“Hmm,” she grunts and leans back in the seat. “You have an itch to scratch, maybe you need to find a different woman to scratch it. Because I can promise you one thing, if you use my sister I’ll put every single shotgun lesson my daddy ever gave me to the test. He says I have one helluva shot.”

  “I bet you scare away all the boys at school?” I chuckle because honestly I’m a grown ass man and I’m a little scared.

  “Ask Mark Hendricks where grabbing my ass got him,” she shrugs. “I don’t feel an ounce of shame for making his nose bleed, or for kicking him in his nuts.”

  Poor Mark Hendricks, but I guess he should have known his limits.

  “Just tell me one thing and I’ll let this go for now.”

  I offer her a nod and brace myself for whatever comes next.

  “Is she some kind of goal you need to check off your list? Like maybe a, see if you can bag the sweet hairdresser kind of thing, or does Amara actually mean something to you?”

  I consider her question, not because I need time to think over the options but because the realization that I do in fact feel something for Amara hits me. “I do feel something for Amara,” I confess, “I think you should know that it's your sister that is battling this thing not me.”

  “Well, do you think it's because she too, knows all about the abundance of women that have come before her?” Instead of Leah waiting for my response she pushes open my truck door and climbs out, before hurrying to get our pizza.

  I sit in a chair across from Amara, watching her comb through Lauren’s hair that now has what they call caramel color running through her blond. What was once all one length has been cut a little shorter in the front to form bangs with layers in the back. There is definitely a different look between the two girls now and Lauren smiles as she takes in her new look.

  “Leah,” Amara hollered over her shoulder, “it's time to wash yours out.”

  When she stands and walks in our direction she looks at me and does the pointing at her eyes then pointing at me gesture to indicate she’s watching me, and I chuckle.

  “Kid you have more sass than one person should.”

  “Nonsense,” she scoffs and sits down in the chair that has some kind of sink attached to the back.

  “Hey Mar,” she asks as she starts to lean back in the chair. “What ever happened to Seth Masters?”

  “She found out he’s a loser,” I mumble.

  “Now who’s the immature teenager?” Leah scoffs with an eye roll and I glance over at Amara to find her trying to hide her smile.

  “He preferred spending his evenings in online chatrooms with women that have boobs bigger than my head, so I had to move on.” She says this so casually, while running her fingers through Lauren’s hair.

  “Are you serious?” I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees, watching her.

  “Yep,” Amara purses her lips.

  “Why would anyone want boobs bigger than their head?” Lauren says this so innocently that we all stop and look at her, no one saying a word. Me, mainly because I have no response, I have no clue what to say to her in return.

  “Fun bags Lauren,” Leah finally adds matter of factly. “The bigger the fun bags, the happier the guy.”

  “Leah,” Amara says in a motherly tone.

  “Not all guys,” I add looking up at Amara and then down to her chest. The perfect handful, and I remember in great detail just how they felt in my hands.

  “Okay, enough boob talk,” Amara walks toward Leah and pushes her back, forcing her to settle and she starts washing her hair.

  “You’re grounded,” Amara whispers harshly and Leah laughs.

  “You can’t ground me.”

  The two of them bicker back and forth and I take this as my chance to compliment Lauren. Looking toward her I find her staring at her own reflection. Her eyes shift, our gazes meet and then she quickly looks down.

  “Looks really good,” I tell her, and she lifts her chin turning to look at me over her shoulder. “Those clueless boys at school won’t know what hit them.” Something crosses over her face, an acceptance mixed with embarrassment maybe. “At that age we’re all idiots. Even when we get older we’re still idiots. But you should know that if they don’t see you, they aren’t worth your time.”

  I think I have her figured out and she is so much like her older sister. She truly has no idea just how gorgeous she is.

  Looking back toward Amara I find her watching me and if I’m not mistaken it's like she is actually seeing me for the first time. There is a difference in her eyes, a calmness that hasn’t been there the last several days.

  CHAPTER

  THIRTEEN

  Amara

  Lauren: Everyone loves my hair. Oh and did you see this?

  Following my sister's message is an attachment of some news article she’s saved.

  After hours of fighting a blaze that took out most of Forman’s warehouse, a local firefighter spends a few minutes comforting the daughter of the previous owner. Ms. Withers took over Forman’s shipping center after her father passed last year. She spent her childhood within these walls, grew up climbing through boxes and making forts while her father worked long hours to support his family. It's a devastating loss for the community and the family, but Ms. Withers assures the community she will rebuild, and Forman’s will reopen.

  The image shows Tyler with his arms wrapped around a young woman, with her head in his chest, devastation written all over her face as she looks on at the rubble that was once her family business.

  I immediately feel for her, but part of me hates that it's him she is clinging to.

  Lauren: Your boyfriend is a compassionate hero.

  After Tyler left the salon over a week ago and I drove my sister’s home, and I was forced to hear all about what they truly thought of him. Lauren was in love it seems, but honestly the way he was with her when he thought it was only the two of them paying attention was heart stopping.

