Page 60 of Mustang Summer

Josie scratchedher butt cheek and dug through the medicine closet in Brock’s bathroom.No calamine lotion.

Stupid mosquitoes.Can’t fuck her boyfriend under the clear blue sky without them feasting all over her bare ass.

“I can’t find any,” she called out to where he was washing their dinner dishes.It was his thing.He ate and then he did dishes.If she wasn’t done, he still ate, then did dishes.Nothing for her to get offended about because routine was important to him and while the therapy he mentioned must’ve helped him a ton, he still craved specific routines.

“The drugstore is open until seven.We can run to town.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t get bitten.”She peered at the red welts in the mirror.Three puffy, red mosquito bites.Waite Park sprayed every year, and maybe Moore did, too, just not out in the boondocks.

“They never bother me much and I’m usually covered.”

Yes, he was.Black cotton T-shirt and blue jeans, his daily uniform.She’d looked at all the tags in his laundry.One hundred percent cotton, every shirt.

And she was glad to hear he wasn’t often stripped down in the great outdoors with a girl.Still, bugs or no, she planned to have her way with her man out in the open again.The wind softly rustling through the trees, a gentle breeze to keep them cool, and vibrant nature all around—who knew she was such a country girl?

“Ready to go?”He was at the top of the stairs, holding a set of keys.“I can swap out trucks on our way.”

Her gut twisted.Would it be too much to ask that they get in and out without her having to endure another cousin?And Dillon of all people?

But she was serious about this thing with Brock, so she’d have to face his family, vandal brother or no.

They arrived at Dillon’s.His place was cute, except for the empty slab of cement where her brother had burned down his shop.The yard was neat and tidy like Brock’s and surrounded by three rows of various trees.That seemed to be the Walker thing—three rows of trees around the property.The house was newer and a ranch instead of a split level.A dog barked and ran parallel to them until Brock parked Dillon’s truck next to his F250.

Brock climbed out and ordered the dog to sit before rewarding her with some petting.The dog now perfectly docile, Josie climbed out and startled when her gaze landed on Elle approaching them.

The woman’s expression was circumspect, but not hostile.Josie’s stomach churned.Jesse had told her how he’d hit on Dillon’s girlfriend.Not out of any real interest, but to get to Dillon.Elle, for her part, had never sat in court shooting daggers at Jesse or making a scene of any kind.She’d looked as thrilled to be there as Josie had felt.

“You just missed Dillon.”Elle gestured to Brock’s pickup.“But he took my car just in case you swung by to drop his off.”Her lips twitched.“I think he secretly likes to see what he can get the car to do.”

“Thank you, Elle.”Brock dutifully went to the passenger side of his truck and opened it for Josie.

Elle watched them with interest.

“Hey.”Josie wasn’t sure what else to say, but felt like it had to be something.

“Nice to see you under different circumstances.”Elle’s tone was neutral, careful.

Josie tried to smile in return, but it was a sad one.“Yeah.Hope you’re doing well.”

She scurried into the pickup, grateful for Brock’s lack of chatting ambition.

Brock passed Elle information about Dillon’s ride before he climbed in.

They drove to town in silence.Elle seemed nice and absolutely not the vindictive sort.Josie would like to get to know her, would like to be on good terms with all of them, but it was hard to get over the hump of feeling like a traitor to her closest relative.

The drugstore was a greeting card and pharmacy combo.She went in search of calamine while Brock paged through the magazine rack.

Josie found what she was looking for and went to pay.She could see him from the register and what a nice view.His muscles bunched as he turned the magazine page and his strong profile sent her heart racing.

She’d get to snuggle up against that again tonight, too.

What they’d done earlier… When had she gotten so bold?But she was comfortable around Brock.That was as good an explanation as any for why she sat on his face.

A blush heated her cheeks.She finished checking out, hoping the clerk didn’t think she had a fever.

A woman approached Brock.She wore hospital scrubs and still managed to show off curves galore.

Josie snagged her bag of lotion and zeroed in on the woman flirtatiously tossing her messy ponytail around her boyfriend.Josie got close enough to make out what they were saying.

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