Bertie glanced at her gold watch. “We’ve got an hour to kill before heading to the lake. Let’s grab our wine, and while we drink, you can model what you’re wearing tonight.”
Whoa. Katie didn’t mind modeling for Inslee, but in front of Bertie and Lucy? Hmm. She had a sneaking suspicion they were up to something.
“Wouldn’t you prefer to sit on the porch? We could ask the Happy Hookers to perform their rendition of ‘Mama Mia.’ It’s surprisingly entertaining.” Katie tried to steer Bertie and Lucy toward the front door.
“We’ve heard it. Dozens of times. Nope. You’re just going to have to trust us,” Lucy said, locking her arm through Katie’s. She and Bertie physically turned Katie in the opposite direction. Straight to Vance’s bedroom. “Be grateful my friend Wanda isn’t here. She’d have you dressed up like the pit lizards at NASCAR before you could say Richard Petty,” Lucy said.
“What’s a pit lizard?” Katie asked, fearing the answer.
“Groupies. Some people call them waffle bellies, helmet chasers, box climbers…whatever. You don’t need to be quite that obvious to catch Vance’s eye.” Lucy pushed open the bedroom door and dragged Katie inside. “Here. Drink. You look a little shocked.” Lucy nudged Katie’s arm. Only too happy to oblige, Katie lifted the glass to her lips and practically inhaled her wine.
Bertie flopped down on the off-white overstuffed lounge chair and propped her feet on top of the gray leather ottoman. “Lucy, give Katie a minute. You can be quite terrifying and pushy.”
“Yeah, right. Don’t be pretending to be good cop to my bad cop. You’re the one who suggested helping Katie with her wardrobe.” Lucy crawled to the middle of Vance’s bed and sat cross-legged. Embarrassed, Katie glanced down at her old blue cotton skirt with the bleach stain on the pocket and then at Bertie’s stylish silk tunic over crisp orange linen slacks. And Lucy’s curve-hugging jeans and trendy, layered tank tops. Katie was easily the least put-together.
Bertie waved her hand in Katie’s general direction. “Don’t pay us any mind. We don’t mean anything by it.” Bertie shot Lucy a warning glare.
Katie moved to the closet where she’d stored most of the new clothes she’d purchased. “Listen, I appreciate all you’re trying to do, but really, Vance and I are friends only.” Maybe friends with benefits. Maybe. “Besides, I’m only going to be here a few more weeks. As soon as Vance signs the contract for the series and he no longer needs a babysitter, I’m taking off for another assignment.” A slight chill crawled up her spineless back. Leaving Harmony and Vance in a few weeks would feel weird because… Katie’s thoughts came to a screeching halt. No deviating from the plan. Learn to live in the moment. Take advantage of what Vance was so gallantly offering…a night with him…in bed. Zing went her rusty girly parts. No dwelling on the rest. She’d get back to her life in California eventually, and maybe by then she’d have developed a backbone.
Bertie followed Katie into the walk-in closet. “Until that day comes, which we hope is later rather than sooner, let’s have some fun.” She pulled a Caribbean-blue knit top with cap sleeves, and palazzo pants with a geometric pattern from the hangers. “Here. Try this on. It looks comfortable, sexy, and cookout-appropriate.”
“I like the way the top wraps in the front. The V-neck is very flattering, and those pants are to die for,” Lucy added, coming up behind her. “Where’d you get them?”
“Bloomingdale’s, I think.” Katie couldn’t remember. Inslee had her shopping every store online. Katie hesitated as Bertie shoved the outfit in her hands. “You sure? Wouldn’t I be better off wearing some jean shorts and a T-shirt? Won’t we be sitting on the ground surrounded by sand and dirt?” Katie remembered the clearing at the lake the morning she’d run into Brogan.
Bertie chuckled. “Not exactly. There are picnic tables and chairs. And we bring blankets.”
Lucy flipped through Katie’s wardrobe. “You haven’t worn any of these. Price tags are still on them.” She shot Katie a surprised look.
“Er…they just arrived, and I haven’t—” Katie heaved a sigh of resignation. “What can I say? I’m trying to turn over a new leaf, but when it comes to wearing new clothes…I don’t have the nerve.”
