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unimpressed glower and finished my drink. I
could’ve used a second, but I had a one-drink limit when I was on my way to pick
up Oliver.
    “Look, I know it’s not my business, but it’s a good
school—a good town.”
    “Then why’d you leave?” I challenged. I’d never asked him
before, and honestly I was that concerned.
    “I had my reasons, but they didn’t involve Harmony itself.
I have plenty of good memories from there.”
    “I’m sure.”
    “Come on. You said you lived there when you were younger.”
    “And I haven’t been back since,” I clarified.
    “Never?” He looked stunned, as though I’d confessed to
some heinous crime.
    “Why would I? My grandparents passed on, and my father
got a job here.”
    “Wait.” He shook his head, bemused. “So you’ve never even
been there? I mean, where you can remember it?”
    “No.” Why was that hard to believe? I traveled enough, but
not to a town that held nothing of interest.
    “Well, shit, looks like we have a road trip this weekend.”
    I sat back, narrowing my eyes. “No. She’s not going there,
and neither am I.”
    “Come on, I’ll make sure it’s worthwhile. I know you’re
as tired of the same damn scene as I am. All the decent-looking women we have
yet to bang in this city are becoming fewer and more far between. I’m in need
of some new prospects.”
    When he put it like that, sweet country girls sounded
like my type of weekend after all. I grinned, convinced.
    “You’re on, but not this weekend. I’m taking Oliver to
the new exhibit on dinosaurs. Next weekend.”
    His grin was triumphant. “How’s the little prince doing?”
    Caleb was the only person outside my family whom I
discussed Oliver with or allowed around him. “He’s been frustrated lately,” I
answered honestly.
    He laughed, pulling the rag from his shoulder and wiping
it over the bar. “Just like his old man, huh?”
    I cracked another smile at the jab. “His cousin Charlie’s
already learning to play the piano.”
    “Damn, that kid’s so little. What is he, two?”
    “And a half, and already challenging Oliver. Katherine’s
teaching them both, but it’s not coming as easily for Oliver.”
    “Katherine, mmm.” He closed his eyes, exaggerating his
crush. “I’ll never understand how that stiff brother of yours ended up with
such a fine specimen of woman.”
    “Watch it,” I warned, which was unnecessary. Caleb had a
thing about teasing me when it came to her. He shot me a knowing smirk.
    A guy a few stools down called him over for a drink. I
glanced back at the redhead still sitting, still waiting. She was in a short
black dress, which suited her well.
    I pivoted on my stool and was appreciating the view she
gave of her matching black thong when she repositioned herself, spreading her
legs for the briefest moment before crossing them in the other direction. Caleb
stepped back over, moving my empty glass and replacing it with one filled with soda.
    “Oliver has nothing to worry about. The little guy can
paint. That’s all he needs, as you can attest to, to appeal to the ladies.”
    I held up my glass to salute him, finding just the hint
of Jack mixed in as I took a drink. He knew me too well.
    “It seems it doesn’t take as much anymore,” I replied,
thinking out loud. Revealing to a woman that I was an artist was even more
effective than telling her I ran my own company, although it seemed most women
were receptive without any conversation at all.
    I glanced down at my watch. Twenty until five—plenty of
time left. I grabbed my coat and stood. “Where is she?” I asked, sliding it
over my arm.
    Caleb knew exactly what I was asking. He leaned forward
and spoke in a hushed voice. “Four seats down.”
    With one stealthy move of my head, I saw his target: a
dark-haired beauty in a cheap grey dress. From her seated position, she was all
tits and ass. Just his type.
    “Not bad. So I take it big-shot Parker’s in the hole
again?” I threw out,