A Girl Like You Read online

  “You wouldn’t dare!” But he saw the twinkle in her eye and knew she was just trying to get even. His sister was many things, but she wasn’t mean or spiteful.

  She was the angel to his devil.

  “You’re right,” she said with a pout, “but I really wish I could!”

  “Nah, you’re too nice.” He took another drink of water. “So what else has Mom changed?”

  Standing, Mallory waved him off. “We’ll talk about it tonight over dinner. Be over at seven and bring some wine.”

  If a bottle of wine was all it was going to take to get a free dinner, Sam was completely on board.

  “I think I’m in a rut.”

  “No kidding.”

  Shelby Abbott rested her face in her hands and sighed. “No need to agree so quickly.”

  “Shell, I’m not trying to offend you…”

  “Could’ve fooled me.” Okay, she was being a little bit of a drama queen right now, but when your best friend basically agreed with how pathetic your life was, it didn’t quite inspire warm, fuzzy feelings. Tilting her head, she looked over at the one person who knew her better than anyone. “So what do I do, Laney? I am desperate for something…something exciting to happen to me! Something! Anything!”

  It was late Friday afternoon and they were sitting in the breakroom in the library. Their shifts were over, but instead of simply collecting their things and leaving, they were sitting down talking.

  Well, Shelby had started talking and Laney just sort of sat and listened. Why? Because she was a good friend. The best, actually.

  “If you really want to get out of this rut, you’re going to have to venture out of Magnolia once in a while,” Laney said. Her tone wasn’t the least bit condescending and yet she certainly got her point across.

  “And go where? And why? What is so great about other towns that I have to go there to have some fun?”

  Laughing, Laney stood up and walked over to pat Shelby on her shoulder. “You’ve lived here your entire life and you have to ask that question?”

  “Well…yeah.”

  With a sigh of her own, Laney walked around the table until she was facing Shelby. “This town is full of the people we’ve known all our lives. No one ever moves here! It’s the same people, the same faces, the same stories! Gah!” she cried out. “Don’t you want to meet someone new? Someone who doesn’t know you were Miss Mini Magnolia in the second grade? Or how you had the chicken pox in middle school?”

  “Maybe…”

  “No maybes about it! Do you know how big the world is, Shell? Or even…just how big North Carolina is? There is so much to see and do and you never want to go anywhere! Why?”

  Good question.

  “I…I guess I’m just always busy,” she said somewhat lamely. “The library keeps me busy and you know my folks always have something going on that they need help with…”

  “Shell, it’s time for you to start living for you,” Laney said seriously, solemnly. “You need to have a social life. When is the last time you even went on a date?”

  Ugh…she didn’t even want to think about it.

  “I don’t know.”

  Laney placed both her hands on the table and leaned in a little menacingly. “It was four months ago and it was Garrett Blake.” She straightened and shuddered. “He was a dork in high school and he’s still a dork. Why did you go out with him again?”

  Shelby shrugged.

  “Shell…?” Laney prodded.

  “Okay, fine. My parents set us up. They’re friends with Garrett’s folks and they thought we had things in common.”

  “The only thing the two of you have in common is you both live in Magnolia and you’re both boring.”

  “Hey!” Shelby snapped, not even mildly amused.

  “It’s true! I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you! You said you’re in a rut, I agreed, and now we’re going to fix it!”

  “How?”

  “We are going out tonight and we’re going to find you someone interesting to go out with!”

  Shelby couldn’t help snorting with disbelief. “Good luck with that. The only guys who ever seem to be attracted to me are boring, remember?”

  “Not where we’re going.”

  Laney took Shelby’s hand in hers and dragged her out of the breakroom, out of the library, and out to their cars. “Where are we going?”

  Grinning, Laney nudged Shelby toward her car. “You’re going to go home and find something fun to wear – not any of your librarian clothes,” she clarified. “And we are going to take a ride to Wilmington to have dinner, get a couple of drinks and go dancing. Then we’re…”

  The loud sound of lawn equipment flared to life and blocked out whatever it was Laney was going to say. Shelby looked over her shoulder and sure enough, the landscaping crew was next door cutting their neighbor’s lawn. Part of her wanted to be annoyed, but…Sam Westbrook was the one on the large mower today and…yum.

  Tall, sandy brown hair, stubbled jaw, tanned skin, oh-so-many muscles on display through that tight, white t-shirt and a pair of snug, well-worn jeans…yeah, a woman would have to be dead not to look at Sam and think all kinds of naughty thoughts.

  I bet he tastes good too.

  She let out a quiet little hum of approval as Laney stepped in beside her.

  “Ahh…good to know it’s not mutual.”

  Shelby turned her head so quickly she felt a sharp pain in her neck. Rubbing at it irritably, she asked, “What are you talking about?”

  “You just said how only boring guys are attracted to you.” She shrugged. “I was beginning to wonder if that was all you were attracted to too.” Then she nodded in Sam’s direction. “I’ve heard Sam Westbrook described in many ways, and boring isn’t one of them.”

  Yeah, Shelby had heard all about him too.

  From just about everyone she knew.

  Frowning, she forced herself to look away. “Yeah, well…it doesn’t matter. I’d never go out with someone like Sam and I greatly doubt I’m his type either, so…”

  Laney slapped her playfully on the shoulder. “Oh, stop. You don’t know that.”