Bertie clapped her hands. “I love it! Katie, you have more courage than you give yourself credit for. I don’t know many women who’d drive across the country to convince an irritable, sometimes scary, bestselling author to let you commandeer his house for a freaky teenage TV series. Vance can be really intimidating. You are beyond brave, girlfriend.” Brave or crazy…depended on how you looked at it. “And making yourself over at the same time? That takes gumption. Trust me; these clothes are going to look fabulous on you. Vance will be sniffing around you like a hound dog.” Bertie hustled Lucy out of the closet. “Come out when you’ve changed. Oh, and wear those great silver wedges,” Bertie ordered, closing the closet door.
Here went nothing. Katie emerged from the closet in her new outfit, and Bertie’s and Lucy’s faces beamed. “Told you! You look wonderful. I wish I had your legs and glossy hair.” Bertie circled Katie as if inspecting a thoroughbred for purchase. “This is a great look on you.”
“Oh yeah. Vance is a goner.” Lucy smiled, sipping her wine.
“Come on. You need to see yourself.” Katie and Lucy followed Bertie into the master bath, where the full-length, framed mirror leaned against the wall. “What do you think?” Bertie asked.
Katie stared at her image in the mirror. What did she think? “Um…it’s very comfortable. And that’s important because—”
“Forget comfortable! You look hot! Nice cleavage…just shy of slutty. And those palazzos do wonders for your butt.” Lucy nodded.
Katie twisted to see the butt in question. “Are you sure this isn’t…you know, too much for a casual picnic? What are you guys wearing?” She didn’t want to stand out like an outsider trying too hard to fit in.
“This outfit has inspired me,” Bertie said, cocking her head to one side and examining Katie through the mirror. “I have a great pair of palazzos too, but I won’t look half as good as you, because I’m so short.”
“I’m wearing a sundress.” Lucy picked up one of Katie’s lipsticks. “Nice color. Do you mind if I try it?”
Katie smiled. “Help yourself. It’s a great line of make-up made only in California. All the movie stars swear by it.” Bertie’s eyes widened as she moved toward the vanity. “I’ve hardly touched it, so feel free.”
Bertie opened the gold compacts with eye shadow, and Lucy played with the lipstick and blush. “Wow. This is really beautiful make-up. You might need to hook me up. But don’t tell Jo Ellen. The competition will kill her,” Bertie said.
Lucy nodded in agreement. “She’s throwing another Mary Kay party next week, and BetterBites is catering. She’s insisting Brogan deliver and serve the food.” Lucy gave a big eye roll. “We’ve got to find someone for that woman. I’m tired of sharing my Bro-man.”
“Oh, I think she might’ve moved on.” Katie gave a sly smile and ran a brush through her hair.
“What do you mean?” Bertie dabbed some hand cream into her palm.
“She’s made it perfectly clear to me that she and Vance are involved.” Katie bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. Not that it wasn’t possible, but she still found humor in the way Jo Ellen had immediately seen her as a threat.
“You’ve got be joking. Vance has no romantic interest in Jo Ellen. They’ve known each other since kindergarten. We’ve got to do something about this,” Lucy said, pressing her fists into her hips.
“We’ll figure something out. Don’t worry about Jo Ellen. She’s no competition, believe me.” Bertie squeezed Katie’s hand.
“Oh, I’m not worried. It’s really none of my business. Like I said, I’ll be leaving—”
“Leaving, schmeaving. You’re not going anywhere. Now, come on. We’ve got juicy
burgers to eat, alcohol to drink, and good-looking men waiting for us. Doesn’t get much better than that.” Lucy danced a little jig out of the bathroom.
“Lucy’s right. It’s Friday night. Time for the weekend to begin.” Bertie followed Katie into the bedroom.
Katie gathered her small wristlet that held her cell phone and grabbed her camera.
“Katie!” All three froze at the sound of Vance’s roar. “Where the hell are you? We need to get going.” Vance appeared at the bedroom door in all his dark, hunky, badass magnificence. Surprise lit his features as his gaze darted from Bertie to Lucy. “Aw, geeze. Don’t tell me. You’ve come over to plot my demise.”
“You should be so lucky.” Bertie waggled her fingers and winked at Katie.
“Hey, Vancy Pancy. Glad you decided to emerge from your cave. Clean shirt and combed hair. Must have a hot date.” Lucy hip-checked Vance as she scooted out the door.
Vance tugged on Lucy’s arm, stopping her. “Tell Brogan he better not serve any of that grass-fed tofutey crap he tried to dump on us last time.”
