Chapter One
Horns honking, angry voices cursing the rush hour traffic, the smell of exhaust, yeah, I’m home. “Welcome back, chick,” Amy exclaims with a grin, sliding into the booth at Huddleston’s, our favorite diner. “How was your trip?”
“I’m covered in mosquito bites, sunburned, and I think I have poison ivy. It was amazing.”
Amy’s face scrunches. “Sounds awful.”
“The air in Tennessee is so clean. You can actually breathe without tasting the air. I swear I never realize how much the city stinks until I leave for a few days. The kids had a blast. We spent the days at the lake and had a campfire every evening. We slept in tents and roasted hot dogs for breakfast.”
“Everly, every now and then I’m tempted to check your panties for a set of balls. You’re such a guy.”
“Keep your hands out of my panties,” I reply, tossing a straw wrapper at her. Amy is one of my oldest friends and one of only two people in the world I actually trust.
“Speaking of balls, tell me you got some action from that blond cutie that was chaperoning with you.”
“The momma’s boy?” I scoff. “Hardly. He wouldn’t even join in the mud fight with the kids. A grown man that’s afraid to get dirty? I’ll pass.”
“That’s your requirement of your dates? They have to like dirt?”
“They have to be a man. Real men get dirty.”
“I know you like them dirty.”
Lacy, our waitress, arrives with our usual order of waffles and orange juice. “Eat up girls. You’re too skinny.”
“And you’re far sighted.” I laugh. “You hire a new girl?”
Lacy glances at the harried looking girl taking orders across the aisle. “We’ll see how long this one lasts. If she makes it through race weekend, I’ll make her a name tag.” Amy steals a slice of strawberry from my plate as a group of three men come in and sit a few tables away. “Whew, girls, must be my lucky day,” Lacy mumbles, darting away to wait on them. I don’t blame her. All three are cover model material, muscular, tan, and sweaty from the early spring heat wave.
Amy fans herself. “God, he’s almost hot enough to make me reconsider my no dick policy. Did you see those eyes?”
I can hardly miss them since they’re locked on mine. Bright, cornflower blue and so intense. A smug little smile lifts his lips and he winks at me. Great. Into the arrogant asshole file he goes. “He’s not bad,” I remark.
I try to focus on my food and our conversation, but he’s distracting. As if the eyes and fantastic body aren’t enough, tattoos sleeve one arm and disappear under his shirt only to peek out his collar. His ink black hair hangs messy and wild around a face that would stop any woman in her tracks. This guy has trouble scrawled all over him.
“Ev…” Amy snaps her fingers, laughing. “Everly! Get a grip. You look like you’re going to throw him down on the table and ride him like a circus pony.”
“Sorry, I was…daydreaming.”
“You mean dayfucking. Go talk to him.”
A quick bite of my waffle gives me a chance to consider my response. “No way. That guy has danger stamped all over him. I don’t do bad boys.”
“You don’t do anybody.”
“How are things with Wendy?” I ask, desperate to change the subject.
“Subtle, chick. We hung out again all weekend and I mether friends. She wants me to meet her family.” She looks up with a grimace.
“Are you ready for that?”
“I don’t know, but, I think we’ll be together awhile so…” She shrugs.
“Holy shit. Is Amy Blaine entering a serious relationship?” Smiling, I peek out the window. “It doesn’t appear that hell has become a glacier, but…”
“Shut up! I didn’t say that.”
“Are you in love with her?” Amy remains silent, but a slow smile spreads across her face as she lays a twenty dollar bill on the table next to the check. Before she can escape, I grab her in a quick hug. “I’m happy for you, girl.”
