Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“You are the cowgirl of the bunch,” Donny agrees.
“And damned proud of it.” I smile for a moment but then sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
“Dad wasn’t happy when I decided to go on this tour. He was excited that I was going to be able to start working with him right away since I graduated early.”
“You’ll be able to do that when the tour is over.”
“Yeah, that’s what I told him. Both he and Mom agreed that this would be a wonderful time for me to see Europe, especially since you were going to be here for part of it and Brock for the rest of it. But you know Mom and Dad. I’m their baby, so they think I need to be looked after all the time.”
“I suppose we all kind of feel that way about you, Bree.”
“You don’t have to. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“Callie and Rory are thrilled that you’re doing this for Maddie. This is huge for her. The fact that you’re letting her stay in your room, and that Brock paid for her flight. They worry about her a bit.”
“Why?”
“Because she feels left out so much.”
“Angie, Sage, Gina, and I don’t mean to leave her out. It’s just that we’re all family. We’ve known each other, well, since we were born.”
“I know, but like you said, she feels like she’s overshadowed by her siblings too. She seems a little depressed lately.”
“She won’t be depressed for long.” I glance around the hotel bar. The UK flag is displayed proudly on one wall. “We’re in England, Donny. Can you believe it?”
“I know. It’s going to be great.”
Our Diet Cokes arrive…without ice.
“I guess we have to get used to no ice,” Donny says.
I pour some soda from the can into the glass it was served with. “I guess so. But isn’t it cool? To see how other people live?”
“It’s very cool.”
I take a drink of my Diet Coke, let the fizz slide down my throat. It’s good and refreshing. I just feel…
I feel like I’m about to embark on an amazing adventure.
If it doesn’t include Jesse Pike? Oh, well. I’ll get over it.
But I still haven’t ruled it out.
“Jesse was in a bad mood this evening, wasn’t he?” I say to Donny.
“Yeah. You know how tall he is, and he was stuck back in economy in one of those uncomfortable seats. Then they lost his luggage. I’d probably be in a foul mood if it were me.”
“You think he’s okay?” I ask.
“Callie says he’ll be fine. It’s just how he is. Jesse’s an artist. He can be moody. Though not as moody as that Dragon guy.” Donny’s handsome face goes rigid as he leans toward me. “What were you two talking about at dinner?”
“Nothing much. Small talk mostly.”
“I didn’t know Dragon Locke could make small talk.”
“He’s actually a good guy. Sage and Gina think he’s the hottest of all the band members.”
Donny rolls his eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Come on, Donny. You’ve seen them hang all over him at the bar at home.”
“I try not to think of you, Sage, and Gina doing anything of the sort. To me you’re still little girls holding on to your teddy bears.”
I give him another swat. “Sorry, big brother. Those years are long gone.”
Donny takes a drink. “Well, I’m just glad that once I leave, Brock will be here for the duration of the trip. Somebody needs to keep an eye on you and Maddie.”
I hold back a scoff. “Are we back to that again?”
And then I drop my jaw.
Jesse Pike just walked into the bar.
“What is it?” Donny asks.
Then he follows my gaze. “Jesse!” He gestures him over.
“Hi,” Jesse says.
“Thought you were heading to bed,” Donny says.
“Yeah. I was looking forward to it, but then I hit the pillow and was wide awake. Thought I’d get a nightcap.”
“That’s what we’re doing. You can join us if you’d like,” I say brightly.
I’m still a little embarrassed about the whole belt buckle thing, and Jesse and I haven’t really talked since then. But my God, even exhausted, with bags under his eyes, Jesse Pike is the most amazing man I’ve ever looked at. No one wears washed-out jeans quite like he does.
Jesse takes a seat. “Where’s Callie?”
“She went up to bed.” Donny yawns. “I think I’ll join her. Come on, Brianna.”
I hold up my can. “Not quite done yet.”
“All right. I’ll text you with the details for tomorrow.” Donny throws a twenty-pound note on the table, rises, and walks away, leaving me alone with Jesse.
“What details about tomorrow?” he asks.
“We’re going to go see this old guy, Ennis Ainsley. He was the first winemaker for our vineyards. He still lived there when we were little kids, but I don’t really remember much about him.”
“Oh, right. Rory told me about him. She and Brock came over to see him a couple of months ago.”