The Lucky Five - By Arow Jones Page 0,35

game.

Kip, Rob, and whoever else are coming tonight. I wasn’t going to let my soured mood prevent me from being a good host. On the way back home my bike lurched. I barely made it back home when something on the bike started smoking. I turned it off and jumped to the side, taking the groceries with me. Great. Another expense. “Kenny!”

I tell Kenny what happens, hoping we can figure out what’s going on. Kenny had just serviced the bike recently. I leave the mechanic to the machine while I prepared for tonight.

Kenny had gotten out chips, salsa, and left a note about beer in the fridge before intending to go to Kip’s house to work on his aging truck. Kip was planning on getting a ride over with Rob. I was bummed but I put my game face on. Since I wasn’t able to pay employees Kenny had taken side jobs fixing cars.

Poker night was always hosted in the barn apartment. If the guys got too rowdy or junk, they would just stay the night there. This barn was closest to the house. I kept our horses here. The clients’ horses were housed in a much larger, nicer barn further down an adjacent driveway. It was the main barn. The apartment in the main barn was much larger and nicer. It was meant for the barn manager.

The original barn apartment was a modest one bedroom, one bath, with an open area encompassing the kitchenette. It was renovated before the main barn had been built. No one stayed here. It was modeled for Gramps. He said, “Someday, when I retire, that there is gonna be my love nest.” I laughed at that thought. He never did stay there. The walls held memorabilia of past family members. My gaze lingered on a picture of me as a little girl, Gramps pushing me on a swing. It was one that Skye took. The light filtered through the trees. Shadows of branches overlay the scene. Both of us were smiling. When I started to feel tears in my eyes I turned away.

A few years ago a stocked bar and full-sized fridge were installed. Gramps wanted to keep more food and beer up here since he never knew how many people would show up. I pulled the door open. Yup, lots of beer. A variety of cans and bottles encompassed all but one shelf. That’s where I would put the food that needed to stay cold. I’m sure, if I looked, the bar really would be fully stocked. Knowing Kip and Rob, they probably had a hand in the liqueur selection.

I walked back to the house to retrieve some bags I filled with the chips, dips, cold fixings, veggies, stuff I though the guys would like to munch on while playing. I knew at least Kip and Rob would be arriving soon. After putting all the food in the proper places I started in on setting up the poker table.

Twenty minutes later the sound of trucks came up the driveway. Kip and Rob had ridden together. Behind them is a black SUV. I’m not sure whether to be upset or elated. Chase, JT, and two other guys I don’t recognize step out and follow Kip and Rob inside.

I was planning on hanging out but now I’m having my doubts. Chase and JT kept these life changing secrets from me. My dreams of being in JT’s arms could be within my grasp. I just didn’t want it to be because it was forced on him. I wanted him to want want me, for me. Not out some sense of duty. My feelings for him are genuine. They’ve only grown. I can’t ever tell him that now or he might think it’s only because I want the land.

My back is to the door. I busy myself with taking out the dips from the fridge. Their footsteps get closer. I turn, thinking I would by polite and do my duty as a host. Instead, I come face to face with JT. Before I accidentally crush a bowl of dip between our bodies he grabs my arms.

“Whoa there, Sugar.” His hands seer my arms. All I can do is look up into his eyes. His jaw is tightening. My eyes roam his face and land on his perfect, kissable lips. I know what those feel like now. I’m mad at him but my body is betraying me. “We need to talk.” Like an ice cold bath the spell