Free Texas Hustle by Cynthia D’Alba Page A

refrigerator door and three doors to the freezer section, storing and retrieving items for her bakery kitchen would be so much more convenient.
    All the countertops were stainless steel, and right now, were covered with foodstuffs that needed to be stored and refrigerated.
    “Oh my. I’ve died and gone to heaven,” she said, dramatically clutching her hands to her chest.
    Nadine laughed. “It’s been updated since we were last here. The old refrigerator used to hum and vibrate loud enough to be heard in the bedrooms upstairs. Speaking of which, come over here.” Nadine took Porchia’s wrist and pulled her off to the side of the room away from the other women.
    Porchia frowned. “What’s wrong?”
    “I’m so sorry,” Nadine replied in a low voice. “Jackie wasn’t thinking when she assigned you and Darren cabin five. She didn’t realize that you two aren’t a couple. Darren explained that you’re good friends and that you’d helped him out at the auction.” She squeezed Porchia’s fingers. “Thank you.”
    “Darren and I are good friends,” Porchia assured her.
    “Yes, well, I appreciate your keeping him out of Sarah Jane’s clutches.”
    Porchia’s eyes widened in surprise.
    Nadine patted Porchia’s hand. “I know all about that little, er, witch.” She glanced toward Jackie, and back to Porchia. “Jackie told me everything. Anyway, I’m afraid Jackie and I have put you in an untenable situation and I am so sorry. There are only four bedrooms in the lodge and they’re all in use this weekend. But come Monday, if you want to move into one of the rooms here, you’re more than welcome.”
    “Nadine. It’s fine.” Porchia smiled. “Really. Darren has already volunteered to sleep on the sofa, and given that it’s cushy and long, it’ll make a great bed.” She didn’t add that they hadn’t settled the sleeping arrangement yet, but she didn’t want to give his family any embarrassing information or have their imaginations work overtime…like hers was.
    Nadine gave a sigh of relief. “Okay then. But come Monday, there’ll be some empty rooms in the lodge if you want one.”
    “Thanks, but we’ll be fine. I promise.”
    “Hey, Mom. If you two are over there gossiping, you have to share with the class,” called KC. “And if you’re over there to avoid all the work over here, you’re busted.”
    Nadine laughed. “We’re coming back.”
    After all the sacks were empty and the food stored, Porchia helped load up trays of hot dogs, buns and all the necessary condiments to transport to the fire pit area.
    When she carried the bags of chips outside for the dinner picnic, she was surprised to see how dark it’d gotten outside in the time she’d been in the kitchen. Someone had started the fire Darren and Reno had laid. Its orange flame shot up against a black backdrop. One of the guys had set up a net tent over the only picnic table in the area to protect the food from various flying insects. Porchia put the chips inside the tent on the table and went back out to join the others.
    The night air had a sharp coolness that made her glad she’d put on long pants and sleeves. She made her way over to Darren, lowering herself into the chair he’d set up for her. Beside her, he was whittling the end of a stick into a sharp point. Each stroke of the knife made the tight muscles in his arm tense and jump up. There was something so sexy about forearm muscles. They made her want to swoon, or lick them, or maybe swoon while she was licking them.
    “I love a fire,” she said, leaning toward the flame and away from Darren’s lickable arms. “I think I might have been a pyromaniac in another life.”
    He chuckled. “Fall bonfires are the best,” he said, giving the stick one last stroke with his knife. “Cool enough to enjoy a fire but not so cold that you’re freezing to death.”
    “What are you doing?” She hitched a thumb toward the pointed stick.
    “Making the skewers for the hot