Free Riding the Thunder by Deborah MacGillivray

cover the cost of your new air conditioner, too.” Liam leaned across the counter and kissed her on the cheek.
    Asha’s eyes slid past him to Jago, sitting in the booth halfway across the diner, noting the disconcerted look upon his face. She smiled unrepentantly. After being perturbed at breakfast, it felt good to turn the tables. Observant, Liam noted the object of her interest. He lifted his brow, a question lighting his hazel eyes.
    â€œJago Fitzgerald, my dinner date I take it?” Liam winked at Netta as she sashayed past. The blonde winked back.
    â€œHe’s British, thirty-seven and has a twin brother.” Asha reluctantly admitted, “And I rather like him.”
    â€œAny chance you might sacrifice yourself and seduce him into leaving the horse farm alone?” Liam teased.
    â€œWelcome back, Sweet Pea. We’ve missed your handsome face around these parts. I was beginning to think you forgot all about us around here.” Netta returned and paused to flirt with Asha’s brother, slowly walking her fingers up his chest. “As for bribing—you can bribe
me
into seducing him. In fact, you can seduce me into seducing him. That’d work, too. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Though I warn you, you might have to seduce me several times before it takes.”
    Asha chuckled. “Down, Netta, you’ll overload my poor brother’s hormones.”
    â€œYeah, my hormones can’t stand too much Netta razzle-dazzle first thing upon my return.” Liam laughed easily. “Asha, join me for supper with Fitzgerald. I could use moral support. I’m in the unenviable position of brokering a deal for Dad when I don’t want to sell. I wish you’d kept your quarter interest in the horse farm, then Mac couldn’t be trying to sell Valinor out from under me.”
    Asha chuckled. “You silly brother, Mae didn’t raise an eegit for a daughter. He’d be trying to sell The Windmill, too. Go play nice with the pretty man. If I keep you company, I’ll go back to wanting to stick him with a fork.”
    Curious about their first meeting, Asha watched her brother walk over and extend his hand as Jago rose from his seat. The two men shook, and then both settled into thebooth. They were easy on the eyes, Liam so striking with his neat auburn hair, and Jago a warrior dark. If she’d thought every female in the room buzzed in man-alert mode with only Jago sitting there, it was nothing compared to glances and drools the two men collected together.
    Netta walked behind the counter, opened the glass display case and took out an Almond Joy. Unwrapping it, she popped half in her mouth, her cheek resembling a chipmunk’s as she spoke. “What? They say when you’re in love your body produces a chemical similar to chocolate. Well, I ain’t getting any loving. I need chocolate if you want me to work.”
    Asha smiled. “I consider your chocolate thieving part of your salary.”
    Netta’s blue eyes studied her before asking, “When did Liam get back from England? I thought that since he was gone so long he might’ve decided to stay over there permanently.”
    â€œThis afternoon. He’s like me—we have Kentucky in our soul, our mother’s thumbprint on our lives. He only went across the pond to try and talk our father out of selling the horse farm.”
    â€œNetta, sugar, how about a refill on coffee—or are you expecting me to wait on myself?” Dwight Kennedy called from a booth by the windows.
    Netta grumbled, “The unwashed masses summon.” She picked up the coffee carafe, then thought better and turned back. “Make you a deal. Fix me up with Liam, and I’ll keep my mitts off Jago.”
    Asha sniggered. The threat was toothless. When Asha ignored Netta, the waitress batted her vivid blue eyes. “Pretty please, with a cherry on top? I’ll scrub your toilet for a