by Tess Oliver
“That is so damn cute. I love your sisters. When are they coming down here again?”
“Don’t know. As soon as Dad gets some time off, I guess. Or at least that’s the excuse he’s giving. But, in truth, I think he’s just waiting for your dad to get back in the country so he can visit when he’s home.”
“My crazy dad let his manager add two more shows in Tokyo, so he won’t be home for another month. He’d just better be taking those vitamins I sent him.” We stopped at Lilly’s pen, and the cow greeted us with her long tongue.
Eden rubbed the cow’s neck. “Hey, Lilly Belle, how’s it going?” Long strands of dark hair blew across Eden’s face. She tucked them behind her ear and glanced over to the area being cleared for the barn. “Isn’t that Cole on the tractor?”
“Yeah, that’s him. He has a helper.” As if on cue, Barrett emerged from behind the tractor. His shoulders looked even broader from a distance, and he’d tied his long blond hair back, exposing the symmetrical, perfect planes of his face. I looked over at Eden to gauge her reaction. Barrett had definitely caught her eye. He was not the type to go unnoticed by any girl, even one who only had eyes for Jude. A tiny smile curled her lip as she looked over at me. “Ah, I see why you brought me out here.”
I took hold of her arm. “So, I’m not imagining it? He’s fucking beautiful, right?”
She glanced over at Barrett again and nodded. “From this distance, he looks pretty unbelievable.” He looked over at us and waved.
I lifted my hand and waved back at him. “I want to have your children you amazing hunk of male flesh,” I said between gritted teeth.
Eden laughed. “Who is he? I haven’t seen you this excited about a guy since Max.” She sucked in her bottom lip as if she wanted to suck in her last words.
Lilly Belle nudged my shoulder with her muzzle, and I reached up and rubbed her chin. “It’s all right, Edie. I’m totally over the whole thing. We were never right for each other, and, to be honest, he was kind of clumsy in the sex department.”
“Really? You never mentioned that before.” Eden leaned her arms on Lilly’s pen.
I shrugged. “I figure you never share anything about your sex life, so I decided maybe you were uncomfortable talking about stuff.”
“That’s because my boyfriend is your brother.”
I paused. “Ooh, you’re right. Please don’t share any details. So, what do you think?”
“About what?”
“About pretty boy over there. I made him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich earlier, and I think we hit it off.” I thought about the lunch scene and my shoulders sank. “Shit, I threw away his ham sandwich, and Some Pig was acting like a wild boar poised to attack. And then Jude came in and snarled at him.” I sank down and leaned against the pen. “He’s never going to like me. Plus, he probably has a million girls after him.”
Eden took hold of my hands. “And none of them are going to be as amazing as Finley King,” she said enthusiastically but then her lips lost the smile. “But Fin, are you sure you shouldn’t go for something a little safer?”
I pulled my hands away from hers. “Christ, you sound just like Jude. Everyone needs to stop treating me like some breakable doll. Max and I broke up and I hardly blinked an eye. Jude followed me around for weeks waiting for me to fall to pieces but I didn’t. I go out on my own now. I haven’t had any major panic attack in months. I just want to be normal.” My throat tightened. “I just want to be treated like a normal person.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t doubt you.” Eden reached over and hugged me. “Can you forgive me?”
“I suppose.” I squeezed her back.
“So, Miss Normal,” she said over my shoulder, “get ready to turn on some of that King charm because Cole is walking this way with your pretty boy right now.”
I sucked in a breath. “Holy shit, someone get me a paper bag,” I whispered.
Eden leaned back and looked down at me with wide eyes.
“I’m kidding.”
“Hey, Eden,” Cole called as they approached. “How was your trip?”
“It was great. I see you’re hard at work on Lilly’s new house.”
They stopped directly in front of us, and I quickly discovered that Barrett was one of those rare guys who could make the scent of dirt and sweat appealing. “Eden, this is Cole’s friend, Barrett.”
