Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
“You really mean that?”
“Yeah, but he’s been threatened to stay in line or else.”
“I had no doubt.” I burst out laughing. “You are my brother, after all.”
Just shy of the front porch, he says, “I love you, little sis.”
I rest my head on his arm and smile. “I love you, big brother.” Standing in the light of the first stars and the floodlight on the barn, I ask, “What do you think it will take to get Griffin to come for a visit?”
“I don’t know.” Looking around the property, he appears to be taking everything in. “Some things never change.” He looks at me, and says, “But maybe we just ask.”
Walking up the steps, I start to toe my boots off on the porch. A few things are still on my mind. I can’t change how I look, but I’m still curious about his thoughts. “Is it still hard to look at me when I look so much like Mom?”
His smile grows, and a chuckle escapes his chest. “I’m glad we talked. That helped. Now I see you, Christine, the woman you’ve grown into.”
Standing in my socked feet, I go to him and hug him so tight. “Glad to have you back in my life.”
Hanging out at Whiskey’s is not where I wanted to be tonight. I was really looking forward to falling asleep before Saturday Night Live started and waking up in time to see the musical guest perform so I could trick myself into believing I could stay up that late. But Baylor insisted on it for the sixth and last night of his visit.
Since he’s leaving tomorrow, I cave, which sends Lauralee into overdrive to dress me for some reason.
“You’re pretty in dresses, but I think you have an incredible body and should show it off.”
“To whom, may I ask?” I turn as far as I can to look over my shoulder and still be able to check out my ass in the mirror. “My boyfriend is halfway across the country.”
Our eyes connect in the mirror. “For you, that’s who. And stop being so formal with your whom.”
I start to laugh but stop when she hands me mascara to apply, and lord knows, I need to hang my mouth wide open to coat my lashes for some reason. After applying a candy apple lip oil, I slip my painted-on jeans into my taller black dress boots. “Hat?”
“No.” After applying her gloss, she taps her lips together several times. “This face and bod deserve all the attention.”
I tuck my phone in my back pocket and make sure I have my ID and money in my front pocket. Standing behind and off to the side of Lauralee, I give one more look over in the mirror, happy with the sweetheart neckline of the fitted red tank top. The material is soft, and I won’t sweat so much since it’s July in Texas.
Stepping back, I look at my friend and whistle. “Wowsa.” I almost do a double take. My friend is gorgeous, but this is a whole new level of sexy as well. “New jeans?”
“Got them in the mail today.” She tugs the hem of her purple satin spaghetti strap shirt and then smiles. “I’m ready.”
Baylor waits by the truck and pushes off the bumper when he sees us. I hear him mutter, “Jesus,” from the porch and see him shaking his head as he heads for the driver’s seat. But he stops before he opens the door, and says, “You know I’m going to have a good time. I’ll be fending fuckers off you two all night looking like that.”
Got to love that his night is ruined because we look good. Lauralee turns to high-five me as we head to the truck. I climb in first because I won’t force my best friend to squeeze in next to my brother on the cushioned bench. I mean, ew.
Regret sets in not ten miles down the road with a good twenty left to travel. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment the tension between them fills the cab, but it’s smothering me in the middle, an innocent bystander. But now I find myself silently trying to have an exchange with my friend through glares and widening them. I only get a pop of her shoulders in return.
I don’t bother with my brother. I just hit him with a glare for making this awkward.
As soon as we arrive, I practically push Lauralee out of the truck, ready to breathe freely again. But before he comes around to her, I whisper, “You’re not interested in my brother, are you?”
“It’s Baylor.”
“Exactly.” I start walking toward the door, raising my hand in the air. “Let’s have some fun.”
Two hours and two beers in, I pool-sharked another victim out of a twenty. “Easy money, baby.” I grab my beer and tip it back until it’s empty.