The Sometimes Sisters(46)

“Kind of what? We are two consenting adults,” he said.

“It’s creepy,” Dana blurted out.

“Because I was going to ask you out first? Are you jealous? If you’ll go out with me, I won’t ask her,” he chuckled.

“Neither of us is going anywhere with you, Marcus,” Dana said through clenched teeth.

Well, at least her older sister had enough sense to know when something wasn’t right and to fix it, Harper thought. Poor Tawny must want a boyfriend pretty bad for that little short guy to appeal to her.

“Dammit!” Tawny hissed.

“Age is just numbers on paper,” Marcus went on. “I’m a self-proclaimed bachelor. All I’m lookin’ for is a good friend, and Tawny is old enough to make up her own mind. Don’t worry, Dana. I’m not going to throw her over my shoulder and elope.” Marcus laughed.

Harper clamped her mouth shut to keep from saying something obscene right there in front of Uncle Zed. Tawny had heard her swear like a drunk sailor before, but for Uncle Zed to hear her say the words that were on her mind—man, that would put a blush on her face for eternity plus four days.

There was a long, pregnant silence, and then Dana laughed with him. “She’s my baby sister. I get a little overprotective.”

“Bullshit!” Tawny hissed for a second time.

Harper put a finger over her sister’s mouth and frowned.

“Understandable. Then we’re good?” he asked.

“We are good, but I’m not changing my mind.”

Harper nodded and Tawny drew back her hand to slap her arm, but Uncle Zed grabbed it in a vise grip.

“Friends, then?” Marcus asked altogether too smoothly.

“You betcha. Need some fishin’ worms or minnows? I understand you’re here for the weekend.”

“I hate fish, and it seems a shame to spend a whole day catchin’ and releasin’, so no, ma’am, I do not want any worms or bait. I would like a six-pack of Coke and a big bag of potato chips. I get the munchies when I read,” he said.

Harper immediately wondered if the reading caused his hunger or if this little getaway was to enjoy a few days of blissful pot smoking. She eased away from the curtain and tiptoed across the floor toward the back door with Tawny and Zed right behind her. Chalk one up for all three of them. Wyatt had driven away that morning without even coming by the café. Marcus wasn’t interested in Dana and only wanted a buddy when it came to Tawny. The Clancy girls had all flunked Boyfriend 101 that weekend. They would have to take the class over at a later date.



It had been a strange day for Dana. Stepping into Tawny’s business had made her feel like a real sister, and she was still trying to analyze that emotion when she brought out a huge bowl of caramel corn as Brook chose the Saturday movie. She’d thought her sisters might come to the house tonight, since Brook had invited them the week before and reminded them at least a dozen times that day.

At eight o’clock neither of them had arrived, so she hit the button on the remote to start Something to Talk About. The music had barely started when Tawny knocked on the front door, and immediately Harper’s heavy rap hit the back. Brook yelled for them to come on in and Dana pushed the “Pause” button so they wouldn’t miss anything.

“What are we watchin’? And should we start invitin’ Uncle Zed to these movie nights?” Harper flopped down on the sofa, kicked off her shoes, and propped her feet on the coffee table. “I love doing this. Mother would have passed gold bricks if we’d ever put our feet on the furniture at home, but Granny Annie was so laid-back that we could be ourselves in this house.”

Brook told them the title of the movie and the two lead actors. “You’re goin’ to love it. Movies keep y’all from fighting, you know.”

Tawny claimed the recliner after she’d loaded up a smaller bowl with caramel corn. “Anything that’s got Julia in it is fantastic in my books. And we’ve always liked movies, so I guess this is a good place to start being really civil and not just pretend for Uncle Zed’s benefit. I would’ve been here sooner, but the last customer had a problem with their car and didn’t arrive until five minutes ago. Why were you late, Harper? Waiting on Wyatt to come keep your bed warm?”

“Hell, no, Marcus was doing that for me,” Harper teased. Tawny threw a piece of popcorn at her. She caught it midair and popped it into her mouth. “Don’t waste good food. You might get hungry someday and wish you had what you threw away.”

“You ever been that hungry, Aunt Harper?” Brook asked.

“Couple of times. Now let’s watch this movie. Is it funny?”

“Oh, yeah.” Brook nodded.

Dana nudged Tawny on her way to the kitchen to get sweet tea for everyone. “You still mad at me?”

“A little bit. You aren’t my mother, and you don’t have the right to interfere in my life,” Tawny answered. “Want some help with that tea?”

“Sure do. And I’m your older sister.” Dana filled four glasses with ice and then poured tea into them. “Someone has to look out for you.”

“And who’s going to look out for you?” Harper called from the living room.

“I’m the oldest. I can take care of myself,” Dana declared.