Page 41 of Knockout (Whiskey Dolls 2)

I looked back to the barren ground just as Jude’s annoyingly sexy face popped into my head. “That really is a good idea,” I said, my tone thoughtful. “And I think the kids would love something like that, being responsible for growing something beautiful or being able to eat food they tended to themselves.”

“Exactly. Which is why I’m so bummed.”

I turned my head to look back at her. “I may know someone who can help.”

She sucked in a delighted gasp and clapped her hands together. “Really?”

“Yeah. Don’t hold me to it just yet. I have to talk to him first. But I’ll give you a call and let you know, one way or another.”

I hoped the hot and cold we tended to run with each other wouldn’t affect Jude’s ability to do something out of the kindness of his heart. But I couldn’t imagine him not helping out if I asked. Something told me he’d be happy to teach these kids what he knew.

“This is so fantastic! I can’t wait!”

“Don’t get your hopes up yet, babe. I told you, I have to talk to him first.”

“Too late. They’re already up, so I suggest you work a miracle, or my next freak-out will be on you.” She let out a shrilleeep! and bounced in place. But her excitement died a quick death just before she muttered, “Damn it, I just tinkled myself a little bit. Stupid pregnancy!”

And once more, I burst into laughter.

18

Layla

Icouldn’t remember the last time I’d been so...indifferent when it came to getting ready for a date. I’d been an anxious mess for my blind date with none other than the bane of my existence, Jude Kingsley, but that was solely because I had no idea who I was meeting. Once that was cleared up, everything had been great. Better than great, actually.

Even before that particular date, whenever I was getting ready to go out with a guy, I usually felt excitement at the possibility of what could be. However, when it came to my date with Bax—George—I would have rather changed into a comfy pair of sweats, ripped off my bra, and spent the night binging serial killer documentaries on one of the million streaming apps I used to satiate my true crime obsession.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, my mascara wand held aloft halfway to my face, I gave Mirror Layla a pep talk. “Just get it over with. It’s one night, it won’t kill you. And if it goes how your gut is telling you it will, be sure to saynoif he asks you out again.”

With that little one-sided conversation having effectively pepped me up as much as possible, I finished applying my mascara, gave my hair a little fluff, and looked over my outfit one last time. It was a movie in the park in the middle of fall in the mountains, meaning it would be chilly, so I’d dressed accordingly.

My bootcut jeans hung over my favorite adorable brown county boots that were definitely made for style over function. Up top, I wore a comfy yet stylish blush-colored knit sweater with a wide enough weave that you could see through it a bit, and a cream camisole beneath to provides a bit of modesty.

I didn’t bother going all out on my hair and makeup like I had during my date with Jude at The Groves, choosing instead to keep things more natural, mainly because I just didn’t care. If Bax had an issue with it, that was his problem, not mine.

With the minuscule primping completed, I shut off the light to my bathroom and headed into the kitchen to pour some much needed wine. Ten minutes had passed by the time I’d finished half the glass and there was no sign of Bax anywhere. I’d grabbed my phone to call him, only to realize we’d never actually exchanged numbers. Hefting myself up on one of the stools at the bar that separated my kitchen from the living room, I rested my chin in my palm and clicked out a beat with my nails against the granite counter as I waited impatiently. One minute turned into two, then ten, then fifteen. By the time 6:30 rolled around, I was ready to call the whole night a loss.

I’d been stood up, no two ways about it. I felt that initial rush of annoyance at being ghosted, but then, after a minute of stewing, realized this was a blessing in disguise. It wasn’t as if I’d had my heart set on this date. I wasn’t exactly sure when it happened, but at some point, my crush on George Baxter had just...disappeared.

As much as I fought the idea, it probably happened around the time I stopped hating Jude—except when he was being a jackass, which was fairly regularly—and had developed a minor crush onhim.

God, I was a mess.

I could have stripped down and put my comfy clothes back on, but I looked cute, damn it, and I had just enough wine in my system that I felt like showing myself off. Snatching my phone off the counter, I scrolled through to Asher’s name and hit call.

She answered on the second ring. “Hey, babe. What’s up?”

“Hey. You busy tonight?”

“Not particularly. Why?”

“They’re showing movies in Gaslight Park tonight. Feel like going?”

“Ooh, fun! Count me in. But—wait...weren’t you supposed to be going there on a date with that hottie from upstairs?”

I blew out a sigh and threw back more wine. “That was the original plan, but he was a no show.”

She sucked in an affronted gasp through the line. “That son of a bitch stood you up? I’ll kill him!”

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