Page 96

(After Chapter 48)

Fletcher wiped the last of the yellow paint off his hands and surveyed his work with satisfaction.

"Does it meet your exacting standards?" a grumpy voice piped up behind him. "Since when did you get so damned picky?"

Since it was for her.

Ben had been grumbling about the delay for the last hour, but Fletcher wanted it perfect. For her. “Looks like it does.”

He glanced at the rest of his crew—Martin, Reese, Ben, and Kaece. Fletcher had roped in his cousins and his brother to help with this project. All for her.

Martin had handled the necessary repairs, free of charge and on his own time. Dylan had put the fear of God into Martin once, and Fletcher suspected that was why his cousin wanted to spoil her a bit now.

Kaece had even built small stepstools for each wall, knowing that Dylan was petite and might need a boost. So she could reach everything with ease.

The tables, which Fletcher had dragged out of the old barn on the original homestead, had been repaired and cleaned. They would be perfect for what he had in mind.

"All that’s left is to hang the lights once the paint dries." His uncle Bill, an electrician, had installed panels specifically designed for what Dylan would need for her precious seedlings.

“I think your girl’s going to love it, little brother. Though what she sees in you, I’ll never understand. Aren’t you just a knockoff version of me?” Ben teased, giving Fletcher a shove. He glanced at his watch. “Damn. I’m running late. Gotta pick up my gorgeous Talley woman in five.”

“I can get Dusty,” Reese offered. “I’ll convince her I’m the better Talley. Kaece can handle Dylan—we can save them from you two. There’s still time.”

“There are plenty of other stunning Talley women out there. Go find yourself one,” Ben said, laughing. “Ask Martin—Darcey must adore him.”

Martin’s response was a low growl. “That woman needs a good talking-to.”

Fletcher had heard they’d had another spat recently.

“Oh, what an image,” Reese said, clutching his chest theatrically. “She’s one of the hottest women alive. And her sisters? Equally gorgeous.”

“Even if one thinks you’re a moron?” Martin shot back. “Or is it Kaece she thinks is—a what was it—‘a moronic lunatic who shouldn’t be allowed to drive near civilized areas’?”

“She was doing twenty in a forty,” Kaece said defensively. “I didn’t know she was one of Dusty’s sisters until we parked. I wasn’t even tailgating. I just asked where she learned to drive like that. Politely.”

“And what did she say?” Ben asked with a grin.

“That I was an idiot, that her car had a problem, and if it bothered me so much, I should have passed her.”

“What was wrong with Dev’s car? She only got it a month ago,” Ben asked.

“I offered to take a look when I realized she was a Talley, but she said the last person she’d ask for help was an arrogant Tyler jerk like me. So I walked away. She’s barely acknowledged my existence since. Gorgeous girl, terrible attitude.”

“Really? She’s one of the smart ones, and pretty even-tempered—for a soul-stealing goddess like the rest of her coven,” Ben said. “Anyway, I’m off. My woman’s waiting.”

“I’ll follow you,” Fletcher said. “I’m spending the evening with Dylan at the inn tonight.”

As he had every night. She let him in once her father took her mother home, and her sisters and cousins were in the loop. Even her sharp-eyed grandmother probably knew. No one stopped him. Least of all Dylan.

“You two are hopeless,” Reese said, shaking his head. “Those Talley girls flash those big green eyes, give those wicked smiles, and you two just follow along, happily enslaved for life. They are the most dangerous women in this county. Everyone knows it.”

“Are you saying that if one of those gorgeous creatures looked at you and smiled, you’d run the other way?” Martin challenged.

“Damn right I would. I’m way too young to get caught like that. Look at Fletch—he’s practically drooling just thinking about being with her tonight. And Ben’s not any better.”

Fletcher watched his cousins. He saw the look in Martin’s eyes, and it told him everything he needed to know.

If Darcey Talley ever turned her gaze to Martin again, there was no way his cousin would retreat. Quite the opposite.

Martin was in love with Darcey. Just like Fletcher was with her younger sister.

And he knew exactly how much that hurt.

If he ever lost Dylan, it would shatter him into a thousand pieces.