CHAPTER ONE
The not so distant chugging groan of a stubborn lawnmower broke through Dani Tipton’s concentration. She dropped her paintbrush onto the ledge of her easel and scooched off of her stool, nearly toppling it in her haste to reach the doorway to her studio. She rushed into the hallway and bee-lined for the living room. Her clumsy feet tripped her up halfway to the bay window fronting the house. Yelping, she wind-milled her arms, attempting to regain her balance, and instead performed a graceless face plant into the oversized bean bag chair situated on the far side of the couch.
Digging her elbows into the smooshy, suede-covered seat, she groaned and blew a lock of hair out of her eyes. A slow clap sounded behind her. Of course she’d have a witness to that epic fail. Gusting a sigh, she pushed up onto her knees and shot a look over her shoulder. Her nineteen-year-old sister, Erin, wore an ear-to-ear grin. “Damn, wish I’d had my cellphone to record that.”
Thank God for small favors with that rare occurrence. Usually the device was permanently attached to Erin’s hand. Straightening, Dani rubbed her arm and grimaced at the slight twinge in her elbow. Great. She was probably going to have a bugger of a bruise there now.
“Why were you racing to the window anyway?” The smirk residing on Erin’s face confirmed that she already knew the answer.
“I wasn’t headed for the window.” Dani spied her sketch pad on the coffee table and pounced on the most logical excuse. “I’m in the middle of finishing Talia’s painting and needed this.” She leaned forward and swiped the leather-bound pad.
“Uh huh.” Her tone and expression unconvinced, Erin slid her gaze to the bay window. “Why don’t you just admit you’re horny for the hotties?”
“Erin!” Her cheeks warm, Dani avoided direct eye contact with her sister. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Yeah, right. Because being turned on by two built, sexier than fuck guys is soooooo crazy.” Erin waved her hands in the air.
“You really shouldn’t talk like that.”
Erin rolled her eyes. “God, you sound like mom and dad.”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
Erin shuddered. “Yes. Bad enough I always have them riding my ass. Please don’t start on me too.”
A niggle of guilt worming through her, Dani hugged her chest. She didn’t want to be a nagging big sister, but sometimes she had no choice. Trouble tended to adhere to Erin like Super Glue. It’d always been that way, and was a big part of the reason she’d moved in with Dani her senior year of high school. Back in Detroit, Erin had fallen in with the wrong bunch of kids and ended up getting busted by the cops for smoking pot and underage drinking. To save Erin from being shipped off to a super strict parochial school, Dani took her in and made damn sure her little sis graduated without ending up in juvie. Or worse.
“I’ve gotta hit the road.” Her expression petulant, Erin spun on her heel and snatched her woven hobo bag. Slinging the strap over her shoulder, she stalked toward the front door. Dani stalled her in the entry with a bear hug. Her pout slipping, Erin sighed and squeezed Dani tight. “I’m sorry for being bitchy. And laughing when you tripped.”
“But you only clapped.”
“I was laughing inside.”
She slugged Erin in the arm and scooted her out the door. “Drive safe, brat.”
“Talia’s chocolate-banana empanadas are on today’s menu. I’ll bring home a box.”
One of the many benefits of her little sis waitressing at the best Cuban restaurant in St. Augustine—an endless supply of fresh baked goodies. Her waistline might be suffering the price, but oh so worth it. “Tell Talia I’ll have that painting ready for her tomorrow.”
A devious twinkle lit Erin’s eyes. “You know what would be freakin’ hilarious? Swap out your watercolor for something hideous, like Dogs Playing Poker .”
“Uh, why would I do that?”
“Tomorrow is April
The not so distant chugging groan of a stubborn lawnmower broke through Dani Tipton’s concentration. She dropped her paintbrush onto the ledge of her easel and scooched off of her stool, nearly toppling it in her haste to reach the doorway to her studio. She rushed into the hallway and bee-lined for the living room. Her clumsy feet tripped her up halfway to the bay window fronting the house. Yelping, she wind-milled her arms, attempting to regain her balance, and instead performed a graceless face plant into the oversized bean bag chair situated on the far side of the couch.
Digging her elbows into the smooshy, suede-covered seat, she groaned and blew a lock of hair out of her eyes. A slow clap sounded behind her. Of course she’d have a witness to that epic fail. Gusting a sigh, she pushed up onto her knees and shot a look over her shoulder. Her nineteen-year-old sister, Erin, wore an ear-to-ear grin. “Damn, wish I’d had my cellphone to record that.”
Thank God for small favors with that rare occurrence. Usually the device was permanently attached to Erin’s hand. Straightening, Dani rubbed her arm and grimaced at the slight twinge in her elbow. Great. She was probably going to have a bugger of a bruise there now.
“Why were you racing to the window anyway?” The smirk residing on Erin’s face confirmed that she already knew the answer.
“I wasn’t headed for the window.” Dani spied her sketch pad on the coffee table and pounced on the most logical excuse. “I’m in the middle of finishing Talia’s painting and needed this.” She leaned forward and swiped the leather-bound pad.
“Uh huh.” Her tone and expression unconvinced, Erin slid her gaze to the bay window. “Why don’t you just admit you’re horny for the hotties?”
“Erin!” Her cheeks warm, Dani avoided direct eye contact with her sister. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Yeah, right. Because being turned on by two built, sexier than fuck guys is soooooo crazy.” Erin waved her hands in the air.
“You really shouldn’t talk like that.”
Erin rolled her eyes. “God, you sound like mom and dad.”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
Erin shuddered. “Yes. Bad enough I always have them riding my ass. Please don’t start on me too.”
A niggle of guilt worming through her, Dani hugged her chest. She didn’t want to be a nagging big sister, but sometimes she had no choice. Trouble tended to adhere to Erin like Super Glue. It’d always been that way, and was a big part of the reason she’d moved in with Dani her senior year of high school. Back in Detroit, Erin had fallen in with the wrong bunch of kids and ended up getting busted by the cops for smoking pot and underage drinking. To save Erin from being shipped off to a super strict parochial school, Dani took her in and made damn sure her little sis graduated without ending up in juvie. Or worse.
“I’ve gotta hit the road.” Her expression petulant, Erin spun on her heel and snatched her woven hobo bag. Slinging the strap over her shoulder, she stalked toward the front door. Dani stalled her in the entry with a bear hug. Her pout slipping, Erin sighed and squeezed Dani tight. “I’m sorry for being bitchy. And laughing when you tripped.”
“But you only clapped.”
“I was laughing inside.”
She slugged Erin in the arm and scooted her out the door. “Drive safe, brat.”
“Talia’s chocolate-banana empanadas are on today’s menu. I’ll bring home a box.”
One of the many benefits of her little sis waitressing at the best Cuban restaurant in St. Augustine—an endless supply of fresh baked goodies. Her waistline might be suffering the price, but oh so worth it. “Tell Talia I’ll have that painting ready for her tomorrow.”
A devious twinkle lit Erin’s eyes. “You know what would be freakin’ hilarious? Swap out your watercolor for something hideous, like Dogs Playing Poker .”
“Uh, why would I do that?”
“Tomorrow is April
Similar Books
