Dawson answered the question. “Maybe because we thought one more person would send it crashing to the ground. Either hop abroad or get down. You’re unbalancing it.”
She climbed over the edge. “I’m unbalancing it? I’m not two hundred pound lardasses like you two are. I’m surprised The Princess hasn’t sunk by now.” She stepped in between them. “Now scoot over, lardasses!”
As upset as he was about failing at getting the money for the renovations, it felt nice to lie on the sun-dappled deck with his siblings. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of humid Texas air.
“Where’s Huck? We should call him.”
“I don’t think one more person can fit on this boat,” Dawson said. “Especially a squirrelly brother who can’t keep still.”
Poppy rested her arm over her eyes. “You do have a point. Huck is still as hyper as a toddler on a sugar high. And he won’t want to join us anyway. Not when he’s busy entertaining Tully the Tattler.”
Jaxon sat straight up and stared at his sister. “Tully’s here?”
Poppy shifted her arm to her forehead and looked at him with wide innocent eyes. “Oh, did I forget to mention that your girlfriend stopped by to see you?”
“She’s not my girl—she came to see me?”
Poppy squinted. “Hmm? Is that what she said? I’m having trouble remembering her exact wording.”
Jaxon rolled his eyes as he got to his feet. “You’re really starting to piss me off, Pops.”
She covered her eyes again with her arm. “Good.”
Jaxon climbed over the edge to the ladder, causing the raft to rock and Dawson to yell.
“Dammit, Jax! You are a lardass.”
Jaxon wasn’t listening. His mind was too preoccupied with other thoughts.
Why was Tully there? Since she’d made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him, her visit had to be professional. Had one of his siblings caused trouble in town again? Or was this about Birdie? Had the bump he’d given her turn out to be more serious? His stomach tightened at just the thought of injuring the old woman. Birdie was one of the few people in town who didn’t treat him differently.
She was gruff and mean with everyone.
He arrived at the house to find Tully and Huck standing on the porch talking. She wasn’t wearing her deputy uniform. Instead, she was dressed like she’d just come from church in a floral sundress that showed off her curvy figure and tanned legs. Her straight hair fell around her shoulders and waved in the breeze like a wheat-colored sheet on a clothesline.
The silky mane was pretty, but he couldn’t help missing the wild curls.
She laughed at something Huck said and finally noticed Jaxon approaching. Her Bambi eyes widening . . . no doubt because he was only wearing a pair of old gym shorts. A gentleman would have excused himself and gone into the house to get a shirt. But he wasn’t a gentleman. At least not with Tully. She brought the ornery bad boy out in him.
Today was no exception.
“Good afternoon, Officer Gentry.” He climbed the porch steps and let his gaze slowly slide over her. “Or are you just plain ol’ Tully Gentry today?”
Huck jumped in. “Don’t mind my brother, Tully. He’s never known how to compliment a lady. You look like a fresh breath of sunshine today. You sure you don’t want that beer?” He winked at her. “Or I can drive you into town for a chocolate dipped cone at Sloppy Joe’s.”
Jaxon knew his brother was an outrageous flirt, but that didn’t stop jealousy from eating his stomach at just the thought of Tully sharing an ice cream cone with him.
“You don’t have time to drive to town, Huck. Dawson and Poppy need help stabilizing the treeboat.”
Huck’s eyes widened. “It fell?”
“Not yet, but it’s going to if we don’t take measures to prevent it.”
“Sorry, Tulls.” Huck gave her a hug as if they were the best of friends and again jealousy reared its ugly head. “We’ll have to save that ice cream cone for another time. I can’t let the treeboat sink.” He took off down the porch steps and across the open field toward the river.
Once he was gone, Jaxon looked at Tully. “What brings you to the Hennessys’ humble abode? Is your grandma okay?”
“She’s fine. The bump went down and there’s just a tiny bruise left.” Her gaze lowered to his chest and then skittered away, her cheeks flaming bright pink. “What’s a treeboat?”
