Up by Five by Erin Nicholas Page B

their little fingers. Even the ones they weren’t married to. But wow, those girls had landed some awesome guys who were so obviously crazy about them that it made everyone in their presence yearn for a little of it.
    Conner needed some of that.
    “I’m not saying it’s easy to understand women,” Conner said. “It takes work. But if you care, you can figure them out.”
    Grant leaned forward, out of his casual, card-playing posture. “We care about Gabby. We try to stay out of her way because that’s what she wants.”
    “You sure about that?” Conner asked evenly, not leaning out of his casual posture.
    “I’m sure,” Grant said firmly. “I’ve known her kind of a long time, Dixon. You don’t need to give me advice on my sister.”
    “No advice,” Conner said, tapping his cards against the table. “Hell, guys who aren’t related to her should be thrilled that you guys are what she’s used to. Makes us look a lot better.”
    Grant glared at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “It means if this is what she’s used to, it wouldn’t take much for a guy to impress her.”
    Gabby frowned. “Hey.” But then she felt like smiling. Conner was sticking up for her? Wow. But she kept her frown. Conner was sticking up for her to her family. They were going to be around long after he’d moved on.
    Conner glanced at her. “Women, even the independent, feisty ones, like to be paid attention to. With the right kind of attention.”
    “What kind of attention are you talking about, Dixon?” Grant asked, clearly suspicious.
    Gabby kicked Grant under the table.
    But Josh was frowning at Conner too. “I sure as hell hope the attention you’re giving your sisters is different than the attention you’re giving Gabby.”
    Gabby huffed out a breath. Idiots, all of them.
    “Very different types of attention,” Conner said easily.
    Her gaze snapped to his.
    “Oh really?” Grant asked.
    “Okay.” Gabby clapped her hands together. She had to stop this testosterone war. This was stupid. “Let’s see who knows me…and women in general, better.”
    She headed to the bathroom she was using and grabbed some items. She knew her brothers and cousin would crash and burn on this contest, but it was better than them all yelling at each other and someone saying something unfortunate. Like that he’d kissed her in the master bath just a little while ago.
    Returning to the living room, she found six men drinking beer and acting annoyed. She swept all the chips away from the middle of the table and set three hair accessories in the center—a hair straightener, a ponytail holder and a can of mousse that helped create soft curls when she was in the mood.
    “What does each of these mean?”
    “I’m sorry?” Grant asked.
    “The hair stuff. You’ve seen all of it, right? So what’s the difference? What do they mean?”
    The guys stared at the items she’d put down like they were rare relics from an ancient civilization.
    “You use that for ponytails,” Lance said pointing to the elastic band.
    “Yes,” she said. “But what does it mean ?”
    They all looked at one another. Finally Grant focused on Conner. “Well?”
    “You’re going for practical or running late,” he said. “Women pull their hair back when it will be in the way or when they don’t have time to do more with it.”
    Gabby was a little impressed. “Very good. The ponytail holder means I’m focused on work and don’t want to mess with my hair. Or, if I’m not at work, I’m having a lazy or sloppy day. I might not feel good, or maybe I just want to relax and kick back. It means I’m comfortable with you and am okay with you seeing me without my hair done.”
    “That’s a lot from one little ponytail,” Lance said.
    She shrugged. “What can I say, it’s how it is. Can you figure the other stuff out?”
    No one, including Conner, said anything.
    “No idea?” she asked Conner.
    He gave up with a shake of his head. But he was