Diamond in the Rough (Precious Gems) Read Online Free
Author: A.A. King
safety manuals and even a small tool set stood at the ready on the minuscule chance that they would be needed. Brian noticed Cheyenne taking in her surroundings as though she was surprised at his organization. For him, law and order went hand in hand.
The scenery passed by the windows of the large truck as if it were movie clips of a forgotten time. The crumbling buildings that adorned Main Street lent a charm of days gone by that could have only been pulled off by this small bayou town. Cheyenne’s smooth voi ce jarred him back to reality.
“ If you wouldn’t mind stopping at the drive in on the right, I would appreciate it. I am thirsty,” she requested as she nervously toyed with the fray of her leather purse. “A drink does sound good, what will you have?” Brian asked with a slight smile forming at the edges of his plump lips.
“I b elieve I will have a large sweet tea,” she added.
They were back on the road quickly. The view changed little the farther west they went. It wasn’t until they drove into Beaumont that the landscape took on a city like feel. As they passed the many restaurants and business scattered along I-10, Brian began looking at Cheyenne more closely. She looked as though she had never been this far west before. When he heard her gasp as they passed the sign for Spindletop, he knew that he had been right. As they rode on, his mood turned serious. He thought about the case and the menagerie of people who could easily be considered suspects. When you are firmly at the top, as Charles Wingate had been, your enemies can come from any direction.
“Detective Russell, what was he like?” Cheyenne asked, sounding like a child. Brian wanted to scoop her up and protect her from the tirade he was sure she was about to encounter. Knowing that everyone was going to want a piece of her made his blood boil.
“Cheyenne,” he started, “I did not know your father. All I can tell you is that he was a powerful and wealthy man. Aside from that, you could Google him and know as much as I do.” Miles crept by and Cheyenne said nothing else. The ride was passing too quickly for Brian’s taste. Cheyenne Wingate was like a puzzle that was just coming together.
Being guarded with her emotions must have been a result o f the distrust she had for men, he reasoned. She now lay asleep in the truck next to him, her head resting on the console as the radio hummed a slow country ballad.
This must have all been a shock to her. She was not the customary definition of a grieving daughter but in the end, how could she be? Charles Wingate had never bothered to so much as meet her . Brian could see the lights of Houston ahead. Struggling internally, he wanted to touch her…needed to touch her. Brian had never experienced a pull like this. He reached over and brushed a stray curl from Cheyenne’s cheek. He had never been so forward with a woman he had just met but he could not help himself. The urgent feeling to save her had overcome him the first moment he laid eyes on her. She stirred slightly and slowly opened her eyes.
“We are almost there,” Brian said as he changed lanes to take their exit. Cheyenne eyed her surroundings and turned her head as the lights of the city faded and they turned into a country lane. The truck began to slow down and a sprawling ranch style estate came into view. Brian watched as a scowl came across her face. He could only imagine the feelings that must be coursing through her. From what he had learned, Cheyenne did not have the best childhood. Her mother had bounced from one con game to another with a different man each week. Now, to learn that she had a wealthy father only hours away must have really pissed her off.
Brian pulled up to the security box and pressed the button, “Detective Russell with Miss. Wingate.” The gates jarred open within a moment and he drove through. Cheyenne sat in
The scenery passed by the windows of the large truck as if it were movie clips of a forgotten time. The crumbling buildings that adorned Main Street lent a charm of days gone by that could have only been pulled off by this small bayou town. Cheyenne’s smooth voi ce jarred him back to reality.
“ If you wouldn’t mind stopping at the drive in on the right, I would appreciate it. I am thirsty,” she requested as she nervously toyed with the fray of her leather purse. “A drink does sound good, what will you have?” Brian asked with a slight smile forming at the edges of his plump lips.
“I b elieve I will have a large sweet tea,” she added.
They were back on the road quickly. The view changed little the farther west they went. It wasn’t until they drove into Beaumont that the landscape took on a city like feel. As they passed the many restaurants and business scattered along I-10, Brian began looking at Cheyenne more closely. She looked as though she had never been this far west before. When he heard her gasp as they passed the sign for Spindletop, he knew that he had been right. As they rode on, his mood turned serious. He thought about the case and the menagerie of people who could easily be considered suspects. When you are firmly at the top, as Charles Wingate had been, your enemies can come from any direction.
“Detective Russell, what was he like?” Cheyenne asked, sounding like a child. Brian wanted to scoop her up and protect her from the tirade he was sure she was about to encounter. Knowing that everyone was going to want a piece of her made his blood boil.
“Cheyenne,” he started, “I did not know your father. All I can tell you is that he was a powerful and wealthy man. Aside from that, you could Google him and know as much as I do.” Miles crept by and Cheyenne said nothing else. The ride was passing too quickly for Brian’s taste. Cheyenne Wingate was like a puzzle that was just coming together.
Being guarded with her emotions must have been a result o f the distrust she had for men, he reasoned. She now lay asleep in the truck next to him, her head resting on the console as the radio hummed a slow country ballad.
This must have all been a shock to her. She was not the customary definition of a grieving daughter but in the end, how could she be? Charles Wingate had never bothered to so much as meet her . Brian could see the lights of Houston ahead. Struggling internally, he wanted to touch her…needed to touch her. Brian had never experienced a pull like this. He reached over and brushed a stray curl from Cheyenne’s cheek. He had never been so forward with a woman he had just met but he could not help himself. The urgent feeling to save her had overcome him the first moment he laid eyes on her. She stirred slightly and slowly opened her eyes.
“We are almost there,” Brian said as he changed lanes to take their exit. Cheyenne eyed her surroundings and turned her head as the lights of the city faded and they turned into a country lane. The truck began to slow down and a sprawling ranch style estate came into view. Brian watched as a scowl came across her face. He could only imagine the feelings that must be coursing through her. From what he had learned, Cheyenne did not have the best childhood. Her mother had bounced from one con game to another with a different man each week. Now, to learn that she had a wealthy father only hours away must have really pissed her off.
Brian pulled up to the security box and pressed the button, “Detective Russell with Miss. Wingate.” The gates jarred open within a moment and he drove through. Cheyenne sat in
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