Page 133 of Bourbon Bliss
Cassidy was right, there were still more questions than answers. It seemed as if every new clue only muddied the waters. That bothered me deeply and I vowed I’d do everything I could to help the Bodines find out what had really happened. I’d exposed Abbie Gilbert. Maybe I could help discover the truth about Callie Kendall, too.
42
George
It was the perfect day for moving. The sun was out, but it wasn’t hot. Traffic from Philly had been minimal. I’d spent the last week packing and getting rid of things I wouldn’t need. Today, on a bright day in May, the movers loaded up what was left and drove it out to my new home in Bootleg Springs.
The home I was sharing with my June Bug.
Her house already had plenty of furniture, so I’d gotten rid of most of mine. I had some memorabilia from my years playing football that she was champing at the bit to put on display. She’d also decided she liked my couch better than hers, so we were switching that out. But all in all, it was an easy move, as moves went.
My career was over, my house sold, and I couldn’t have been happier about any of it. If I’d played another season, I might never have come to Bootleg Springs. I might never have met June Tucker. And that would have been a damn shame.
I paused on the grass in front of her house—or rather,ourhouse—to watch her. She directed the movers with her no-nonsense brand of confidence, making sure they knew exactly where to put things. Back straight, arms at her sides, expression neutral. She was strange and beautiful and oddly hypnotic. I loved her.
I was an absolute goner for June Tucker. Seven billion people on this planet, and I couldn’t imagine there was another one like her. She was logical, blunt, and so smart she made my head spin. But she was also passionate and determined. She challenged me, made me want to be better than I was, and I loved the hell out of her for it.
That woman was mine, and she was going to be mine forever. I wasn’t sure if she knew it yet, and I wasn’t going to rush her. But I was going to marry June Tucker someday.
“Why don’t you take a break?” I asked, walking up next to her. “They’ve got this under control.”
“It’s a more efficient use of everyone’s time if I ensure they put boxes in the correct locations. Otherwise we’ll have to move them a second time.”
“Everything’s labeled.”
“That’s true, but I’m not completely confident they’re reading the labels.”
I slid my arms around her, pulling her in for a kiss. “You’re cute when you’re insisting on maximum organization and efficiency.”
“I can’t tell if that’s a serious statement.”
“Of course I’m serious,” I said. “You’re adorable.”
Jonah came out the front door, just as the two movers took a load in. “How’s it going down here?”
“Almost unloaded,” I said.
“Thanks. I’m all packed and ready for them.”
Although June and I had offered to let Jonah stay—we didn’t need the extra bedroom—he’d decided to move out. When June had announced to everyone that we were officiallyengaging in a living arrangement of mutually agreed-upon cohabitation—and I’d explained that she meant we were moving in together—everyone had looked at Gibson, as if expecting him to offer to let Jonah move in with him. Gibson had said nothing, just raised one eyebrow, and Jonah had quickly said he’d decided to find his own place.
Shelby pulled up in her little blue sedan. Her hair was in a bouncy ponytail and she waved at me from the street.
“Hey, big giant brother,” she said as she walked over. “Hey, June.”
“Hello, Shelby,” June said.
I knew it could take a little while for June to warm up to people—not to mention the other way around—but she and my sister seemed to get along. June had even suggested we offer the soon-to-be vacant bedroom to Shelby after Jonah moved out. Shelby had thanked us, but decided to stay in her B&B for the time being. I got the feeling that she was grateful for the offer, but didn’t want to intrude on our privacy.
To be honest, I was glad. I loved my sister, but I didn’t really want her sleeping one room away. Not when June had only recently discovered her sex kitten side. We’d been having a hell of a lot of fun exploring her sexuality. I wasn’t too keen on anything that would put a damper on that.
“Hey Jonah, have you met my sister, Shelby?” I asked.
Jonah hesitated, and when he spoke, there was coldness in his tone. “Yeah, we’ve met.”
“Hi,” Shelby said, flashing him a smile. “Nice to see you again, Jonah.”
“You too,” he said. “Um, I have to get going. Moving out and everything.”
