Page 193 of Lavender Lake
“Lucy, how do you feel about mustaches?” Poet asked.
“I think they’re delightful,” Lucy said.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Wyn said with a raised brow.
“Fine,” I sighed. “You’ll stay at The Regal Beagle when you guys come.”
“You’re coming to town!” Lucy exclaimed.
“Labor Day,” Hadley said.
“Oh good. I’ll make sure to order those special candies you like so much, Poet. And you’ll text me the soda you like, Wyn?” Lucy asked.
“Will do,” Wyn said.
“Thanks, Lucy,” Poet said.
“Wait, you guys text?” I asked in surprise.
“Of course!” Lucy said. “You two are so busy now, I gotta make sure they’re not out of the loop.”
Hadley and I exchanged a dumbfounded look.
“Oh, the boys are showing up,” Lucy said, her attention moving to the front of the show.
I gave Hadley back her phone and she turned her cell so Wyn and Poet could watch. Declan and Cas sauntered up first and took their places next to one another at two wood piles. Cole and Gideon followed.
Chelsea, Wade’s girlfriend, saw me and waved. There was still a free chair next to Hadley and she immediately sat down.
“Wade’s not doing the competition?” Lucy asked her.
Chelsea shook her head. “He and his dad are crazy busy at the mobile bar right now. Their summer mocktails are flying off the proverbial shelves.” She looked at me. “No Muddy? Or your dad?”
“This isn’t really our dad’s type of event,” I said. “And I have no idea where Muddy is actually. Do you know where she is, Hadley?”
“Nope.” Her eyes flitted away from mine and my gaze narrowed at her.
“When he was younger, this was definitely your father’s event,” Lucy said. “He won several times. Impressed the hell out of your mother, if I recall.”
Gracie joined us, cheeks flushed and hair askew. I touched her face. “Bakery oven, you ran here, or something else?”
Her hands went to her face. “All of the above. Plus, Cole texted me something naughty . . .”
She flashed her husband a grin and waved to him. He waved back.
“Oooh, we’ve got some new blood this year,” Eloise said as she took the seat next to Lucy. “Are those the Monroe boys? Where’s the other one?”
“Chase went to Waco to visit his girlfriend,” Hadley explained.
“All right, ladies,” Eloise said. “Let’s start the betting.”
Cas unbuttoned his shirt and took it off to reveal muscles and ink and a chest I wanted to run my tongue all over.
The other contenders removed their shirts and tossed them aside.
“Oh my,” Lucy said. “This just got interesting.”
I looked at Hadley and grinned. Her eyes were glazed and she couldn’t look away from Declan.