“Nice to meet you.” He extended a dirt-covered hand but pulled it back with an embarrassed smile.
“How was the peanut butter and jelly?” I asked.
The blue of his eyes was made more vivid by the thin layer of dirt and suntan on his face. “Best PB and J I’ve ever had.” He answered quickly and drew his eyes away, which was more than slightly disappointing. “Well, I’ve got to head home.” He looked over at Cole. “Same time tomorrow?”
“Yep,” Cole answered.
I watched him walk toward the gate and then Cole came up behind me. “He’s not for you, Fin. He’s the last thing you need. Dad would have my fucking head for even introducing you to him.”
I blinked up at Cole and gave him my blankest expression. “Your lips are moving but it just sounds like blah blah blah.”
He shook his head. “Shit, Finley, I’m not kidding.”
“Uh huh, so does he have a girlfriend?”
“Don’t think there’s anyone stead—”
“All I needed to know.” I grabbed hold of Eden’s hand. “Let’s go back to the house.” We headed across the grass.
Cole caught up to us. “Seriously, Fin, that guy probably makes me look like a damn monk. He’ll just break your heart.”
“It’s my heart to break, Cole, and I’m tired of tiptoeing through life. Sometimes these pills I’m on make me feel like I’m encased in bubble wrap that nothing can penetrate.” I looked at Eden and her eyes watered as I spoke, but my eyes were dry. My drug filled head kept me in a perpetual cool haze and safe from tears, tears that I missed dreadfully. “I want some passion. I want some emotion. Maybe just maybe I want some fucking heartbreak to remind me that I’m still alive.”
CHAPTER 4
Rett
Cole and I had spent the morning leveling the land for the foundation of the barn. The early morning clouds had cleared, and the midday sun was bearing down on us with a reminder that summer was on its way with triple digit temperatures.
“Hey, Cole,” I called to him, “do you ever surf? Or is it strictly motocross for you?”
Cole finished pounding a stake in the ground where the corner of the foundation would start. He stood up. “I like to hit the waves in August when it’s just too damn hot to go to the track. My dad has a house in Malibu. We’ll have to go there this summer.”
“Fuckin’ Malibu,” I muttered to myself. “Never been in Malibu waves,” I called back to him.
Cole walked over. “Same as any other Pacific waves, cold and salty. But the beach has some amazing views, if you get what I mean.”
Past his shoulder, I saw Finley walking toward us with her cow on the end of a rope and her pig trotting confidently next to them. The two giant dogs brought up the rear.
Cole caught my smile and looked back. He laughed. “Jude calls her Doolittle. Sometimes I think she’d much rather be surrounded by animals than people.”
“Can’t really blame her.”
Finley reached the barn site. Even though I’d been thoroughly warned by both brothers, I stared openly at her. She was stunning to look and, yet, the cow and pig looked perfectly right at her side. There was a unique quality about her that made her so different than any other girl that she almost seemed like a mirage. If I reached out to touch her it seemed as if she might just vanish.
Some Pig sat obediently next to her. “Where’s your phone, Cole? Sutter sent me over to tell you that the nachos are ready. He set them out by the pool.”
“My phone died yesterday and it wouldn’t keep a charge. I’m naked without the damn thing. Which reminds me, keep an ear out f
or the delivery entrance doorbell. A new phone should be here today,” Cole said.
“Anything you need, Master.” She curtsied.
“I’m actually good with Master,” Cole said. “But you’re right, I don’t want to interrupt your important schedule of cow walking and pig feeding.” He pointed back to the clearing of dirt. “This is all for you, remember?”
She stared at him blankly and then looked at me. “Do you have brothers and sisters, Rett? I’ll bet you’re all nicer to each other than my brothers are to me.”
“I have four older brothers, and, trust me, nice was when one of my brothers would walk past me in the hallway without smacking me on the back of the head.”
