Free 9781631052323ForeverKindofCowboySullivan by Sandy Sullivan Page A

today?”
    “Better
right now after my dad plied me with home remedies for hangovers, but I still
need to get some food in my stomach.”
    “Don’t
mention food. I’m so sick my eyes are crossed.”
    “Listen,
I need you to tell me what the heck happened last night.”
    “Why?
You don’t remember?”
    “No. My
phone is about to blow up from text messages, my dad said there have been at
least ten guys at my door today, and I have a pocket full of phone numbers.”
    “I tell
you what, let me rouse myself out of bed to get a
shower. I’ll meet you at Anne’s diner for some coffee and food. We’ll talk,
because honey, you need to be better prepared. You made a lot of friends last
night.”
    “Crap.
Okay. I’ll meet you there in half an hour.”
    “Sounds
good. See
you in a few. Oh, and you’re gonna love what you said
to Jeremiah when he tried to break up your little party.”
    With a
swipe of the button, she hung up with Mandy as she tipped her head back on her
shoulders, wondering what kind of mess she’d gotten herself into this time.
    When
she walked into the diner a half an hour later, she kept her sunglasses on and
took a table in the back. She didn’t want anyone to see her in case she was
recognized from her escapades at The Dusty Boot last night.
    Anne
moved to her table and asked, “Coffee?”
    “Definitely,
two cups. I’m meeting someone in a few minutes. I think she’ll want some too.”
    “ Callinda ?”
    “ Shh .” She put up her hand to shush Anne. “I don’t want
anyone to see me.”
    “Why?
You usually come in here every Sunday with your dad anyway. Most people would
expect you to be here.” She tapped her fingernail on the table. “Where is your
father, by the way?” She tilted her head to the side. “And why are you wearing
those dark glasses?”
    “I’m
hung over. My head is beginning to pound again so please keep your voice down.”
    “Hung
over from what? Did you party too hard?”
    “You
could say that.”
    Mandy
came through the door and Callie waved her over to the booth she’d secured.
    “The
two of you must have really got into trouble last night,” Anne said as she
poured the second cup of coffee for Mandy.
    “You
are a saint, Anne.”
    “Just
being me.”
    Mandy
sipped the strong brew while she cradled the cup between her hands. “Thank you,
God. You have no idea how much I needed this.”
    “I’ve
been there a few times myself, girls. I know how it feels. What you need is
some breakfast.”
    “But you
don’t serve breakfast this late in the day,” Mandy said.
    “I’ll
whip something up for you two. Be right back.”
    “She’s
such a great lady.” Mandy sipped the coffee again before she braced her elbows
on the table. “So, what do you remember?”
    “Not a
damned thing.”
    “From
what point on?”
    She
slowly lowered her sunglasses, then laid them on the
table. “Not much after my argument with Jeremiah outside.”
    “He
watched you all night, you know.”
    “He
did?”
    Mandy
nodded, sipping the coffee. “He sat in the corner, but kept an eagle eye on you
even though you had every single man watching you. You were dancing on top of
the bar.”
    “Oh,
hell.”
    “Yes,
ma’am. You
took off that clingy little blouse you had on and tucked your tank top into
your bra. When the guys started lining up to do belly shots off you, he
growled.”
    “Growled?”
    “Yep,
but it didn’t stop the guys from licking the salt from your neck before they
took the shots. You even let one guy do one from between your boobs.”
    “Oh,
God. I’m so
screwed.”
    “Honey,
you are one of the most popular women in this town right now. You shouldn’t
have any problems getting a date for a long time to come.”
    She
pushed her hair off her forehead. “But Mandy, that’s not me. It was the
alcohol.”
    “Live
it up while you’ve got it, babe. Jeremiah can wait.”
    “You
said something about me telling him off when he tried to stop my