Free Courting Trouble by Maggie Marr Page A

opposite side of your—”
    “Inflexible ballbusting-ness?” Tulsa asked.
    Sylvia nodded. “In a previous divorce.”
    “Got it,” Tulsa said. “Did we win?”
    “Why do you think he’s afraid to take the case?” Sylvia sighed.
    “Kicked the guy’s ass all the way to Aspen,” Jo said.
    “So he knows I’m a good attorney. That I have expectations.” Tulsa settled her elbow on the table and her chin in her hands. “Is he the only one?”
    Sylvia nodded, “If you want the best, which I know you do. Then, yeah, he’s the best.”
    “Okay, where is he?”
    Again the three women in LA looked at one another.
    “I don’t think—” Sylvia started.
    “Sweetie, that might not be the best idea,” Emma said.
    “You’re going to ambush this guy?” Jo asked.
    “No,” Tulsa said. She cocked her head to the side and jutted her chin forward. “After my pancakes, I am going to use my amazing persuasive powers for good.”
    All three women stared at her, unconvinced.
    “And if he refuses to say yes, then I’m going to bust his balls until he does.”

Chapter Nine
     
    Weekday regulars wearing cowboy hats and feed caps filled the tables and booths in the Wooden Nickel. Cade pushed open the door and the entrance bell jingled. He shook off the morning cold. The scent of fresh biscuits baking, hot coffee brewing, and bacon frying awakened the hunger in his belly. He strolled through the dining room and nodded a greeting to folks he’d known his entire life. Wayne sat at the booth in the front window, already drinking his coffee and waiting on his breakfast of steak, eggs, biscuits, and gravy. Cade slid into the booth across from Wayne.
    “That’s a good-lookin’ bruise you got there.” Wayne swallowed his coffee. “Almost makes you look like a man.”
    “Thanks.” Cade ran his hand over the edge of his chin. He’d examined the souvenir from Wayne earlier that morning when he shaved. The bruise was a beauty; bright purple with hints of yellow and green.
    Coffeepot in hand, Rose Beasly hustled to their table. “Whatcha got there?” she asked as she poured the sturdy stuff into Cade’s cup.
    “Little love tap,” Wayne said. A wicked smile curlicued its way over Wayne’s face.
    “You two still beatin’ the snot out of each other at the gym two times a week?”
    The brothers looked at each other and nodded.
    “Yeah.”
    “Pretty much.”
    “Well, men will be boys.” She topped off Wayne’s coffee. Rose’s eyes flitted from Wayne to Cade. “Hear Savannah McGrath found herself a new lawyer.” Rose settled one hand on her ample hip while her eyes studied Cade.
    Cade nodded and reached for the menu. He supposed Rose wanted some sort of reaction that she might talk about with her customers throughout the day. His response, whether nonchalant or irritable, would be worthy of a few words from Rose and keep the gossip churning in Powder Springs.
    “Miller’s Garage had to tow her rental in off Yampa Valley Road late yesterday,” Wayne said.
    Cade continued to study the menu and silently thanked his brother for tossing Rose a tidbit of gossip about Tulsa.
    “That right?” Rose asked. “Those darn rentals, seems there’s always something wrong with them.” She turned her gaze to Cade. “So, you want the usual?”
    “Please,” Cade said and tucked the menu between the napkin dispenser and the ketchup.
    Rose ambled back toward the counter and the kitchen.
    “Thanks for that,” Cade said.
    “No worries, brother. People are just interested. Not every day in a small town you get to see two star-crossed lovers square off in a courtroom over a custody dispute.”
    Cade cleared his throat and reached for a sugar packet. “Well, when you put it like that. Guess my life is a helluva lot more entertaining than I woulda thought.” Cade turned and watched Rose pluck the order from her pad and tuck it into the order wheel in the kitchen window. “Every day for how many years?”
    “Forty,” Wayne