“When are you not talking to someone’s mother or grandmother?” Krista asked.
“Oh, hush. As I was saying, I was talking to her mother. Did you know Josie is also licensed in acupuncture?”
“Witch magic,” Jeff hissed. “I’m telling you, she did something to me.”
“With her tongue,” Lizzy laughed.
Pop sighed, finishing up his dinner long before anyone else. Of course, he was the only one not talking.
“I didn’t kiss her!” Jeff shouted. “Not intentionally. I swear it. I was standing there, and then it was like I was looking down on us, and I could see us kissing, but I couldn’t stop it!”
“Because she was sucking on your tongue,” Lizzy reiterated.
“Honestly, Lizzy,” Ma hissed.
“Josie’s very nice. You’d be lucky to have her,” Bailey added. “I mean, if you were her type.”
Jeff was about to take a bite, but the fork stopped just before it touched his lips. “Wait, what do you mean?”
Bailey shrugged. “Nothing. Just that she doesn’t normally go for…guys like you.”
“You hesitated,” Jeff accused. “Why did you hesitate? What is it about me that a woman like Josie wouldn’t go for?”
“Oh, nothing,” she waved him off.
“Well, you said it. Now you have to tell me.”
“It’s nothing. I only meant that she usually goes for a more…rugged type.”
Jeff flinched back, offended by the comment. He couldn’t see that she was goading him. “Are you suggesting I’m not rugged?”
I pinched Bailey in the side, but she kept going. “Rugged? I mean, sure, in that you work on the ranch.”
“I’m just as rugged as Liam,” he grumbled.
“Of course.”
And that was that. Or so I thought.
“Except, in a skinnier sort of way.”
Krista burst out laughing, but I knew better. No guy wanted to be called skinny.
“I am not skinny. I just don’t have as much meat on my bones as Liam. We can’t all put away ten pounds of meat at every meal.”
“I’m sure,” Bailey grinned. “And I would never imply that you’re not manly.”
Jeff narrowed his eyes at her. “So, now I’m not manly?”
“No! Oh, God no. You’re just smaller than your brothers. Youalways have been. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Being smaller has its advantages.”
“Like what?” Jeff asked accusingly.
“Like…” She pretended to think about it, then beamed at him. “Like you can get away quicker if someone’s after you!”
Jeff gaped at her, then tossed his napkin down on the table and shoved his chair back as he stood. “I have never run away from anyone in my life. She thinks I’m not manly enough for her? I’ll prove it.”
And with that, he stormed out of the house.
