The Mane Attraction
Page 14
Mitch laughed, and she patted his cheek and walked away.
When he looked at Sissy, she was glaring at him like hed betrayed her somehow. What?
How did she do that? Sissy was thirty-one, and her momma still had a way of making her feel like a twelve-year-old. All the wedding planning had been kind of fun until her mother had practically moved to New York for the final preparations. For a month, shed had to tolerate that woman on a daily basis. And every day, Bobby Ray had to talk her out of taking the first plane to Japan or Australia or anywhere her momma wasntand that they legally allowed Sissy to enter.
It wasnt that she didnt love her momma. She did. But did she have to make Sissy look and feel so small? And did she have to do it in front of Mitch? True, doing it in front of any man was mean, but in front of Mitch, it was particularly bitchy as far as Sissy was concerned.
All right, Shaw. Trying to get her mind off Mitch, Sissy motioned to the three-hundred-plus crowd at her brothers wedding. Im on the hunt for my next conquest. See anyone with potential?
Sure. Mitch glanced around and pointed at a cheetah across the room. A female. What about her?
What is wrong with you?
Dont give me that tone. Have you even tried it?
Mitchell
How do you know if youll like it or not if you havent tried itwith me watchingand filming?
Forget I asked.
Sissy ran her finger over his tattoo. A four-inch green shamrock. Could you be more Irish? she laughed.
Not really. He grabbed her hand. Come on. Were dancing.
To the Go-gos? Sissy had successfully managed only two dances, and both had been to slow songs. It wasnt that she couldnt dance but come on! The Go-gos? Did these wild dogs not have any music from the twenty-first century? Or even the nineties?
Were gonna rock out. He dragged her toward the dance floor, stopping briefly so she could knock back the shot of tequila the waiter brought.
Once on the dance floor, she watched in horror as Mitch did something some peopleno one she knew, of coursewould call dancing.
Mitchell, she whined, this is just embarrassing.
Mitch stopped, looking around at all the wild dogs dancing. Even the bride was doing the pogo like she was at a 1985 prom.
As compared to what?
He tragically had a point.
Mitch walked up behind his brother and slapped him on the back. The thing about Brendon was that Mitch didnt have to hold back. His brother didnt go flying across a room or snap like a twig from one little hit. Instead, Brendidnt move a step, glancing at Mitch over his shoulder and asking, What?
Are we having a good time?
From the balcony overlooking the dance floor, Bren gazed down with that intense stare of his. He always looked like he was sorting out the worlds problems. Finally, he answered, Yes. I am. Twenty minutes to answer a simple question
Mitch leaned back against the railing. You and Gwen getting along? he asked.
Of course. You know I love Gwenie.
And Marissa
Takes a little longer to warm up to people, Brendon explained about his twin.
Gwens thinking about coming out here to visit in a couple of months. Maybe she could
Shell stay at the hotel.
Mitch opened his mouth to say something, and Bren cut in, practically snarling, And if you mention paying for that room, I will toss your ass off the balcony.
Mitch looked over the rail and gauged the distance. It wouldnt kill him, but it would hurt, so best not to push it.
I just dont want some peopleI wont mention any namesbut some people who look like you, share similar DNA, and came out of the same womb ten minutes before you did accusing me of taking advantage.
Now Bren laughed. I wish youd stop taking what some people say to you at face value. Besides, the hotels are as much yours as ours, and if you want to put up guests in one of the top floor suites that go for ten grand a night, thats up to you. Bren sipped his beer. Unlike Mitch, he went for one of those obscure label beers. Besides, Mitch, Gwen is family.
Youre not related.
Your sister is my sister, shithead. If she ever needs anything, all she has to do is ask.
Mitch nodded and felt relief wash through him. Hed been worrying about who would watch out for Gwen ifwhenanything happened to him. Knowing Brendon would do it for him made Mitch feel more relieved than he could say.
Thanks, bruh.
Shut up, Mitch, Brendon growled.
And Mitch smiled.
Sissy held up her shot glass of tequila, and Ronnie did the same. To good friends, good times, and the hope that we never have to do this again.
Ronnie laughed as they touched glasses, then they took their shots in one gulp. Sissy kind of shuddered. Damn, that was good tequila. But no more. Not tonight. As much as she might want to get loaded so she could drown out the neverending criticism coming from her momma, Sissy had promised herself
Why do you drink that? her momma snapped from behind her. You know you cant handle it.
