and hollered across the street, “Morning, Ms. Kitty. It’s a lovely day, wouldn’t you agree?” With a big-ass wave and a parting smile, she made her way down the cobblestoned sidewalk toward his truck.
    Ms. Kitty stood under a flapping SUGAR COUNTY: WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE AS SWEET AS THE PEACHES banner, lips peeled back and teeth bared, a pink hat capping her silver bob. She didn’t return the wave.
    Over the next two blocks every person who happened to be downtown came out of their respective storefronts to witness Glory’s walk of shame. Cal wouldn’t know if he’d call what happened fun, but after several polite nods and a few sunny “mornings” for every person she passed, Cal was damn impressed. Glory walked head high, smile on that pretty face, acting for all the world as though she wasn’t strutting down Maple Street in her shit-stained pajamas, her boot slushing with every step. Or facing a sentencing in seven days.
    He caught up to her quickly as she had to take two steps for his every one and placed a hand on her back, ushering her toward the passenger side of his truck. Unlocking the door, he reached around and helped her inside but she paused, her eyes locked on the big cow-sized dent marring the back of his truck. Then she took in the flecks of peach and gold paint covering the tailgate and grinned.
    Yet another issue he had to deal with and he was pretty sure that his grandmother and her “Pokers” were behind it.
    “You getting in or are you walking?” he warned, holding the door open.
    Pressing her lips in a firm line, which didn’t hide her amused grin, she hopped in. After enjoying the view of her backside encased in shrink-wrapped flannel, he slid around the car and started the engine. Cranking the heater to full, he pointed the vents at the waterlogged woman shivering beside him.
    Truck in Drive, Cal made a U-turn and drove past the cluster of society women who were waiting for their final glimpse of Sugar’s Most Wanted.
    Glory didn’t hide under the ball cap or duck down as the women all watched his truck blow past, but she did swallow hard a few times, her eyes glued out the front windshield. When they were clear, she slipped out of his coat and