Page 44 of Big Dix

“My bakery isn’t Krispy Creme, though!” Those donuts are little heavenly pillows that melt on your tongue. I set down the mic and get out and pump the gas, and a few minutes later, we’re both back in the car sailing down the interstate.

Jen starts to dig around in the bag of goodies she just bought, and I check but can’t see anything. “Did you get me the donuts?”

“Yes, but how dare you cheat on our bakery!”

She hands me the box, and I rip into it one-handed and pop that warm, airy freshness into my mouth. The sweetness explodes along with my tongue, and I moan with glee.

“Our donuts don’t taste like this. I’m not even going to feel a little bit bad about cheating on the bakery. I loved these donuts long before we had the bakery.”

Jen flips through my phone to find a song that suits what she’s looking for. “Oh… you have to sing this with me.”

“Okay. Hit it!”

The music pours through the speakers, and I instantly start dancing in the driver’s seat. I beam at Jen and notice the people driving in the next lane bobbing along with us.

“This one’s for you, people in the blue sedan!” I yell into the microphone and point it toward them.

They laugh and cheer because I am fantastic, and we sing along with Madonna as she tells us what it’s like to live in a material world.

The people in the blue sedan are definitely impressed with my vocal prowess.

The couple of hours on the road fly—singing and laughing and harassing random passersby. This microphone is the best money that I have ever spent.

We move where the navigation instructs, and as soon as we make the next turn, I know we have arrived at the entrance to Atticus’s farm. To be honest, the term “farm” doesn’t do it justice. We drive underneath the big arch with the emblazoned letterDin the middle of the circle.

It’s like I’m entering that ranch from that famous eighty’s television show.—The long drive lined with Bradford pear trees and a black fence secure hundreds of black and white cattle. I wonder how dangerous cows are?Steer clear. Pun intended. Then the house comes into view.

“Holy shit. Rim must pay well!” Jen peers through the windshield. “You need to lock this man down!”

“Yeah. This is gorgeous.”

We pull to a stop, and as I open the door, I am immediately greeted with the smells of a working farm. Poop.Ew. How do people enjoy this? I mean, it’s pretty, but all this nature and the scents? No, thank you.

Pushing the car door shut, and I hear Atticus call my name. “Evelyn!”

I turn to see him stride out the side door of his house, clad in a backward baseball cap, jeans, a well-worn T-shirt, and work boots.

“Ev, I’m sorry. I mean this in the most respectful way, but that man is fine.”

That’s an understatement. Atticus looks so damn good, and that megawatt perfect smile is doing some sort of voodoo shit to my hormones. I cannot wait to get him naked.

“Yeah, Jen, you ain’t lying.”

How can he get hotter every time I see him?

“Hi!” I wave and smile like an over-eager lunatic as he approaches me.

His gaze drops to my curves, and I don’t know how he makes his eyes traveling my body feel like his fingers are grazing over my skin, but he does.

Is it hot all of a sudden? Just me, then?

“Hey, Jen. Glad you could make it.”

“Thanks for having us.” I glance at her, and she smiles back at me.

I knowexactly what she’s thinking; he’s so nice and hot. Well, I added the hot, but that’s because it’s true.

“Anytime.” Then his eyes are on me again, and he reaches out and wraps me in a hug, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. “I’m so glad that you came.”

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