We laughed before Waylynn turned us away from the group. We walked up to the bar and Waylynn motioned for me to order.
The bartender gave me a smile, his eyes falling to my cleavage and then back up to my eyes.
“Are you able to make a Death in the Afternoon?”
“Jesus, you do need a drink,” Waylynn laughed.
“I am,” the bartender said. “Is that what you’d like, ma’am?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
I turned to look at Waylynn, who was wearing a smug smile.
“What?”
She half shrugged. “That’s a pretty powerful drink.”
I shot her my own smug grin. “I’ll take baby sips. Besides, I need it.”
The bartender slid the drink over to me then looked at Waylynn. “Long Island Iced Tea.”
After making Waylynn her cocktail, the bartender told us to enjoy the evening. We held up our drinks and Waylynn made a toast.
“To having you home again.”
My smile faltered a bit before I pulled it together. The last few weeks I had wrestled with my decision to come back to Oak Springs. It was home, and I had wanted to return for so long. Now that I was here, though, my heart ached more and more.
I forced the words out. “To being home.”
We each took a drink, and I let the burn of the alcohol run down my throat all the way to my stomach.
Shit. I probably should have actually eaten something today besides the one pancake this morning.
“Come on, my mother is going to want to see you.”
I nodded. “Who is watching Liberty?”
“Lori, Paxton’s babysitter she uses for the kids. Liberty is up in my old bedroom sound asleep. She goes down pretty early, so Lori really only has to deal with Chloe and Gage.”
“It’s nice the kids can all stay here at the house.”
“It is,” Waylynn agreed.
As we approached the rest of the Parker women, I was struck by how beautiful each of them were. The way the lights danced off each of their faces I swore they looked like angels.
Amelia wore a stunning green gown that showed off her long red curls. Half of her hair was pinned up and the rest was left to flow freely around her shoulders. Paxton wore a red gown that was completely backless. I had to wonder how Steed managed to let her out of the house dressed so sexy. If those two were anything like they were back in high school, I wouldn’t be surprised if Steed snuck a little playtime in before they left the house.
Corina was dressed in a gorgeous teal gown that showed off her baby bump and her amazing figure.
Christ above. I hope when I’m pregnant I look that good.
Melanie wore a stunning white gown that hugged her body in all the right ways. The woman was like my mother; they could both pass for being much younger than they were.
“Oh hell, hold onto your drink. Here’s Aunt Vi.”
I turned to see Vi walking toward Melanie. There was a man next to her with his hand around her waist. He looked younger than me.
“Is that…”
“Her date. Yes.”
I giggled. “He looks like he’s Amelia’s age.”
Waylynn tilted her head and studied the man. “If that.”
We laughed and Melanie turned to us as we approached.
Her mouth opened and her eyes quickly swept over me before our gaze locked.
“Lord above. Harley Carbajal, you look beautiful. Every man in this room must have had their tongues to the floor when you walked in.”
I felt my cheeks heat.
“That she does,” Vi said, walking up and pulling me into her arms. Her mouth was next to my ear as she said, “Every man in this room is going to have a woody looking at you in that gown.”
I busted out laughing, as the pain radiated in my ribs.
“Good Lord,” Melanie said as she moved Vi out of the way. “Even I heard you, Vi.”
Vi gave me a wink and then looked down at the drink in my hand. When our eyes met, her brow lifted. “Feeling anxious this evening?”
With a smile, I replied, “Slightly.”
“Sweetheart, there is no reason to be nervous.” Melanie looked around. “Where is Toby?” Her question felt forced. Almost like she already knew the answer.
Pulling my lip between my teeth, I bit down for a moment before saying, “I told him I didn’t think things would work out with us.”
Every single Parker woman standing in front of me smiled.
I snarled at them. “Y’all could at least hide your excitement.”
Melanie tilted her head and gave me a sympathetic smile…sort of.
“We’re all very sorry to hear that.” She cleared her throat. “Um, when did this happen?”
My eyes darted among all six of them. “Earlier today.”
“Interesting,” Vi purred before letting out a laugh. “Oh, this evening just got a hell of a lot better.”
Pinching my brows, I started to ask what she meant when Melanie grabbed my hands.
“Like I was saying before, no need to be nervous. Every single man in this place will be fighting for a place on your dance card.”
I forced a smile. The need to tell her my card only had one open spot and that would always belong to her son was eating at my stomach. I was regretting my drink choice now. Especially with no food in my stomach.
Oh shit, the pain pill I took. Well, this is nice. What a great combination you’ve made for yourself, Harley. Drugs and booze. This should be fun.
“Come on, I want to introduce you to a few of my friends,” Vi stated. She held her arm out for me to take it.
Paxton leaned in. “Don’t leave with Vi. And if she mentions something about JuJu, come find us.”
With a confused look, I responded, “Um, okay.”
Vi and I walked around the room. Her young date followed closely behind, looking me over with hungry eyes. Vi didn’t seem to care, though.
“I believe my acquaintance is having dirty thoughts about you, sweet Harley.”
Glancing over my shoulder, my eyes caught his. The way his tongue swept over his lips, I would have to agree with Vi.
