Chapter 5

Iwatch her disappear into the back of the bar. I have to fight the urge to follow her. When I first saw the picture of Paisley, I thought she was drop-dead gorgeous. In person, she's even more stunning, more innocent, more fucking everything. I'm having a hard time believing some of the things I read about her on the plane.

No way does she belong behind a damn bar. She's so out of place, but I can see why Cole hired her. She draws every man's attention in the bar. I clench my fists at my side at the thought of them looking at what's mine. I shake my head. What the fuck is going on with me?

"I'm talking to you!" June snaps her fingers in front of my face. I can tell from her glassy eyes she's had a few drinks. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? Trying to bust me doing somethin?"

"Are you doing something you're not supposed to be?"

"I'm an angel." June bats her lashes at me.

"Jack," Cole yells across the bar over the music. He waves me over. When I make it to the bar, Paisley is back with a bottle in her hand. "Pour him a drink for me, Paisley," Cole tells her. She tilts her head to the side to peek over at me. I give her a half-smile. She grabs a glass, setting it in front of me.

Her scent hits me like a bullet to the chest, almost knocking the wind out of me. Fuck. It reminds me of an early spring morning after it's rained and the sun is just peeking out, the flowers blooming all around. Did I actually just think that? I shake my head, trying to get some sense back because obviously this girl has knocked it out of me.

"You're new around here."

"That I am." She pours the drink, pushing it toward me. I see she has the bottle of whiskey Cole keeps around for me. "Only been here for a couple of weeks."

"How do you like it?" I pick up the glass and take only a sip since I have no real plans to drink tonight. I am working, after all.

Aren't I? I'm not sure what the hell I'm doing anymore. This girl has me acting in a way that's so out of character for me, I can't get my bearings.

"It's a cute town. Think I might stay awhile."

"Paisley!" My sister bounces up to the bar. "This is my brother, Jack."

"Your brother?" A smile lights up her face, one dimple appearing in her left cheek. Did she think something else?

"Yep, he's real."

"It's nice to meet you, Jack."

"Call me Jackson," I correct, wanting to hear my full name from her lips.

"Jackson," she repeats, already giving me what I want.

"It's nice to meet you too."

"Hit me with a blowjob!" June bounces from beside me. Paisley's delicate features flush with shyness, the smooth skin of her cheeks bright red. I can't help but think I want to see her whole body react that way for me.

"Why are you trying to piss me off?" I ask my sister. She ignores me.

"Do you close tonight?"

"Not tonight." Paisley grabs a shot glass.

"Do one with me," June begs her.

"I really shouldn't."

"You're good, Paisley," Cole tells her as he passes behind her. His hand lands on her hip in the process. It's only there for half a second, but my whole body tightens.

"Let me check first." Paisley pulls out her phone. I need to clone it is my first thought. A fucked-up one. One that more than crosses the line, but I know I'm still going to do it. It's for work. That's what I tell myself, but I know that's not all it's for. "Okay, I think I'm good." She slides her phone into her back pocket.

"I always forget you got the D." June snorts.

"June." Paisley ducks her head as she shakes it.

"Got what?" I cut in, wanting to know what they are talking about. I want to know everything about the girl in front of me. There's obviously way more to her than what was in the file I read over.

"She's got the diabetes," my sister supplies, being helpful for once.

My hand tightens around my glass. Why hadn't her family put that in her file? That sounds really fucking important.

Paisley starts making the shots. I pull out my phone and send off a few texts to make sure some of my plans are already in motion. Then I google diabetes, trying to find out everything that I can about it.

I watch the two of them giggle and drink together. I'm not the only one that notices. Every damn person with a dick inside the bar keeps stealing long looks at them.

"You know she's all grown-up?" Cole says, leaning against the bar.

Paisley and my sister are lost in their own conversation. Every now and then, Paisley will peek over at me. Each time her cheeks get pink. Then she tilts her head to let her hair hide her face. Her hair is a lustrous gold touched with platinum glints. I've never seen anything like it. Or maybe I never paid much attention to people"s hair before beyond a description.

"What?" I take a sip of my whiskey, reminding myself not to stare. Don't want to scare her off. Right now she's calm and has no idea how close she is to being caught.

"Your sister. You're sending death glares to every man in this place."

"Right." If that's why he thinks I'm sending death glares to people, so be it. For now. I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to play this all out. My head is fucked right now, and that's not my normal MO. I always have a plan that is ten steps ahead. It's how you stay alive.

"Or are you not watching your sister?" Cole smirks.

"Don't start."

Cole laughs, having my number. He can be an annoying little shit when he wants to be. Not a clue why every girl in town drops their panties for him. My eyes flick over to Paisley. Could she like him too? I clench my jaw at the thought.

"Fine." He shrugs. "Don't come asking me?—"

"Cole." He lets out another chuckle, grabbing a glass to pour himself a beer.

"She hasn't said too much. Sweet but shy at first. Only started to loosen up these past few days. June has helped with that." I'm sure she has.

If my sister has her sights set on Paisley, June will make it her mission to make her feel welcome here in Cottonwood. It's how she is. My sister can be your biggest ally or your most annoying enemy.

Right now I'm going to need her to be my ally. I know it is something I'll never live down, but I have a feeling it's going to be so damn worth it.