When he looked at Sissy, she was glaring at him like hed betrayed her somehow. What?
How did she do that? Sissy was thirty-one, and her momma still had a way of making her feel like a twelve-year-old. All the wedding planning had been kind of fun until her mother had practically moved to New York for the final preparations. For a month, shed had to tolerate that woman on a daily basis. And every day, Bobby Ray had to talk her out of taking the first plane to Japan or Australia or anywhere her momma wasntand that they legally allowed Sissy to enter.
It wasnt that she didnt love her momma. She did. But did she have to make Sissy look and feel so small? And did she have to do it in front of Mitch? True, doing it in front of any man was mean, but in front of Mitch, it was particularly bitchy as far as Sissy was concerned.
All right, Shaw. Trying to get her mind off Mitch, Sissy motioned to the three-hundred-plus crowd at her brothers wedding. Im on the hunt for my next conquest. See anyone with potential?
Sure. Mitch glanced around and pointed at a cheetah across the room. A female. What about her?
What is wrong with you?
Dont give me that tone. Have you even tried it?
Mitchell
How do you know if youll like it or not if you havent tried itwith me watchingand filming?
Forget I asked.
Sissy ran her finger over his tattoo. A four-inch green shamrock. Could you be more Irish? she laughed.
Not really. He grabbed her hand. Come on. Were dancing.
To the Go-gos? Sissy had successfully managed only two dances, and both had been to slow songs. It wasnt that she couldnt dance but come on! The Go-gos? Did these wild dogs not have any music from the twenty-first century? Or even the nineties?
Were gonna rock out. He dragged her toward the dance floor, stopping briefly so she could knock back the shot of tequila the waiter brought.
Once on the dance floor, she watched in horror as Mitch did something some peopleno one she knew, of coursewould call dancing.
Mitchell, she whined, this is just embarrassing.
Mitch stopped, looking around at all the wild dogs dancing. Even the bride was doing the pogo like she was at a 1985 prom.
As compared to what?
He tragically had a point.
Mitch walked up behind his brother and slapped him on the back. The thing about Brendon was that Mitch didnt have to hold back. His brother didnt go flying across a room or snap like a twig from one little hit. Instead, Brendidnt move a step, glancing at Mitch over his shoulder and asking, What?
Are we having a good time?
From the balcony overlooking the dance floor, Bren gazed down with that intense stare of his. He always looked like he was sorting out the worlds problems. Finally, he answered, Yes. I am. Twenty minutes to answer a simple question
Mitch leaned back against the railing. You and Gwen getting along? he asked.
Of course. You know I love Gwenie.
And Marissa
Takes a little longer to warm up to people, Brendon explained about his twin.
Gwens thinking about coming out here to visit in a couple of months. Maybe she could
Shell stay at the hotel.
Mitch opened his mouth to say something, and Bren cut in, practically snarling, And if you mention paying for that room, I will toss your ass off the balcony.
Mitch looked over the rail and gauged the distance. It wouldnt kill him, but it would hurt, so best not to push it.
I just dont want some peopleI wont mention any namesbut some people who look like you, share similar DNA, and came out of the same womb ten minutes before you did accusing me of taking advantage.
Now Bren laughed. I wish youd stop taking what some people say to you at face value. Besides, the hotels are as much yours as ours, and if you want to put up guests in one of the top floor suites that go for ten grand a night, thats up to you. Bren sipped his beer. Unlike Mitch, he went for one of those obscure label beers. Besides, Mitch, Gwen is family.
Youre not related.
Your sister is my sister, shithead. If she ever needs anything, all she has to do is ask.
Mitch nodded and felt relief wash through him. Hed been worrying about who would watch out for Gwen ifwhenanything happened to him. Knowing Brendon would do it for him made Mitch feel more relieved than he could say.
Thanks, bruh.
Shut up, Mitch, Brendon growled.
And Mitch smiled.
Sissy held up her shot glass of tequila, and Ronnie did the same. To good friends, good times, and the hope that we never have to do this again.
Ronnie laughed as they touched glasses, then they took their shots in one gulp. Sissy kind of shuddered. Damn, that was good tequila. But no more. Not tonight. As much as she might want to get loaded so she could drown out the neverending criticism coming from her momma, Sissy had promised herself
Why do you drink that? her momma snapped from behind her. You know you cant handle it.
