Taming A Fortune. Nancy Robards Thompson
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sure where Galen had come up with that. He glanced at Jude and Liam, both of whom were smirking, and realized it was now his turn to get the third degree. But there wasn’t much to tell—or much he was willing to talk about.
He offered up the extra two Coronas he held instead. “You guys want a beer?”
Liam and Jude both took one.
Galen crossed his arms, his grin bursting into a full-on smile. “Don’t change the subject, little bro. We just want to know what’s going on with you and Angie, especially since Justin told us you two had a sleepover last night.”
Aw, hell. Toby had been afraid that was going to happen.
He blew out a sigh. “As nice as that might sound, I’m afraid Justin blew that all out of proportion. Angie stayed over, but it’s not what you’re thinking.”
“Hmm.” Liam crossed his arms. “So if it would have been nice, does that mean you’re interested in her?”
So what if he was?
Still, Toby wasn’t going to admit anything. If he did, he’d never hear the end of it. And besides, he and Angie hadn’t even talked about whether they wanted their relationship or friendship or whatever the hell it was to progress to a level like that.
“You know what I think?” Toby said to Liam. “You guys have fallen in love, so you think everyone else ought to be feeling the same way.”
“I’m still single and unattached,” Galen said. “And I think there’s definitely some big-time sparks going on between you and Angie.”
“Okay,” Toby said. “I’m attracted to her. She’s fun to be with. But that’s about all there is to it.”
“Why aren’t you pursuing anything more?” Galen asked.
All kinds of reasons. The kids, for one. Angie’s inability to commit to anyone or anything, for another. But then again, that hadn’t seemed to matter when they’d woken up in each other’s arms this morning.
Of course, there was also the matter of Jude dating her in the past. And Toby didn’t want to cross any weird fraternal boundaries or become romantically involved with a woman his brother had once been...intimate with.
Wouldn’t that be one huge disappointment?
“Speaking of Angie,” Toby said to Jude, “you dated her, didn’t you?”
“I guess you could call it that. We only went out a couple of times. It ended pretty abruptly.”
“What happened?” Toby asked.
“When Angie’s mom saw her out with me one evening, she flipped out. Apparently, she thought Angie could do a whole lot better. Doris tried to lower her voice, but I overheard her refer to me as a ‘Horseback Hollow Casanova’ and ask if I’d gone through all the women in my own age bracket and had started on a new generation.” Jude blew out a sigh. “Okay, granted, there was a six-year age difference, but come on. A whole generation?”
Knowing her mom, that didn’t surprise Toby. So if he and Angie ever did start dating, he and Doris would have to set some definite boundaries.
“So it ended quickly,” Toby said. “But how serious were you?”
“It never would have gotten off the ground. She was a little too indecisive for me.” Jude laughed. “Don’t get me wrong. She’s a nice girl, and we had fun. But I made the mistake of asking her which movie she wanted to see. If I hadn’t picked one myself and taken her by the hand, we probably would have stood outside the theater all night.”
Toby had never really seen that side of Angie. She always seemed to know just what she wanted when she was with him and the kids.
Feminine voices grew louder as the women gathered outside and his mother announced that it was time to eat.
“Brian and Justin,” she called to the boys in the tree house, “go on in the house with Kylie and wash your hands.”
As the boys hurried to do as they were told, Jude asked Toby, “Has Angie decided upon a career yet?”
“No, she hasn’t.”
“Don’t let that stop you,” Galen said. “Look at her. She’s smoking hot.”
His oldest brother certainly had that right. Toby studied the lovely brunette crossing the lawn in that white sundress. She had on the denim jacket now, as well as those cowboy boots. So she’d covered up her arms and shoulders. But she still looked good.
In fact, she looked amazing in whatever she wore—especially a wet yoga outfit.
“Let me know if you’re not interested in her,” Galen added. “If that’s the case, I might ask her out myself.”
Just the thought of Galen moving in on Angie sent Toby’s senses reeling.
“All right, I’m interested,” he admitted. “So back off.”
Before his brothers could tease him further, he headed for the tables and found seats for him, Angie and the kids.
As was typical of a Fortune Jones dinner, everyone ate their fill, including the variety of desserts. All the while, they told stories about growing up together, sometimes teasing, usually smiling or laughing.
When Toby could finally call it a day, he rounded up the kids and told them it was time to head home.
“Why don’t you let Brian and Justin spend the night here,” Galen said. “I think I’ll camp out in that tree house for old times’ sake. And it would be nice if the boys kept me company.”
Before Toby could respond, Stacey chimed in. “And Piper would like to have her very first sleepover. Why don’t you let Colton and me take Kylie home with us?”
“A sleepover?” Toby asked. “Piper is only nine months old.”
Stacey smiled. “You’re right. She doesn’t stay up past seven. But then I’ll get a chance to play with Kylie.”
What was going on? Galen and Stacey were offering to keep the kids?
“I don’t know about that,” Toby said. “They don’t have their pajamas or toothbrushes.”
Galen elbowed him. “Come on, Toby. Real cowboys don’t sleep in jammies. They sleep in their boots and clothes. What’s the matter with you?”
Stacey edged forward. “Kylie can sleep in one of my old T-shirts. I also have a brand-new toothbrush she can use. What do you say?”
He didn’t know what to say. The offer stole the words right out of him.
“Come on, Toby.” His little sister gave him a wink. “You deserve a good night’s sleep.”
It took him a moment to realize what his crazy family was up to. And he didn’t know if he should kill them or kiss them. But when he took a look at Angie, when he spotted the wide-eyed wonder, the look of surprise...
Well, it wasn’t just the kids who were whooping it up and begging for the night to come.
Toby’s hormones were right there with them.
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