Page 6 of An Uphill Battle

“Puh-lease, don’t sound so hesitant. You know damn good and well that I have phenomenal taste. Need I remind you of the dress I put you in for your first date with your nowhusband?”

“Hush, nobody likes agloater.”

“No, but everyone likes to be well-dressed, so c’mon, to the closet we go.” She dutifully follows me to her closet and stands patiently while I flip through the hangers. “No. No. Hell no! Ooh, wait! Yes, this!” I hang the winner on the little antique brass hook she has on the back of the bathroom door before heading over to the armoire in thecorner.

“AzzyJo, I think I can pick my ownundergarments.”

“I’m sure you can, but I remember this set you bought a while back, and it’s just what you need.” Not to mention, I’m ninety-nine percent positive she’s never worn it. And sure enough, I find it, still in the bag, no less, stuffed in the very back of the topdrawer.

“Here ya go,” I tell her, shoving the little pink-striped bag into her hands. “Go get dressed and then we’ll take your hairdown.”

A few minutes later, Myla Rose steps out, dressed to kill in a stunning long-sleeved emerald crushed velvet dress. It has a demure neckline and hits her mid-thigh. The back of the dress, however, is all drama, with a deep vee that reaches to just before the swell of her hips. She looks gorgeous, and Cash is going to die.Gah! I wish I had someone to dress upfor.

“Well, like always, you’re right. What shoes do I wear withthis?”

“Take your curls down, and I’ll go look.” I rummage through the bottom of her closet for a minute or two before finding the most perfect little booties. I bring them to her in the bathroom, and she cocks her head to the side, studying theshoes.

“I don’t recognizethose.”

“That’s because they’re mine. No clue how they ended up in your closet, but they’re exactly what this outfit needs, so who cares?” She slips them on and does a littletwirl.

“Thank you so much, Azalea. I’d be lost withoutyou.”

“Nah, you wouldn’t be lost. You’d just befrumpy.”

Just as she’s about to throw a comeback my way, we hear the sound of Cash’s truck in the driveway. “Oh, crap! I still need topack!”

“So, pack. I’ll go stall that man ofyours.”

I take the stairs two at a time, only to stumble over the last two. But, instead of face-planting onto the landing, I find myself wrapped in strong arms, with my face buried in a strong, familiarchest.

Drake’schest.

“What’re you doing here?” My tone is snippy and accusing, and I hate it. I hate how he affectsme.

“I’m here to babysit, Little Bit. What’re you doin’here?”

“Uh. I’m here to... babysittoo?”

His eyes gleam, and his smile widens as he pulls me closer to him. “If it isn’t my lucky day,” he murmurs, low and gritty in my ear, causing me to shiver. I need to pull away. Why haven’t I pulled away?Because these arms feel like home!yells the stupid voice in my head, but I shut her shit down real fast. There’s nothinghomeabout Drake Collins. No, nothing atall.

I bring my hands to his shoulders, and he smirks down at me like he likes where this is going. That smirk drops to a frown when instead of leaning further into him, I shove him away. “You can go. I am perfectly fine watching B-Man bymyself.”

“I’m sure you are, but I think I’ll stay.” UGH!Thisman!

I’m two seconds from tearing into him when Cash walks up. “Oh, hey, Azalea. I didn’t know you’d be here.”Lies.I can hear it in his voice, and his guilty, darting eyes only confirm it. This is a setup, which I guess I deserve, what with how I set him and Myla Rose up. Only, Drake and I will not have the same outcome they did. There’s no “I do”happily ever afterbullshit for us. No way, nohow.

“Mmmhmm.Nice.”

Drake playfully nudges my shoulder. “C’mon, Azalea, it’ll be fun to play house. Maybe we caneven—”

“NOPE!” I cut him off, effectively putting an end to wherever his thoughts were headed, because Lord knows, it was nowheregood.

“Oh, good, you’re both here,” Myla quips as she descends the stairs, and just as predicted, Cash is awestruck when he sees hiswife.

“Good God, darlin’.” His voice is hoarse, and it feels like we’re intruding on a private moment, so I grab Drake’s hand and pull him toward thekitchen.

“What was that for?” Drake asks once the happy couple is safely out ofview.

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