Page 63 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“I cared about you!” Magnolia said, her voice trembling with fury. “And you took my feelings and threw them in the toilet. I’ll never forgive you for what you?—”

Lucas talked over her. “Five years is a mighty long time, princess. And having a child together?” His jaw hardened. “Well, that’s not something I take lightly.”

Magnolia stood. “I realize how crazy all of this sounds,” she said stiffly, “but it’s what I’m reduced to.”

The vulnerable note in Magnolia’s voice tugged at Lucas. For one inestimably tiny moment, his frustration at Magnolia ebbed. He let out a long sigh. “Look, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry that you’re being put in this position. I hope you’re able to find someone decent who can suit your needs. I’m just not that guy.Goodnight, sis,” he clipped to Lexi. With a curt nod to both women, he strode out the door, slamming it behind him.

Chapter Three

“That went well,” Magnolia huffed. Tears burned her eyes as she collapsed into the loveseat. “I can’t believe you picked Lucas to fix me up with.” Her voice broke. “I’m doomed.”

Lexi threw her hands into the air. “I didn’t realize that y’all had a history.” She looked Magnolia in the eye. “You never told me that you cared about my brother.”

“You knew about the note I wrote him,” she sniffed. Every time Magnolia thought about the humiliation of that note, she wanted to punch Lucas and Mikey Sanders—in that order.

“Yeah, in the seventh grade. That was a lifetime ago.” Lexi sat down on the couch. “I didn’t realize y’all dated after high school. When?”

“Remember when I spent that month in Franklin? A couple of summers after high school?”

Lexi nodded.

“It was then.” Tears pooled in Magnolia’s eyes before dribbling down her cheeks. She hated the desperation that clawed at her. “Lucas hates me.”

“You’re not exactly his favorite person, as it turns out, but he doesn’t hate you. Lucas is just prickly.”

Magnolia snorted. “Is that what you call it? He’s downright cruel.”

Lexi gave her a shrewd look. “You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d say that you’ve still got a thing for my brother.”

Heat flamed Magnolia’s cheeks. “That’s ridiculous. I’ve long since gotten over him.” She had thought of Lucas on occasion, but wild horses couldn’t drag that admission from her lips. When she asked Lexi to fix her up with someone, she never imagined it would be Lucas.

“If you say so,” Lexi drawled.

“Anyway, it doesn’t matter how I feel. Lucas isn’t going along with it.” She felt Lexi studying her. “What?” she growled.

“I wouldn’t throw in the towel just yet. There’s a good chance Lucas might come around.”

“Really?” Magnolia squeaked, surprised by the burst of hope in her breast.

“Yeah. He just needs time to think it over.”

“Lucas is one of the most infuriating men I’ve ever met,” Magnolia spouted. “I can’t believe he had the audacity to call me a hoity toity diva.” Her voice rose. “Do you think I’m a hoity toity diva?” she asked when she saw the laughter in Lexi’s eyes.

“I think the truth is somewhere in the middle,” Lexi answered diplomatically.

Magnolia took in a deep breath. “I thought you were gonna fix me up with someone like Asher, not your brother,” she pouted.

“There’s only one Asher, and he’s taken.”

“Yeah, I know. Too bad.”

“Hey,” Lexi countered, giving her a sharp look.

“I’m teasing.” Magnolia folded her arms over her chest, her brain spinning like a kite in a hurricane. “So, where do we go from here?”

Lexi tipped her head. “Well, we start with dinner on Thursday.”

“Yeah, right. Like Lucas will agree to come.”

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