Page 14 of Stunner (Whiskey Dolls 3)

Mom lifted her index finger in the air and spoke, “But first, we need to rid you of the bad ju-ju you’re carrying around so you don’t take it with you into your next home.”

My brows furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about? What bad ju-ju?”

“Don’t you worry yourself about that. I’ll take care of it. I just need your wedding dress, a can of gasoline, and a box of matches.”

7

OWEN

Be there, I thought, repeating my sister’s advice in my head as I guided my Blazer through the winding streets of Asher’s neighborhood. That was exactly what I was going to do, I was going tobe there.

The grin that had been tugging at my lips the whole drive from Hardin’s house back to Asher’s quickly disappeared the moment I turned onto her street. My stomach sank at the sight of the big red fire truck sitting right in front of her house.

Neighbors had come out to gawk, milling along the sidewalks and curbs to get a better look. I drove up as close as I could before slamming my truck into park and throwing the door open. I scanned the growing crowd and spotted a buddy of mine who worked for the Grapevine Fire Department.

“Ford,” I called as I jogged up, waving an arm to get his attention. I’d known Ford Grimes since he moved to Grapevine a handful of years ago to take a job with our local fire department. I met him for the first time when he brought his dog in with a nasty snakebite. Ford had grown up a city boy, so our small town had been a bit of a culture shock. He—and his dog—eventually adjusted, we became pretty tight, and now we met up once a week to let off some steam by shooting pool over a couple beers.

“Hey, man. What’s up?” he asked far too casually given the situation.

“What the hell happened?” I asked, my heart in my throat, making the words come out in a croak.

Reading my tone, the easygoing friend disappeared, replaced quickly by the professional. “You know the woman who lives here?”

“I do. Is she okay? Is she hurt?”

Ford held his hands up in a placating gesture. “She’s all right. Everyone is.”

A chill ran through my veins like I’d just been slapped in the face by a blistering gust of ice-cold air. “Everyone? Is there a guy here?”

“Guy? No. It was three women as far as I know. Apparently, they were having themselves a little revenge bonfire in the backyard, and things got out of control. But it’s all good.”

My chin jerked back in confusion. “Revenge bonfire?” I asked just as another voice sounded from a few yards away.

“I’m so sorry. We didn’t mean for this to get so out of hand.”

It felt like an anvil being lifted off my chest at the sight of Asher, and without a backward glance, I started for her. “Asher.”

Her head jerked, twisting away from the cop she was talking to and toward me. “Owen?” she squeaked, her eyes rounding in shock. “W-what are you—how did you—”

Before she could get her question out, another voice spoke up. “It really wasn’t that big of a deal, officer. It was just a teeny little fireball. We’re all fine, there’s no need for all the fuss.”

“Mom,” Asher hissed. “Just stop talking, will you?”

The woman I knew as Gloria Rose, Asher’s mother, pushed herself to the front of the little group, standing off with the officer at least a foot and a half taller than her petite self. She was dressed in a brightly colored skirt that flowed all the way to the ground and a T-shirt that read: I’m the Woman Your MomWarned You About. It was a look that was very on brand for the eccentric, lively woman.

She whipped around on her daughter, and it wasn’t hard to see where Asher got most of her looks. The dark hair and goldish-green eyes came from her mother, only Gloria’s hair was now smattered with streaks of gray she had no problem letting run free. Asher’s only trait I could see possibly coming from her father was her height and build. Though she and her mom looked alike, Asher stood several inches taller and rocked curves that were far more pronounced. “Well it’s true! And that pissant neighbor of yours wouldn’t have nearly gotten his eyebrows blown clean off if he hadn’t been sticking his nose where it didn’t belong.”

I shook my head, hoping it would help make sense of what I was hearing. “Someone mind telling me what the hell happened?” I looked back at Asher, one brow arched. “I only left you a few hours ago, and you’ve already nearly burned the house down?”

“Oh, Owen!” Gloria’s entire demeanor changed the moment she laid eyes on me, a smile wreathed her face and her eyes brightened considerably. “It’s so good to see you, sweetie.” She came to a stop in front of me and lifted her hand to pat my cheek affectionately just like she did every time she came into the clinic with her demon spawn of a cat, Lou, short for Lucifer, because the thing was pure evil.

“Ms. Rose. It’s good to see you too.”

“I’ve told you, dear, just call me Gloria.”

“Gloria,” I corrected.

“So...” She crossed her arms over her chest and smiled slyly. “What brings you by?”

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