“You make it sound like I’m out here having sex with the cows ...cows that aren’t people,” he says, and then quickly turns to me, his eyes wide and horrified.That makes two of us.“I’m not ...having sex with cows, I mean.I only have sex with people.Just so we’re clear.”
I smile and try to act nonchalant, but Lemon is behaving even more like a crazy person than usual and it’s freaking me out.“Hey, I’m not judging.I’m seven months pregnant andallI think about is sex with people, with furniture, and with other inanimate objects.”
See?I can bring the awkward in a big way all by myself.
West’s brows shoot heavenward and then he frowns as if he’s not sure what to make of sex and me being used in the same damn sentence.
“You’re going on that date, West.”Lemon turns to me and mouths, “Sorry,” again, as if her brother’s not standing right in front of us.
“Oh, I know,” West continues.“Since you told mama about it, I’ve heard of nothing else.That was a real low blow, by the way.”
“Lainey is sweet, and she just moved to town.Besides, having sex with the slutty bartender once a year is weird and skeezy in and of itself.”
“It’s not once a year, and Alexis is not skeezy,” he protests, with another odd glance in my direction.I’m starting to feel like I should leave.Instead, I rest my chin on my palm and watch them volley blows back and forth.I know they get on one another’s nerves, but there’s so much love in this family that sometimes I just like to sit and watch their exchanges.
Of course, it stings a little to know I’ll never have that.Being dumped in a box by the firehouse before my mother left town kind of ruined any chance I might’ve had for a sibling ...or a stable home life.Thank god my grammy raised me up.She passed right after my eighteenth birthday, and she was the only family I’d ever known, before I took Eddie’s last name, that is.
“Oh, please,” Lemon says bringing me back to their squabble.“She was slutty in high school and she’s still slutty now.Hitting on people’s husbands for tips.”
“Colt would never,” I say.
They both turn to look at me, almost as if they forgot I was here.Not hard to do, I guess.I think most people forget my existence.
“Oh, I know.”Lemon smiles wickedly.“He’d have no damn balls left if he did.”
“I fail to see what this conversation has to do with me,” West says.
“You need to meet a nice girl, like Lainey.”Lemon’s lovely features twist into something a little more sinister as she says, “Or ...like Daisy-Mae.”
I bolt upright from my seat at the desk and feel my face turning pink again.“What now?”
“I mean, she’s gorgeous,” Lemon continues, clearly unaware of how uncomfortable I’ve just become.“She’s smart as a whip.A true southern sweetheart, and ...have you tried her buttercream frosting?It’s divine.”
“Er, Lemon.”My eyes are round as dinner plates right now, and I’m sure I look positively crazy.“What are you doing?”
West scoffs.“Daisy’s pregnant.”
I fold my arms and add, “Yeah.”
An awful bead of silence pushes in around us, and ...are they both feeling as awkward as me right now?Because even though I know West and I would never in a million years be a thing, well, that kind of stung.And now I don’t know how to act because I’m fidgety and nervous and sweating and ...see?Not great with the weird.
I panic and shut off the computer, and then I grab my purse and throw my sweater over my arm.“Well, I think it’s time I clocked out.”
“Yeah, I gotta ...”West throws his thumb somewhere over his shoulder, but Lemon is still studying the two of us as if we’re hamsters on a wheel.I don’t think I like the look in her eyes.
“Nice chatting, you two,” I mumble, as I head for the door.“Always nice chatting to the Winchesters.Lemon, you can lock up, right?”
“Yeah, I got it, Daisy.You head on home.”Lemon’s smile is terrifying as I take one last glance at her and make a beeline for my car.Growing up around the Winchesters, I knew about their reputation for being a little wild—something they actually foster, rather than shy away from—but I’ve never really been on the receiving end of their attention before.
Winchester wild?More like Winchester weirdness.
The early evening chill nips at my arms and face as I head across the empty parking lot.Autumn and Winter are the off season for the Bed and Breakfast, but this week is quieter than most.I wave to Cash who’s heading back to the cabin he occupies year ’round.“Night, Daisy-Mae.You get home safe.”
“You too.”That’s kind of a running joke between Cash and I, and Colton who used to live in the private cabin before he and Lemon finally found their happily ever after.There’s been many a night that these cowboy’s boots have been too wobbly to make it up the porch stairs.
“I will,” I reply, and refrain from crossing my fingers.Everyone here has been more than generous with helping me out of a bind since Eddie left, and I’m not a woman accustomed to help.
“Daisy, wait,” West calls to me.
