by LuAnn McLane
Before she could come up with a reply, all the bathing-capped heads turned in the direction of Clyde and Clovis Camden entering the area. The seventy-eight-year-old identical twin brothers—who resembled George Hamilton in both looks and demeanor—were the resident hotties. The brothers were blessed with full heads of salt-and-pepper hair, a rare sight at Whisper’s Edge, and their arrival sent an audible feminine flutter through the row of bathing beauties.
The dapper duo had donned old-school white tennis shorts and matching polo shirts. Orange headbands and wristbands added a shot of color, and gold rope chain necklaces glinted against tanned skin. Savannah wondered if dressing the same ever got old, but they seemed to enjoy fooling people with typical twin gags. Miss Patty, however, didn’t seem at all happy to see them. She pointed to a yellow tennis ball that Clovis clutched in his hand. The only way Savannah knew it was Clovis was that he had a slightly crooked nose that must have once been broken. Miss Parry narrowed her eyes. “Once again, y’all almost caused the demise of my dear Willie.”
“Now, Miss Patty, we can’t help that the tennis courts are next to the pool,” Clyde countered smoothly. “My wicked backhand sometimes sends balls sailing over the fence.”
Miss Patty pursed her lips and then raised her chin. “I fully understand the close proximity to the pool, but it’s the fact that after you sashay over here to retrieve your balls you fail to close the gate after your departure, putting my dear Willie in danger! To him an open gate is an open invitation. Willie simply cannot resist jumping into the pool when an enticing tennis ball comes sailing over the fence! It happened yet again!”
Clovis arched one eyebrow. “Perhaps you should have Willie on a leash. I do believe it’s in the rules.”
“He has a point, Patty,” Joy Potter piped up and was rewarded with a slight smile from Clovis. Joy returned the gesture with a coy eye flutter.
Miss Patty silenced Joy with an I-can’t-believe-you’residing-with-them glare and then turned her attention back to the twins. “A leash chokes Willie. Per my request he has been exempted from the resident leash law.” She looked at Savannah, who quickly nodded her agreement. Although Willie’s leash exemption slid through the Whisper’s Edge council by a narrow margin, free Willie was indeed legal. “Under normal circumstances Willie remains obediently by my side.”
“Then may I suggest taking a different route?” Clyde asked.
“You may not!” Miss Patty clearly did not like Clyde’s suggestion. She narrowed her eyes. “Closing and latching the gate would solve the problem. It’s clearly stated in the pool rules.” Miss Patty pointed to the sign posted on the far wall and then looked to her lady friends for support, but they all dipped their colorful capped heads downward as if in a synchronized swim move. At Miss Patty’s audible intake of breath most of the ladies remained staring at the flowers on their flip-flips, clearly not willing to rant against the Camden brothers. “Well, I’ll be …”
If Savannah hadn’t been in her soggy state of embarrassment with the handsome stranger dripping at her side, she would have jumped in with some sort of compromise.
Miss Patty finally sighed at the continued silence and then rolled her eyes. “And if that’s not bad enough, Savannah had to rescue Willie again. Not to mention that her water aerobics class is going to start late, running into lunch!” She waved her hand in an arc in front of the twins. “See what your negligence has caused?”
Savannah felt her silent hero nudge her arm. “Wait—you can swim?”
Oh no … busted.
ALSO BY LUANN MCLANE
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES
Catch of a Lifetime: A Cricket Creek Novel
Playing for Keeps: A Cricket Creek Novel
He’s No Prince Charming
Redneck Cinderella
A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action
Trick My Truck but Don’t Mess with My Heart
Dancing Shoes and Honky-Tonk Blues
Dark Roots and Cowboy Boots
EROTIC ROMANCES
“Hot Whisper” in Wicked Wonderland anthology
Driven by Desire
Love, Lust, and Pixie Dust
Hot Summer Nights
Wild Ride
Taking Care of Business