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on his chest to imitate her, he would.
    I raise an eyebrow, amused. “Jack, I’ll call you back.” I slide my cell into my pocket, lean against the wall, and prop my feet up on the box labeled WINTER CLOTHES I’m using as a mock coffee table. “What bone do you want to pick?”
    Her eyes narrow. The girl doesn’t miss the double meaning as I throw her words back at her.
    She ignores my joke and instead lets out a burst of irritation. “First off, you need to tell my nephew I’m not crazy. The kid won’t even look at me.”
    I wag my foot. “I’m not the one threatenin’ innocent people with pitchforks and accusing them of bein’ thugs.”
    â€œYeah, well, maybe you should’ve told me who you were right away . . . and stop wearing knit hats in the middle of the summer. Obviously my sister didn’t tell us she had a stepson, so I wasn’t expecting you.”
    â€œShe didn’t tell me she had a sister, either. And it’s called a beanie.”
    â€œWhatever. It threw me off.”
    â€œWhy are you so serious? Loosen up.” I wag my foot again. “If it’ll make you feel any better, you can rub my foot for ten minutes and we’ll call it even.”
    She eyes my toe as if I have a fungus. “You think this is funny, don’t you?”
    â€œEntertaining is more like it.” I look down at my foot. “So I assume the foot rub is out?”
    â€œLet’s just get one thing straight, Cowboy.” She eyes my collection of boots lined up in the corner. “You might be used to getting girls to rub your feet or do whatever you want by flashing that smile or showing your six-pack, but it’s not gonna work with me. I’m around football players all day, so seeing a fit body is like seeing a statue. It doesn’t do anything for me.”
    â€œTell me, then. What does it take to get your attention?” I ask.
    â€œWouldn’t you like to know.”
    Yeah. And I have a feeling I’m gonna find out real soon.
    I can tell Ashtyn is a girl who plays by her own rules and refuses to acknowledge that there’s some kind of electricity flying between us. The more she protests, the more I know I’ve gotten under her skin. I’m about to say some cocky comment until Falkor groans, then stretches out and starts lapping away at his balls. “Your dog has issues.”
    â€œWe all have issues.” She stares me straight in the eye. “But don’t try to figure me out or get into my business.”
    â€œAshtyn, the last thing I’m gonna do while I’m here is get into your precious business. Or your issues, whatever they are.”
    â€œGood.” She tosses her braid back. “Then we’re on the same page.”
    Brandi peeks into the room, her big earrings swaying from side to side. “Derek, how’re you feeling?” she asks, concern laced in her voice.
    â€œAshtyn was just about to give me a foot rub. Why didn’t you tell me your sister was as sweet as sugar pie?”
    Brandi puts her hand to her heart. “Aww. It’s
super
cool that you’re so forgiving, Derek. I made dinner and it’s ready whenever you are.”
    When Brandi leaves, Ashtyn puts her hands on her hips and raises a brow. “Sugar pie, my ass,” she says, then storms out.
    In the kitchen, Brandi’s dad sits at the head of an oak table surrounded by six wooden chairs. Julian is stuffing his face with mashed potatoes I’m sure are processed and probably don’t have actual potatoes in them. I don’t think Brandi has ever made anything that hasn’t come from a box. Ashtyn is sitting across fromJulian. She glances up and our eyes meet. When I raise a brow, she quickly gazes down at her food.
    â€œHave a good nap, buddy?” I ask Julian as I wash my hands in the sink and pretend Brandi’s sister doesn’t make me want to find out what it would