Between the Seams Read Online Free PDF

every bit of willpower he possessed to not look back at her. When she’d shown up with Jenn today, he’d been surprised. He should have realized, though, that Jenn would bring her along; he, Jenn and Owen had a tradition of going out to the lake on the third weekend of the month, and this was the first of those weekends since Jo had come back to town.
    She made him feel nervous and awkward, just like he’d felt as a teen with a mile-long crush. Funny how a pretty girl could tie a man’s tongue in knots, no matter if he was fifteen or thirty-three.
    He turned just slightly towards Owen, so that he could see Jo in his periphery. She was wearing one of those short summery dress cover-up things that hid and revealed just enough of a woman’s body to make a man curious. Her hair was caught up in one of those messy ponytail bun things women wore all the time.
    It made him want to see her hair messed up for other reasons entirely.
    Jenn was talking more than Jo was; he could tell by the way she fidgeted with her bottle of water that she was distracted by something.
    Funny how even when you hadn’t seen someone in about ten years—and hadn’t really talked to them in eighteen— you could still read them like a book.
    As the boat neared their favorite inlet near the mouth of the Devils River, Chase slowed and then shut off the engine once they were in shallower waters. Quiet settled, waves lapping against the side of the boat, and the drone of far-off boat motors the only sound for a few, blissful seconds.
    “Have you ever been to this part of the lake before?” Jenn asked Jo from the back of the boat.
    “I don’t think so. Most of my time as a kid was spent at Governor’s Landing.”
    “Well, then, you’re in for a treat. As you can see, there aren’t anywhere near as many people out here as there are there,” Jenn said before hopping up, whisking off her ball cap, tank top and shorts and diving into the water.
    Chase shook his head and smiled. It was their routine. They would arrive at this little cove, and sit in silence for a few seconds. Jenn would then dive into the water like some kind of fire-haired mermaid, Owen would open a beer and Chase would pull out his fishing rod. Owen would eventually join Jenn in the water, and they would wind up arguing about something while Chase tried to catch supper from the other side of the boat—away from all of the splashing. Sometimes he would take a quick swim, sometimes he wouldn’t. Afterwards they would head back to one of their places—they rotated turns—and fire up the grill, drink a few more beers, maybe a glass or two of wine, and simply enjoy the easy company of friends.
    He wasn’t sure how Jo’s presence would change that routine. Behind him, he heard another splash as someone else dove into the water, and then Owen’s low whistle.
    “You’re missing the show, my friend.”
    Chase shook his head and tossed his line into the water. “What show? I’ve seen those two in bathing suits since we were eight years old.”
    It was true, even if he knew that Jo now was nothing like Jo as an eight-year-old.
    “I’m not sure if you’re stupid, crazy, or gay and I never knew it.”
    Chase raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Owen over his shoulder. “You know that last one isn’t true. The first two are probably debatable.”
    Owen laughed before setting his beer aside. “You should join in on the fun over here on this side.”
    Chase turned back to his fishing pole. “Gotta catch supper.”
    He heard Owen snort. “Because I don’t have plenty of meat in my deep freezer.”
    Chase decided to ignore Owen, and tossed the lure again. Considering they owned a managed-game ranch that teemed with wild game, Chase knew just how well-stocked Owen’s freezer was.
    “Your choice. I, however, am going to go have fun getting wet with two beautiful ladies.”
    Chase heard Owen’s splash seconds later, and then Jenn’s shriek. He smiled. Owen and Jenn teased each