“Guess all this country air has been good to me.”
“I guess so.”
“Sandy, this is Clara,” I introduce them as the older womanapproaches.“I have no clue what Daddy and I would do without her.”
“Nice to meet you, dear.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Clara.”
“Dinner’s ready if y’all are hungry.”
“Good.I’m starving.”
“After everything you ate in the car?”Sandy asks.
“Don’t judge me, Sandy,” I remind her.
“Fine, fine.Let’s eat.”
Her last two words reach into my brain and retrieve the imageof Ethan’s face hovering above mine when he dipped me at the barbecue.I misshis lips, his kiss.I want his kind of kiss.Thekind that sets my body on fire and leaves me breathless.The kind that emptiesmy mind of everything and everyone but him.The kind that makes me want, yearnfor more.I want his kiss.His kiss that turns me into a moaning, quiveringmess.I want...Ineedhis kiss.
I don’t even want to think about the sex.I miss Ethan sex—passionate,sweaty, unbelievably incredible Ethan sex.Before I can sink into a dark holeof depression, I grab Sandy’s hand and drag her to the kitchen table.
After dinner, we start getting ready to go out.Since it’sjust the bar, we don’t need to get all dolled up.I do, however, need to make asplash.It’s part of my plan to push Ethan away—look hot, dance with a bunch ofguys, and act like I’m having the time of my life.If he thinks I’ve moved on,then he will, too, right?I grab my black Lycra and fishnet top.It basically lookslike a bikini top with a strip of fishnet attached to the bottom.Since myankle is still wrapped, I cover it with low-rider jeans.I can’t wear heelseither, so I choose some black flip-flops.After I finish my makeup, I let myhair down and sit on the bed while I wait for Sandy.
She emerges from the bathroom in a white, belly-baringhalter top and denim shorts.Her necklace matches the blue of her eyesperfectly.Like me, she left her hair down, her blonde tresses just belowshoulder-length.We’re the same height at 5'6", but her heels giveher a couple of inches over me tonight.Her full lips glisten as she applieslip gloss and checks her reflection.
“Ready?”I ask.
“Yup.I’ll be DD tonight if you wanna get wasted.”
“Thanks.I think that’s exactly what I need.”
At the bar, we snag a booth in the corner, and I order acouple of beers.A few people stop by to ask about my ankle, and I introduceSandy.Into my third beer, Sandy leans toward me.
“Don’t look but there are twogorgeousguys headingthis way.”
When they get to our table, I look up into two pairs ofintense brown eyes.
“Hey, Casey,” Charlie greets me.
“Hey, Charlie… Brick.”Brick nods and gives me a weird smile,like he doesn’t quite know how to act around me.“Sandy Collins, meet Charlie Rowanand Brick Castle.They’re sheriff’s deputies.”
Sandy nods in understanding and then smiles brightly up atthe men.
“Nice to meet you,” she says.
“You, too, ma’am.”
She flashes a smile at me after their simultaneous reply.
“Why don’t you join us?”
They look to me as if seeking permission, and I scoot overto make room.Charlie slides in beside me, and Brick sits opposite him, next toSandy.I motion to Jan, and she brings another round of beers.
“You’re not drinking?”Brick asks Sandy.
She gives him a sweet smile.I can already tell she’s intohim.