My head turned forward quickly. “That doesn’t bother you, Vi? That he’s openly staring at me?”
She scoffed. “Why should it?”
“He’s your date?”
Vi stopped walking. “He’s my acquaintance. Like I said before,” Vi looked back. “Roger understands my needs, and I understand his. But he’s currently barking up the wrong tree.”
Roger cleared his throat. “Noted, ma’am.”
With a nod of her head, Vi guided us back to walking. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “So what exactly is an acquaintance of yours?”
“If it’s a woman, she is a friend of mine whom I see every now and then. We exchange small talk and politely move on with the knowledge that I may or may not say hello to her the next time we see one another. If he is a male, my age? The same holds true. But, if he is a male around Roger’s age….well…things are little more…”
Her eyes looked up in thought. As if she was trying to think of an elegant way to say that Roger was her fuck buddy.
“He’s your fuck buddy?”
Roger let out a choked laugh from behind us.
“Jesus Christ, Harley. Tell the whole place.”
Scanning the room, I looked at Vi. “You do know they are all thinking the same thing.”
She wore an evil little smile. “Touché.”
We walked up to an older group of people. I was positive this was Vi’s crowd.
“Well, who do you have here, Vi?” an older woman with silver hair asked. Each of the women were dressed in simple, yet elegant gowns. They were all beautiful with hints of worldly experiences on their faces. I couldn’t help but wonder if any of them had had any work done. As I looked closer, I smiled. No. These were all southern women. They owned their age and wore it like freaking rockstars.
I smiled as Vi introduced me to her group
of friends. Two of the women had dates who seemed to be only a few years older than Roger. The other woman stood next to a handsome man who was her age. His salt and pepper hair made him look regal—or it could have been the overpriced tux he had on.
“Harley owns the veterinary clinic in town,” Vi stated with pride in her voice. She had always treated me like I was family. Guilt wrapped around my chest and squeezed as I thought about all the people I had hurt when I lied to Tripp. I began to feel sick to my stomach and lightheaded.
“If y’all will excuse me, I think a need a bit of fresh air.”
They smiled but Vi gave me a concerned look. I pointed to the drink. “No food today mixed with a pain pill.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Get some food, water, and fresh air. But don’t hide. You need to show off that curvy figure of yours, my dear. From the look on Roger’s face, Latino woman are highly desired.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes. “I’ll try to remember that.”
As I made my way through the room, I felt the heat of Tripp’s stare. I didn’t dare look because the moment I saw him standing next to Mallory I was sure to lose whatever was left of this morning’s pancakes.
I saw the exit at the far end of the large tent. Picking up my pace, I headed toward it. But something stopped me. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I sucked in a breath.
There he stood, in a black tuxedo, looking handsome as fuck.
Tripp Parker.
My knees weakened, and I had to fight to keep myself from dropping to the ground at the mere sight of him. He hadn’t shaved and his five o’clock shadow made him look even more dashing. No. He looked utterly fuckable. The heat between my legs was instant. The lightheadedness and the ache in my stomach were replaced by the throbbing between my thighs. My heart pounded so loudly it was drowning out the light music in the background.
“Christ above,” I whispered. This man could turn me into a puddle on the floor.
Tripp let his eyes roam over me before they locked with mine. Even from across the crowded room, I could see the desire in them. Or was I imagining it?
He’s here with another woman, you idiot. Smile and walk away, Harley.
Before I could do that, Tripp smiled at me, the dimple in his cheek evident from across the room. My eyes burned with tears, and my heart ached as I forced one in return. I dared to look to either side of him, expecting to see Mallory. When I didn’t, I let out a sigh of relief. She must have been in the restroom, or possibly talking to Melanie.
When my eyes captured his again, I had to remind myself to take a damn breath.
Turn around, Harley. Turn. Around.
Forcing my feet to move, I spun and headed outside. A cool rush hit me in the face, causing me to take in some much-needed air.
I dropped my chin to my chest and let out a long sigh.
I was never going to be able to move on… Never would I be able to love another man like I loved Tripp Parker. One single tear trailed down my cheek as I let the reality of this into my heart.
He was the only thing I was certain I wanted in my future…and he was lost forever.
After spending too much time hiding outside, I mentally prepared myself and headed back in. I had worked things out in my head the best I could and decided I need to pull my big girl panties up and make it through this night. Once Tripp finished helping me get the clinic back I would move on with my life. I wasn’t sure if that meant finding someone to spend the rest of my life with, or casually dating, or maybe living out the rest of my life surrounded by animals. Whatever my path would be, I would be happy for Tripp. He had moved on and found happiness and feeling sorry for myself wasn’t making anything better.
Squaring my shoulders, I moved about the room. I spoke with people I knew, and people I didn’t know. A number of people at the dinner were not from Oak Springs. Most of them were rather intriguing, and I found myself passing the time by making up stories of who they could be.
I smiled and scanned the room, letting the drugs and booze take over as I played out their pretend lives in my head.
