Read Blue Ribbon Summer (The Baltimore Banners Book 3) for Free Online Page A

and mud spread on his sheets.
    Put new sheets on the bed and burn the dirty ones.
    And his car. He allowed himself a whimper of distress when he remembered the mud and pond water and dirt and dust and...yeah, all that other assorted pleasant farm stuff that now covered the interior of his car.
    Add getting the Beemer detailed to his list. Yeah, so it could get just as filthy in two days when they went back to the country. No way.
    He fell back onto the bed with another groan. His poor Beemer couldn't handle much more. So fine, he thought, letting his eyes close for just a second. He wouldn't take the Beemer.
    He added one more thing to his list: go buy a truck. A heavy-duty pick up that could handle the abuse.
    There, his list was done.
    And he would start on it right away--as soon as he let his eyes rest for a minute.
    Just one...minute.
    #
    "Hey Kayli, come here!"
    Kayli topped off her glass of iced tea and put the pitcher back in the refrigerator, then tossed some chips onto the plate next to her sandwich. "What is it? I'm trying to eat."
    "Just come here. You've got to see this."
    Kayli muttered her opinions about big brothers under her breath then walked through the house to the front door. She opened the screen door and poked her head out, eyeing Jake with all the impatience she could muster. "What?"
    He pointed across the lawn, a big grin on his face, and she turned to see what had him smiling so broadly. A huge, brand new pick up was making its way up the drive, the rumble of its smooth diesel engine drowning out the birdsong. Kayli leaned against the door frame, holding the screen open with her foot as she glared at Jake.
    "You called me out here to see one of your buddies in their new truck?"
    "It's not one of my buddies."
    "Then who is it?"
    "Look."
    Kayli stepped out onto the porch and watched as the truck pulled to a stop in the shade of the trees. The passenger door flew open and two girls jumped out, screaming their hellos as they bounded across the yard and into the field, heading for the show barn.
    It was the twins. Which meant...
    Sure enough, the driver door swung open and Ian climbed down. Her eyes widened when she saw he was wearing a pair of faded jeans that hugged his lean hips and muscular thighs. The gray t-shirt was so worn out she could barely read the "Property of Baltimore Banners" printed on the front. The loose fitting shirt should have hidden his build; instead, it only worked to accent his broad chest and well-muscled biceps and forearms. Kayli tried to get her tongue to stop sticking to the roof of her mouth long enough to swallow, but her mouth was so dry she couldn't.
    "Nice truck. Did you just get it?" Jake asked, instantly bonding over a set of four rugged tires and a Cummins.
    Ian climbed the steps to the porch and nodded, a smile much like Jake's on his own square face. "Yeah, I picked it up yesterday. I felt bad for abusing the Beemer, but I'm already in love."
    Kayli rolled her eyes but still didn't say anything, which was probably good because the two men were still talking about the truck. There was a small lull in the conversation and she finally unglued her tongue long enough to speak.
    "You traded in your BMW for a pick-up?" The disbelief in her voice matched the disbelief in Ian's eyes as he turned his dark gaze toward her.
    "What? No, of course not."
    Of course not, he said. Like it was unheard of to only have one vehicle; like everyone could afford two brand new ones. "So you now have two vehicles?"
    "Well, no. Four, unless you count the motorcycle..." His voice drifted off and he shifted uncomfortably, as if he suddenly realized how that sounded.
    Kayli just stared at him, not even trying to hide her disbelief as an unwelcome and uncharacteristic spurt of jealousy surged through her. Well wasn't he the lucky one. He had four vehicles, including a brand new, shiny, heavy duty, full size extended cab pick-up. He had probably been laughing at her the entire time he had been