Page 20 of Hello Tease

Liv glanced in the mirror at Della, and I felt a silent conversation taking place between the two of them.

“What?” I asked.

“You know what they say about bad ideas,” Liv said.

Della smirked. “They’re the best kind.”

I laughed. I could already tell tonight was going to be fun. Liv pulled up in front of a big brick building with a sign that said The Hen House illuminated out front. She didn’t honk this time, instead getting out her phone and texting.

“This is my brother and sister-in-law’s place,” Liv explained. “They own boutique assisted-living apartments all over Texas, but they live in this one.”

The front door opened, and a curvy woman with glowing bronze skin came out dressed in a sleeveless blue dress. A gold necklace shined on her neck and a gold headband pulled back short, curly hair.

“She’s gorgeous,” I said.

“Agreed,” Della said. “Total bombshell.”

She came to the other side of the truck, getting in the back seat. Liv introduced us, and Henrietta said, “So you’re the famous Larkin. Everyone in town has been talking about fresh meat.”

I laughed. “Not sure I’ll get used to that.”

“You don’t,” Henrietta agreed. “I moved here from California. Years later, and I’m still surprised how much I learn about myself when I go to the grocery store.”

Smiling, I realized I already felt at ease around her. Liv started driving, saying, “We’re meeting my other sister-in-law, Maggie, and her friend Camryn at the bar. It’s not too far from here.”

“Sounds good,” I said.

My phone vibrated, and I glanced down at it to see a new text message from Knox. Inside was a photo of Emily and Maya on the couch with Jackson bundled up in a blanket between them. Emily had her open mouth on Jackson’s forehead while he grinned, all the teeth he had showing. The message said...

I told the girls they could have ice cream, but they made a burrito instead.

I smiled down at my phone, and from the driver’s seat, Liv said, “I recognize that smile. Who’s the guy you’re texting?”

My cheeks instantly heated. “Knox sent me a pic of the kids.”

“Let me see!” Henrietta said.

I showed her the phone, and her lips spread in a smile. “They are so cute, Lark!”

“Thank you.” I knew I liked her. Then I showed Della, and she smiled. “Gosh, I hope I get to have a family someday. They are so adorable.”

“Is it hard to date in a small town?” I asked. Maybe a little bit for personal reasons.

They all exchanged looks, and Liv answered, “I married my brother’s best friend and Henrietta met my brother while he was working in California.”

“So yes,” Della finished. “There aren’t a ton of men to choose from.”

“Just the Madigan family?” I asked. “What about Hayes? He’s got that whole bad-boy-begging-to-be-tamed thing going on.”

Della laughed. “Remember the part where I said I wanted babies one day?”

With her eyebrows waggling, Henrietta said, “You’d have a good time with him though.”

“Worth it,” Liv teased. “So you’ll have spicy memories for when you’re a married old broad like me.” She parked diagonally on Main Street in front of a flickering neon sign reading Twisters. “Ladies, time to make some wild memories.”

11

KNOX

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