Free Wild Card: Boys of Fall by Mari Carr Page A

Vegas.”
    “Haven’t fixed my truck yet.”
    Carter remained undaunted. “I’m struggling to find a truce in any of this.”
    “I’m here for a few days more. Probably a week. I’d like to spend that time with Lorelie instead of trying to play nice with all these women you and Wade keep lobbing my way. She’s an intelligent woman who has agreed to go out with me. If you’re really her friend, you’ll trust her to make her own decisions.”
    “Yeah,” Lorelie threw out hotly. “You will.”
    Carter sighed. “Old habits die hard, Lorelie. Coach asked us—”
    “To keep an eye on me in high school . Dear God, Carter! You guys gotta let this go.”
    Carter smiled. “It’s easier for me. I’ve been back in Quinn over five years now. So I’ve watched you date more than your fair share of yahoos. Wade, Tucker and Jackson are still trying to figure out what’s changed and what’s the same around here. And let’s face it—Joel and Oakley consider you their kid sister. That will never change. You’re gonna have to sort them out on your own time.”
    She glanced toward the bar, where Oakley and Joel both stood. When they saw her looking, they quickly pretended to be busy pouring drinks. “Oh, I will.”
    Glen was glad he wasn’t Joel and Oakley. Given the current level of Lorelie’s annoyance, both men were in for it later.
    “Do I fall into that ‘yahoo’ category?” Glen asked.
    Carter considered the question for just a moment, and then shook his head. “No. I don’t think you do.”
    “So it’s settled. I’m taking this pretty woman out for dinner,” Glen said. “And all the intimidating looks in the world aren’t going to change that.”
    Carter sighed. “Not much of a truce. Sounds more like an ultimatum.”
    Lorelie leaned closer to Glen, her shoulder brushing his. “We’re just having fun, Carter. Is that such a bad thing?”
    “Fun, huh? Is that what y’all are calling that show?”
    Lorelie giggled. “ I thought it was fun.”
    Carter reached over and tugged on Lorelie’s hair. “Do me a favor, darlin’. Try to have that fun somewhere a lot more private. You’re getting all the rednecks in here worked up.”
    “Deal.” Now that peace appeared to have been made, Lorelie reached for the beer Carter had brought to the table. Tipping it back, she chugged nearly half of it in one long gulp. “Feel like making out in the backseat of my car?” she asked Glen.
    Carter groaned, but Glen laughed. “I could probably be persuaded.”
    “Great,” Carter muttered. “Second y’all leave here, it’ll be my ass that’s grass for not stopping you. Don’t suppose I could convince you to leave separately? Or maybe sneak out the back?”
    Lorelie shook her head as Glen stood and reached for her hand, helping her out of the booth. “Nope. I’m not about to pussyfoot around, pretending for a bunch of busybody boys who should all be more worried about keeping their own women satisfied and less worried about who I’m sleeping with. Or not sleeping with.”
    “Which side of that line am I falling on?” Glen teased.
    “That remains to be seen.”
    “Damn. About time.” Carter chuckled, the sound prompting Lorelie to turn around and look at her friend. Carter answered the unspoken question in her quizzical expression. “It’s nice to have you back, Lorelie.”
    She smiled, then bent over and placed a quick kiss on Carter’s cheek.
    Glen wasn’t sure what the exchange meant, but clearly it pleased both of them.
    Lorelie took Glen’s hand, the two of them heading for the exit. Glen was sort of surprised no one else approached. Once they were outside, they paused.
    Glen kept hold of her hand as he turned to face her. “If you were just trying to teach your friends a lesson, I’m okay with playing along. We can say good night here, or…”
    He let her fill in the blanks. Right now, he’d give just about anything to spend more time with her—whether it was kissing her or simply