Page 55 of Love Unforgettable
“Well, of course, I want toshtup. Lexie is gorgeous, and I’m a red-blooded man who is attracted to female gorgeousness. But that don’t mean we should run off and get married.”
I have to steer this hurricane as far off course as I can, or I will never hear the end of it. If Babs gets wind that I think Lexie is my lightning bolt, they really will start planning a wedding and I’ll be married by week’s end.
“Now, Cole,” Babs says. “There’s no need to get yer knickers in a knot, sweetheart. Mavis and I are just tryin’ to help. You’re not getting’ any younger—”
“I’m barely thirty-five years old!”
“When I was your age I’d had four babies already, and one of them was getting ready for high school.”
“I know, Babs, but that was a long—”
“If you know what’s good for you, young man, you will not finish that sentence. I swear sometimes you boys are as dumb as a box of rocks.”
“I wasn’t gonna . . .” I stop what I’m saying before I finish it. Seeing as I probably would have got myself in deeper trouble. I can be as dumb as a box of rocks, for sure. Pappy always said there’s two strategies for winning an argument with a woman and neither one works.
I’m relieved to see the winery directly ahead.
Thank God.
I don’t know how much more of their meddling I can take. I find parking easily, and head over to the passenger side of the truck to help each of the ladies out.
“Now, Cole, we will let you know when it is time to leave.Fershtay?We have much to accomplish tonight. You must focus on mybubula, no? Keep her away from theputz.”
“No offense, Miss Mavis, but that might be kinda hard seein’ as it’s his party and her winery is hostin’ it and all.”
“Cole Warren, now don’t you worry none, sugar. You always could draw a pat hand from a stacked deck, even when you were a boy. Born lucky. And you got the Barnett genes, handsome as all get out. Just like your pappy was.” Babs licks her fingers and reaches up to smooth the side of my hair down. “Now, you just be yourself and go win that girl’s heart. And, here.” She rummages through her bag and produces a box of mints. “Take a few of these, your breath is not so hot, sugar.” She hands me some mints and before I can barely blink, she and Mavis are off toward the winery.
I blow my breath in my hand trying to assess just how bad my breath is.
“That never works like you think it will.” A female voice drifts forward from behind me. I turn around and see two women walking toward me. If I’m not mistaken, the same two women who were at the Mexican restaurant with Lexie the other night. One is tall and willowy, the other a tad shorter and curvy; both pretty as all get out.
“Uh . . .” I’m not sure how to respond.
“I think we embarrassed him,” the curvy one says.
“He’s gonna be more embarrassed when he finds out we heard the whole conversation with Mavis and Babs,” the tall one says.
“Good point,” curvy replies.
“Ladies . . .” I start but have no idea how to proceed. So, I just stand there with my mouth gaping open, feelin’ about as smart as molasses is fast.
“How about this,” the tall one says. “I’m Kat and this is Remi. We are Lexie’s best friends and Mavis’ surrogate granddaughters.” She holds her hand out to shake mine, which I take, and then turn to do the same with Remi. Both women have firm grips.
“A true pleasure to meet you both,” I say. “It’s nice to know your names, especially since you know all about my grandmother’s plan for my future, my alleged halitosis, and that I apparently get tongue tied around beautiful women.” I smile.
“Oh, he’s a charmer, Remi. I like it,” Kat says. “On top of being the mostshtupableman in the world.”
I draw in a quick breath at that, causing me to choke on the mint. It takes a minute to catch my breath. The girls wait patiently.
“You good?” Kat asks.
“Yes,” I rasp.
“Okay, so it’s not normally like me to butt into other people’s business—”
“Kat, don’t lie to the poor guy,” Remi interrupts.
“Fine, it’s totally normal, but had this situation not presented itself, and by that, I mean overhearing your conversation and running into you in the parking lot, I would not have butt into this particular situation right here.” She turns to Remi. “Fair?”
