Page 37 of Stunner (Whiskey Dolls 3)

She hauled her daughter up, propping her on her hip. “Hi, baby. You have a good time with Uncle Owen today?”

“Yeah!” she cheered. “I gave him and Gus a makeover!”

The dog in question came trotting out of the kitchen, his fur covered in sparkly bows and clips.

I let out another giggle, drawing the little girl’s attention. “Mommy,” she whispered, clinging tighter to her mother’s neck and lowering her eyes so she could look up at me through her lashes as a shy flush kissed her pink cheeks, “who’s the pretty lady?”

I melted into a puddle of goo right then and there.

“That’s Uncle Owen’s special friend.”

That heat returned to my cheeks at her explanation, but I did my best to shake off the nerves as I smiled down at her and held out my hand. “Hi, I’m Asher.”

“I’m Hazel,” she said quietly as she took my hand in a soft grip and gave it a careful shake. “I’m six. When I grow up, I’m gonna do famous people’s makeup.”

“I believe it. I’ve seen what you can do,” I told her, the corners of my mouth curling upward. “You’re very talented.”

Her blush grew darker, a timid smile taking over her face before she ducked into the crook of her mother’s neck. My God, she was just the cutest thing in the whole wide world.

“It’s time to go,” Hardin stated as she placed Hazel back on her feet. “Get your stuff together.”

Hazel skipped off, moving toward a case of makeup the size of a briefcase and flipping the latches so she could open it and inspect everything inside. I pulled my focus from her and back to Hardin as she stepped in closer. Her voice came out in a whisper as she said, “I know my brother is a first-rate idiot, but he’s not a bad guy. I hope you’ll give him a chance to explain.” Surprise rendered me speechless as she moved back with a smile. “Once the dust settles, we’ll go out for drinks, and I’ll give you all the embarrassing stories from his childhood. Sound good?”

I returned her grin, that plan holding an insane appeal. “I’d really like that.”

“Me too. I don’t get enough grownup time as it is.” Then she called out to her daughter. “Let’s go, sugar puff.”

“Bye, Uncle Owen!” Hazel shouted as she ran to Gus and wrapped her arms around his fluffy neck, giving him some love.

I turned at the creak of Owen’s bedroom door opening and felt my heart rate kick up simply at the sight of him. He really was too damn handsome for his own good—or mine for that matter. It would have been so easy to forget I was mad at him for blowing me off the past few days.

“Give me a smooch before you go, munchkin.”

A tingle formed low in my belly as I watched Hazel run to her uncle and hold her arms wide so he could scoop her up with ease. The muscles strained and bulged in his arms, making the patterns he had tattooed into his skin dance. Resting her on his hip, he wrapped those large arms around her tiny body with so much care and love, closing his eyes as he inhaled her hair while she latched onto his neck and squeezed with every ounce of strength she had. It was clear to see she adored the ground her uncle walked on, and he cherished her just the same.

At witnessing him with her, something warm and tingly built deep within my belly, slowly spreading throughout the rest of my body like molten lava. Good Lord, just when I thought hecouldn’t possibly get hotter, he went and proved me wrong. He was downright combustible, and I wasn’t sure my lady parts were safe in his presence.

He pressed his face into her neck and blew a big raspberry against her skin, causing her to break into a peel of laughter as she squirmed and fought against his hold. Finally he pulled back and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose, making my ovaries explode, before putting her back on the ground.

She scampered toward her mother, stopping in front of me just long enough to tilt her head back to look up and say, “Bye, Ms. Asher. You’re super pretty.”

“Bye, sweetie.” I leaned forward and lowered my voice to a whisper. “And you’re even prettier.”

She giggled and danced off, taking her mom’s hand before they disappeared out the front door, leaving me alone with Owen.

A handful of seconds ticked by where neither of us spoke a word. Then finally, he broke it. “Hi,” he said, low and gravelly.

I turned on him, making sure to narrow my eyes into slits, determined to gain my anger back after meeting the lovely Hazel, because I’d be damned if I let him get away with the silent treatment he’d been subjecting me to.

It wasn’t easy, especially not with the contrition swimming in those green eyes, but I held firm. “‘Hi’? Seriously? You’ve been ghosting me for three days and that’s how you’re going to start?”

He stepped in closer, his delicious smell making my head all fuzzy. “You look beautiful.”

Oh, he was good.Damn it! Stay strong, Asher! I silently scolded. I blew past the compliment like I hadn’t heard it, even while flutters erupted in my chest. “What was your plan, Owen? Were you just going to ignore me and hope I forgot that you were supposed to be my date to a happeningtomorrow?”

He took another step toward me, but I mirrored the action, keeping distance between us. His expression blanketed with remorse as he insisted, “I wouldn’t have done that. I know I’ve been an asshole the past few days. There’s no excuse. All I can tell you is I’m really fucking sorry, honey.”

Not good enough, I thought. “What happened?” I demanded to know. On the drive over here, I’d made a deal with myself. I wasn’t exactly sure what was happening between Owen and me, but I knew I was drawn to him in a way that was impossible to ignore, however unless he gave me the truth, I was walking. “Does your disappearing have something to do with Jackson?”

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