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Bud shifted uncomfortably.“Actually, I was going to ask you to dance.”
Sweetie blinked.“You want to dance with me?But don’t you hate me for breaking your star quarterback’s heart in front of the entire town?”
“Well, I was pretty upset when we lost state.But I figured it’s time to let bygones be bygones.”
Hallie poked Big Bud in the barrel chest.“Or maybe you just figured out that you guys sucked and didn’t deserve to win state and my sister breaking up with Jace was none of your damn business.”
Sweetie shouldn’t laugh.But she did.So did Hallie.They laughed until tears rolled down their cheeks.She thought Bud would be insulted and leave.
He didn’t.
“I guess you’re right.It was our fault we lost state more than Sweetie’s.So about that dance?”
“Thanks, Bud,” Sweetie said.“But I haven’t seen my little sis here for a long time and I want to—”
Before she could finish refusing, another cowboy stepped up.This man Sweetie recognized immediately.So did Hallie.
“Hey, Billy Lee!”Hallie said.“You still have that old truck that farts every time you start it up?”
Billy Lee Riley laughed.“Nope.I sold The Bean a couple years back.Now I have a brand-new GMC with Bose speakers and heated seats.You want to go check it out?”
Hallie shook her head and weaved on her feet.“Nope.I’m not a new-truck, heated-seats kind of gal.I like my trucks old and cranky ...and gassy.”
“I have an old truck,” Freddy Dupree stepped up next to Hallie.“I’d be happy to take you for a ride in it, Hal.”
“Me too.”Dave Creswell joined the fast-growing group of men.“I’d love to take either one of you pretty ladies for a ride.”
“Now wait one damn minute, Dave,” Bud said.“I already called first dibs on Sweetie.”
If Sweetie hadn’t been feeling so damn happy, she might have taken exception to that.But shewasfeeling happy.Not just because tequila was humming through her veins, but also because it looked like people had started to forgive her.At least the younger men had.The older men and all the women were still shooting her daggers.But she figured you had to start somewhere.
She thumped Bud on his massive chest.“No need to worry, Bud.I’m not riding in anyone’s truck.”An image of Decker’s strong forearm hooked over the steering wheel of Jace’s truck popped into her head and her lips moved without her brain.“Except maybe Jace’s.”
Bud’s face fell.“I should’ve known you’d pick Jace.”
Billy Lee slapped him on the back.“That still leaves five other sisters in the running, Bud.”
Since Liberty and Noelle weren’t there, Sweetie struggled to figure out what he was talking about.Before she could, Cloe came hurrying up.
“You are not going to believe what Henry Jenner just did.We need to go.And we need to go now.”
Hallie frowned at her sister.“But I don’t want to go.I want to dance.”
All the men spoke at once.“I’ll dance with you!”
Cloe grabbed Hallie’s and Sweetie’s arms.“No one is dancing with anyone.Do y’all understand me?We’re leaving.And we’re leaving now.”Cloe might not be as aggressive as her sisters, but when she made up her mind about something, there was no stopping her.With a strength that surprised Sweetie, she dragged them off the dance floor and toward the door.
They were halfway there when Cob and his buddies stepped in front of them.
“Hey, now, what’s your hurry, ladies?”Cob said.“The fun is only starting.”His gaze wandered over each sister before landing on Hallie.“My, my, you’ve grown into a hot-lookin’ woman, squirt.I remember when you were just a skinny, flat-chested kid with pimples.”
Sweetie bristled.Drunk or not drunk.No one talked to her sisters like that.But before she could let Cob have it, Hallie did.
“Unfortunately, it looks like you haven’t grown out of being an uglier-than-a-mud-fence jackass.”
Sweetie laughed as she hooked an arm around Hallie.“Damn straight, little sis.Now get out of our way, Ugly Jackass.”
Cob smiled snidely.“Looks like the Holiday sisters still think they’re better than everyone else.Which is why your daddy has decided he has to pay men to marry y’all off.”
