Page 48 of Them Bones

“Shane?” someone said.

“Cody?”

Cody grinned and leaned in, clapping Shane on the back with one arm.

“Wow, long time no see Shane! How ya been, man?” He looked him over. “I mean, clearlynot bad. You look really good you handsome prick.”

Shane laughed. “Got a job.” He accepted the joint from Cody and took a puff. “How’s your cousin.”

“Had the baby early. Left it with my mum and took off.”

“The baby okay?” Shane asked. Cody just shrugged.

Shane wanted to talk to him but wanted to find Laney more. They exchanged a few more pleasantries and then Cody excused himself to get another drink.

As Shane looked around the small rec room, he started to feel a little weird and realized that Cody’s joint was probably laced with something. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself and prepare for a multitude of drug-induced possibilities.So stupid.Everybody knew not to accept drugs or drinks from Cody unless you wanted one hell of a ride.

He felt a shift in the room, even with his eyes closed, like everyone’s attention had been snagged. And based on the vibration working its way up his spine, he’d guess Laney had arrived.

As he turned around he had to actively fight his jaw from dropping open.

She was wearing skintight flares, indecently low on her hips, and a little half-shirt thing, exposing her flat stomach and hugging her small tits, her shoulders bare. Her belly button ring glinted in the strung-up Christmas lights.

She wore almost no makeup, just something that made her eyelashes look darker, and her lips were shiny. Her hair was mussed like she’d just gotten out of bed.

Fuck.

Me.

Not yet not yet not yet not yet not yet not yet not yet –

“Hifriend,” she said mockingly, a twinkle in her eye as she stepped close to him.

He leaned into her ear with a frown. “Friends don’t make friends get hard.”

She shivered, clearly shocked, but they stepped apart respectfully as half the room was watching them with interest.

Like a homing beacon for another woman getting attention, Linette was suddenly there, passing out Jell-o shots and coy smiles.

Some of the guys shifted their attention willingly as Linette greeted everyone by name, clasping hands and loudly kissing cheeks, but several seemed as unable to tear their eyes away from Laney as Shane was, and Linette frowned.

Apart from their petite-ness and their preternatural good looks, they didn’t really look alike. Linette reminded him of Old Hollywood with her big eyes, dramatically arched eyebrows, softmouth, and curves for days framed by long, dramatic tumbling blonde waves that were a shade too light for her age.

Laney was all edges and angles, with jutting cheek and hip bones, a sharp gaze, an even sharper mouth, and a pointy nose and chin that shouldn’t really have been beautiful but were. She looked almost elvish, and with her soft little pixie cut halo she made him think of some kind of mischievous fairy.

If Linette offered a man soft, full hands and throaty moans, Laney promised a dirty mouth and just a hint of pain.

Shane was hypnotized. It was no contest.

“You must be Shane,” Linette said, acknowledging him by name this time. She looked him up and down appraisingly as she walked over and embraced him in a big – if not slightly stiff – hug.

“Nice to properly meet you, Mrs. Hawton – ”

“Oh Jesus Christ, don’t call me that,” she said waving him off. “It’s Linette.” Then she turned her attention to Laney. “You look different, doll.”

It didn’t sound like a compliment.

You look sexy as fuck, and I need everyone in this house to leave,he thought.

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