Southern Attraction (Southern Heart 3)

“Yeah, I mean, you should see the way he looks at me when I’m in my shorts and those boots. I just thought, you know, wedding night and all that.”

“Look at you, you dirty girl,” I laugh.

“You’ve seen my future husband, right?”

“Definitely. I’ve never seen so many good-looking guys in one location in all my life.”

“Speaking of, Aaron called Mike and invited him tonight.” She waggles her eyebrows up and down.

“Oh yes, Mike. How is he these days?”

“Working. I swear he lives at the Tavern.”

“Easy on the eyes and a hard worker, nice.”

“You excited to see him?” she asks.

“Let’s see. Tall, dark hair, blue eyes and a body to kill for. How could I not?”

“Jamie,” she scolds me.

“Nothing happened,” I say for what feels like the ten millionth time. “We took a walk, swam a little and then called it a night. I was seeing someone, remember?”

“I do. I also remember you calling me, what, two days after you left, telling me that it just wasn’t going to work out. I also seem to remember you asking me about Mike, what he does, if he was seeing anyone?”

“I was curious. I mean, come on. I spent a lot of time with him that weekend when all the couples disappeared. He’s a great guy. I just wanted to know more about him.”

“Mmhmm,” she chuckles.

“Okay, so dress shopping tomorrow. What else?” I ask, changing the subject. I know she can see right through me, but she lets it slide for now.

“The boots. Honestly, I’m more worried about the boots than I am the dress,” she laughs.

“Okay, so do you have some shops picked out?”

“Yeah, there’s a shop in town that Kinley says can even do some custom ordering. I want to go there tomorrow as well. Now, we have all day tomorrow to talk wedding. I want to know what’s going on with you.”

“Same old. Mom and Dad are good. Work is good, although I get the feeling he’s going to be retiring soon.”

“What will you do? Is he going to sell the practice?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t bring it up and neither does he. He probably should’ve retired years ago, and I can’t see that he would want the headache of the transition. He’s been wrapping up his cases, and lately we’ve not taken on anything more than just consulting and letters. That’s why I think it’s coming to an end.”

“Sounds like you’ll be in the market for a job, then.”

“Yeah, but I’ve got money saved up, so it’s all good. I’m not worried yet. Not to mention he’s such a great guy to work for that I can’t see him not offering some type of severance.”

“That would help for sure.”

“Babe!” Aaron calls down the steps.

“Yeah,” Whit calls back.

“Evan and McKinley just got here. David just texted me and said they’re on the way.”

Whit looks down at her watch. “Yikes! I didn’t realize we’d been down here that long. We’ll be right up,” she yells back to him. “Ready to see the crew?” she asks me.

If she only knew. “Lead the way,” I say, standing to follow her back upstairs.