Chapter 10 #2
“The vet, please,” Julia said, trying not to shiver from the chilly spring air coming in through Blaine’s open window.
“Put the window up, will ya?” Deacon asked. “Julia needs to stay warm.”
“Oh, sorry.”
With everything Deacon said and did, Julia had to fight harder to remind herself that he was off-limits to her as anything other than a friend.
The one thing she couldn’t deny, however, was her growing attraction to him.
Man diet or not, this man had the potential to be big trouble, and she needed to keep herself in check or run the risk of diving into something new before she’d fully dealt with her last disaster.
That could not happen.
Keep reminding yourself of that.
Deacon turned from his spot in the passenger seat to check on her. “You doing okay?”
“I’m fine. How’s your arm?”
“It’s good. Nothing to worry about.”
“You look like you got shot,” Blaine said, referring to the blood all over Deacon’s formerly pristine shirt and shorts.
Deacon glanced down at his clothing, seeming surprised to realize it was covered in blood. “I hope it comes out. This is the only good shirt I brought with me.”
“I know how to get it out. I’ll do it for you.” Julia spoke before she took a second to consider the implications of getting in deeper by the second with him. It was just friendship. As long as she remembered that, it would be fine.
“Hey, um,” Blaine said to Deacon, “so I wanted to say I’m sorry for what happened at my house earlier. I never should’ve said what I did. Of course you’re welcome in my home and with my family.”
Deacon stared at his brother. “Have you had a stroke or something equally mind-altering?”
“Shut up and accept my apology, will you please?”
“Why?”
“Because! I mean it. I’m sorry I said what I did. You weren’t doing anything wrong, and I totally overreacted to you being in my house with my wife and daughter. I was out of line, and I’m admitting it.”
Deacon continued to stare at his brother for a long moment, and then he smiled. “Tiffany’s pissed at you, right?”
“No.”
“Yes, she is, and she made you apologize to me. Did she shut you off until you did?” He busted up laughing. “Oh my God! She did! She’s closed for business until you fix this with me, right? I love her.”
“Shut up,” Blaine said on a low growl.
“Do I have to tell her you apologized to me before the red light turns green again? Oh damn, I’m gonna be really busy over the next week or two with my new job and everything. I might not get a chance to talk to her.”
“You’d better tell her today that I apologized to you—and that I meant it, which I did.”
Deacon hooted with laughter.
Julia put her hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t be tempted to join him. She had a feeling Blaine wouldn’t appreciate that.
“You really met your match with her, didn’t you, bro?” Deacon said when his laughter subsided.
“Something like that.” Blaine sounded like he was speaking through gritted teeth.
“I love it. I already knew I liked her, but this takes it to a whole other level. And guess what? Your precious Addie loves me, too. She and I are gonna be best friends.”
Blaine seethed silently, his entire body stiff with tension.
“Still want me here for the summer?”
“Fuck no, but you’re staying, and that’s the end of it.”
“This is gonna be an awesome summer. I got my new best friend Julia to entertain me. I’ve got my nieces to hang out with and my other new best friend Tiffany to get to know.
Gansett Island is looking so much better to me this time around.
I really have to give you credit, Blaine. You knew just what I needed.”
“I’m gonna fucking shoot you before this summer is over.”
“If you want to get laid, I’d recommend against that. Tiffany digs me.”
“She does not.”
“Oh, yes, she does, and that just chaps your ass, doesn’t it?”
“You want to know what really chaps my ass?”
“I bet I can guess.” Deacon lost it laughing. “Having to apologize to me so your wife will reopen for business?”
Blaine pulled up to the vet clinic and brought the SUV to an abrupt halt. “Get out.”
Rather than open the door, Deacon seemed to make himself more comfortable in Blaine’s passenger seat. “So you’re counting on me to report in that you apologized, am I right?”
Julia had to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud. Deacon was enjoying this way too much.
“Do you mind getting out of my truck so I can get back to work?”
“Of course,” Deacon said. “Thanks for the ride. I’ll try to schedule some time to have a chat with Tiffany to get you back in the saddle.
Not sure I’ll be able to fit it in today since I have to make sure Julia’s all warmed up and our little puppy is okay.
Might be a while before I can get with Tiffany, but I’ll be sure to clear things up for you just as soon as I can. ”
“You do that.”
Deacon got out of the passenger seat, opened the back door for Julia and held out a hand to help her out.
She didn’t need help, but she took his hand anyway and was surprised when he held on to it after she was out of the car.
Blaine sped off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.
Deacon lost it laughing.