Page 33 of Back To Our Beginning

She looked up at me from under her lashes. “You’re not fighting fair,” she whispered.

“Never intended to.”

She looked back down at the tin, then her clear green eyes looked into mine. “This doesn’t mean I forgive you. You know that, don’t you?”

I chuckled. “It wouldn’t be any fun if you did.”

She let out a small huff, then turned to her Jeep and pressed the alarm. I heard her mumble something about big, cocky men. Or maybe it was something about big cocks. A man could only hope.

I watched as she slid inside her vehicle and started her Jeep.

She rolled down her window. “Drake’s last night here is tomorrow. Trenda’s throwing a party. She invited Kai and Marlowe and asked me to invite you.”

“Does this mean you’re inviting me?”

“I suppose it is.”

“What time and what can I bring?”

“Seven o’clock. No need to bring anything. Trenda will have too much as it is. And quit being so polite, it’s fucking annoying.”

I grinned.

“What are you going to wear?”

“Bite me, Beaumont,” she said as she pulled on her seatbelt.

“With pleasure,” I murmured. “With pleasure.”

I caught her opening up the tin and popping a caramel into her mouth just before she drove away.

I took my time walking back to my truck and looked up at the broken parking lot lights. First thing tomorrow I’d be having a few words with the property management company.

Chapter Eight

I barely stepped foot into Trenda’s house, when I was almost tackled to the ground by a nine-year-old tornado of energy.

“Aunt Maddie, Aunt Maddie. What took you so long? Everybody’s been talking about you, and I’ve already made fourteen dollars for my swear jar.”

I looked down at my precocious niece and smiled. “Only fourteen dollars? But Uncle Drake is here. How come you haven’t made more?”

“He keeps going to the back porch to talk with Dad and Mr. Roan, Mr. Kai and Mr. Jase.” She gave a put-upon sigh. “Dad gave me the look when I tried to go with them. You know the one.”

I laughed. “Yep, I’ve seen that look. Men do that sometimes.”

“Is it true that you have a boyfriend?”

Aw, hell, even Bella knew about Beau. For the love of God, didn’t anybody in Jasper Creek have anything better to do than gossip about my life?

“No, Sweetpea, I don’t. I have a very good friend who is on leave. His name is Beau, and he’s Kai’s twin brother.”

Bella bounced up and down. “Do they look alike?”

“Yep.”

“Is he coming to the party?”

“I think so. He was invited.”