Page 29 of Wine Whiskey & Lipstick

Dillyn missed her friend’s silent communication. “Sex is not important to me. I’ve said this before, but I’m done. I mean done done done with men.” Ben’s face flashed into her mind. He was just like all the rest, hot one minute and cold the next. Literally, all men were the same.

Her words hung in the air for a bit, each woman lost in their own thoughts. Dillyn angrily wiped away the wetness from her face, leaving large white streaks behind.

After a few more moments, the three of them sat up and looked at one another. Only Palmer and Cat’s eyes were visible. Some parts of Dillyn could still be seen, but they all looked a hot mess. Dillyn was the first to say what they were thinking. “We’re going to need to hire someone to paint.”

“Thankgaawdyou said it.” Dillyn’s statement mirrored Cat’s thoughts. “I’m down to my last bit of savings, but I’m willing to part with it to get a professional to do this shit.”

“Excuse me.” The deep voice of a man surprised them.

Palmer, Dillyn, and Cat all turned toward its direction.

“We rang the bell and knocked, but nobody answered. We heard voices, so I hope you don’t mind that we let ourselves in.”

“Oh, my,” Palmer said under her breath.Damn, he’s finer today than last night. Even Cat was rendered speechless at the fineness that greeted them. Ben was hot, but he was off-limits. He was Dillyn’s, even if she didn’t know it. Now, the other brother? He was probably off-limits too, but Cat was hoping it was the third brother. If so, she might have a shot.

Palmer scrambled to her feet. “N-no. Of course not. Please come inside. I’m sorry we didn’t hear you.” She greeted them with a warm smile.

Dillyn watched Cat stretch like her namesake. That girl could turn on the sex appeal like most people blinked. It was second nature. It was also hard to believe, looking the way they looked and covered almost head to toe in paint, that Cat could still make getting off the floor look sexy.

Inwardly, Dillyn rolled her eyes as she sat up.Men. They were the root cause of basically every problem known to man. They probably orchestrated the original sin and blamed Eve for it. They’d definitely ruined this private moment and gave her another reason never to want to see them again.

Dillyn took her sweet time rising. Palmer and Cat were being much too friendly. After her morning with the Cash brothers, Dillyn couldn’t imagine what they wanted.

Ben had a brief moment to study the ladies before they announced themselves. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something about Dillyn captured his interest the same as two years ago and the night before. It wasn’t the beauty of her large brown eyes that intrigued him. Dillyn was attractive, but it was more than that that made him curious. The problem was Ben didn’t want to be curious. He wasn’t free to be interested. Ben had way too much stuff to work out. Still, he couldn’t help but notice in Dillyn’s unguarded moments there was something about her that he recognized immediately. It was something he saw in himself.

She was broken.

Dillyn felt Ben studying her. His face was a blank canvas, but his eyes were intense, and it left Dillyn feeling uncomfortable. It was as if he could see into parts of her that she preferred no one see.Why were he and Lucas here?The sooner they found out, the sooner they could leave.

Dillyn raised her chin and challenged his gaze. Ben held it to let her know he knew what she was doing.

Lucas spoke to Dillyn but couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off Palmer. “I’m afraid Ben and I may have gotten off on the wrong foot with you this morning, Ms. Anderson. My brother and I brought flowers to make amends.” Lucas handed Palmer and Cat each a bouquet. When Ben didn’t give Dillyn the flowers he held, Lucas elbowed him and smiled to cover up his brother’s rudeness.

Ben forgot he’d been holding them. He extended his arm and pushed the purple and white magnolias toward Dillyn.

Dillyn stared at the flowers but didn’t take them. It was clear to her Ben was being forced. After a few awkward moments, Palmer had to nudge her as well. She spoke into the weird silence as Dillyn begrudgingly accepted the flowers from Ben. “Well, thank you both kindly. They’re beautiful.”

Cat agreed as she lowered her head to breathe in the scent. “They are lovely and smell wonderful. Don’t they, Dillyn?”

Dillyn directed her words to Lucas. “Gorgeous. Thanks, and I accept your apology.” She then returned her gaze to Ben. “Life is too short for bullshit. If you didn’t want to give me flowers or apologize for being an ass, then don’t. Excuse me. I have some things to do.” Dillyn turned and walked out of the room.

Cat and Palmer were both floored. They’d never seen Dillyn act like this. Embarrassed, Palmer almost choked. “W-w-well, that happened.”

This is going to be a heavy haul.Lucas's lips tightened as he pushed Ben in the direction Dillyn had stormed off. His face clearly said,Fix this shit. Lucas had never seen his brother be this rude.

Ben looked slightly embarrassed. “Sorry, ladies. It’s been a long morning. I apologize for my rudeness.”

Finally hearing his voice, Cat and Palmer would later agree that his baritone was smooth like a fine brandy. They both smiled at him and waited.

Ben took a deep breath and headed in the direction that Dillyn had gone. He found her outside on the porch angrily, pacing back and forth.

“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor,” he said lamely.

Dillyn sighed loudly. “Why are you here? Clearly, you don’t want to be, and I didn’t invite you? So, what do you want? The sooner we find out, the sooner everyone can get on with their day?”

“Damn. Straight to the point. I can respect that. So, I will get to it. My brother thinks you ladies can help my sister, Selah.”

Dillyn’s face softened at the mention of her name. “Help her?” She had to remember to be angry as she folded her arms across her chest. “Unlike her brothers, Selah seems to be the only Cash I’ve met with her head on straight.”

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