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When I walked into Raye’s office, both Sherry and Wyatt were at the front desk. She must’ve been schooling him on billing invoices because the desk was littered with multicolored paperwork.
Wyatt bolted out of his chair. “Where have you been? I’ve been texting you all afternoon.”
“Hello to you to,” I replied. He crossed his arms and waited for my explanation. “Yes, I realize you sent me a bajallion texts, stalker, but when my lead turned up zilch, I ended up running into Jackson at Tybee Island.”
“Uh-huh,” he said contemptuously.
“I’m sorry, okay? You can hate on me all you want for mixing work with some fun.”
Sherry grinned at me. “Speaking of the beach, I almost wouldn’t recognize you out of your jeans and boots and in that society gal get-up.”
I glanced down at my beach cover-up. “Tell me about it. It was a gift from my mom.”
Reaching out, Sherry felt of the fabric. “Oh man, that’s gotta be a big name. You don’t see that at Target.”
I shifted uncomfortably before replying, “Yeah, um, it’s Prada.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you shitting me? I’ve never seen any up close.”
“You can totally try it on.” I patted the bag on my shoulder. “Thankfully, I’ve got my real clothes in here.”
Sherry chuckled. “Honey, you got a nice sized chest, but I don’t think there’s any way I’d squeeze these big guns into that.”
Wyatt groaned. “Jesus, Mom, could we not talk about boobs?”
Sweeping her hands to her hips, she countered, “Oh, suddenly you don’t want to hear about them, huh? Like you and your buddies don’t talk about them constantly, not to mention the fact I’ve come across a ton of Playboys in your room.”
Wyatt clenched his jaw. “Okay, that’s it. I’m going to Starbucks to get coffee,” he growled before storming out the office.
Sherry grinned. “Uh-oh, guess I embarrassed him talking like that in front of you.”
“I’m surprised he even cared. I mean, he’s usually all cocky and self-assured.”
“Oh honey, you sure don’t know boys, do you? That’s all just part of his tough guy act. Trust me. Deep down he’s really insecure...especially with the girls.”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter. “You’re kidding me, right? Mr. Egomaniac being insecure? Nope, I don’t think so.”
“Maybe it’s more that he’s insecure with a certain type of girl—one that he thinks is out of his league,” she replied, giving me knowing look.
“Um, okay, then,” I replied, as I started for the bathroom. There was something about her words that made me uncomfortable. Once I discarded my labels for my regular jeans and button-down shirt, I felt way more like myself.
Sherry and I were discussing the plans for her and Raye’s wedding when Wyatt came back. He didn’t look at either one of us before plopping down in the chair beside me. Sherry glanced at me before saying, “Wy, I was just telling Jules about how you’re going to be Raye’s best man at the wedding.”
He acknowledged the comment with a grunt. We were interrupted by my phone ringing. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered it anyway in case it was Dad or the boys on another line.
“Hey, Jules, it’s Jackson.”
I almost dropped the phone. When I finally found my voice, I stammered, “Oh, um, hey.”
“Hope you don’t mind, but Vivian gave me your number.”
Yeah, I’m sure she was more than happy to give it to him. “Of course, it’s fine.”
“Listen, I was just thinking after you left that with Bryn gone and you not knowing a lot of people in town, maybe we could get together tonight. You know, just to hang out.”
Oh holy hell. He wanted to hang out...with me? That had to be good, right? “Yeah, I’d like that. I mean, if you’re sure you really want to. It’s totally cool if you don’t. But I really would like to. Another night at home with Aunt Viv and Mom, and I just might go crazy.” In my mind, I was screaming, “Stop rambling you incoherent idiot.”
Jackson laughed. “Yeah, I want to. How about I pick you up around six? We can grab a bite to eat down on River Street or something.”
Before I could say yes, Bryn’s face flashed in my mind. Yes, she was a heinous bitch, but was I really okay with sneaking around behind her back? Wasn’t that as good as cheating? And wouldn’t that put me in the same leagues as my mom? “Are you sure Bryn wouldn’t mind?”
“Oh yeah, she said she didn’t care if I went out with you.”
“Really? Um, okay, then. Six it is.”
When I hung up, both Wyatt and Sherry were staring expectantly at me. “That was Jackson.”
“Again? Weren’t you just with him?” Wyatt asked.
I nodded. “He wants to hang out tonight.”
“Interesting,” Wyatt replied.
“Wait, I thought he was dating your cousin?” Sherry asked.
“Yeah, he is. But she doesn’t care, which is kinda strange since we hate each other.”
“Duh, she doesn’t care because she doesn’t see you as a threat,” Wyatt said.
“Excuse me?”
“Think about it. If she honestly thought you were someone that could lure Jackson away, she wouldn’t have agreed.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks as the revelation washed over me. “Oh. My. God. You’re right. How could I not see that? I’m a total dumbass.” Bringing my hand to my forehead, I eased down into one of the crappy plastic chairs in front of the desk. Mortification and anger rocketed through me, and I seriously felt dizzy.
Sherry shot Wyatt a pissed look. “Couldn’t you have found a better way to say that? I mean, it’s not like Jules is a Quasimodo in the belfry or something. She’s a beautiful girl.”
He grimaced. “I’m sorry, but I wanted her to see the bigger picture.” He nudged my foot with his. “I’m sorry for being harsh, Jules.”
“It’s okay. It’s not your fault that she looks like Angelina Jolie. It’s fucking genetics,” I murmured.
Kneeling down beside me, Sherry jerked my chin up. “Jules, she has every right to be threatened by you.”