  Leah on the other hand still had her reservations. I was forced to hear all about the women she knew he’d been with. Problem is I am sure there are many more mixed in that list she has no clue about.

  My sisters were entirely too invested in my personal life.

  I had one sister making it hard for me to remember that Tyler is not the settling type and the other giving me false hope that maybe just maybe, he could be.

  It’s nothing more than a tug of war between the twins which is exhausting.

  With him working twenty-four-hour shifts and then on his days away from the station he helps his uncle with his work at the garage, he stays pretty busy. I’ve also been busy myself and spending as much time with the girls as I can.

  I still refuse to talk to Lincoln, which is easy considering he’s been staying out of Calloway and for good reason. I dare not mention anything to Liam about him, that is still a very touchy subject. So, the details of why my asshole cousin thought it was a good idea to not show at his own wedding are still unknown. But frankly any excuse he may have is still not a good enough one for me to waste my time listening to.

  My phone buzzes again and I half expect it to be Lauren but it's my brother. One word and my stomach drops.

  Tucker: Tyler?

  Now this can go one of two ways. I can fully confess all my sins, or I can play stupid.

  Stupid it is.

  Me: What?

  Tucker: That shit will not work with me, I’ll be at your place after work tonight. Don’t avoid me. I know where you work, and I also know where all your friends live. Not to mention you have to come home at some point, so I don’t mind camping out and waiting.

  I blow out a breath of air and flop down in one of the empty chairs at the salon. Hannah is giving Ms. Roberts a perm, and there are two people in the back getting facials. My day is slow until about three, so I have nothing but time.

  Time means thoughts and mine have been running ragged for days now. Hell even at night I’m bound in knots.

  I like Tyler, I’ve liked him for years. But I’ve also accepted that it will never go anywhere. He gets bored easily, he enjoys wild and free. He runs into burning buildings as a career, but I think mostly for the adrenaline that fuels him. When he isn’t doing that he is riding his motorcycle. He’s the guy that goes skydiving and bungie jumping whenever he can just for the thrill.

  I’ve always pictured him taking off to live some crazy life, but he is still here in Calloway. He says it's home, which I agree with. Everyone is nosy and pushy, but they are also loyal, and when a time calls for everyone to pull together, there is never any kind of hesitation.

  Part of me wants to jump in head first and throw away all the fears I have, see where things go with Ty. Hell, we’ve already crossed a line we can’t reform. But now we are at least on talking terms. What if we take that jump and in a few short weeks he realizes it’s too much? Then in the end we end up hating each other and the idea of hating Tyler breaks my heart.

  I know beneath the resistant guy he is someone with a big heart. I’m worried though that his heart can’t take commitment, and I’ve never been a girl that could do casual.

  But what’s the alternative?

  Could I do carefree and unattached with Tyler?

  Could I be what he needs, and keep my heart fully intact?

  “It’s Tyler Collins, Amara.” Tucker stands on the sidewalk in front of my apartment with his hands on his hips. He doesn’t even wait for me to get to the door. “Does the guy even know what a fucking relationship is?”

  “As if you have room to talk.”

  “That’s what I’m saying.” He throws his hands up in the air with frustration. “Do you know how hard it is to find a woman in Calloway that he hasn’t already been with?”

  My stomach sours at the thought. I think Tucker is overexaggerating, but I have no proof of it.

  “What in the hell are you thinking?” He adds, pulling me out of my thoughts.

  “Maybe you don’t know him like you think you do.”

  Tucker chuckles, running his hand through his hair and fisting the ends.

  “Oh I know him,” he says so sure, and I don’t argue.

  “I don’t even know why you are so worried about this. Tyler and I are friends.”

  “Friends that make out in the back of your salon,” he arches his brow, daring me to deny something. Knowing I can’t. He’s got inside information it seems. I’m gonna kill my sisters.

  “You are crazy if you think the two of you will get past a week.” I hate that Tucker may be right.

  I try to hold back my irritation because honestly I had nothing to add that could make Tucker wrong. I had no example of Tyler’s relationships to use to defend him, because even when he was in high school he was a player.

  So instead, I take a different approach. “How do you know it's not me that will be using him?”

  “I think we both know that you are grasping at strings now.” My brother is a stubborn, pigheaded ass that refuses to be wrong. He’s just like my father. Oh shit, my dad. My stomach drops at the thought. “You are not that girl, sis, you never could be.”

  I square my shoulders. “Because?”

  “You have a heart,” I bite my lip to hold back my emotions. “You have a conscience, and you can’t be casual. Obviously I can’t tell you what to do, but I can ask that you be careful. He may be older than me but damnit if he hurts you Mar,” Tucker shakes his head and backs up, looking down at the ground for a few seconds. When he looks back his irritation is gone, and in its place is concern.

  “Just be careful,” he repeats before turning around and walking back to his car.

  I remain on the stoop that leads to my front door, long after he is gone. I stare out at nothing in particular, my chest tight and my thoughts racing.

  I shouldn’t do this, I know, but I’m afraid that my brother's warning may be too late. I think my heart is already involved and stepping away isn’t going to help it heal. I’ve already tasted what it's like to give in to the temptations I’ve felt for years. I’ve already dipped my foot in the water, and all I can think about is, what it would feel like to jump in head first without a life jacket.

