Excerpt -Red, White & Groom
 

I need a stiff drink, therapy, and a cold shower. Not necessarily in that order, but—maybe. Who the hell did Dalton Scott think he was standing there with his shirt open, exposing his rippled abs and broad, muscled chest?

            She inhaled and smiled at her grandmother as she stepped inside the house. How dare she invite Dalton to join them? What the hell was up with that? “I missed you and Grandpa.” It was the only thing she could spit out that didn’t involve Dalton, his muscled body, or her tongue. Not that she was thinking of running her tongue over that stomach. He wasn’t worth it. She was over him.

I’m such a liar.

“We’ve been meaning to come for a visit, only one thing or another came up with the farm.” Her grandmother tossed the same old lame excuse out.

            “Too bad it wasn’t a fire making it a barbeque.”

            Her grandmother leaned in. “What was that?”

            “I said the work is never through.”

            Her grandmother’s eyes widened and she smiled. “Never have truer words been spoken.”

            Keep the comment about marinade to yourself, a voice warned in her head. A loud squeal of a wail filled the room. Oh hell! Twenty steps to the liquor cabinet. She could run if she tried.

            “Oh Daddy, I am so thankful that you are still here with us. I’ve already lost one important man in my life.” Patty sniffled.

            And more underwear than a Victoria’s Secret sale. She bit her tongue and kept that comment about her aunt’s social life to herself as well.

            “Oh,” her grandfather chuckled. “I ain’t going anywhere.”

            If only the lace thongs had that attitude. She sighed as her aunt blubbered on from down the hall.

            “Your Aunt Patty was always a little dramatic.” Her grandmother’s hand touched her arm.

            “And Seattle only gets a little bit of rain.”

            “I hear my granddaughter,” Harris Parker called from down the hall. “CJ, honey, come see your grandfather.”

            “Oh Daddy, don’t raise your voice, it will exert you. Don’t worry about a thing; your Patty-Cake is here to take care of you.”

            And the liquor cabinet. Dibs on the tequila.

She stepped towards the living room. Her grandmother released her arm and walked down the hall before her. CJ stepped, but the front door opened and a warm breeze blew in, causing her to stop and turn. The wind teased at the denim shirt hanging open, and without bothering to fight temptation, her eyes raked over the hotty cowboy who had always sent her heart racing.

Her eyes lifted and met his dark brown ones. A slow smile curved his sexy--not that she noticed--mouth into a grin. “Welcome home.”

Home? No, this isn’t home. This is a prairie pit with enough cattle to hold a luau, complete with ribs. “Thanks.” She smiled. It wasn’t hard; he was rugged, sexy and nothing like the guys back home in L.A. Maybe that’s what intrigued her.

He more than intrigued you before you went away. How dare that voice in her head point out such a—well…the truth.