Page 24 of One Touch

“Interview with the Vampire?”

Annie waved her hands in the air. “I don’t know. I panicked. It was on Netflix and the first thing that came to mind. Besides, sexy vampire Brad Pitt? Yes, please.”

“You realize that book-version Louis wasn’t all that good looking, right?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Annie shrugged. “I’d bang sexy vampire Brad Pitt.”

“But he was sopalein that movie. You’re deranged.”

“Obviously.” She raised a bottle of cool white wine. “Drink up.”

The laughter that trickled out of me was a comfort. At ease, I allowed her to fill my plastic cup and took a sip. The wine was crisp and buttery and so smooth. Complex flavors I couldn’t quite identify danced over my tongue.

“Mmm,” I hummed and raised an eyebrow at her. “Another Charles Attwater recommendation?”

Annie blushed. Charles was new in town and owned a wine shop. Business was booming, and Annie seemed to be smitten with the handsome newcomer. “He’s very knowledgeable.”

“I can’t believe he hasn’t asked you out yet.” Truly, Annie was a knockout with her amazing red curls, a light dusting of freckles across her nose, and a killer body. She’d been best friends with Lee since they were kids, which was why he probably didn’t even notice that his bestie was super hot.

Men are so clueless.

“You could always askhimout,” MJ offered. “Maybe invite him to the Fireside Flannel Festival. That’s always a good time.”

“No, that’s still a few weeks away,” Sylvie spoke up from a few seats down. “Just get naked. See if he’s interested.”

Annie sputtered on her wine at Sylvie’s suggestion. “What?”

Huh. Maybe Sylvie wasn’t such a stick-in-the-mud after all.

Sylvie’s smile stretched across her face, and her sharp features softened. “Okay, maybe notwalk into his shop naked, but let him see what he’s missing.” Sylvie shimmied her shoulders and gestured to all of Annie. “Invite him to the beach and wear a tiny bikini. Then ...oops”—Sylvie leaned forward as if her top was falling open—“wardrobe malfunction.”

We howled in delight at her absurd suggestion. Somehow, in the time I’d been away, Sylvie had gottenfunny.

Annie looked down at her curves. “Oh yeah, just flash him my tits and see how it goes? You’re insane.”

I topped off Annie’s cup with more wine. “Go on, take her suggestion. Show him your boobs.”

“I’m telling you”—Sylvie pointed in our direction—“a man gets an eyeful and his expression will tell you right then and there whether or not he’s interested.”

“You are all ridiculous.” Annie stood. “I’m going over there to chat aboutbooks.”

I laughed again at the mere idea anyone would be talking about actual books at book club. “Oh, sure. Just make sure you cover all the high points of Louis and Lestat in case there’s a quiz later.”

Annie playfully stuck her tongue out at us as she walked away, and we dissolved into a fresh round of giggles.

His expression will tell you right then and there whether or not he’s interested.

Sylvie’s words bounced around my head as I remembered Beckett’s expression the day my shirt had been soaked through.

Oh, shit ...

NINE

BECKETT

What a long-ass day.

I stretched and twisted my back, hoping the aches and tired muscles would last me another hour or two. I checked my watch and frowned as the sun sank lower over the trees at the edge of the yard. Splashes of ruby and indigo warred in the sky over the blueberry field in the distance. Crickets and cicadas sang out into the evening, and the clouds in the distance were growing thick. We’d lucked out with the weather, but the forecast called for rain, and my crew had worked all afternoon to get to a spot where the wet weather wouldn’t delay us further.

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