“Hey, you mind if I tag along?” Will asks. “I need to ask Reggie’s opinion on a matter.”
“Hey, the more the merrier.” I say to Will.
“Breakfast will be ready any minute.” Laura says.
“Save me some.” I respond. “Lisa and I ate a load last night thanks to you. I’m not even the least bit hungry yet.”
“Okay.”
We saddle up into the service van and buckle up. “Hey, you don’t mind if I drive, do you?” I ask Will.
“No. Not at all.”
When we get to the mechanic’s shop, he’s just arrived. “Morning, boys.” Reggie says. “What can I do for you?”
“This here van needs an oil change and a tune up. You think you can manage?”
“Sure. You know the drill.” He says. “Troy should be here any minute. I can get started. How’s Laura doing?” he asks, pulling his coveralls on.
“Good.” Will answers. “Good and pregnant.”
“She sure had a nice wedding. I liked the horses bringing them down the aisle. That was a nice touch.”
“Sure was.”
We see a car pull up out front. When the patron enters the shop, Will’s face changes drastically.
I watch him intently as I tip my head to the gentleman who stands before us. “Harlan.” Will says curtly, tipping his head slightly in greeting, although I get the feeling that the greeting is strictly perfunctory.
Harlan? Is this the Harlan that broke my baby’s heart? I look at Will and I can see his jaw muscles working. It must be him.
“Morning, Mister Rex.” Reggie says. “What can I do for you?”
“Just need you to have a look at my brakes. Making noises.” He says. “The wife left me the junk box. She took the Lexus.”
“Sure. Troy’ll be here any minute. Mind waiting?”
“Nope. Not due to work for another hour.”
Reggie nods and looks at me. “You got the keys?”
“Sure.” I hand him the keyring and walks towards the front door. “Mister Rex, Will, Kurt, err…coffee machine ain’t up yet. If y’all don’t mind getting it going if y’all want a coffee.”
“Na, we’re fine, Reggie. Thanks.” I say.
Will does everything to avoid looking at this Harlan fellow. But I’m checking him out with every opportunity I have. I’d love to figure this guy out.
“I hear Lisa was in a bad way.” Harlan says to Will.
My fist balls up at the mere mention of her name from his mouth.
“Was. She’s doing well now.” Will answers, still not looking at him.
“That’s good.” Harlan nods.
You’ll keep your mouth shut about my girl if you know what’s good for you.
“Word is she’s seeing some guy from out of town.”
Will exchanges a look with me. My fingernails are digging into my palms.
“Not that it’s any of your business.” Will says.
Harlan ignores the jibe. “I hear he works with the horses. How come he came all the way from El Paso to do the same thing is beyond me.”
“He’s helping Laura out, dickwad.” Will seethes.
Lifting his hands in the air, Harlan chuckles. “Hey, buddy. I don’t mean any harm here. I’m just making conversation.”
“It’s none of your business what goes on with Laura or Lisa.” Will says pointedly.
Again, stupidly, Harlan ignores Will. “Shoot, Lisa and I go way back. I’m separated now, eh? She tell you that?”
“Big shocker.” Will scoffs.
My nostrils are flaring, my heart is pumping. Just…say something stupid, asshole. My fist can’t wait to break your teeth.
Harlan laughs. “I’m surprised she didn’t come crawling back to me when she heard Patsy left me.”
That’s it. “That’s because she’s with me, asshole.” I blurt. “And if you like them teeth of yours, I suggest you keep your big mouth shut.”
Harlan is the same height as me, but he’s got a big ponch in front, and a fat face to match. Definitely a drinker. He’s wearing a baseball cap over greasy, black hair. From the look of him, he was probably decently handsome back when he and Lisa were together. He probably had tact at one time or another, too. But clearly he’s lacking it now. “Are you threatening me?”
“You catch on quick.”
He looks me up and down, smirking like he thinks he can take me with one hand tied behind his back. Losers like that fold with a simple kick in the groin. “So, you’re Lisa’s new flavor of the month, are you?”
Harlan Rex didn’t know what hit him.
That Harlan…
So many surprises yet to come in ‘No More Games’. Will Clint be able to come to terms with the past and have a future with Cassie? Do Kurt and Lisa stay together? All this and so much more in the next book of the series.
Don’t miss out!
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Author’s Note
Thank you so much for reading ‘No More Lies’. I had this series in my head for a while, but there were so many others that I needed to finish in production first. This book literally flew out of my imagination and on to the pages! No More Lies was written in a record nine days! No, that’s not a typo! I began writing it on August 5, 2020 and finished today, August 12, 2020. Granted, I’m still out of work due to Covid-19, so I have plenty of time on my hands, but still! That’s a re
cord for me!
This story is the product of many readers’ input from my last series, ‘The Magic at Cog Hill’. From reviews and other feedback, I learned that some readers loved the aspect of a small-town story, so I went with that. They also loved the fact that those stories are bite-sized, and not tipping the scales at over 80K words like most of the books in my other pen name. So, I decided to make this a serial series, but in keeping with the shorter, more popular, 60K word books.
Readers also wanted to see more romance and heat between the characters, so I went with a medium-sized heat level, instead of the sweeter romance like the other series. Swearing was also kept to a minimum (which is difficult when you’re writing about alpha males who are cowboys! But I managed!)
These are all new characters and an all new setting, and I very much enjoyed writing this book. I should go now…on to book three!
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