“Yes, I am. Chloe,” she said thoughtfully, tapping her finger on her lower lip. “Jazzy said that you’d just moved here as well, and thought maybe you’d be a good fit for what I’m thinking of for the flower shop.”
I nodded eagerly, pleased at the way this day was turning out after all.
“Yes, I’d love to talk with you about your plans, and what you’re looking for.”
Laurel nodded, then I introduced her to Zoey and we joined the rest of the party.
Talking with Laurel would take some of the pressure off of being there, and I was grateful to not just have someone else to talk to, but also the possibility of finding a job.
“Laurel, Chloe, you both already know Gabe, Dillon, and Ass,” Jazzy began as we joined everyone, and I flashed a small smile at Reardon, who I hadn’t seen since dinner at his house. “This dashing man is Shane,” she pointed to the dirty-blond man with a wicked smile. “He works at Aunt Annabeth’s bar, and has basically become an honorary Lewis.” Then Jasmine turned toward a tall, dark-haired man with an extremely sexy five o’clock shadow and a twinkle in his eye. “This hot piece of work, that I just met myself, is Jed. He recently moved to Cherry Springs and is doing some construction over at Gabe and Zoey’s.”
“Men,” Jazzy continued, ever dramatic. “These two beauties are Laurel, my best friend from forever, who just moved back home and is Cherry Spring’s newest business owner, and Chloe,” s
he paused, as if unsure what to say next. I didn’t have a job she could reference, and I knew she was too sweet to announce me as the mother to Gabe’s son and sister to his wife.
God, would this ever stop being awkward?
“Hi, I’m Zoey’s sister,” I filled in for her, holding out my hand and shaking with both men. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
I was sure my face was flaming from embarrassment, so I quietly excused myself from the group and went to find a place to set up my things. Once I had my stuff all laid out next to Zoey’s, I took off my cover-up, wishing I’d opted to wear a one-piece rather than my bikini, but in my defense, I had thought it was just going to be us and Jazzy.
Not daring to look over at the crowd, I dropped my cover-up on my towel and rushed to the water, diving in as soon as it got deep enough, and hoping I at least walked out of here with a job prospect.
Chapter Eleven ~ Reardon
I’m frozen. I can’t speak, think, or move.
“Little Lo Lo sure has grown up, huh?” I hear Gabe say from beside me. I even feel his hand clap me on the shoulder, but I can’t respond.
Chloe in a bikini has rendered me immobile.
“Mmm hmmm,” I manage to mumble, knowing that Gabe would expect an answer, at the same time realizing he might not be too keen on my ogling his soon-to-be sister-in-law, and mother of his child.
So, I tear my gaze away from the spot that Chloe, her tan skin barely covered by a dark-purple bikini, just dove under the water.
“What?” I ask my cousin, mentally slapping myself upside the head. “Oh, uh, yeah, Laurel looks great. Very different, but great.”
It’s then that I notice the look in my cousin slash best friend’s eyes, and hold up my hands.
“No, man, don’t even think about it.”
“Why not,” he argues with his million-dollar smile. Seriously, an athletic company paid him a million dollars to put his ugly mug on their campaigns. I should know, I wrote up the deal.
“We’ve known Laurel since she wore her hair in uneven pigtails and dyed Dillon’s underwear pink. She’s like another cousin to me. I couldn’t think of her that way, even if I wanted to.”
Gabe sighed and said, “Yeah, I know, I feel the same way, but I think you need to get out there again, Rear, start dating again. Don’t let that Becca girl get you down. Plenty of women are dying for a man with a good job, beautiful home, and awesome family, even if he does look like you.”
I chuckled at his insult, then shook my head.
“I know not all women are like Becca, but it seems like any of the women that I’m interested in, just see me as the nice guy. The friend, their buddy.”
“Sometimes that’s the best place to start, brother,” Gabe said, then sauntered off to help Zoey apply sunblock to her back.
“I think you have a little drool there,” Jazz said, appearing out of nowhere and touching her finger to the corner of my mouth.
I swatted her away and said, “Stop it.”
Jasmine sighed and looked out to where Chloe was treading water.