Love Profound (Cowboys & Angels 2)

After putting my luggage and Waylynn’s in the trunk, I sent Liam a quick text.

Me: Landed in San Antonio. Thanks again for the fun times! I’m looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.

Liam didn’t respond right away. I figured he wouldn’t if he was working or with friends. As I slipped into the car, I remembered him saying he still lived with his ex.

“Hey, let me ask you a question,” I said as we got in the car.

Waylynn pulled the sun visor down and applied lipstick. “Go for it.”

“Should it be a warning sign that Liam still lives with his ex?”

She stopped and faced me. “He lives with his ex?”

“Yeah, he said apartments are expensive, and I guess they had decided they made better friends than a couple. He said that living together made financial sense.”

Leaning back in the seat, Waylynn gave it some thought. “Who broke up with whom?”

I shrugged. “No clue. Wait, I think he said she broke it off.”

“It’s probably okay. I mean, it would bother me a little, but if he was honest about it then you have nothing to worry about.”

Traffic was light as I pulled out onto the highway. “I mean, it’s not like we’re dating.”

Waylynn chuckled. “Right. You’re only fucking.”

“You’re so crude.”

“What! It’s true, and you said so yourself.”

The heaviness in my chest returned. “Well, whatever. If we become something more than sex buddies, I just wondered if that was something that should alarm me.”

“Does it now? After you’ve had lots of orgasm-inducing sex?” she asked.

“Not at all.” And it didn’t. Maybe that should have been alarming.

I could feel Waylynn’s eyes. “Huh. Well, then, you have your answer.”

“Yeah. I guess I do.”

“Whoa, is this a welcome home party?” Waylynn asked.

Laughing, I pulled around all the cars and parked next to Steed’s truck. Paxton and Steed were back from their honeymoon, and I couldn’t wait to talk to Paxton about it.

“Aunt Vi is in town,” I said. “Mom mentioned me missing her birthday party. I’m guessing that is what we’re fixin’ to crash.”

Waylynn let out a roar of laughter. “Oh, hell. Aunt Vi will love that!”

The moment I stepped out of the car I heard music. “Did they hire a DJ?” Waylynn asked.

Trying to hold back my laughter, I said, “I think so. Or maybe it’s a band.” Waylynn had begged for my parents to hire a band for her twenty-first birthday and they refused. Said it was a waste of money.

“Hell’s bells, why can Aunt Vi have a live band and I couldn’t?”

Wrapping my arm around my sister, we made our way around the house. A large, white tent was set up and I could see my parents standing next to Aunt Vi. She was my father’s sister and she split her time between San Francisco and Paris. When she came home to Texas, Daddy always made a huge deal out of it.

“Look who I brought back with me,” I said as we stepped into the tent. Our parents turned to see Waylynn and my mother let out a scream.

“Waylynn! Amelia! Girls, what are you doing here?”

Before I could respond, Waylynn spoke. “Amelia wanted to surprise Aunt Vi and come back for her birthday. I tagged along.”

I smiled. Waylynn wasn’t about to steal the show from our aunt. If she mentioned what had happened with jackass Jack, the fun times would be over.

After fifteen minutes of hugging and walking around to say hi to everyone, Waylynn and I found ourselves in front of the bar.

“I’ll take a shot of whiskey,” Waylynn said with a wink.

“Whiskey?” I asked with a chuckle.

“I need something strong to get me through this shit of pretending all is well.”

“Diet Coke, please,” I said with a smile.

The DJ was spinning tunes, and I wasn’t surprised to hear Frank Sinatra singing. He was one of Aunt Vi’s favorites.

“Well, hey there, sisters,” Trevor said, giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I see you came back early and brought a surprise with you, Amelia.”

Trevor kissed Waylynn on the cheek, then froze. “What did the fucker do?” he asked under his breath.

We both looked at him and spoke at the same time. “What?”

Trevor took a drink of his beer. “I see it on your face, Waylynn. He did something. If he hurt you, I’ll fucking kill him.”

We both stood there staring at Trevor, and Waylynn finally laughed. “If I promise to tell you later, will you drop it for right now? I want Mom, Dad, and Aunt Vi to enjoy the party.”

Trevor’s eyes searched both of us. “Fine. I’m letting it go…for now.”

Waylynn hugged him, then stole his beer and scanned the dance floor.

“Helllllooo, holy hotness. Who in the hell is dancing with our niece and clearly stealing her heart?” Waylynn asked.

Searching for Chloe, my eyes landed on the most handsome man I’d ever seen.