“Look, I think you guys aren’t seeing the total picture here. It’s not just about the fact that Bryn is hot.” When I shot him a death glare, Wyatt threw up his hands and said, “Sorry, I’m an ass, okay?”
“Whatever.”
He leaned back against the desk. “Like I was saying, it’s about more than just looks. They’ve been together a year, right?”
I bobbed my head.
“So, she’s got all that time invested in him. And oh man, the baggage with his dad the felon and her parents divorce. She’s got her hooks in him for sure.”
Sherry smiled. “See, it’s not about you. It’s about them.”
“Maybe,” I murmured.
Wyatt ran his hands through his out of control hair. “I hate to say it, but she’s probably got other talents that keep him coming back for more.” At my blank expression, he waggled his eyebrows. “You know, bedroom talents.”
“Ew, ew, ew!” I cried and covered my eyes. I didn’t want to ever think of Bryn and Jackson getting jiggy.
I snatched my hands away at the sound of a smack. Wyatt was rubbing the back of his head. “Damn, Mom! Lighten up!”
“Don’t say things like that around Jules.”
Wyatt made a time-out sign with his hands. “The fact is you just gotta put your game face on and become a major threat.”
“And just how am I supposed to do that?”
“You’ve been one of the guys for too long—you know, jeans, ponytails, and boots. You gotta maximize your assets.”
“Huh?”
He shook his head slowly. “Jeez, you really are clueless about how sexy you could be, aren’t you?”
“Obviously if I have to resort to you schooling me,” I countered.
“Always the smartass,” he grumbled.
I sighed. “Okay, then, what should I do?”
He made a pained face. “First, I hate to mention boobs again, but you gotta show some major cleavage tonight.”
I glanced down at my chest. “For real?"
He nodded. "Totally. They've got this magnetic pull for guys." As if to illustrate his point, his gaze honed in on my chest.
"Fine, I'll show off the girls.” Seriously, it was beginning to look like taking down a felon was easier than being a girl.
He reached over, and I jumped when his fingers clasped my hairclip. I smacked his arm. “What are you doing?”
Ignoring me, he unfastened it, sending my hair tumbling over my shoulders and down my back. “Long hair is super sexy, so wear yours down tonight. And do that girly toss thing or run your fingers through it.”
“You are seriously advocating that I act like a bimbo?”
Wyatt shrugged. “You can take it or leave it, Julesy.”
It didn’t sound like I had much of a choice. Getting Jackson’s attention away from Bryn was serious business, so I had to pull out all the stops. Even if they went against my usual behavior.
Appearing to be mentally checking off a list, he said, “You also need to smell really good—”
I gasped. “Are you trying to say I don’t shower enough?”
Wyatt rolled his eyes to the ceiling and appeared to take a few breaths. “No, that’s not what I meant. Before you went all paranoid, I was gonna say you needed to wear some sweet smelling lotion like vanilla—something really girly.”
Great, what was he trying to say? That I needed to hide my usual heinous odor if I had any chance with Jackson? “Don’t I usually smell good?”
Leaning over, Wyatt inhaled of my neck and then my hair. His warm breath sent tingly feelings up and down my body. “I’d say you smell pretty amazing—but a little more can’t hurt.”
“Oh,” I murmured, as I tried to ignore how close he was and how good he smelled. I mean, I was supposed to be focusing on Jackson, right?
“Good.”
“Anything else?”
When he glanced past me to Raye’s office, his eyes lit up. “Man, why didn’t I think of that before?” He barreled down the hallway and blew through the open door. I followed behind him, wondering what torture device might await me. Wyatt snatched something off the table in the far corner and spun around toward me. “You should totally approach this date like a true fugitive hunt—wired and with an earpiece.”
“Are you insane?” I demanded.
“Oh come on, you do it all the time when you’re out with your dad and the boys, right?” When I nodded, he continued, “So, it wouldn’t be something you’re not used to. Then I could listen in and tell you the right things to say and do.”
“Have you lost your mind? Not just no, but hell no. I don’t want you in my ear all evening reminding me what an epic screw-up I am with guys.”
Raye cleared his throat. I whirled around to see him and Sherry in the doorway. “It’s actually not a bad idea, Jules.”
“Not you too?”
“It actually could help in more ways than one. If you’re all nervous about saying the right things in front of Jackson, then your bounty hunting skills are going to be pushed to the side. You could really hit it out of the park if all the circuits were working at a hundred percent.”
“Jeez, with the baseball analogy.”
Wyatt teasingly waved the earpiece in front of me. “Come on, Julesy, you know you want to catch Emmett Marshall. But more than anything, you want to take Jackson away from Bryn.”
I scowled at him. “Yes, I most definitely want to catch Emmett, and it’s not necessarily all about Bryn on the second part.”
Wyatt cocked his head at me. “Oh really?”
“Jackson is....” I suddenly clammed up with everyone’s eyes on me. “Yeah, he’s rich and good-looking, but now that I’ve gotten to know him, he’s actually a nice and decent guy. He deserves somebody better than Bryn.”
A funny look flickered on Wyatt’s face before he quickly grinned. “Aw, Julesy, has a crush.”
“I do not,” I huffed.
He leaned in closer, totally invading my personal space. “Ooh, you’re totally hot for him. You probably think about him night and day, and what it would be like to—”
I shoved him back, which only made him chuckle. He took my hand and pressed the earpiece in it. “Wire-up, babe, and I’ll help you make Richie Rich crazy in love with you.”