“Don’t worry. He knows I hate that stuff. He’s learned his lesson. My Bro-man doesn’t like to go without…if you know what I mean.” Lucy nudged Vance with her elbow.
Vance shook his head as if pained. “Ever since he married you, he’s a changed man. Oh, how the mighty do fall.”
“You’ll be eating those exact words, big guy. Just you wait.” Katie blanched at Lucy’s knowing look and watched as she slipped down the hallway.
Chapter 19
“What’s in the bowl?”
“Salad.” Katie stood awkwardly next to Vance and his truck, scanning the group of his friends gathered around the tables and chairs. She’d met most of them before, but Vance understood her shyness. She’d be the newbie in the crowd, and they’d descend on her like vultures on road kill, picking and pecking until nothing but dried bones remained. Most of his friends were good-natured when it came to slinging dirt. They treated it as a casual sport designed to entertain, not hurt. They never turned against anyone. But he could sympathize with a newcomer’s hesitation.
“Come on. This will be fun,” he said, hoping to erase the worry line appearing below her widow’s peak. “Have I told you how beautiful you look?” He smiled. Vance liked this look on Katie. Confident, stylish, and sexy.
Katie blushed. “Only about eighteen times. But I don’t get tired of hearing it. Thank you, again.”
Katie started to move past him, when he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, rubbing his thumb against her thudding pulse. “You’re gonna be fine. Stop worrying.” Then he kissed her glossy lips and tasted berries and Katie…by far his favorite flavor. “You sure you wanna stay?” he murmured. “We can jump back in the truck and go home right now. No one will miss us.” Vance wanted nothing more than to cart Katie home and straight to his bed. Hell, he’d throw her in the bed of his truck, if he thought she’d go for it.
“Hey! No PDA until it gets dark. Come on, you two.” Katie jerked back at Wanda Pattershaw Upton’s startling interruption. Wanda pushed on Vance’s chest to get closer to Katie. “I’m Wanda, and you must be California Katie. I’ve heard so much about you.” Wanda looped her arm through Katie’s as if they were old pals. “I understand you’re filming a movie at Vance’s place. Need any extras? Like a sexy femme fatale? I don’t mind a little frontal nudity, if it’s done tastefully, of course. Not like those porn flicks Vance stars in,” she tossed over her shoulder and gave Vance a saucy smile.
Jesus. “Wanda, cut the crap. Don’t start with that porn shit. It practically shut down my Twitter account. My assistant, Nicole, threatened to quit on me.” Vance rolled his eyes at Wanda adjusting her cleavage for better ogling. “And put your boobs back in their holster. You’re scaring Katie.”
Wanda sniffed. “My, my, honey. Seems you’ve tamed the mighty Vance Kerner. Not many gals can make that claim. He never had a problem with my fabulous ta-tas before.” She shot Katie a sly wink.
“Oh. Well, yes. I could see how he wouldn’t have a problem with your”—Katie waved in the vicinity of Wanda’s chest—“but Vance and I are just friends and—”
Wanda stopped abruptly next to the picnic table holding the containers of food, and Vance almost plowed into her back. “Friends with benefits, I hope,” she said loud enough to carry across the lake and grab everyone’s attention.
Vance plopped the salad bowl he’d been carrying on the table and wrapped his arm around Katie’s waist. “Wanda, not everyone is as comfortable discussing their sex life in public as you seem to be.” He leveled his famous outlaw stare at her. It had no effect. Nada. Zip.
“Vance, darling, are we going down that road? If memory serves—”
“Russell,” Vance shouted over Wanda’s head. “Come get your woman before I throw her in the lake.” He didn’t need Wanda dragging up any more of his past sexual exploits. Katie had plenty of stories to condemn him with.
Russell Upton laughed as he ambled over, carrying two beers. “Come on, honey-pie. Remember last time? Vance doesn’t make idle threats.”
“Russell, if you allow this Cro-Magnon man to throw me in the lake again, you will not live to see another day. And your son will grow up fatherless.” Wanda pressed her voluptuous figure into Russell’s side with a warning glare.
“Come on, Kat. Let me introduce you to the others. Russell, God bless you man. I don’t know how you do it every day.” Vance clapped Russell on the shoulder and sent Wanda a quelling look.
“Happy wife…happy life. Right, Pookie Bear?” Wanda cooed in Russell’s ear. “Something you’re gonna have to learn, Mr. Clueless.” She smirked at Vance. “Katie, nice meeting you, and good luck…you’re gonna need it.”