The young, tall sandy-blond man with the beautiful redhead on his arm was an investment broker from New York City. The woman was an actress, trying to make her way on Broadway but happy to be on the arm of a rich man who kept her sexually satisfied and well-kept with jewels and expensive clothing—not to mention a BMW.
Then you had the dashing thirty-something-year-old man with the English accent. He was a Duke of something or other. A rich family history of old money and fast cars. The blonde on his arm was his mistress because the bastard’s poor wife was most likely back in England, pregnant with his heir. The mistress looked utterly bored having to mingle with everyone in the room and made no attempts to hide her distaste for Americans.
I giggled as I pulled a drink from my glass of champagne.
“What’s with that smile on your face?” Melanie asked as she stood next to me.
With a roll of my eyes, I shook my head. “I’m letting my overactive imagination run wild as I make up stories about the strangers in the room.”
My eyes nearly came out of my head as I saw Trevor with a stunning young woman on his arm.
“Who is that with Trevor?” I asked, taking another glass of champagne as a waiter walked by, replacing it with the empty glass I had just drained. I was for sure feeling it as the room spun slightly.
Melanie grinned from ear to ear. “That…is Scarlett Littlefield. She’s the daughter of one of my very best friends, Lynn.”
“She is stunning!” I said, taking a drink.
“Trevor is refusing to speak to me because of her.”
My eyes traveled over to look at Trevor and Scarlett. Trevor was always a bit of a rebel, at least from what I remembered. The hint of his tattoos on his hands gave him a bit of a bad boy persona. His buzzed hair and unshaven face made him even more attractive. And I wasn’t the only woman in the room who thought so.
Scarlett Littlefield was staring at Trevor, trying not to seem smitten with him. Of course, she herself was unbelievably gorgeous. Her soft brown hair had subtle hints of blonde highlights in it. She was tiny, and had a body to die for.
“They look adorable together,” I gushed.
“They do.”
“How long have they been dating?”
Melanie sighed. “They’re not. I pretty much had to threaten Trevor’s life…and inheritance…to get him to bring Scarlett this evening.”
I let out a giggle. “Oh no, Melanie, you didn’t?”
She nodded. “I did. I’m tired of hearing rumors about my youngest son sleeping with nearly all the women in this town. It’s time for him to settle down a bit.”
Chewing my lip, I looked over at them. Trevor placed his hand on Scarlett’s lower back and ushered her on to the next group.
“They sure look like they’re comfortable with each other,” I observed.
We looked at one another and a mischievous smile grew across Melanie’s face. “Indeed, they do.”
My brow lifted. “Why do I get the feeling you’re playing matchmaker, Melanie Parker?”
She placed her hand over her chest and gasped. “Me? Interfere in my children’s’ lives?”
A gentleman wearing a white tux approached us. “Mrs. Parker?”
Turning, she gave him a polite grin. “Did you take care of that request, Smith?”
He nodded. “I have, ma’am. The seats at the family table have been adjusted like you asked.”
“Thank you.” Melanie faced me and laughed. “Now, what makes you think I would meddle in my kids’ love lives?”
There was a look in her eye that screamed she was up to something. She lifted her glass to mine and said, “A toast. To butting in.”
Laughing, I replied, “To butting in.”
Little did I know, Trevor and Scarlett weren’t the only peoples’ lives Melanie was meddling with.
For the last fifteen minutes I had stood there and listened…or pretended to lis
ten…to Bobby Hansen’s discussion of the budget for the Oak Springs City employees Christmas party. It was fucking April, and he was worried about a damn party that was eight months away.
“What do you think, Tripp?”
I had been scanning the large tent hoping to get a look at Harley again. The moment I saw her my cock went rock hard, and I’d had a hell of time hiding it. I glanced around looking for her. She must have moved to the next tent to find her seat for dinner.
“What do I think about what, Bobby?”
The older man groaned. “The budget. Honestly, Parker, for a man running for mayor you need to be more involved.”
Slapping him on the back, I gave him the smile I knew could charm any woman or man. “Bobby, tonight is not about that. It’s about enjoying the company of family and friends and making a difference in a cause close to my mother’s heart. The budget for a party eight months away is not something I think I need to focus on right now.”
I glanced around at the other men in our small group, who all nodded. Some even raised their whiskey glasses to me. I was positive they wanted Bobby to shut up as much as I did.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I’d better find my mother. We’ll be sitting soon for dinner.”
Bobby seemed to be angry at first, until I mentioned the reason we were all gathered in my parents’ backyard under tents that were made to look like they were ballrooms in a five-star hotel.
He gave me a slap on the back in return, and I walked away. I took a long pull from my rum and Coke. I was going to need a shot of something straight if I wanted to make it through this night. I hadn’t seen Toby with Harley yet, but I had seen them separately. The thought of him dancing with her this evening had my stomach in fucking knots.
“Who’s the lucky lady who will have the honor of dancing with you this evening, Tripp?”
I turned to see Claire Montigo standing there. She was the younger sister of one of my best friends from high school, Scott Montigo.
Giving her a kiss on the cheek, I looked down to her rather large, pregnant belly.
“I heard you were expecting another baby. Scott told me a few months back.”
Her cheeks blushed. “Baby number three.”