Her small nose crinkled. “OK, that’s worse. You guys should get washed up for lunch.” She circled around and the cow followed on its lead. The pig and dogs trotted behind.
“And, in the meantime, keep that pig away from the nachos,” Cole yelled and then looked over at me. “Nachos are his favorite food. Can you fucking believe it? Nachos.”
I watched her walk back toward the pen with her herd of critters in tow. She was so tiny, yet the massive animal behind her stared at her with worship. “I read somewhere that you can measure how large a person’s soul is by how they treat animals.” I glanced over at Cole.
He laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think anyone has as much soul as my little sister. There’s just no one else like her in the world.” He wiped his hands on his jeans. “Well, I’m starved, and Sutter, our chef, makes an awesome plate of nachos. Let’s head in.”
We washed up inside and headed back out to the pool area. “Damn, that pool house over there is nicer than any house I’ve ever been in.” A long glass table was set with fancy place mats and a platter of gourmet looking nachos. We pulled up chairs.
“Jude basically lives there. He has a painting studio set up inside and it always smells like paint thinner, so none of us ever use it anymore.”
“Jude’s an artist? No musicians in the family?”
“Nope. At first it bothered my dad, but now he’s made peace with it. He’s lived a hard life and survived several bouts of drug addiction, among other things. I think he’s kind of relieved that we all picked much less hardcore paths. He invested in a construction company because he knew Jude and I weren’t the scholarly type. But now Jude’s going to school for art. He’s damn good at it, too.” Cole poured some hot sauce on his nachos and glanced over at the pool house. “Jude and Eden went in there yesterday afternoon, and we haven’t seen them since. Probably won’t either. They are really into each other. First time my brother ever settled down to one girl.”
Finley entered the far side of the pool area with her pig at her heels. “I guess it just takes finding that one person.” The words were meant just for me, but I’d uttered them out loud.
Cole glanced over at his sister. For no apparent reason, she tapped the planter near the pool three times. Cole picked up a loaded chip.
“There you go again, Mr. Romance. Stop it. You’re creeping me out. I’ve decided to throw a party this Friday. Your head will be spinning with long legs and boob jobs. We’ll get you out of this sentimental funk.”
A loud bark resonated through the house. “Hope that’s my new phone.” Cole pushed out of his chair. “I need to get in there before the dogs scare off the delivery man. I’ll be right back.” He hurried inside.
I plucked up a clump of nachos and strands of melted cheese tethered my chips to the mound on the platter. I broke it apart with my fingers as my attention was pulled away from my lunch.
Finley kicked off her sandals and then reached down and took hold of the hem on her shirt. She lifted it up over her head, revealing a sweet, little body and a skimpy silver bikini top. She smiled over at me. She knew I was watching her. She unbuttoned her shorts, slid them down her tanned legs and hopped out of them. Then, without warning, she walked toward me. A shiny gold hoop twinkled from the piercing near her belly button. She had a tight, athletic body with just enough curves to keep my attention, which she definitely had. Some Pig joined us. His snout lifted in the air to catch the fragrance of nachos.
“Cole mentioned that Some Pig likes nachos.”
Finley leaned forward. Her breasts nearly spilled from the tiny bikini top, and it seemed she knew they would. She reached for a chip filled with cheese. “He doesn’t like them too spicy though and these look really hot.” She licked her bottom lip teasingly and then dropped the chip to her pig. He caught it without missing a crumb.
She straightened and pushed her chest forward.
I smiled up at her. “You don’t have to try so hard. Just watching you walk across the lawn with your herd of animals produced the desired effect.”
She relaxed and sighed. “Oh, thank god. I’m terrible at acting sexy. Some girls have it nailed, but I come off like a clown, which you’ve obviously noticed.” She sat down and reached for some nachos.
“That’s because some girls have to try hard for attention. You don’t need to try.”
She licked some sour cream off her finger and then pointed it at me. “You’re good. And you don’t have to try so hard either. I’ve been thinking of nothing but wall slamming, headboard banging sex since I saw you emerge from behind that tractor.”
