Page 36 of Take Two

“That’s different,” is all he says. “And she never dumped me. What the heck are you talkin’ about?”

“She didn’t dump you? That’s hilarious, but why is my situation so different? Because I’m a drunk and you’re not?”

“That’s not what I’m sayin’.” He looks around, probably to make sure the coast is clear. “As far as I know, you haven’t had a real relationshipwith—”

“Yeah, you don’t know because you cut me out of your life for years.” That finally gets him to shut up. He blanches. “And you’re right. I haven’t. At least not with someone who wasn’t also a drunk. I’m doing thangs differently, and Lettie doesn’t judge me. She’s not always on pins and needles waitin’ for me to screw up. She’s not always watching me and waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s nice being with someone who doesn’t know the old me. She goes out of her way to accommodate me, and you’re actin’ like a jerk.”

He holds both hands up and says, “First of all, you’re overreactin’. I’m doing no such thang. All I want is for you—” He doesn’t get a chance to finish the sentence because Violet comes around the corner. She smiles at me and wraps her arm through mine.

“There you are,” she says. “I’m full. You don’t need to get me any more food.” She looks from me to Colt. “Are you okay?”

“Fine, darlin’,” I say. “Let’s go get your bag from the car.” I put my arm around her and walk away from my brother, but I feel his eyes on my back all the way to the house.

Chapter 19

Violet

It was on the tip of my tongue to suggest we get in the car and drive back to Manhattan, but I know how much Charlie’s family means to him, especially his brother. Besides, if we did that, it would upset his mother and nephews. Since I’m a guest here, I’ll keep my mouth shut and do my best to enjoymyself.

After getting my bag out of the car, Charlie takes me to his room, where I change into my bathing suit. He licks his lips when he sees me in the two-piece bikini. It takes all our willpower not to have a quickie before returning to the party.

“You look really good,” Charlie says to me when we get outside. His brown eyes roam my body, and I can see the appreciative glean in them. “Incredible.” He puts his hands on my hips and his thumbs stroke my skin, setting me on fire.

“Oh, this?’ I spin for him. I’m in a lime green bikini and I have a white, see-through dress over it. I notice that Charlie’s blue swim trunks match his brother’s and his nephews’. “This is nothing.”

“Yeah, that, darlin’. It’s everythang just like you.”

I blush at the compliment. He tucks my arm in his, and we get ourselves another drink, a fruity mocktail that’s much too sweet for my palate. We sip while sharing one chaise in front of the pool. Charlie’s hand caresses my knee while I rest my head on his shoulder.

“So, tonight is the adult-only party,” Charlie says. “There’s dinner, and Colt got Vickie to agree to read a chapter of her book.”

I nod at him. Colt Chastain loves his wife, and it’s obvious. I know he loves his brother too, and for that, I won’t punch him in the face. Not yet. Not while I’m a guest in his house, but his reaction and attitude toward me is off putting.

“Sounds fun,” I mutter.

“But tomorrow, after I make you breakfast, we’re going to spend the day doing whatever you want.”

“I like the sound of that, but I want us to do whateverwewant, not just what I want.”

“If you want to do it, I’m game.” I roll my eyes at him, but I reach over and kiss his cheek. When I look up, I see Coltwatching us from across the yard, but I don’t have time to dwell on that. Tara is walking our way holding an adorable baby girl in a pink polka dot bathing suit and a matching floppy hat. She’s also holding hands with a very handsome man. Vickie walks with them and Johnny waddles behind his mother.

“Violet,” Tara says. “I want you to meet my husband, Ethan, and our little girl Taylor. Our son, Vincent, is in the house somewhere with Evan.” I stand and shake his hand. He’s gorgeous with dark hair and blue eyes. “He just got here. We told everyone he was away on a business trip, but the truth is,” she says, lowering her voice to a whisper, “he was at the doctor’s getting his hump shaved off. If it grows back again, I’m leaving him.” I nearly choke when she says those words. His eyes light up at his wife. “Violet is here with Charlie,” she says. Charlie stands and shakes Ethan’s hand.

“Nice to meet you, Violet,” Ethan says. “I’m sure you can understand why I married her.” He jerks his thumb in her direction.

“Um, because she’s beautiful, smart, and you love her very much?”

He lets out a bark of laughter. “Hardly. Look at her.” I can see the appreciative way he looks at her body. “At best, she’s a spoiled princess. At worst, she’s Satan’s little sister. I’m a humanitarian so I married her to save a poor, unsuspecting soul from getting caught in her evil web.” Tara rolls her eyes at her husband, who leans down and kisses her cheek. He takes the baby from her.

“Don’t mind them, Violet,” Vickie says.

We chat for a few minutes until Colt joins us. “Charlie, let’s race,” he says, pointing at the pool. “Wakowski and Alan are racing too. Alan is Vickie’s twin,” Colt explains to me. I see theother two guys already at the shallow end of the pool. “Ethan, you in?” he asks.

Tara cackles and says, “Um, he’s too old to compete with you guys. And he can’t get in the water. His incision hasn’t healed yet.”

“Woman, hush,” Ethan says. “I’ll show you old tonight,” he warns. That gets the smirk off her face. She moves closer and wiggles her brows.

“I don’t wanna race,” Charlie says while he rubs my knee. “I’m fine right here.”

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