Bourbon Nights - Shari J. Ryan Page 0,95
with her taking Parker tonight. It’s not a big deal.”
“You could have told me,” I argue.
Brett drops his head to the side. “Something happened, didn’t it? What the hell could have occurred at a bake sale, Brody?”
Naturally, my eyes roll up toward the ceiling and I bite down on my bottom lip, trying to hold back the laughter rumbling through my chest. “Dude, she basically pinned me against my truck tonight, kissed me, and told me she would never be interested in me because I have a beard. Who the hell does that?”
Brett’s eyes narrow as if he’s trying to piece together the scene I described. “She kissed you? Why do I have a hard time believing this? Where in the school parking lot? In front of Parker and Hannah?”
I’ll leave out the part that Hannah was oddly watching. “Nah, the girls were in cars already. I don’t know. It seems like we have some unfinished business, apparently.”
“Unfinished business,” Brett repeats with a chuckle. “From New Years Eve fifteen years ago when you chased her boyfriend out of the party?”
“Because he walked in on us hooking up? Yes.” Obviously.
“Don’t get your hopes up with Journey. She’s not in a good place right now. I can tell you that much. Her dad just died and she hardly says a word to anyone, expect Parker evidently.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“That she kissed you in the school parking lot?” He’s looking at me like I’m nuts.
“Yes.”
“Sure, I believe you. Just take it easy okay? You can’t act the way you normally do and explode into people’s lives as if you have reserved seating there. Their whole family is fragile at the moment.”
I slap Brett on the shoulder. “Thanks for the advice, bro, but I think I’ll take things from here.” Brett throws his head back with annoyance and I walk out to the front of the store to collect Hannah.
The three of them are looking at some weird coin on the counter. “Hannah, we better get going so you can do that math homework,” I say.
“I’m sorry if my sister did something to offend you tonight?” Melody says as she lifts the coin from the counter. “She has a big mouth and doesn’t always know when to close it.”
Hmm. I can take that a few different ways. “She didn’t offend me,” I tell her. “No more than I likely offended her.”
“Ah,” Melody says with a quirky smile. “I suddenly recall the trouble you two got into when we were kids. You were the mastermind behind all the great ideas and we usually took the fall for whatever you convinced us to do.”
She might have a point, but I was the oldest of us four and was bored out of my mind during our family fling ding parties we had here. I never did anything as serious as she’s making it out to be. I think we hid her in a barrel once and Journey and I laughed for about an hour while our parents looked for her, but other than that, I can’t think of a time I’ve left a bad mark on my reputation with the Quinn family.
“Well, now that I know what’s going on, I feel better. I’m glad we cleared things up.”
Melody shuffles her head from side to side. “I’m confused. What did we clear up again?”
“That Journey is single, needs a distraction, and she was so desperate for a break from real life that she attended an elementary school bake sale. The girl clearly needs to be saved.”
“Saved?” Melody repeats. “Brody, I’m sure your intentions are good, but I assure you, the last thing Journey wants right now is for some guy to try and save her. Trust me. It won’t end well for either of you.”
Or, will it? [Click to continue reading Bourbon Fireball]
Other Books In The Barrel House Series:
Bourbon Love Notes (Book 1)
Bourbon on the Rocks (Book 2)
Bourbon Fireball (Book 4 - Coming Soon)
About the Author
Shari J. Ryan is an USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary Romance and Women’s Fiction.
She lives in Massachusetts with her wicked awesome husband and two amazing sons. Shari started her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer, then found her passion for writing books back in 2011. She has been slaying words and creating imaginary friends ever since.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include: Bourbon Love Notes, Shattered Stars, Last Words, The Other Blue Sky, A Heart of Time, and Man Flu from the Man Cave Collection.
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