Walk The Line: The Dawson Brothers #6
Page 22
“That is very smart, and will double your clients. She’s a sharp one, Connor,” my father said, with a wink.
“Don’t I know it! She’s a hell of a lot smarter than me,” I said. Everyone laughed—and agreed. “Yep, you got that right, Connor.”
“Oh, hush up y’all,” I said, teasing them back. The dinner was full and rowdy, just the way we liked it.
After dinner, we all went to the dance hall. It had been a very long time since we had been there, since the first time that I had met Lydia. We walked in and took seats at a long table. We were all there, even Father. The whole family was together.
“You know, I think you owe me a dance ma’am. The last time I asked you to dance we didn’t finish,” I said to Lydia.
A big smile came across her face. “Yes, I think you are right about that.”
I stood up and held out my hand to her. “Would you like to two-step with me?”
“I don’t know. Are you a real cowboy?”
I smiled. “Damn straight I’m a real cowboy.”
“In that case, I would love to.”
She put her hand in mine and I led her out onto the dance floor. I put my arms around her, remembering just how nervous I was the very first time I danced with her. I was practically a trembling fool because I had never seen anyone so beautiful.
“Lydia, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met.”
“Thank you. Does that mean you are going to try to kiss me?”
“No, absolutely not. I learned my lesson the first time. If I try to kiss you while we’re dancing, you’ll slap me, I know it.”
She laughed her beautiful laugh. “I promise I won’t this time.”
“I don’t know. You could be playing a trick on me, a very cruel trick.”
“I wouldn’t dare. You’re a tough cowboy after all.”
I looked at her gorgeous lips, then leaned down and kissed her lightly. She kissed me back, and moaned just a little. Then I stopped kissing her and continued dancing.
“See, no slap.”
“I am so glad for it. But I’m also glad you slapped me the first time. If you think about it, it was a hell of a stormy start to an extremely passionate relationship. I think it’s fitting in a way.”
“Yes, I think so too. Now, let’s finish this dance that we started a long time ago.”
“Yes ma’am.”
I spun us around on the dance floor. We danced to the entire song, and the next. We were having a good time. Dylan was out on the floor dancing with Abi, and he wasn’t the slightest bit drunk. We were all having a good time, the Dawson family out for a night on the town. It was a perfect evening. Nothing could make me happier.
Epilogue
Lydia Myers
3 months later
“Yes, Mr. Phillips. I am very excited to work on your project. I think I know the exact look that you’re going for,” I said to the man sitting across my desk at my new business, Designs by Lydia.
“This is a photo of my house. It’s a craftsman style house right by the college. I have seen the work you’ve have done at the Dawson Ranch and I would like something similar.”
“That is not a problem. We will find the perfect look for your home.”
“I look forward to your designs. Thank you for your time today.”
“Thank you. I’ll be in touch,” I said, as I stood up and shook his hand. He was now a new client. I walked him out to the front door where Connor was standing there waiting for me.
“Hello Mr. Dawson. Good to see you.”
“Mr. Phillips, good day.” Connor tipped his hat as the man walked out.
“I didn’t know you were coming by today,” I said, giving him a kiss.
“When doesn’t he come by?” Whitney said, coming out of her office.
I laughed. “That’s true.”
“I thought you ladies might like lunch,” he said, pointing to the counter. There was a pizza box.
“I thought I smelled pizza,” Whitney said.
“You shouldn’t have,” I said.
“It’s true. The reason we are all the way out here is because our last work place was two blocks from pizza. It was a problem,” Whitney said, sitting down at the counter.
“Then I am doubly glad to be able to bring pizza to you. I can’t stay, I’m on my way to my uncle’s ranch,” Connor said.
“All right, I’ll see you later.”
“Bye Connor, thanks for the pizza,” Whitney said. “He’s a keeper, Lydia. He brings you pizza.”
I grabbed two glasses and poured water for both of us, then sat down next to her.
“Yes, pizza is the way to my heart,” I said, grabbing a slice.
“I am real proud of you, Lydia. You said you wanted to open this place, and you did. Thanks for inviting me to work with you. I couldn’t last a day under Janet without you. Working with you was what made it fun,” she said.
“I agree with that. I wouldn’t want to be here all alone, either. That’s not fun at all,”
“And, I haven’t been asked to do a single gentleman’s office space so far. I’m excited about that.”
“How is the restaurant design coming?”
“Really great. I’ve always wanted to do a restaurant. It is challenging. New and fresh. Exactly what I needed.”
“I’m glad that you’re enjoying it and I know you’ll do a fantastic job.”
“Thank you.”
We ate our lunch, and talked about how challenging and crazy the last three months had been. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I was glad that I had taken the leap to open my own place, and Connor was a big part of that. He encouraged me to do it, and so did Whitney. It wasn’t until I had other people believing that I could do it that I started to believe it myself.
Now I had my own interior design company. And a cowboy that I was completely in love with. Everything in my life was absolutely wonderful, and it was all because I had learned to take chances. It was because I had learned to step outside of walking the line too straight, and allowed myself to be just a little reckless. It was because I had come out of my shell. Because of that, I had everything I’d ever wanted. The future was looking very country, lovely, and fantastic.
The End
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About the Author
Ali Parker is a full-time contemporary and new adult romance writer with more than a hundred and twenty books behind her. She loves coffee, watching a great movie and hanging out with her hubs. By hanging out, she means making out. Hanging out is for those little creepy elves at Christmas. No tight green stockings for her.
She’s an entrepreneur at heart and loves coming up with more ideas than any one person should be allowed to access. She lives in Texas with her hubs and three kiddos and looks forward to traveling the world in a few years. Writing under eleven pen names keeps her busy and allows her to explore all genres and types of writing.
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The Parker’s Wicked Playground
Walk The Line
The Dawson Brothers #6
Copyright © 2018 by Ali Parker
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are all either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons – living or dead – is purely coincidental.
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