Page 4 of Shine On Oklahoma

She lifted her brows and looked to Dax, whonodded confirmation. “Joey bought his brothers out, and he’s beengoing strong ever since. He’s calling his new venture TheTwig.”

She slapped her thigh and laughed. Jason slida mug of root beer her way.

“He has a wife and a little girl now,” Jasonsaid. “You’ll meet ‘em if you stick around long enough. Did I hearyou say you needed a room?”

“Yeah, if you have anything.”

He plucked a key off a hook under the bar,slid it across the wood to her. “Top of the stairs, hang a right.Corner room. No charge.”

“You don’t have to do that. I can pay my ownway.”

“It’s a Brand-McIntyre rule,” Jason said.“Family doesn’t charge family.”

“Not even the black sheep?” she asked.

“Not even,” Jason said.

“Thank you. I’m grateful.” She took a sip.Foam stuck to her upper lip. Dax wanted to kiss it away, so helooked elsewhere. Then she said, “I feel bad, Dax. I caused a riftbetween you and your dad.”

“You widened a rift that was already there,”he said.

“Still…” Deep breath, sincerity in her eyes.A little too much of it. “I hope you had the chance to mend fencesbefore….” She let the words trail off, waited for him to fill inthe rest.

“I was with him when he passed,” he said.Which really didn’t explain anything.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I am.”

“You don’t seem okay.” She sighed, and whenhe didn’t say anything, took another sip. “I’d like to ask you afavor, Dax.”

He had no doubt she did. He’d been waitingfor her to get to the point, tell him what it was she wanted fromhim this time around. God knew if she was here and being nice tohim, she must want something. “What kind of favor?”

Her deep breath expanded her breasts againstthe cami. He tried not to notice and noticed anyway. “I don’t knowhow Kiley’s gonna feel about me showing up. I’m… would you go outthere with me?”

He closed his eyes slowly, opened them again.“I don’t get it.”

“I know it probably doesn’t make a lot ofsense to you, but…when we were together—”

“We were never together,” he said. “It wasjust a game you were running.”

“I was running a game. But you weren’t. Youwere a great boyfriend. I always felt good about myself when I waswith you. I always felt safe.”

“You don’t feel safe around your sister?”

“I don’t feel good about myself around mysister.”

That was the thing with Kendra. She’d lie tohim, she’d con him, but every once in a while she’d show him hersoul in a moment of brutal, undeniable honesty. To this day hedidn’t think she did that with anyone else. He took a deep breath,sighed heavily. “I have to go over anyway.”

“You do?”

“Yeah.” He drained his glass. Hers was onlyhalf empty. “Give me your keys. I’ll get your bags for you whileyou finish up.”

She smiled, a watery, wavery little smile ofgratitude and relief. No hint of triumph, like he’d have expectedif she thought she had him wrapped around her finger again.

He probably ought to warn her about what shewas going to find out at Rob and Kiley’s Holiday Ranch. But hedecided not to. It wasn’t his place. That was a matter between thetwo sisters. They’d have to work it out on their own.

Kendra dug out her car keys, dangled them infront of him. He took them, looked at them, and said, “You’redriving a ‘Vette?”

---