Count on Me (Petal, Georgia) by Lauren Dane

leaving already?”
    “I said the same thing. Guess she can’t feel comfortable in her own grandparents’ home because some people have bad manners.” Shep looked pointedly in Garrett’s direction.
    Caroline rolled her eyes. “I’ll see you later, Mindy. Call me if you want to get together this week sometime for a movie or something.”
    Her sister got up, clearly caught between Caroline and Garrett. Whatever. There’s no way she’d have ever tolerated any man talking to her sister that way, but they were different people.
    “You don’t have to go.”
    Caroline hugged Mindy. “Yes, I do. I’ll talk to you soon.”
    Garrett got up but she turned her back on him. If he thought for even one second that she would pretend he hadn’t been unconscionably rude, he had another thing coming.
    Shep walked her out.
    “He’s a jerk. You don’t have to go because of that crap he said.”
    “Yes he is. But he’s Mindy’s boyfriend and that was Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I’m a grown-ass woman, and I’m not getting into a slap fight with a dumbass like I’m in middle school. I know what I am, Shep. I know what I believe and I am not ashamed of it. My beliefs don’t do a damned thing to you, or your grandparents or Mindy. Especially not to Garrett Moseby.”
    He licked his lips but didn’t speak like she thought he wanted to. Instead he leaned in and hugged her tight. “I’m so glad you’re back here for good. I missed you and it’s nice to have you around.”
    She grinned. “Ditto. You too. I mean you call me if you get some free time. I know you have school, but after school one day this week or next, let me take you out for pizza or something. Away from here.”
    “You got a deal. Love you, Caroline.”
    That softened her annoyance at Garrett.
    Shep waggled his brows. “You can tell me about Royal Watson when you take me to pizza.”
    “How’d you know? Jeez this town and gossip.”
    Shep laughed. “Just wait until you two do it. I bet I’ll know within eight hours.”
    “Ew. No you won’t because he’s not the type to talk about that stuff.”
    She hugged him one last time before getting into the car. “Behave and don’t forget to call me.”
    She drove away, but she was smiling. She’d take that as a partial win.

Chapter Nine
    Royal, true to his words to Caroline two days before, had slept in late and done nothing more taxing than shuffling to his kitchen to turn on the coffeemaker and make himself an egg sandwich.
    The day before had been a long one. From five to just past midnight when he stumbled to bed. But as he looked out over his land, he saw new things growing, freshly turned earth in some spots, covered beds elsewhere.
    His world, and he was making it work.
    Once the coffee was ready, he headed to his living room. Spike curled around his feet when Royal situated himself on the lounge chair to watch some stuff he had waiting on his DVR. He glanced at the clock as he sipped his coffee. Brunch with her grandparents should take a few hours. It was noon so perhaps he’d see her by four or so.
    He hoped.
    They’d left each other under some weird circumstances, but he couldn’t get the sound of her saying she wanted to be the only woman in the room when they fucked out of his head. He’d heard fuck over and over and over in her voice.
    Caroline was like no one else, and he liked that a lot.
    What he liked most though, which surprised him so much, was the way she was also vulnerable and soft at times. Her confidence blew him away. Made him hot. She barreled into the room, her energy attracted attention. Not just his. It wasn’t that she was pretty, though she sure was. It wasn’t her body, which was also stunning. She was just one of those people who seemed to have her own gravity and people moved around her.
    He enjoyed that. Enjoyed being with her and having her choose him to focus on instead of all the other stuff she could. Admired her focus.
    But it was the way she reacted over