“What?” I asked, focusing back on their conversation. My gaze drifted over her shoulder to where Bishop was standing. If he’d heard anything, he didn’t show it.
Josie rolled her eyes. “I asked if any of your old boyfriends are coming tomorrow? You know… To help out?”
“Uh, I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “Haven’t talked to anyone, so I guess we’ll see.”
Usually, I wouldn’t think twice about who would be out here, but I’d already seen how possessive Bishop could get. Honestly? It was a turn-on. Did it make me a bad person if the thought made my panties wet?
Cleo leaned back in her chair and sighed. “At least we’ll be eating good tonight, because tomorrow will be hell. I always hated branding days. Tensions are high, and there's always a lot of yelling.”
“Yeah, but most of that came from Dad, and he’s sidelined this year,” I said.
She raised her brows. “And you think that’ll stop him from yelling?”
“Fair point,” I chuckled. “I think it’s going to kill him to just watch. I’m sure Lincoln and Bishop will get a talking to on Monday about how they could’ve made things run smoother.”
“I love Dad, but I really hope the boys surprise the hell outof him,” Josie said, dropping her chin on her palm. “Lincoln always gets crabby when he thinks Dad’s mad at him.”
“Bishop, too,” I added, taking a sip. When I set the beer down, both my sisters were staring at me like I’d lost my mind. “What? Is there something on my face?” I turned in my chair, looking around. “Oh god, please tell me there isn’t a spider.”
Josie and Cleo glanced at one another before my eldest sister spoke up. “No, it’s just that?—”
“Did the two of you finally bang?” Josie finished, whisper-shouting as she leaned on the table. Bishop choked on his beer, turning just in time to spew it out on the grass and not the steaks.
“Well, I’ll take that as a yes,” Cleo mumbled under her breath.
“OH MY G?—”
“Cleo, gag her!”
She slapped a hand over Josie’s mouth, who at least had the decency to look sorry. “Are you dick drunk or something?” I asked. Normally, I was the one they had to worry about for volume control. “Did you suddenly forget how the fuck to keep quiet?”
Over her shoulder, I saw Lincoln pat the center of Bishop’s back. “I’m good, man,” he said, wiping the spilled beer off on his pants. “Just went down the wrong pipe or something.”
“I’m sorry. Was I supposed to not be excited that one of you had finally made a move?” she asked.
“Finally? What do you mean finally?”
Cleo threw her hands up. “Come on, Lennox. Don’t act like you haven’t been panting after him since you were a teenager. I distinctly remember you doodlingMrs. Lennox Bryantin your diary for at least a year.”
“And don’t get us started on the sexual tension between you two. It’s nearly suffocating,” Josie said, putting her hands around her throat as though she couldn’t breathe.
Oh, I was going to kill her. Actually, I was going to kill them both. From that moment on, I was a single child.
Especially as Bishop’s shoulders shook with restrained laughter.
“I hate you both,” I hissed between my teeth.
Josie waved me off. “No, you don’t.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I beg to differ.”
“Dinner’s ready!” Dad called, mercifully changing the subject and giving me a chance to escape this new-found hell.
“Don’t think we’re done talking about this!” Josie called over her shoulder as I grabbed the trash they had left behind.
“Yes, we are!” I shouted back. We were so done, and I had no problem pulling the barn sex card on her if I needed to get out of it. At least when Bishop and I were in my loft, we were alone.
Except for poor Callie.