* * *
Katie lounged in one of the Adirondack chairs surrounding the fire pit next to the lake. The sun had dipped completely behind the horizon, taking the purplish sky with it, until the blanket above them turned a deep midnight blue. The pine trees rustled from the evening breeze. And the smell of smoke and grilled meat lingered in the air.
“What a beautiful night, and I’m so full I could pop,” Bertie said, easing down into the chair next to Katie. “Are you having fun?” she asked.
“Great time. The food was amazing, and it’s been nice relaxing and listening to all the funny stories.”
Bertie chuckled. “Yeah? Well, don’t believe everything you hear. Some stories have been way over-embellished.”
“Who wants another brownie?” Lucy asked, waving a plate in the air. Liza, Bertie’s sister-in-law, and Wanda both groaned.
“Not another bite,” Liza said, leaning back in her chair and digging her toes into the sandy ground cover.
“Katie, your salad was delicious. Be sure to give Brogan the recipe,” Lucy said, plopping down on one of the blankets.
Katie cringed at the mention of her salad. “You’re being kind. The salad was no hit, but thank you all for trying it.”
“Just because Vance hates avocados and grapefruit doesn’t mean it wasn’t a hit. I had two helpings, and Keith loved it,” Bertie said.
“Don’t go by Russell. He grew up eating soggy canned peas. I’m slowly working fresh veggies and fruit into his diet.” Wanda crossed her legs and jiggled her bare foot.
“At least Vance tried it. Give him credit for not hurling. Unlike Brogan.” Lucy laughed. “Y’all remember when I fed him that hotdog smothered with everything at the bowling alley? I thought he was gonna barf for sure.”
“Poor Brogan. Lucy tortured him with her disgusting eating habits before they were married. Talk about opposites attract.” Wanda snorted.
“Vance turned almost as green as the avocados,” Katie muttered. She’d had no idea she’d made a dish with his two least favorite foods on the planet. She did give him credit for trying. The gagging and chugging his beer notwithstanding.
“Look, if I can learn to eat the healthy food Brogan sells, then Vance will learn to love your salad.” Lucy gave Katie a reassuring smile. “Because that man wants to make you happy.” Yeah. In bed. Katie felt a tingly buzz in her girly parts. Go back to sleep.
“Would you look at them?” Wanda said, referring to the guys playing football. “I don’t know where they find the energy. They ate twice as much as we did.”
Everyone’s gazes locked on all the men playing ball. A spectacular sight. Vance, Brogan, and Keith had removed their shirts, and the play of muscles across their shoulders and down their arms could make a weaker woman giddy with lust. Katie suddenly experienced quivering legs. She pressed her hands to her thighs. Each of the guys had a fluid way of moving, their bodies shifting with loose-limbed grace and power. Their athletic ability and fierce competitiveness made for some heavy breathing…on the side of the women.
Intent on watching the guys—well, okay, watching Vance—Katie felt someone’s stare boring into her. She glanced to her right, and her gaze snagged Liza’s.
A sly smile tipped Liza’s lips. “So how serious is this thing between you and Vance?”
Shiz. These Southerners did not mess around when it came to hunting their prey. Katie gave her pat answer. “Vance and I are merely friends, and I’m going to be leaving in a few short—”
“Uh-huh. You keep telling yourself that. I’ll check back when those three weeks are up.” Liza rested her head against the back of the Adirondack chair.
“That’s right. Vance is not going to let you go without a fight. Mark my words.” Wanda wagged a finger at Katie. “Rumor has it you’re looking into that empty space on the town commons. Something about opening an after-school program for kids.”
What the— This time she glowered at Bertie and then Lucy, who both had the unmitigated gall to look innocent. The whole town had diarrhea of the mouth. Reining in her patience on a deep breath, she said, “Don’t believe everything you hear. No plans have been made. My priority is to complete this job for my dad and then…” And then what? Katie stood at a crossroads. Going home weighed heavily on her mind. Staying in Harmony had potential. Because of Vance. No. Yes. Maybe. Katie swallowed a sigh, along with a lot of anxiety. In his beautiful, warm farmhouse surrounded by his beautiful land with this beautiful man. Ridiculous. A hook-up, maybe. A few laughs, hopefully. But no future. You’d need a relationship to secure a future. Katie’s brain kept knocking on her forehead, reminding her they lived on opposite ends of the country.
Sweet Southern Bad Boy Page 22