Free Breaking the Bad Boy by Vanessa Lennox

Buck’s gone,” she huffed out her breath. She should lock up when he’s here, she thought. Fernando watched her curiously.
    “The big house was broken into three months ago, and last month poison was left out for the dogs.”
    She looked at the dogs lying in the shade. Everyone was accounted for. “Anybody hurt?”
    “Pablo nearly died. I think because he was a stray he still thinks he has to eat any food he finds, even if it tastes funny. But he’s a tough one; he’ll survive a nuclear holocaust. Him and the cockroaches. Rex and Fly were merely sick everywhere.”
    “Was anything taken from the house?”
    “Not that Brent would say, but he was acting squirrelly about it.”
    “Is it drugs?”
    “Drugs? No, I don’t think so,” he was genuinely surprised by the question.
    “On the drive in three of my tires were punctured, I found pointy metal things in two of them. Why do you think someone would do that?” She asked him and he looked ill for a second and then shook his head.
    “Be careful, Joss,” he said.
    “Buck picked me up shortly after the flats, but I did notice another car come from behind me, but no one was here when we showed up. Do you trust Buck?” She asked.
    “Yes, I do. That’s why he’s bunking in the big house. Brent likes him, too. But I can tell by your small mouth that you don’t.”
    “I’m not making small mouth,” she said putting her hand to her mouth.
    “Yes, you are, cita. What are you thinking?” Fernando said.
    “You and Brent think you know me so well,” she said. Nando laughed.
    “Because we do. We raised you, and you were not an easy child to raise. Stubborn, spoiled, and pampered, you were, and the boys came sniffing around early. What were you fourteen when that first kid came round asking you for help with chemistry homework?” He rolled his eyes. “And math and history…”
    “I was a good student,” she said and Fernando laughed. “My looks are merely an accident of birth.”
    “And you never used them to get what you wanted?”
    “Well, you have to wonder if there wasn’t some divine plan, Nando,” she smiled sweetly at him.
    “Jesu. You got anyone at home waiting for you in Denver ?”
    “No one special, I have a cat, he is as demanding as I can handle,” she said. “Easy girl,” she said to the horse getting her to walk off the sweat.
    “Then who are the flowers from?” He teased. “Your cat?”
    “Very funny, Nando,” she ignored his question.
    “But you’re interested in Buck?” Fernando said. Joss looked around for people who might have heard him, Buck in particular; he could be right behind her for all she knew.
    “Why do you say that? He is singularly annoying; I am not interested in anyone.”
    “Uh-huh,” he said and walked away. “Hey Joss, stay away from my barn, find a better place.” Fernando laughed at his mediocre wit.
    “How about the yard? Is that better?” She called back.
    “Find a room with a lock. Ay, ay, ay,” he ducked into the barn.
    When did I become so transparent?
    ***
    The dogs announced the arrival of a brand new pickup truck coming down the drive. Joss didn’t recognize it and figured Nando would take care of it and continued to prep the giant lasagna she would eat all week, freezing it in sections. She would never be a vegetarian, but she tried not to eat a lot of meat.
    There was a knock at the door and she looked up from her chopping. It was Jake.
    “Come on in, Jake,” she said turning the heat off underneath the onions and washing and drying her hands on a dish towel. Before she started cooking she put her hair up in an artfully tousled knot which had begun to fall around her face.
    “Hello, Joss,” he said and handed the huge bouquet of flowers to her. “Barefoot in the kitchen, you look lovely.” She looked at her feet.
    “I have socks on. These are beautiful,” she said and went back into the kitchen to find a vase for them. “I’m not sure Brent can have flowers in his room