admit, I’m embarrassed to reveal to the man before me I’m a
country-western cliché; trailer park trash who couldn’t hack it in the big
city. “No, it’s my footsteps she didn’t follow in. Paige is my younger sister.”
“Is that so? I just figured with Paige
being so, uh…”
“Bossy, demanding, determined to rule all
of mankind?”
“Yes. I figured with her being…that way,
she must be the older sister.”
“Nope, I’m older by four years. I’ve
resigned myself to being the eccentric aunt to all her bratty blue-eyed
babies.”
“Eccentric aunt, huh? What does that
entail?”
“Oh, you know. I’ll wear lots of tunics
and turquoise. Maybe dance naked at Burning Man every year; invest in cats.”
“You a big cat lover?” he asks, his
dimples winking at me.
“I’ve only got Fluffy, Muffy, and
Snowball now, but I’m well on my way to a pack.”
Alex laughs but is distracted when the
door to the hotel restaurant opens and a waiter appears, heading toward us. “Is
there anything I can get for you?” he asks, sweat beading along his hairline.
“I’ll take a scotch, McLaren’s if you’ve
got it,” Alex replies.
“And for the lady?”
I open my mouth to order a mojito, but
hesitate. I’m a notorious lightweight when liquor’s involved and given the
current state of dimples present, I’m not sure alcohol’s a wise decision tonight.
“I’ll have a sweet tea, please.”
Alex lifts his eyebrow. “Sweet tea? I
thought this was a party?” His slow grin reveals bad decisions one and two.
Don’t
fall for the dimples, Charlie. “Sweet tea, please.”
The waiter smiles and scurries back
through the hotel door, probably desperate for the air conditioning.
Nerves prickle the back of my neck, and I
look at the hotel’s garden. It’s lushly green and dimly lit by strings of
twinkle lights. The buffet table is wilting fast, thanks to the lingering heat.
Warm weather’s never bothered me. Working out in the oil field, the sun beating
down on your back day after day, you get used to it. Still, I’m sweatin’ like a
whore in church out here. Though, I have a feeling it’s more to do with the man
across from me than the heat index.
“So,” I begin, desperate to break the
silence, “are you a friend of my sisters?”
“I’m a friend of Ken’s.”
Kenneth Chamberlain the Third is my
sister’s boyfriend. He’s got blonde-hair, deep pockets, and a wicked sense of
humor. I’d disapprove of Paige falling for such a playboy if he wasn’t so
spectacularly in love with her. “Oh? Have you two been friends a while?”
“Since we were kids.”
Well Charlie, party’s over. Ken’s family
is so rich they may well use hundred dollar bills to wipe their butts. If he
and Alex have been friends since they were kids that must mean… “So you’re rich
too, huh?” The words escape my mouth, and try as I might, I can’t roll the
seconds back.
Alex’s eyes crinkle in amusement. He
fights to hold back laughter. “I can’t believe you just said that!” His smile
is startled and wild.
Sheepish, I look around for our waiter.
“Now do you see why I ordered the sweet tea? I apologize. I’ve gone and lost my
manners. I only meant to ask if-”
“If I was a spoiled socialite, like so
many of the other guests here tonight?”
I purse my lips together and fold my arms
over my chest, embarrassed by my semi-accusation.
“It’s okay, Charlie. The answer is yes
and no. My family’s got money, but I prefer to make my living myself.” Alex
leans forward and lowers his head to meet my eyes. He smiles reassuringly. “Do
you like me less now?”
The corners of my mouth lift and I drop
my forearm to the table, just a few inches from his hand. “Maybe a little.”
Being around rich people has always made me jumpy. Paige and I grew up at the
Pueblo Princess Trailer Park on the outskirts of Harlow County, about as far
from the bright lights and fancy ways of Dallas as you can get.
The
country-western cliché; trailer park trash who couldn’t hack it in the big
city. “No, it’s my footsteps she didn’t follow in. Paige is my younger sister.”
“Is that so? I just figured with Paige
being so, uh…”
“Bossy, demanding, determined to rule all
of mankind?”
“Yes. I figured with her being…that way,
she must be the older sister.”
“Nope, I’m older by four years. I’ve
resigned myself to being the eccentric aunt to all her bratty blue-eyed
babies.”
“Eccentric aunt, huh? What does that
entail?”
“Oh, you know. I’ll wear lots of tunics
and turquoise. Maybe dance naked at Burning Man every year; invest in cats.”
“You a big cat lover?” he asks, his
dimples winking at me.
“I’ve only got Fluffy, Muffy, and
Snowball now, but I’m well on my way to a pack.”
Alex laughs but is distracted when the
door to the hotel restaurant opens and a waiter appears, heading toward us. “Is
there anything I can get for you?” he asks, sweat beading along his hairline.
“I’ll take a scotch, McLaren’s if you’ve
got it,” Alex replies.
“And for the lady?”
I open my mouth to order a mojito, but
hesitate. I’m a notorious lightweight when liquor’s involved and given the
current state of dimples present, I’m not sure alcohol’s a wise decision tonight.
“I’ll have a sweet tea, please.”
Alex lifts his eyebrow. “Sweet tea? I
thought this was a party?” His slow grin reveals bad decisions one and two.
Don’t
fall for the dimples, Charlie. “Sweet tea, please.”
The waiter smiles and scurries back
through the hotel door, probably desperate for the air conditioning.
Nerves prickle the back of my neck, and I
look at the hotel’s garden. It’s lushly green and dimly lit by strings of
twinkle lights. The buffet table is wilting fast, thanks to the lingering heat.
Warm weather’s never bothered me. Working out in the oil field, the sun beating
down on your back day after day, you get used to it. Still, I’m sweatin’ like a
whore in church out here. Though, I have a feeling it’s more to do with the man
across from me than the heat index.
“So,” I begin, desperate to break the
silence, “are you a friend of my sisters?”
“I’m a friend of Ken’s.”
Kenneth Chamberlain the Third is my
sister’s boyfriend. He’s got blonde-hair, deep pockets, and a wicked sense of
humor. I’d disapprove of Paige falling for such a playboy if he wasn’t so
spectacularly in love with her. “Oh? Have you two been friends a while?”
“Since we were kids.”
Well Charlie, party’s over. Ken’s family
is so rich they may well use hundred dollar bills to wipe their butts. If he
and Alex have been friends since they were kids that must mean… “So you’re rich
too, huh?” The words escape my mouth, and try as I might, I can’t roll the
seconds back.
Alex’s eyes crinkle in amusement. He
fights to hold back laughter. “I can’t believe you just said that!” His smile
is startled and wild.
Sheepish, I look around for our waiter.
“Now do you see why I ordered the sweet tea? I apologize. I’ve gone and lost my
manners. I only meant to ask if-”
“If I was a spoiled socialite, like so
many of the other guests here tonight?”
I purse my lips together and fold my arms
over my chest, embarrassed by my semi-accusation.
“It’s okay, Charlie. The answer is yes
and no. My family’s got money, but I prefer to make my living myself.” Alex
leans forward and lowers his head to meet my eyes. He smiles reassuringly. “Do
you like me less now?”
The corners of my mouth lift and I drop
my forearm to the table, just a few inches from his hand. “Maybe a little.”
Being around rich people has always made me jumpy. Paige and I grew up at the
Pueblo Princess Trailer Park on the outskirts of Harlow County, about as far
from the bright lights and fancy ways of Dallas as you can get.
The
Similar Books
