“What’d you do to the waitress?” Dustin asked curiously.
“I don’t know. She had an attitude from the minute I was seated in her section.”
“Who was it?”
“Her name was Lindy.”
“That explains it.” Dustin ran his hand along the back of his neck. “She hates my guts. I got drunk one night and promised her that if she took me home with her and showed me a good time, she’d never have to work again.”
“And she believed it?” Holly couldn’t believe the woman—any woman—was that gullible.
“I bought her several drinks. She was as drunk as I was. I thought King fired her.” Dustin looked at Greer.
“Evie probably felt sorry for her. Does it matter? If she was as bad in bed as you told me she was, lucky you didn’t ask for the money back you spent on her drinks.”
“That’s so … so …” Holly wanted to smack the empty plate Greer had just practically cleaned over his head.
“Why are you mad at me? I’m not the one who said she was a lousy lay.”
Holly hands went to her hips, glaring at the two brothers. “I can believe Greer would talk like that about a woman, but I’m disappointed in you.”
Dustin’s skin turned a bright shade of red as he gave his brother a furious glance. “I better go. I’m going to be late for work.”
“I’ll check with Diamond and make sure Lindy didn’t have time to change her clothes and sneak out of the bar.”
“Don’t bother. She was there. I was arguing with her right before I saw your squad car go by.”
“I was joking.” Knox gave Greer an exasperated look as he headed toward the door. “I better be going. Holly, don’t forget to make sure Greer or Dustin stays close.”
“I will.”
Dustin left with Knox as if he was afraid she would continue fussing about Lindy.
“You sent him off with his tail tucked between his legs. It’s not a good look on my brother. You embarrassed him in front of Knox. A woman needs to know her place when other men are around.”
“Greer …”
“Yeah?” He leaned back lazily in his chair, patting his full belly.
Holly struck her foot out, sending the chair toppling backward. “Dustin deserved me embarrassing him for running his mouth disrespectfully about a woman.” She picked up the dirty plate that was still sitting on the table, brandishing it over his head. “And if you ever talk like that in front of me again, I’ll wrap this plate around your thick skull. I’m a lady, and whether you like it or not, you’ll treat me like one. You understand me?”
Greer eyed the plate warily. “Yes.”
“Good.” Holly set the plate down so hard it spun across the table. “And since you enjoyed eating the food I cooked so much, you can do the dishes.”
9
Sharpshooter: Do you prefer men who have huge muscles?
Kentuckygirl: Where’s that coming from?
Sharpshooter: Just curious.
Kentuckygirl: I’ve never really thought about it. I think a man’s personality is what makes them attractive to me.
Sharpshooter: Bullshit. Tell me the truth.
Kentuckygirl: I am.
Sharpshooter: If you could pick between the Rock and Tom Hardy, who would you choose?
Kentuckygirl: Both.
Kentuckygirl: I was joking.
Sharpshooter: I’m being serious.
Kentuckygirl: Sorry. Do you still want me to pick?
Sharpshooter: Yes.
Kentuckygirl: Do you want me to pick which I think most women would find more attractive in general, or the one I would personally be attracted to?
Sharpshooter: You.
Kentuckygirl: Then I would pick you. I’ve seen the picture you sent me. There’s no comparison.
Sharpshooter: Right answer.
“I want to ride the roller coaster!”
“You’re not tall enough yet to ride it.” Holly stared up at Logan, who was sitting on his father’s shoulders. Seeing the two of them together always gave her a feeling of belonging.
She had grown up alone with just her mother. What relatives she did have lived states away, and her mother had lost track of them before she had been born. When she had passed away, she had been left with no one. However, Dustin and Logan made up for it, and so did the rest of the Porters.
She compared the men to their mother’s tea kettle that still sat on the stove as if she was going to come back. She would make a cup of tea after getting the eggs just to hear the sound, knowing their mother had probably done the same every day before she had died.
Tate was the tea kettle when she put it on—calm and waiting for something to happen, playing mediator between Greer and the others in the family. Dustin was the water boiling, never knowing what was going on inside the bubbles. And Greer lived life as if he was capable of exploding at any second.
Dustin and Tate, she had grown to love as the brothers she never had, and she had grown close to Rachel, thinking of her as a sister. However, what she felt for Greer was anything but brotherly. She had always liked her tea strong and hot. “Let’s go ride the tilt-a-whirl. You’re tall enough for that.” Greer reached up, lifting Logan to his shoulders as they made their way through the crowded carnival.