Free Next Song I Sing (NEXT TIME AROUND) by Donna McDonald

It had reminded Max of how much he loved his brother. Regardless of his distaste for his former sister-in-law, he would have always tolerated Rayonna for Jasper’s sake.
    Jasper nodded out the window to the pool. “Well, I was fairly happy about it until I saw Chloe by the pool today. Three guys have given her business cards since we sat down to lunch. I seriously doubt they’re trying to hire an accountant though she swears that’s what she does for a real job.”
    Max couldn’t help the snicker that escaped. “Did she let any of them stay and talk?”
    “No,” Jasper said, frowning. “She dispatched them fairly quickly and went back to talking with Taylor and Emma. Did you see the bathing suit she’s wearing? She’s not even covering it up.”
    “Would that be the one-shoulder black shiny number with all the holes that makes a man’s fingers want to go exploring?” Max asked, laughing at the distress on Jasper’s face. “No. I didn’t notice.”
    “Like hell,” Jasper swore softly, snarling his lip at Max’s grin. “Everyone with eyes has noticed. Even the women are giving her dirty looks.”
    “That’s because of what every male is thinking about Chloe because of that suit,” Max said wisely. “Women are very smart that way, Jasper. Seems like at your age you should know more about that stuff.”
    “You are not being helpful,” Jasper stated, glaring at his brother’s widening grin.
    “Better stake your claim soon,” Max warned, his voice full of sincerity.
    “ Stake my claim? What do you mean stake my claim?” Jasper demanded, fighting a laugh at how ridiculous that sounded. He wasn’t in high school and hitting on the new girl.
    “Honestly. How did you ever get a woman? You have to show up where she is. Be around. Glare at the other guys. You should be out there now by the pool instead of eating lunch with your celibate brother,” Max said, laughing. “I know you’re used to supermodels falling all over you, Jasper. But I don’t think this woman is going to do that. Look, if you’re too busy to pay attention to Chloe today, at least make sure she has your business card too. If she puts them all into a drawing later, you’ll at least have a chance of being the one she picks out to date when she gets tired of waiting for you to make a real move on her.”
    Jasper looked discreetly around the restaurant, then sent his brother a hand signal.
    Max burst out laughing. “Wow. You gave me the finger in your hotel café. Chloe Zanders really does have you stirred up, doesn’t she?”
    “In a manner of speaking,” Jasper said, pushing his plate away as he saw yet another man walk over to speak to Chloe. “Damn it, there’s another one. I can’t just go around yelling at hotel guests for speaking to a woman I’m interested in dating.”
    “Of course not,” Max said reasonably, trying to imitate his brother’s tone of disgust. “So what exactly are you going to do, Jasper?”
    The frustrated grunt Jasper made as he stared out the window had Max grinning happily.

Chapter 8
     
    “How many does that make now, Emma?” Taylor asked innocently.
    “Huh? Oh. Six, I believe. If you count the pool bartender,” Emma replied, laughing. “Personally, I would count the bartender. He was very nice. I wish he liked short, curvy blondes more.”
    “Shouldn’t you two leave the counting to the accountant?” Chloe said, trying hard to sound indignant and not to laugh herself. “And it was seven thank you very much, not six. I feel practically naked in this suit. It doesn’t surprise me that it’s drawing so much attention.”
    “It’s not the suit, Chloe. Don’t be in denial. It’s the fact the woman in the suit is sending out the vibe that getting completely naked with her could become possible at any moment,” Taylor informed her, tilting her sunglasses down to flash her baby blues. “If I’d known you were going to get all the action this afternoon, I’d have made you wear that