Piper cackles out a laugh. “Close your eyes, boys. Those girls are beautiful, and the two of you are in for one bumpy ride.”
Daisy sits up and effectively blocks my view. Her beautiful smile expands ear-to-ear and miraculously defuses my rage. “You’re letting her go, remember?”
“Maybe so, but I’m not letting her get kidnapped.” I crane my neck to get a better look at my little sister. Her hand is on her hip, her hair drapes over her back, and it kills me that she’s no longer that little peanut in pigtails. She shakes her head at whatever the dude tells her before grabbing Ava and heading out of the bar.
“Shut down!” Owen whoops as if we won the game all over again, and in a way we did—for now.
The music changes mood, and the girls pull us out of our seats. They sway us over to the dance floor before we realize what’s expected.
“You know I hate dancing. It’s one of my rules, no dancing,” I say, securing Daisy’s tiny body to mine, her hips adhering over me like honey. “You’re the only exception to this rule.”
A dark laugh bubbles from her. “That must mean you’ll be dancing all night long.” Daisy knits her fingers into the back of my hair and gives a firm tug.
“I was sort of hoping it meant I’ll be dancing forever.”
“Forever,” Daisy mewls like a kitten as she hikes her legs over my hips, and I catch her under her thighs. “Forever sounds much better than just one night. You never fail to impress me with your genius ideas.”
“Not genius. Obvious. It was pretty obvious to me a year ago, too. I’m just sorry I didn’t act on it sooner.” True as God.
“I’d like to think we were right on time.” Daisy leans back as I give her a little spin. “How about we head back home and make up for lost time?”
“I like the sound of that.” I pull her close and cover her mouth with my own.
In a way, it feels as if Daisy has always been in my life. I know for a fact she always will be.
My phone bleats in my pocket, and I pluck it out in the event Lucky has run from a roaming lion, only to meet up with a drunken bear, but it’s not my kid sister.
Hey, Jet! Jody from Skyways Productions. If you’re still interested, let’s talk Monday. It looks as if that distraction in your life has cleared up for good. Extend my congratulations to your girlfriend. It’s about time that gasbag received what’s coming to him.
I flash the phone at Daisy, and we laugh and kiss as I spin her.
“I’m so happy for you!” She takes a bite out of my ear as if to prove it.
“I’m happy for you. The documentary will be pretty cool, I guess—especially now that you’ll be in it with me. In a weird way, it’ll be documenting more than the shop. It’ll document the beginning of us.”
“The beginning of us.” Her face lights up at the thought. “I love that.”
Daisy and I head out into the cool night air. The stars spray overhead like a sea of crushed diamonds, but this girl right here outshines them all.
“What are you grinning about?” She slams her shoulder into my chest as we make our way to the parking lot.
“The fact there’s not a person or thing in all creation that matches your beauty both inside and out.”
Her mouth falls open as she pauses in front of the oversized black bear that sits outside of the establishment.
“Jet Madden.” Her eyes shine ten times brighter as she fights the tears. “Thank you for loving me.”
“Thank you for loving me—and Lucky, too. I kind of feel like you were sent just when we needed you.”
“One big ball of mischief headed your way.” She gives a little wink and pulls me in by the shirt. “Come on, big boy—let’s go make some trouble.”
“I like your kind of trouble. You got another treasure hunt for me in your—”
“Stop!” She swats me over the shoulder, laughing up a storm as we head toward my truck. “That was an accident, and you know it.”
“You don’t have that wax melter on hand, do you?”
“Gah!” she shrieks while laughing into the night.