“It’s a Bobcat.”
“Whatever.” Her bracelets glittered as she waved off my correction. “Cole could have been plowing the ground with a pair of oxen, and I wouldn’t have noticed with you standing out there.” She relaxed back against the chair and stared up at me with round blue eyes.
“But the first time you saw me, I was eating lunch under the tree.”
“Unfortunately, the ham sandwich sort of clouded my first impression of you.” She leaned her elbow on the table and placed her chin on it. “Although, even with a ham sandwich in your hand, I was thinking that you were pretty damn spectacular. Some Pig, on the other hand, not so much.”
“Think there’s any chance he’ll ever like me after that?”
“Only time will tell. I’ll bet my brothers have already issued grave warnings to stay away from me.”
I thought about sugar coating my answer, but there was no way to lie to that face. “Pretty much. You saw your brother Jude’s reaction to me.”
“Yeah, but Jude is an asshole to everyone he meets. Cole?”
I looked down at my plate. “Yeah, Cole too, but with less anger.”
She tossed another chip to the pig. “They both suck.”
“I really need this job. I’ve been relying on my brother’s goodwill, and I think I’m wearing out my welcome with him.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Disappointment showed clearly on her pretty face.
I leaned forward and gazed long and hard at her. “But, believe me, if the circumstances were different, I’d be pushing you up against that wall right now.” I inclined my head toward the wall bordering the pool area.
“How do you know I wasn’t talking about me slamming you up against a wall? I might only be a hundred pounds,” she lifted her thin arm and curled her bicep, “but I’ve been shoveling cow shit for a month, and I think I could take full advantage of you.”
“Now I’m going to be thinking about that sweet scenario the rest of the day.”
Just when it seemed she couldn’t look more beautiful, a pink blush rose in her cheeks. She reached forward and grabbed a chip for herself. “As I said before, my brothers suck.”
“If I had a sister, I’d probably be the same.” I leaned my head to get a better look at the tattoo on her shoulder. “Is that Some Pig sitting under a spider’s web?”
“Yes, it is. Do you like it?”
“I remember that book now or at least the pictures inside of it.”
She laughed. “Yeah, you don’t really look like the reading type.”
“Not really, although I can read. I had an attention problem at school. I’m still really bad at remembering names and shit like that. But, strangely enough, I’m really
good at remembering certain traits a person has, especially girls, like if they have a great laugh or if they bite their bottom lip.”
“Is this a nice way of telling me you don’t remember my name?”
I laughed. “Your name is hard to forget, and I don’t meet a rock star’s daughter every day so—”
She twisted her plump bottom lip, a habit I’d already taken into my head. “I’m kind of disappointed. Does that mean you haven’t memorized any special traits about me?”
I pointed to my head. “It’s all catalogued up here.”
A dimple creased her cheek and I wondered how I’d missed it before.
“Really?”
“Yep, and I just added amazing dimples to the list, underneath bitable bottom lip, moves like a ballerina and magical ability to communicate with animals. Seriously, you remind me of a Disney character. Do birds fly in your window in the morning to help you dress?”
She laughed. I’d already grown used to the sound of it. “See, that’s where Cinderella and I have a differing opinion. I would never make animals do chores for me. Instead, I clean up after them.” Some Pig snorted contentedly as if he’d understood every word. Finley reached her hand across the table. “Give me your phone.”
I pulled it out and slid it over to her.
The glass door on the patio slid open, and Cole stepped out with two girls. One was laughing wildly about something. The sound of it made Finley crinkle her small nose.
“Nose crinkling,” I said.
“Excuse me?”
“Another trait. You crinkle your little button nose a lot.”
“Do I? Jeez, I’ll have to make a mental note to put an end to that habit.”
“No, it’s cute. It fits you.”
The girl with Cole laughed again, and it sounded completely forced.
