Page 59 of Playing for Keeps

“Will your sons be at the wedding?” Duke asks the men while rubbing roughly at the back of his neck. “I feel like both families should have come up with guest lists rather than simply asking randomly who is coming.”

Donovan nods. “We’ll get Otto a tux. Edith picked a bridesmaid dress for Betty.”

Duke gets a strange expression when Uncle Donovan mentions the Betty thing. I wonder if he has a negative impression of my cousin Otto. The guy sports a ZZ Top-worthy beard and scares people simply by breathing. Plus, Betty has her whole rockabilly style going.

They probably seem too cool to be approachable. People around town get out of their way when they show up somewhere. I once told Tuesday that Otto probably wanted to shave his beard, but it was too useful for scaring off the townie dorks.

“Normally, we have weddings on the homestead and no one wears this fancy shit,” I explain to Duke as I consider a ruffled shirt for my tux.

“No,” Duke and Emmett say in unison when I show them.

“You’ve become twins,” I taunt and admire the shirt. “Lola might think this is funny.”

“It’s your wedding, not a standup bit,” Duke grumbles and wins a nod from the men around him.

“Wait, so you’re all ganging up on me? I ought to call Lola for backup.”

Duke clenches his fists when he thinks I might use his daughter against him. I like how he knows I have that card up my sleeve. The fact is Lola’s smart about business. When I’m right and Duke’s wrong, she’s bound to take my side for reasons beyond my hot body.

Unlike his daughter, Duke can’t settle into this new situation he’s found himself in. He gets quiet and almost awkward around my people. The relaxed side he showed me at Cat’s Cones isgone. Now, he looks on the spot even when no one is talking to him.

Though my charms won over Duke yesterday, much work remains to be done. Once Lola is my wife, he’ll accept reality and embrace his bright future.

LOLA, AKA CLINGING TO THE OLD WAYS

With Val busy riding around with his brother and cousins, I find myself restless in Basin Rock. The old me could find satisfaction alone in my apartment. Now I feel lonely when Val isn’t around.

Earlier, Val suggested I hang out with the homestead girls. He’s also been asking for me to stay over at his parents’ house. That’s how it worked when West met Alexis. The family wrapped around the new couple.

Between my mom’s disinterest in the wedding and Poppy’s coolness toward me, I feel insecure. The homestead chicks were so much fun during dress shopping and our lunch afterward. I would love to learn more about them. Except I’m afraid to do any of it alone, and Clover is working at the moving company today.

That’s why I end up at my dad’s house, where he sits on the front porch swing. Duke’s clearly deep in thought. I’m able to sit down next to him before he even notices my arrival. He frowns at me as if I’ve snuck up on him.

“What’s wrong?” Duke asks.

“Nothing. Val’s busy, and I’m bored.”

“Will dropping by when your boy-toy isn’t around become a habit?”

“Probably.”

“Well, maybe not once you move to the homestead. All those young women can entertain you.”

“Because you don’t want to?”

Duke sighs deeply. “I’m a simple man, Lola. There are only so many dad jokes I can tell before you’ll get bored.”

Grinning at his teasing, I study him as he stares in the distance. Duke seems restless, but not like he did after he sawthose Charleston assholes in our territory. Today, he has a quieter unease like a man on the brink of depression.

I consider how he’s been out a lot lately. Erin claims he’s behaving secretively.

“How’s your stripper girlfriend?” I ask, and Duke’s expression darkens.

“Why?”

“If she’s important to you, maybe you ought to invite her to the wedding.”

Duke exhales deeply. “I appreciate that, but it’s your day. She might steal the attention from you.”

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