Without You (Love Wanted in Texas #1)(102)

“You do look beautiful,” Lauren said with a smile.

I glanced over and looked at Lauren. She had on a teal dress that hugged her curves in all the right ways. Her blonde hair was done so that half was up with the other half hanging down. The color of the dress brought out the color of her blue eyes even more. Taylor had also done Lauren’s makeup, and she looked breathtaking. My poor baby brother was gonna be whimpering all night while watching Lauren dance in that dress.

Grace, of course, looked like a knockout. She had on a beige cocktail dress. If it were longer, she would look like she’d stepped out of The Great Gatsby. Her light-brown hair was done in a French twist, and her makeup had been done to look very natural.

I stared at my best friend. She was so beautiful, yet she had no clue how beautiful she was. She not only looked like Aunt Ari, but she also had her mother’s spit and fire as well.

Grace glanced over and winked at me. “Shall we, ladies?”

Maegan did a little jump, and she was the first one down the stairs. Of course she looked like a knockout in a pair of black sheer pants and an almost see-through white blouse. Only Maegan could make wearing dress pants look hotter than hell.

As we made our way down the stairs, I could hear Will, Luke, and Colt talking. I didn’t know whose face I wanted to see more.

I walked down second, and when Will saw me, his mouth dropped open. I loved that I had such an effect on him. I knew he was now regretting the decision not to stay here tonight.

Libby was right behind me, so I quickly looked at Luke.

I couldn’t help but giggle when I saw my cousin’s mouth about drop to the ground.

He swallowed hard and said, “Jesus, Libby, you look beautiful.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see Libby smiling slightly at Luke.

She said, “Thank you, Luke.”

Then, Colt said, “Holy hell.”

I looked and watched Lauren making her way down the stairs, followed by Taylor, and Grace.

“Okay, we’re ready to go.” Grace made her way to the front door.

Libby turned to follow.

Luke let out a gasp. “Oh. Hell. No.”

Grace and Libby turned and looked at Luke.

“Excuse me?” Grace attempted to hold back her smile.

“Libby, you’re not wearing that. It…it goes down…I mean, it’s…”

Libby tilted her head and looked at Luke. “What’s wrong with this dress?”

Will walked over to Libby. “What’s wrong with it? Libby, one more inch, and your damn ass is going to be showing. You need to change.”

“Yes! You totally need to change. No way you’re going out in that dress,” Luke said.

Grace crossed her arms, and Libby’s mouth dropped open as she looked at Will, then Luke, and back to Will. I couldn’t help but giggle. Not only did she have her brother being overprotective, but she also had Luke.

“It’s just like high school all over again. The big brother and the best friend being overprotective of Libby,” Maegan said, walking by Grace and Libby. She opened the door to the garage. “Last I checked, she was over eighteen, Will, and she isn’t your girlfriend, Luke.” Maegan looked over her shoulder at Luke and made a face. “So, she’s free to dress however she sees fit.”

I glanced over at Libby as she looked at Will and Luke.

“That’s right. I’m a”—she glared at Luke—“single woman, who is ready to have some fun.”

She turned and followed Grace, Maegan, Taylor, and Lauren out the door.

Colt walked up to me and took me by the arm. “Alex, you can’t let Lauren go out, looking like that. And did you see how Taylor was dressed? And what in the hell are you wearing?”

I smiled at Colt and gently removed his hand. I took a few steps back and smiled at three of the most important men in my life.

“I love all three of you, so I’m gonna keep it real. Two of you have your heads up your ass.” I looked at Colt. “Stop letting Lauren push you away.” I turned to Luke. “Stop pushing Libby away, you ass. Now, pull out the romantic shit that I know both of you have and do something about it. Frankly, I’m sick and tired of seeing the two of you mope around because you’re both too damn afraid.”

Will was smiling from ear to ear. “God, I love you.” He walked up and took me in his arms.

He kissed me as Colt walked by.

“She’s still my sister, you prick. Get your hand off her ass,” Colt said.

When Will pulled his lips from mine, he smiled. “You have no idea how turned-on I am right now.”

“Oh, Jesus H. Christ. Get a room,” Luke said as he pulled Will away from me.

Luke took my arm and led me outside. I giggled as I looked back at Will.

This is going to be one very long evening.





After eating dinner at an Italian restaurant in Corpus, we headed to a dance club. I glanced over to the dance floor and saw all the girls dancing. They had pretty much been just dancing together in their little group since we got here.

Luke and Colt were talking about an idea Colt had for logging in the vaccinations for the cattle. I was just about to give my input when Luke quickly stood up.

“What is she doing?”

I looked out at the dance floor and scanned for the girls. I saw them all dancing…except for Libby. I quickly looked around for her and saw her dancing with some guy. He was about five-eleven and built like a son of a bitch, and he had my sister a little too close to him as they danced.