Southern Desire (Southern Heart 2)

Tires on gravel pull me from my thoughts. Evan’s truck pulls up in the drive. I watch as he sets Lex on her feet. She rushes toward me while Evan gets Walker out, seat and all.

“Unca Awon!” Lexi hops up on my lap. “My stay wif you.”

“You are?” I look up at Evan for clarification.

“You’re staying with Mamaw and Papaw,” Evan reminds her. “Uncle Aaron is going with Daddy.”

“Yay!” Lexi jumps off my lap and runs inside. I can hear the deep laughter of my dad when she yells out for him.

“What’s up, my man?”

“Dropping the kids off. Change of plans on girls’ night.”

“What happened?” I stand.

Evan holds his hand up. “Nothing. I just gave Olivia specific instructions to make sure my wife has a glass of wine.”

“Is that safe?” I point to Walker.

“Yes. She will have to use what she has pumped for the next twenty-four hours, but she needed a night out.”

“So the new plan is?”

“I’m their driver. No way am I letting my wife and her friends drive home under the influence. I thought maybe you and I could grab a beer at the bar until the girls are ready to go.”

I grin. “So we’re crashing girls’ night?” We’re best friends for a reason.

“No.” He laughs. “Maybe. I won’t bother her, just, you know, drunk assholes and all that.”

“I’m in.” Reaching over, I hold the door open for him. Mom meets us in the hall with her arms out for Walker’s seat.

“Gimme.” She grins.

Evan and I both laugh at her. You don’t come between this woman and her grandbabies.

“Thanks for watching them.” Evan kisses her cheek.

She shoos him away. “Go on now. Go make sure your wife is happy and safe.” She pats his cheek.

“My sister,” I correct her. Even my parents refer to Kinley as his wife, not their daughter. Hell, even I can admit I only do it to get a rise out of him. His devotion to my little sister is unparalleled. I want that. See, pussy thoughts, yet again. What are you doing to me, Whitney?

Evan claps me on the shoulder. “All right, man, let’s go see what our girls are doing.” He smirks.

I don’t correct him. There really is no point. “So you think she’s going to be pissed that we’re crashing girls’ night?”

“Nope.” He pops the p.

“You sure about that?”

“Trust me. Olivia may be a little pissy, but I’m hoping she’s already too far consumed with alcohol to be angry.”

“And Whitney?”

“You tell me. Is your girl going to be mad that you’re crashing her night?”

“She’s not technically mine.” Yet.

“Uh-huh.”

“I assume my sister knows of this plan already?”

“I’m sure she does by now. They’ve been there for a couple of hours. I didn’t tell her ahead of time, no. I told Olivia. I knew she would be convincing. I just failed to tell her that I would be arriving a little before they were ready to leave.”

“Smart man. I guess I should take notes from the master.”

“You thinking you’re going to have a wife to send off with her friends anytime soon?”

I throw my head back in laughter. “Nice try, jackass. We’re just . . . figuring things out. No proposals.”

Evan pulls into the lot and parks next to Kinley’s SUV. We climb out of the truck and make our way inside. As soon as our feet hit the threshold, our eyes start scanning. I elbow Evan just when he says, “There,” and points to the dance floor. The three of them are dancing and acting foolish; you can tell they are having the time of their lives. Satisfied that they are good, we make our way to the bar. Mike is there; it seems he never takes time off.

“Hey, you all here to break up girls’ night? You’re going to piss them off.” He chuckles.

“Nah, not breaking it up. Just here to taxi them home safely.”

“I’ve been keeping a close eye on the three of them. I started watering down their drinks an hour ago.”

I reach over the bar and raise my hand for a fist bump. He obliges me then slides a root beer bottle in front of each of us. At least we can pretend.

“Bottoms up.” Evan clinks his bottle to mine, grinning. Turning our backs to the bar, we face the crowd. We get lost in conversation, talking about Midnight Rain and some upcoming shows. It’s not until a slow song comes on that I know I’ve lost him. He stops responding. I look over in time to see him set his bottle on the bar and stand to his full height.

“Just where do you think you’re going?” I call after him.

He points to the crowd. My eyes follow the direction of his arm to where the girls are walking off the floor. “To dance with my wife.” He grins.

I focus my attention back on the girls, well, Whitney mostly. I see a couple of guys approaching just as Evan reaches them. He slides up behind Kinley and stakes his claim. I’m on my feet and moving before I can think better of it.

“Show me some of those moves,” I hear the drunk fucker say to Whitney as I get closer.

She doesn’t get the chance to shoot him down before my arms are wrapping around her waist and I’m burying my face in her neck. “Whit.” Her name is a whisper from my lips, but from the shudder that races through her, I know she heard me.

Her hands rest over mine and I relax. “Sorry,” she says, sounding not at all apologetic. “My boyfriend doesn’t like to share.”

“Fuck no I don’t,” I growl next to her ear.

“Mills?” the guy asks.

Looking up, I see that it’s Tony Wilson and David Harris from high school. “How you been?” I ask.

“Good.” David looks over at Olivia and she blushes. There is something going on there for sure.

“Didn’t know she was yours, man,” Tony says.

I nod.

“Excuse us,” Kinley says, pulling Evan out to the dance floor.

I follow suit, only I keep my hands on Whitney’s hips and guide her. The song ends, but luckily another slow one follows it. Turing in my arms, Whitney clasps her hands around my neck. “My hero,” she coos. Yeah, she’s feeling the alcohol for sure.