Storm Warning by Caisey Quinn, Elizabeth Lee

the type to admit to missing people, to needing them. “I actually had to water the rose bushes yesterday. Someone forgot to set the sprinklers last time he was here. Middle of an Oklahoma heat wave and he forgot. Can you believe that?” She might have been letting her guard down with him, but she still kept him on his toes with her sharp tongue.
    “My guess is that he was probably too distracted the last time he was there. Probably because you were flouncing around in that pitiful excuse for a bikini. Give the guy a break.”
    “I don’t flounce ,” she informed him. “I sashay. And it’s not my fault if the guy is easily distracted.” He knew exactly what she meant. He fondly recalled watching her hips and ass sashay around the pool. It was quickly replacing football as his favorite pastime.
    “I seem to recall you drooling over me a time or two.” He imagined she was shaking her head and trying not to smile.
    “I’m thinking if I’m going to be doing all the gardening around this place I might have to fire the landscaper,” she teased.
    “You wouldn’t dream of it.”
    “It’s not that hard of a job. I’m starting to think we overpay you.”
    “You’re really funny today,” he told her. “I think you’re covering up how much you actually miss me with jokes.”
    “Maybe you’re right,” she admitted.
    “I’m always right.” He let her giggle ring in his ear before he added, “Since you got all my work done I guess I don’t need to come by on Sunday.”
    “No. I think you still need to come by. There are still a few jobs around here that require a professional’s touch.”
    “You know that I’m turning everything you say into an innuendo, right?” he asked.
    “I’m counting on it.”
    He bit his lip and shook his head, not wanting to be the one to break down and blurt out just how much he wanted her. Cameron Nickelson had perfected the art of toying with him.
    “Not to mention, I just got a package in the mail containing a brand new piss-poor excuse of a bikini. I think you’ll be thoroughly distracted with it.”
    “I’ll see you Sunday,” he added without hesitation, gripping the locker closest for support as the mental image assaulted him.
    He might as well have T-shirts printed. He was officially whipped and he didn’t mind it one bit.

“S O what passes for fun around here?”
    “Oh, you know, cow tippin’, square dancin’, and cousin kissin’. The usual.” She purposely thickened her accent as she tried to keep a straight face. But Hayden’s eyebrows rose so high they nearly hit the rim of his backwards ball cap. Laughter escaped at his reaction. “I’m kidding. Don’t have an aneurysm, City Boy.”
    “Very funny,” he deadpanned as he dug the hole for the peonies she held. “But I’ve been to what you people call downtown and I’d be willing to bet you just named the three favorite activities of most of the townsfolk.”
    “Ha-ha.” EJ lowered the roots into the hole he’d dug. “Actually on the Fourth there will be a carnival and huge fireworks display. Me and Kyle and…” She interrupted herself to swallow the pain saying his name still caused. “Coop. The three of us, we watch the fireworks from The Ridge. But Kyle said he has other plans and I’m sure Coop’s going to be with one of his many racing groupies. So it’ll just be me this year.” She tried not to think about how much she hated the undeniable proof that everything was changing this summer. And none of it for the better.
    Together they shoved dirt into the hole, patting the ground around the plant once they were done. “Yeah? Maybe I’ll join you. When I get done cow tipping, that is.” Hayden winked and the smile on his lips flipped her stomach right over.
    She had to remind herself she wasn’t really interested in him. This was just to make Coop jealous. Except…sometimes she forgot about that part. Especially when it was just her and Hayden sitting up on The Ridge, watching