All That Jazz (Butler Cove #1)(4)

Or it was real love for Jack Eversea. Once in a lifetime, can’t ever go back kind of love. You know, that old unicorn? I swallow that thought, then bust out laughing at the look on Keri Ann’s face.

“Or,” she says, “he developed erectile dysfunction. Serves him right. And just wasn’t able to perform.”

“In which case,” I pronounce, attempting a grave tone despite my laughing, “you don’t want him anyway.” I mean what good are the pretty Jacks and Brandons of this world if they can’t give you a good, stiff—”

The screen door bangs, and Joey walks in, making us jump.

Joey is here?

“It’s nothing to laugh at girls.” He’s wearing his faded blue jeans and a blue button down shirt that turns his eyes into the kind of things that might spur a crusade.

I swallow.

“It’s a real medical condition,” he says, heaving his duffle off his broad shoulder and letting it drop to the floor with a thud. “And it sure is good to know that you all don’t grow up much while I’m away.” His gaze sweeps over me as he speaks, then zeroes in on his sister.

“Joey! What are you doing home?” She jumps up to hug him.

I guess my phone call this morning got him thinking of coming home sooner rather than later.

“Thought I’d surprise my best girl,” he says to Keri Ann.

“And make sure I wasn’t jumping into Jack’s arms?” she asks.

“And that,” he says. His gaze flicks again to me briefly as he returns her hug. “Jazz,” he nods at me.

On his feet are scuffed brown cowboy boots, and his dirty blond hair is longer and messier than I’ve ever seen it. I hate my stupid heart right now as it quadruples in size and threatens to implode my lungs.

I flash a carefree smile. “Hey, Joey,” I chirp. “We were just discussing Jack, so since he has that ‘medical condition,’ Keri Ann is probably safe.”

“And how might you all know he has this condition,” he asks, playing along.

“We’re surmising.” I huff. “Because despite all evidence to the contrary, apparently he’s been celibate since the last time he saw your sister.” I widen my eyes, letting him know how much I believe that. Which is not at all. But man, I wish it were so. The tabloid photographs from the last few months have been pretty damning.

Joey snorts. “Yeah, right.”

A look of hurt passes across Keri Ann’s face and guilt surges through me that I’m sided with Joey in my skepticism. And irritated at Joey for actually being vocal. It’s one thing to think it, but God, hadn’t the poor girl had enough hurt? “Well, it’s either that,” I aim at Joey with annoyance, “or you may have to face the fact that Jack is going after Keri Ann for real. Sometimes,” I can’t help adding, curse my stupid pride, “people just know what they want.”

I keep my glare on Joey, who refuses to break it. Damn his blue eyes. I sense Keri Ann next to us shifting uncomfortably.

“Or he’s lying,” says Joey, still meeting my look. “You girls are way too trusting of men. Guys often want just one thing and will say anything to get it.”

A dagger. That’s what it feels like. A dagger straight through my chest. I manage not to gasp or crumple by sheer force of will.

“Us girls are too trusting?” I ask, my voice deadly calm and betraying the dark swell of anguish beneath my words. “Or girls in general? And guys in general say anything to get it? Or guys like you?”

The shocked silence from both Keri Ann and Joey slams into me, waking me up from whatever dark place I just fell to. That’s twice today I’ve called Joey out. Over something that happened years ago. Shit. He must think I’m certifiable. And why the hell am I still not over this *?

I slump back in my seat and gasp in pain as the skin on my back connects with the chair. “Ow,” I yelp.

“What’s the matter?” Joey immediately steps forward, his brow creased in concern.

“I got burned. It’s nothing.” But I wince again. It really f*cking hurts.

Joey comes around behind me before I can stop him. “Shit. That’s not good,” he says. I look up at Keri Ann’s face to see her smirking. Traitor. “When did this happen?” Joey asks, gingerly moving the strap of my dress over on one shoulder. The skin of his fingers is as hot as a blowtorch.

“I fell asleep in the sun. It’s fine really. The lidocaine I sprayed on earlier must be wearing off.”

“What the hell? Wasn’t your … wasn’t Bradford, or whatever, supposed to be with you?” If I didn’t know better, I’d think he deliberately butchered Brandon’s name.

“Brandon!” I burst out at the same time as Keri Ann and catch her eye. We chuckle at our synchronization, and I latch onto the humor like a life raft. “Of the chocolate brown eyes!” we chorus. We’d taken to calling him that for the whole year he’d spent persuading me to go out with him.

“Have y’all been drinking?” Joey asks, nonplussed at our hysteria.

I chuckle again. Something is crossing Keri Ann’s face that looks remarkably like mischief. She gets up and goes to the pantry cupboard, pulling out the first aid basket. She pulls out two items and flings them at Joey as he steps away from me. “Catch,” she says, but he’s already snatched them one after the other.