  And I do realize that is a decision I may very well regret.

  CHAPTER

  FOURTEEN

  Tyler

  I walk toward the front entrance of Millers, a small bar in Calloway. A place that’s been around since longer than I can remember. Just on the edge of town, it has become somewhat of a hangout for us after a long shift.

  Liam and Coleton send me a message that they are stopping in for a beer and I don’t have any place to be since Amara has yet to respond to my text.

  It’s been a few days since our night at the salon and I figure I’ll have to plan another surprise visit in order to get her to react.

  I’ll wear her down, no matter what it takes she’ll eventually stop fighting me on this.

  The jukebox plays some country tunes as I step inside and immediately spot the guys at the bar. Liam is the first to notice me, pointing to the beer that he already has waiting for me.

  “About damn time,” he hassles me as I take a seat at his side. “You take the scenic route?”

  I didn’t want to tell him that I drove past Amara’s house and her salon, looking for her car.

  “Had to stop and get gas in the truck.”

  The two of them quickly roll into conversation about the last call we had, and I stare ahead at the television mounted on the wall. Lost in thought I don’t notice our company until they stop at Liam’s side and he places his arms over her shoulder and pulls Amara in for a hug.

  Our eyes connect, and I refuse to look away.

  She laughs when he gives her a rub of his knuckles over her hair. She moves back quickly and it's Coleton that places his hands on her back to keep her from stumbling backwards. Instantly I hate seeing his hands on her, but reacting now will get me nowhere, so I look away.

  Lifting my beer once more I down the remaining liquid and motion for another.

  “Can I get one of those?” I shift slightly, finding Amara has made her way to my side now. Placing her hand on my arm, I’m surprised by the gesture, but don’t question it. The warmth of her body as she leans against my side is unexpected but very welcomed.

  Just then the bartender sets the beer I asked for down and I nod indicating I need another as I grab the bottle and pass it to Amara.

  “You can have this one,” I grin when she accepts and lifts the bottle, placing it to her lips. Her throat bobs as she takes a drink, and I can’t pull my eyes away.

  Why had I never noticed how gorgeous she is? Why had she been right under my nose for years and I was to stupid or blind to notice?

  When the bartender passes me the next beer, I pull out money and toss it on the bar top, telling him to keep the change.

  “Hey,” I hear a feminine voice from behind me, accompanied by a hand on my shoulder. Before I turn I see a shift in Amara’s expression, and she starts to back away.

  Glancing back it takes me a few seconds to put it together and then my stomach drops. “I thought that was you.”

  The girl from the warehouse fire, the one that practically dove into my arms, as I was walking away once it was out. I was so shocked by the entire thing that I froze and patted her on the back awkwardly as I looked around for anyone to help me. Instead of her catching on to my unease she dug in deeper and placed her head on my chest.

  And of course that’s the moment the news crews start snapping images.

  Pictures can be deceiving, and no one managed to pick up on how bad I wanted out of that situation.

  “I want to thank you again for everything you did,” she adds, sliding her hand down my arm, before pausing on my forearm.

  “We were only doing our job,” I look toward Liam and Coleton, silently begging for help but neither of them bite. Instead they’re both staring at me with smiles on their faces. Obviously enjoying the show, I wanted no part of it.

  “So can I buy you a drink?” The woman asks and I smile politely.

  “Actually my girlfriend and I just got ourselves one.” Without thinking I reach out and hook Amara’s waist and pull her in close to my body. I ignore the stiffness she offers and turn to look at her. Lifting my brows hoping she catches on and follows my lead.

  “Your boyfriend is a hero.” The woman adds and I silently pray she ends this and walks away. “Handsome too,” She adds, and I offer Amara’s hip a tighter squeeze.

  “He is,” Mar finally jumps in and relief washes over me.

  “Well, you all enjoy your night,” finally she removes her hand from my arm, and I find myself wondering why she’d left it there so long. “You’ll have to let me offer my appreciation in another way maybe.”

  What the fuck?

  “Not necessary,” please go away.

  “Have a good night,” she says before pointing to Amara. “You better hold onto this one tight.”

  “Desperate much?” Amara whispers as she finally walks away from us. Coleton and Liam pick that moment to start laughing.

  “Thanks for the help, assholes.”

  “What’s up with you Ty, on any other day you’d be leading her outside so she can thank you properly.” Amara flinches at Coleton’s words.

  Again she tries to back away, only I don’t let her.

  When I don’t bite back Liam and Coleton get back to their conversation about the game on the television and I hold Amara’s stare.

  “Don’t let me stop you from enjoying yourself,” she looks toward the door that the woman exited through.

  “You are one stubborn ass woman,” I relax my grip on her but have no intentions of allowing her to escape. “The only person I have the desire to enjoy myself with is you.”

  Her chest rises as she takes in a deep breath. “I’ve called, texted, even driven by your place a few times” Her expression does not falter, she keeps her lips pressed in a firm line. “But here we are still dancing around this thing between us.”