Page 36 of Finding You

Before she knew it, Ashlynn was back with three shot glasses. She put one down in front of each of them. With her mouth opened to protest, Ashlynn held up a hand to stop her. “Wouldn’t you rather have a week of wonderful than a lifetime of wondering?”

Damn.

“You say you’re leaving after the festival? That’s over a week away. Why spend that time being miserable…”

“And frustrated,” Avery interjected.

Ashlynn chuckled. “When you could be spending it wrapped around a sexy guy who is probably dying for you to give him the merest hint that you’re interested.”

MacKenzie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “And the shots?”

“For a little encouragement,” Ashlynn said with a grin. “We’ll toast. We’ll drink. And then you are going to get your man.”

Could it really be that simple?

Hmm…

With a sly grin, she looked at her new friends. “Actually,” she began and then quickly downed her tequila, “I think I’m gonna need a little while longer to dance and meet more of the good people of Sweetbriar Ridge.”

Both Avery and Ashlynn laughed out loud. “She means men!” Ashlynn whispered loudly.

“Excellent plan,” Avery agreed. “Let’s guarantee that by the time you’re ready to leave, Devin won’t be able to say no.”

“Well? What are we waiting for?” MacKenzie asked as she stood. “Let’s go get ‘em!”

She was dancing.

Again.

Six songs later and MacKenzie hadn’t sat down for a minute. Devin should know. He’d been watching his watch. Well…when he wasn’t watching her.

She looked beautiful and wild and totally uninhibited–like she was having the time of her life. And the guys of Sweetbriar Ridge were practically panting after her.

“Dude,” Will said from beside him. “Why don’t you just ask her to dance? Or better yet, haul her over your shoulder and take her home!”

Devin glared at him. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Will chuckled and took a pull from his beer. “Okay. Sure. You keep telling yourself that. But I’ve been watching the two of you all week. You’re constantly watching her and she does the same thing to you.”

Devin perked up a bit. “She does not.”

Nodding, Will grinned. “She does too. As a matter of fact, when you’re working on her car and bent over the hood, she spends a littleextratime watching you. If I had to take a guess, I’d say she’s particularly attracted to your ass.”

Devin couldn’t help but chuckle. “Don’t be a dick.”

“Just calling it as I see it.”

“Yeah, well…it’s not gonna happen.”

“And why is that?”

Rolling his eyes, Devin opted not to answer and took another long pull of his beer. MacKenzie was laughing at something some guy was whispering in her ear, and Devin felt an overwhelming urge to stalk across the room and put an end to it.

“Look, I get it, man. You’ve got this plan in your head about your life. You always have,” Will said. “But sometimes it’s okay to go off-script. Take a chance.”

Without looking away from MacKenzie and the guy who wasn’t going to live to see the festival, he replied, “She’s leaving.”

“That’s what I’m saying,” Will said with a loud sigh. “She doesn’t have to be your freaking wife, Devin. It’s okay to have a little fun once in a while without it being part of some master plan.”

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