not going to be a welcomed guest in her bed or her home.
Maybe it was ignorant to imagine any kind of a future with Fiona and Ryder since he was currently living in limbo—a fact she’d mentioned more than once to Ryder. His Boston address seemed to not sit well with her. It was as if she thought he’d not take a commitment seriously. But he would, and he wanted to. If she’d let him he’d be the most committed guy on the planet. He’d be Ward Cleaver on steroids.
As he pulled up to the front of the house his phone began to ring. Caller ID told him it was Ashton.
“This is Everett.”
“I need to talk to you.”
“I’m all ears.”
“In person.”
“It’s almost eleven.”
“And you’re afraid you’ll lose beauty sleep?”
“Can’t it wait until morning?”
“What’s the perk of having a lawyer on retainer if I can’t speak with you whenever I wish?”
“You really are an ass.”
“I’m waiting.”
The line went dead. Everett was beginning to loathe Louisiana and everything in it—especially Ashton David. One thing was certain, he wouldn’t be taking the BMW. He went in search of his sister and found her in the family room. The television was tuned to a reality show that Everett couldn’t tolerate even when he’d been drinking. He turned it off. Still in her fancy royal blue suit, Courtney had fallen asleep on the couch.
“Hey Court.”
“Mmm, Sawyer.”
“Sawyer?”
“Oh, yeah, just like that Sawyer.”
Oh, shit! “Courtney.”
“Sawyer.” Her mouth was curled into a satisfied smile.
Everett leaned forward and gave her shoulder a shake. “Wake up.” She sat up board straight.
“Goddammit, Everett. How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to know you were having a wet dream about Sawyer.”
“You’re such a creep!”
“I’m a creep? Who the hell is Sawyer?”
“Just forget it.”
“I wish I could.”
She stood and grabbed her large bag. “I need to go over to Ashton’s and you mentioned another means of transpo.”
“The mule.”
“Yeah, where is that?”
“In the garage next to the golf cart.”
She gathered her overly-large bag and left the room. Sawyer.
Was she already dating again
? Good for her.
On his way out to the garage he spotted his mother and an attractive woman sitting on the porch that overlooked the swimming pool. They were laughing at something. As late as it was he was curious, so he walked toward them.
As soon as his mother spotted him she said, “Everett, you remember Harmony Clark from school?”
“Oh hey, Harmony. It’s been a while.”
“Twelve years.”
“Harmony is taking over for me as principal when I retire.”
“Catholic school principal. You’ll have your work cut out for you.”
“Not as much, since the Davids have all graduated.”
“This is true.”
“Say Mom, I’ve got to run over to Ashton’s place and Courtney says I should use a mule?”
“Keys are in it. Knock yourself out.”
“Is it like the golf cart?”
“It’s got more substance than a golf cart.”
“Do you know if it has lights?”
“Honey, that thing has more features than my Mercedes.”
“Mind if I go with you?” Harmony asked.
“Have you seen him since you left town?” Mom questioned.
“No, but I’ve heard.”
“Oh honey, I’m afraid he’s a shell of the man you once dated.” Mom patted Harmony’s hand in consolation.
Harmony stood. “I want to see him.”
Mom cut her worried gaze to Everett. “If anyone can turn that poor soul around, it’s you. Be careful.”
Everett kissed his mom on the cheek. “We’ll be fine.”
Harmony and Everett walked to the garage, Everett slowing to Harmony’s pace. In heels and a skirt, she was careful as she stepped.
“So, you’re moving back to the bayou country.” Everett queried.
“I am.”
“Got to be a let down coming from California.”
“Actually, I miss it and am excited to be moving home.”
“Is it the heat you miss, or the
Maybe it was ignorant to imagine any kind of a future with Fiona and Ryder since he was currently living in limbo—a fact she’d mentioned more than once to Ryder. His Boston address seemed to not sit well with her. It was as if she thought he’d not take a commitment seriously. But he would, and he wanted to. If she’d let him he’d be the most committed guy on the planet. He’d be Ward Cleaver on steroids.
As he pulled up to the front of the house his phone began to ring. Caller ID told him it was Ashton.
“This is Everett.”
“I need to talk to you.”
“I’m all ears.”
“In person.”
“It’s almost eleven.”
“And you’re afraid you’ll lose beauty sleep?”
“Can’t it wait until morning?”
“What’s the perk of having a lawyer on retainer if I can’t speak with you whenever I wish?”
“You really are an ass.”
“I’m waiting.”
The line went dead. Everett was beginning to loathe Louisiana and everything in it—especially Ashton David. One thing was certain, he wouldn’t be taking the BMW. He went in search of his sister and found her in the family room. The television was tuned to a reality show that Everett couldn’t tolerate even when he’d been drinking. He turned it off. Still in her fancy royal blue suit, Courtney had fallen asleep on the couch.
“Hey Court.”
“Mmm, Sawyer.”
“Sawyer?”
“Oh, yeah, just like that Sawyer.”
Oh, shit! “Courtney.”
“Sawyer.” Her mouth was curled into a satisfied smile.
Everett leaned forward and gave her shoulder a shake. “Wake up.” She sat up board straight.
“Goddammit, Everett. How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to know you were having a wet dream about Sawyer.”
“You’re such a creep!”
“I’m a creep? Who the hell is Sawyer?”
“Just forget it.”
“I wish I could.”
She stood and grabbed her large bag. “I need to go over to Ashton’s and you mentioned another means of transpo.”
“The mule.”
“Yeah, where is that?”
“In the garage next to the golf cart.”
She gathered her overly-large bag and left the room. Sawyer.
Was she already dating again
? Good for her.
On his way out to the garage he spotted his mother and an attractive woman sitting on the porch that overlooked the swimming pool. They were laughing at something. As late as it was he was curious, so he walked toward them.
As soon as his mother spotted him she said, “Everett, you remember Harmony Clark from school?”
“Oh hey, Harmony. It’s been a while.”
“Twelve years.”
“Harmony is taking over for me as principal when I retire.”
“Catholic school principal. You’ll have your work cut out for you.”
“Not as much, since the Davids have all graduated.”
“This is true.”
“Say Mom, I’ve got to run over to Ashton’s place and Courtney says I should use a mule?”
“Keys are in it. Knock yourself out.”
“Is it like the golf cart?”
“It’s got more substance than a golf cart.”
“Do you know if it has lights?”
“Honey, that thing has more features than my Mercedes.”
“Mind if I go with you?” Harmony asked.
“Have you seen him since you left town?” Mom questioned.
“No, but I’ve heard.”
“Oh honey, I’m afraid he’s a shell of the man you once dated.” Mom patted Harmony’s hand in consolation.
Harmony stood. “I want to see him.”
Mom cut her worried gaze to Everett. “If anyone can turn that poor soul around, it’s you. Be careful.”
Everett kissed his mom on the cheek. “We’ll be fine.”
Harmony and Everett walked to the garage, Everett slowing to Harmony’s pace. In heels and a skirt, she was careful as she stepped.
“So, you’re moving back to the bayou country.” Everett queried.
“I am.”
“Got to be a let down coming from California.”
“Actually, I miss it and am excited to be moving home.”
“Is it the heat you miss, or the
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