Page 33 of Nashville Lights

“Dakota Beatrice Boone. Tell me right now. Thereissomeone.”

She barely shrugs. “I wouldn’t call it asomeone. More of a we’ve-had-two-conversations-and-he’s-hot, that’s all. And he’s not a local. He’s just visiting. He’s a bull rider, believe it or not. He’s from Montana.”

“Wow. A rodeohero? Sounds promising. What’s his name?”

“Wyatt. His family are ranchers.”

I elbow her. “Sounds even more promising.”

She laughs. “We’ll see. He’s also the new shiny toy in town, and just passing through. Every girl is after him. Apparently he just broke up with a long-time girl from back home and he’s still partly heartbroken, so of course everyone wants to be the one to fix his broken heart.”

“But he’s got his eye on you.”

“Hardly. As I said, we’ve had two conversations. Anyway, all eyes will be on you. This whole town is obsessed with the Tuckers.”

“The TuckerBrothers, maybe. Not their behind-the-scenes manager.”

“That’s until they get one look at you. You look amazing, Rox. Your exciting life obviously agrees with you.”

“Thanks.” I take a long sip of the iced tea Dakota brought for us. Since it’s Dakota, she packed a whole cooler complete with ice and lemon wedges. “Aside from the bags under my eyes, you mean.”

“They’re not so bad,” she smiles. “Nothing a few good nights’ sleep won’t fix.”

Tobias’s truck pulls up in the parking lot next to the pool.

He lets himself into the pool area, looking cool with his sunglasses and flamboyant outfit. “Damn,girls.” Tobias letsout a low whistle. “When did my sisters turn into Sports Illustrated cover models?”

“We’re not calling her our sister anymore, Tobes,” Dee tells him. “For…reasons.”

“What reasons?”

“No reasons,” I cut Dakota off before she can continue, then I deftly change the subject. “How’d the birthday party drop-off go?”

“Without a hitch,” Tobias confirms. “They loved the cake. Twelve princesses were very impressed by the pink icing. It’s Harper Mason’s party and apparently Daisy goes there for playdates all the time. She was excited about the sleepover. And Harper’s mother has been briefed on the plan if she wakes up in the night.”

“Poor Daze,” Dee murmurs. “Hopefully it’ll go smoothly.”

“Dakota Boone, get your sweet ass up out of that lounger and help me with the hoedown prep. And no you may not help us, Rox, so don’t ask or insist. It won’t be tolerated. You can remain poolside, relaxing.”

“What time is it?” My i-Watch, a birthday present from Travis, is in my bag, up at the house.

“Almost five-thirty.”

“Is it?” It’s later than I thought.

“Roxie’s going over to Nate’s to get a tour of his house,” Dakota tells him.

“Nice.” Finally, a normal reaction. Tobias doesn’t read anything into the innocent piece of information.

Dee leans over and kisses my cheek. “Enjoy. See you when we see you, honey.”

“I’ll see you both later on.”

Once they’re gone, I lower myself into the water to cool off. My heartbeat feels warmer than usual, radiating a slow glow of…anticipation, maybe.

It’s a tour of his house, that’s all.

I dry myself off, pull a pink sundress on over my bikini and head to Nate’s.

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