You Belong With Me by Shannon Guymon Page B

she said, sounding frustrated and unhappy.
                  Kit looked at her in surprise. “He’s darling. What’s the matter Jane?”
                  Jane shrugged and looked away. “The way he was looking at me. It was just a joke to him. Men stare at Layla and they get all nervous around you, but they see me and they automatically think of their little sister or that I’m just a friend or something. I guess I’m just tired of being pushed to the side,” she said sounding angry.
                  Kit grinned at her and leaned her chin on her hands. “Well, then what are you going to do about it? Are you going to take it sitting down? Or are you going to be the strong, vibrant, passionate woman you were born to be?”
                  Jane glared at Kit. “Are you making fun of me?”
                  Kit shook her head and frowned. “Why would I make fun of you? No, I was just trying to encourage you to take charge. If you like Officer Tate, then go for it. What’s stopping you from making the first move?”
                  Jane’s eyes went wide and she looked stunned. “ I could go for him ?” she said wonderingly.
                  Kit nodded her head grinning. “You already know he loves your cupcakes. Just reel him in slowly and you got yourself the cutest cop I’ve ever seen.”
                  Jane nodded her head and grinned. “I think I will.”
                  Kit laughed and stood up, walking around the counter to hug her little sister. “You really are a strong, amazing vibrant woman. He won’t know what hit him,” she promised.
                  Kit wandered out onto the front porch and sat down in one of her grandmother’s old rocking chairs. She rested her feet on the porch railing and closed her eyes as she leaned her head back. Layla had snagged Michael without even wanting to. Jane was already forming a plan to go after Tate and where did that leave her? Kit frowned and sighed. She might have the reputation of an experienced woman. Dangerous and sexy and in charge. But underneath it all, she was the most insecure of all of them.
     

Chapter 10 - Romance
     
                  Layla stared at her closet and frowned, not knowing what in the world to wear for her date. The first date she’d been on in forever and she had no idea what to wear. She bypassed all of her business suits and jeans and pushed to the back of the closet. Hidden in the back was a light, pale multi-color summery skirt. It was built as if it were made out of large handkerchiefs and swished and flowed around her legs as she walked. She remembered seeing it in a store on a mannequin while she’d run into a department store to grab some hose and how she’d bought it on impulse. She’d never even worn it before. She picked up the skirt and scanned her closet for an appropriate shirt and settled on a simple cream silk t-shirt. She had absolutely no shoes that would work with it though.
                  Layla slipped off her jeans and sweater and put on the skirt and t-shirt staring at herself critically in the mirror. She didn’t look like herself. At all . She frowned. The girl in the mirror looked so young and soft and feminine. That wasn’t who she was anymore. She was the tough, strong woman who protected the defenseless. Who in the heck was the woman in the mirror and why did she look so hopeful and vulnerable?
                  Layla closed her eyes and turned away from the woman. Better not to think about it. She picked up her cell phone and texted Jane and Kit. Need shoes. Can I look in your closet? Within seconds she had replies. YES!
                  Layla grinned and admitted that having sisters was just about the best thing that could happen to anyone. She checked out Kit’s closet first, but Kit’s penchant for sky high heels had her moving on to