Pierce My Heart (Women of Willowbrook Book 1) by Kelsey Jensen Page B

errands before tonight,” I tell them.
    “Sorry for the mess. Evan started handing out instructions as soon as I walked in and my lack of sleep didn’t help with thinking straight. I’ll help you pick up, honey,” she kindly offers.
    That’s Maddy.
    Always helpful and sweet, that is when her temper, which matched her hair, wasn’t flying.
    I give her a smile.
    “You can thank me later for the help, B-T-W, but I’ll start by saying the pile on the floor there,” Evan says, pointing to the pile they’d been arguing about, “is a definite ‘no’. They were ‘no’s when you bought ‘em and they’re still ‘no’s now. If you keep them, I’ll have a bonfire in your backyard with them as the guests of honor.”
    When I don’t fall to my knees and express my undying gratitude, but instead just stand there, she rolls her eyes.
    She throws out a sassy, “you’re welcome”, like she’s solved the world’s hunger problems and then proceeds to flounce out of the room.
    “Maddy and I will wait for you in the living room,” she informs me.
    “She means she’ll be chowing down on the sweets you made for tonight,” Maddy supplies, reminding me I’d left them out and vulnerable to Evan.
    Not that hiding them would stop her.
    It certainly hadn’t in the past.  
    “Evan, don’t touch them. I don’t have time to make more,” I tell her retreating back.
    This time, I get a snort.
    “Whatever you say, babe,” she says with the arm fling.
    I listen for a minute, trying to hear if she’s gone in the kitchen but it sounds like she’s just gone and plopped down on the couch.
    When I figure the desserts are safe, I turn to Maddy, who is slowly creeping out of the room.
    “Thanks for the heads up,” I say sarcastically.
    She freezes and turns her head my way.
    I give her a look.
    “You wouldn’t have gone along with it if I’d called. Letting Evan loose on you with the idea was the best plan,” she shrugs, not at all apologetic.
    “Did it occur to you guys that I don’t want to be set up or meet anyone right now?”
    Her face gentles, but her voice brooks no argument as she says, air quotes and all, “Of course it did, Anna. That’s why we went about it the way we did. It’s about time you get back out there, but I know actually getting you out there would be “rushing you”. There’s no harm in meeting a new, hot guy, and J.T. is hot and nice.” She starts walking again, but pauses in the doorway. When she looks back at me, the gentle is gone and a smirk is in its place. “The least you can do is look hot and show a little somethin’, somethin’ for the poor man who’s going to be stuck at a dinner table with a bunch of Pierce’s.”
    And with a wink, she’s out the door.

Chapter Four
     
    Catch You Anywhere
     
    I managed to finish getting ready without any more incidents, and even though I heard no noise coming from the kitchen, I have a sneaking suspicion that most of the desserts are gone.
    I still have to buy toffee to make the brownies, so Nate may not get a ton of cupcakes, but there’ll be plenty of chocolate goodness to go around.
    I double check myself in the mirror before leaving my room, making sure what I’m wearing works for me.
    After my awkward high school years, dressing to fit my body has become almost an obsession. I’ve found that when I wear something that flatters me, I have more confidence.
    Not the kind of confidence that’ll make me walk up to some hot guy and attack his mouth with my own, or even say hello, but the kind that lets me hold my head up a little more than usual.
    When you’ve struggled with confidence and self-esteem all your life, every little bit counts.
    Grabbing my favorite pair of dark wash flared jeans, I paired them with a wide black belt unseen—because of the white tank I’m wearing under my black V-neck tee.
    I love heels as much as the next girl, if the next girl loves wearing them for no more than a few hours at a time (most of that