Summer Breeze Kisses - Addison Moore Page 0,10

walk you through the basics. You’ll be a pro by the time Laney sends you out into the cold, cruel world of dating. By the time I’m done, you’ll have to fight them off with all four limbs. I’ll teach you everything and anything you’ve ever wanted to learn.” I steady my gaze over hers, and my heart aches because a part of me wishes she could see right through the charade I’m putting on. “You in?”

Her eyes widen, and she goes away for a moment.

“All right. I’m in.” She sighs as she takes a step away. “I’ll swing by at seven. Bring your pillow. You’ll need it once I put you to sleep.” She gives a little wink and heads off toward her sister. I watch as she sways those perfect hips, back and forth, back and forth.

A hand glides in front of my face, and I find Bryson standing there with a greedy grin.

“Sawyer still has you whipped?”

“That about says it.” I fling the dishtowel over my shoulder and watch as she embraces Laney before taking off. “Scored a date, too.”

“More like a training session.” That goofy grin slides off his face. “Heard the whole thing.”

“Yeah, so what. I’d stand on my head and eat a bag of dog food if she wanted me to just as long as I could spend a few extra minutes with her.”

“All hail Queen Izzy” He leans over the bar and looks from the empty doorway to me for a second. “Dude, are you going for the gold?” His demeanor shifts from playful to downright worried. “She’s into thirty-year-olds and crap. You’re a glorified teenager in her eyes.”

“Doesn’t bother me. So she’s a few years older—five to be exact. And who the hell cares? Isn’t Dad’s newest squeezebox fifteen years his junior?” Or so he claims, we’ve yet to meet her. It makes me sick to think about it. Not the age difference—I’m still stuck on the fact he left my mother five years ago. I try to brush the memory from my mind. It was me who played a major role in their breakup, and I’ve hated myself for it ever since.

“I don’t know.” Bryson’s gaze is still fixed at the far end of the bar. “I’d layoff if I were you.”

“Would you have listened if I told you to layoff Baya? Hell, if I remember right, her brother told you just that, and it was the last thing you did.”

“So you think she’s your Baya, huh?” He huffs a quiet laugh. “I bet you a thousand bucks she’s not your Baya. I seriously doubt she’s going to give you the time of day let alone stick around long enough to stroke your ego or anything else, big bro.” He swallows hard as if he’s trying to let me down easy. I know for a fact he threw in that big bro comment to soften the blow. Every now and again he likes to flaunt the fact I’ve got fifteen minutes on him. “Look, I don’t want to see you voluntarily putting your heart in a blender. I care about you. Let me set you up with someone. It’ll be easy. They’re already lining up around the block for you.” He motions at the crowd of girls amassing at the far end of the bar. “Pick one. They’re all dying to fall at your feet.”

“I’ll pass. And I’ll pass on the bet. Don’t you worry your pretty little head over where I put my heart.” I’d let Izzy rip it out of my body and stomp on it with her pink ballet heel if she wanted. Hell, I’d encourage her to do it—hold it down for her.

I’d give Izzy anything—any part of me she wanted. Both Bryson and I know that.

My heart in a blender is just the first thing I’d offer.

And, if she’ll let me, I’ll throw in a whole lot more.

“You’re really into her, aren’t you?”

“God’s honest truth right there.” I stare out at the empty space left in her void and wonder if she could ever feel about me the way I do her.

“You should’ve offered to pick her up.” He flexes a dry smile. “Sophomoric blunder.”

“Didn’t want to spook her.” Izzy is as fragile as a dove. One overbearing move and I’m afraid she’ll flutter away again, this time for good.

“Looks to me, she’s got you pretty spooked.” He flicks his towel at my chest before taking off. “Watch the ticker. If you’re not careful, a girl