Swink (Landry Family 5)

Letting my head roll to the side, I watch Dominic control the car. One hand on the steering wheel, one on the gear shift, his jaw is pulsing like it does when he’s working something out in his head.

Why does this have to be so damn hard?

Ford promised to call me later to talk about things. There was an edge to his voice, but I think he was surprised in a good way. He offered again, before we left, to get him info on some contractors to help with The Gold Room and the two of them had an in-depth conversation about fighting styles and things that went way over my head while they ate apple pie.

It was a little more contentious with Lincoln, but it was mostly Linc keeping him on his toes. I’m just not sure how Dominic felt.

“Hey,” I say, my voice barely heard over the engine.

He decreases the gas and the rumble softens. “Hey.”

“I think things went well. How about you?”

“Yeah, I mean, it didn’t go too bad.”

“What did you think of them?”

He gives me a weird look and turns his focus back on the road. “Ford was okay. Lincoln . . .”

“He’s just a big kid,” I explain. “He makes a lot of jokes and has this whole Daddy-role thing now that he has a baby. I really think you two could be friends.”

His laugh is loud and amused, and I don’t know how to take it.

“What?” I ask.

“I think that’s a pretty strong, and inaccurate, word.”

“You didn’t like him?”

“I didn’t say that. I just, uh, I’m not sure our personalities mesh well.”

Looking away, I watch the marshmallow-like clouds high in the sky as we make our way back through the city. My nerves start to wobble the closer we get to my house. Whether or not to push the conversation more or to let it be is murky. I don’t know.

“Who were the two ladies you were talking to?”

“Paulina and Raquel?”

“The two wearing more perfume than a department store,” he clarifies.

“That’s them,” I sigh. “They’re friends of my mother’s. Raquel is really nice. She’s working with Ellie and Danielle on a joint project for helping restock local food pantries. Paulina . . .”

“Is she the brunette?” he asks.

“Yeah. She slept with Barrett—”

“Your brother?” he laughs, looking at me quickly.

“Yes, my brother,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Probably Graham, too, if I’m guessing. She’s married to a friend of my father’s but he’s about a million years older than her and she’s never had any interest in him besides his checkbook.”

“So she uses your brothers as her harem.”

“Ugh,” I groan, crossing my arms. “That whole thing is disgusting to me.”

When I don’t look at him, he chuckles. When I still don’t look at him, he pokes my thigh with the tip of his finger. “Well, I think your mother’s friends weren’t too entertained with you being with me.”

My heart leaps in my chest as I twist in my seat. “What?”

“Both of them looked at me like I was hitting way out of my league.”