Tangle (Dogwood Lane 2)

It’s clear I’m not in the city anymore. These people take southern hospitality to a whole new level with the waving crap.

My eyes flip to my rearview mirror. I can’t see the Dogwood Café anymore, and something about that makes me chuckle. Not that I can’t see it, but rather that I’m still wishing I could.

Idiot.

Haley Raynor. Now there’s a feisty, sassy girl I wouldn’t mind spending some more time with. For someone so tiny, she sure had some attitude. I barely held in my laughter as she described her morning, but that look in her eyes when she saw my doughnut? Let’s just say there are other parts of me that wouldn’t mind that look directed at them. And it’s better not to think about her yoga-pant-clad ass while driving either.

Clearly it’s been a while since I’ve gotten laid.

My thoughts are broken when my brother’s name pops up on the dash. I press a button to answer the incoming call.

“Hey, Jake,” I say. “What’s up?”

“Hey,” he says. “How’s the city no one knew existed until Dad married Meredith?”

I glance at the little building on my left. It’s one of those miniature, freestanding buildings with a tiny front porch. It has an old-fashioned barber’s pole spinning outside. The man on the porch waves as I pass. Naturally.

“Calling this a ‘city’ is a stretch. I’m not even sure it qualifies as a town,” I say. “Maybe a village? Is that a thing?”

My older brother chuckles. “Why did I expect it to be exactly that?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Because Meredith uses the word ‘quaint’ in every other sentence?”

“I really don’t love her, you know,” Jake says.

“Yeah, well, I’m not her biggest fan.” I follow the navigation system and turn onto a highway leading out of town. “Just be glad you aren’t the one assigned to making sure her dream house is completed to her exact specifications.”

Jake sighs. “Trust me. I thank God every day. I’d go outta my mind if Dad sent me to some Podunk town for Meredith’s benefit.”

“But remember—this is for Dad, too, because when his wifey is happy, he’s happy.”

I can hear the sarcasm dripping off my words as I repeat Dad’s favorite mantra of the last year and a half. Since he divorced Mom, he’s thoroughly enjoyed himself, to put it mildly. Then he met Meredith, and he’s a changed man. Or so he says. I call bullshit.

“Oh, spare me the rhetoric,” Jake scoffs. “Dad doesn’t love her. He loves her D-cups and the fact she’s our age.”

I ease my foot on the accelerator and think about what Jake just said. I’ve thought about it a lot, about whether Dad and his new wife are actually in love or she’s a gold digger and he’s getting played. My hope is the former. My head says it’s probably the latter.

Either way, not my problem. Even though it kind of is since I’m the one here.

“You’re probably right,” I admit.

“Probably? I am right. And really, I don’t blame him. Think what this does for his ego.”

“Like his ego needs to be stroked.”

He chuckles. “I doubt that’s all she’s stroking.”

“Nice visual, Jake.” I groan.

The navigation system tells me to take a right. My tires hit a gravel road, and dust billows around both sides of my truck. The only sign of life is a slow-moving tractor in the middle of a field. Beyond it rises a hill that appears to touch the clouds. Trees cover the mound, creating a striking picture against the bright-blue sky.

“What’s the plan?” Jake asks.

“I went over everything this morning before I left home. All that’s really left are Meredith’s changes, unless I get on-site and see something’s wrong.” I work my neck back and forth. “I don’t see any reason why the house can’t be done before Dad’s retirement party next weekend or shortly thereafter.”

“And let me guess,” Jake says. “You’ll have to stay on-site the whole time.”

“Probably, but it’s just a few days. Two weeks max, and nothing should be affected in the office. Natalie has it squared away, and I can hopefully do a lot from here. I just told Dad I’d make sure it was perfect.”

“Sure,” he jokes. “That’s why. It has nothing to do with Liz, right?”

My stomach knots as my head hits the seat. I grab the knob to turn off the heater, but it’s not on. Shit.

I rub my forehead. “Believe it or not, I didn’t expect her to take our . . . See? I don’t even know what word to use to describe it.”

“She accidentally-on-purpose ran into me yesterday at the gym, and let’s just say she thought you were a lot more serious than you did.”

I groan. Jake doesn’t even try to mute his amusement.

“I’m so glad you find this funny,” I say.

“It’s funny because it’s you, not me, and it’s funnier because you say this every time. You’d think you’d learn.”