Naked Heat: Naked Cowboys, Book 7 Read Online Free Page A

left her there.”
    “Do they even know who it is?” Cyn asked.
    “I’m not sure.” Nida took another sip of her beer. “It was hard to tell from the articles online. I get a feeling there may have been some kind of cover-up, at least according to two of the reporters.”
    Reenie shook her head. “Mac must be devastated.”
    “Yes,” Nida agreed, “I think he’s all that and more. I have a feeling he’s on a crusade though, and he’s hiding out here while he puts it together.”
    “Cade took him to the Lone Star Saloon,” Georgie told them. “I hope he can get something out of him and maybe see if there’s any way we can help.”
    “Maybe he won’t like us sticking our noses in his business.”
    Amy laughed. “Since when has that ever stopped us? None of us would be happily married if we didn’t meddle.” She looked around the table. “Right?”
    “True,” Cyn agreed, “but this is a little more serious than meddling in someone’s love life.”
    Reenie refilled her glass. “Well, I see this as our civic duty.”
    “He does seem pretty depressed,” Nida agreed.
    “Why don’t you bring him to the Bit and Bite after the closing tomorrow?” Georgie suggested.
    “And surround him with a mob he may or may not want?” Nida shook her head. “I don’t know.”
    “Just do it. Cade and I will accidentally meet you there. We can talk about the closing and maybe reach out the hand of friendship to him.” She turned to the woman next to her. “Jinx, you’ve been pretty quiet about all this. Do you have any thoughts?”
    “You know,” Jinx said in a thoughtful voice, “Dillon and I might be able to help. He could probably request copies of the reports from the San Antonio PD. You know he used to work there. And I can do a search for everything that’s gone out on the wire about it.”
    “Good idea.” Amy clapped her hands. “Get our sheriff and our publisher on it.”
    Nida chewed on her lip for a moment. “Okay, but let’s be gentle with Mac. I can tell he’s in a lot of pain.”
    And that was no lie. When he wasn’t being careful, rage simmered in his eyes. It was obvious he wanted to keep things businesslike, but anyone who spent five minutes with him would have no trouble spotting the tension gripping him. Nida was sure he had to be in a lot of emotional pain.
    Don’t fixate on that, Nida. Haven’t you learned your lesson by now? Haven’t you already wasted too much of your time on wounded birds?
    She knew she better keep reminding herself of that every minute she was with Mac McDaniel. He didn’t want anything from her except to close this sale.
    “I understand,” Georgie told her. “But let’s get Jinx and Dillon doing their thing. We can let Mac know he has friends here if he wants them, and maybe—”
    “Maybe what?” Nida demanded. “He might not want to have any friends.”
    “He was definitely reserved when he checked into the B&B,” Georgie told them. “Although he and Cade connected, maybe over the sale of the ranch. I really liked him, Nida. He’s not only a very good-looking man, but he’s sharp and has a sense of humor when he lets it out.” She looked at her friend and winked. “The best thing I’ve seen around here since I snagged Cade.”
    “Uh huh. Just don’t go doing any matchmaking here,” Nida warned.
    Amy crossed her heart. “We promise.”
    But Nida knew her friends. They just couldn’t seem to keep themselves from meddling. Mac McDaniel was carrying a truckload of pain, and she didn’t want to be the cause of adding more.
    Mac himself was currently sitting on the newly expanded terrace at the rear of the Butterfly B&B, listening to the night sounds and studying the man sitting in the Adirondack chair next to him. Cade Hannigan had offered him a beer, but since Cade himself took only a soft drink, Mac followed suit. He liked Cade immediately. He had a quiet air of confidence and an ability to put Mac at ease. Georgie was also warm and