  Walking over to her car, she let out another sigh. “Trust me. I do. Any time I’ve ever been within five feet of Sam, it’s like he sees right through me – like I’m not even there.” She paused and hated how pathetic she sounded. “And why are we even talking about this? Don’t we have plans or something?”

  “We do! Just promise me something.”

  “Sure. What?”

  “No glasses tonight. I know we already covered no librarian clothes, but that goes for the glasses too.”

  Reaching up, Shelby tentatively touched the frames. “You know these are just for show. They’re not prescription or anything. I don’t even need them.”

  “Then why do you wear them?”

  This time her sigh was more of a huff. “We’ve been over this a thousand times; my parents don’t know I got Lasik. They said it was a waste of money.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah…I know, but…your parents aren’t here. I get why you’d wear them when you’re out with them or over at their house, but…why all the time? You’re going to have to tell them eventually.”

  “Oh, please. You know they’ll give an endless lecture on how I shouldn’t be so concerned about my looks and the importance of being wise with my money! And besides…basically everyone in this town has a big mouth,” she said, frowning more. “You know if anyone we knew came into the library and saw me without my glasses, they’d ask why and then word would get back to my folks and…ugh. It’s just easier this way. But don’t worry, I won’t wear them tonight.”

  “I’m serious, Shell, you are going to have to stand up to them eventually. You can’t keep living like this.”

  “I know, I know. And I will. Someday. Just…not today.” She sighed and glanced one more time in Sam’s direction. He was doing nothing but riding on the large mower and yet…he looked better than any man had a right to look. br />
  If only he’d look at me just once…

  “Earth to Shelby.”

  Quickly, Shelby averted her gaze and muttered an apology. “So, um…yeah. No glasses tonight. No worries.”

  “Okay. Good. So go home and grab a change of clothes and then come to my place and we’ll get ready.” Then she stopped. “On second thought, just come home with me now.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we both know you’re going to bring something I’m going to disagree with and you’ll end up wearing something of mine anyway.” She shrugged. “This just saves some time and then we’ll have more time for dinner.”

  “I am completely on board with that because I am starving.”

  “You eat like a bird, Shell. Tonight, I’m putting my foot down and you will eat something more than a salad for dinner. You have to get a burger or at least a sandwich.”

  Inwardly, she cringed. “That’s a very messy option and how productive would it be if I have ketchup stains all down the front of me when we hit a bar or club?”

  Laney started to laugh and then nudged Shelby toward her car. “I know you hate eating anything with your hands so I’ll give you a partial pass.”

  “A partial pass?”

  “Uh-huh. No burgers or sandwiches, but you are eating something other than a salad. No arguments.”

  “Fine,” she murmured and opened her car door. “I’ll meet you back at your place.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Fifteen minutes later, they were going through Laney’s closet in hopes of finding something cute for Shelby to wear. Normally she would protest, but deep down she knew Laney’s wardrobe was far trendier than her own. And if she wanted to break out of this rut, some things had to change.

  Like the way she dressed.

  “I’ve got it!” Laney cried. Pulling down several hangers, she walked over to her bed and laid out her choice. “Black skinny jeans – you can never go wrong there.” Then she pointed to a red, sleeveless silk shell. “We’ll layer this with this super cute cropped cardigan. And I have an amazing red lace pushup bra you can wear under it! We’re the same size and honestly, I bought it for myself for Christmas and never wore it so…” She was grinning from ear to ear. “What do you think?”

  It wasn’t horrible, but…

  “I really don’t look good in red. It’s totally not my thing.”

  “And we’re trying to break you of your things, so…you’re wearing it.”

  That wasn’t going to fly, so Shelby walked back over to the closet and began rummaging through until she found something a little more her style. “How about this?” She waved the hanger out the closet door. “It’s still a shell and will work just the same.”

  “It’s white, Shell,” Laney replied wearily. “You need a pop of color!”

  “Fine.”

  But it wasn’t fine. It was stupid and annoying and Shelby had a feeling she was going to hate this entire night just based on one article of clothing. Stepping out of the closet, she looked at her friend with resignation.

  “We’ll go with the red, but if no one even talks to me or offers to buy me a drink, I’m blaming you and the shirt.”

  Laney jumped up and down excitedly, clapping her hands. “Yay! And trust me, you’re going to look amazing and will have your choice of men by the end of the night!”

  Shelby was still doubtful, but…something definitely had to give.

  And if wearing a red top was the sacrifice she had to make, for tonight, she’d deal with it.

  2

  “I CANNOT THANK you enough for this,” Sam said as he climbed into his cousin’s car. “Hanging out at home with my sister on a Friday night when even my mom is out on a date was just way too depressing to deal with.”

  Mason Bishop let out a low laugh. “Yeah. You’re certainly living the dream. Didn’t you eat with them last night too?”

  Sam nodded. “Yeah. And the night before. And Mom had a date both nights.” He groaned. “That’s why I needed to get out tonight.”

  They pulled out of the long driveway of their great-grandfather’s home – a home Sam now shared with his mother even as it was being converted into a bed and breakfast. “How’s construction coming along?”

  “It’s a damn mess in there,” Sam replied with a shake of his head. “There’s debris in just about every room because my mother can’t seem to make a decision. Every time they start work somewhere, she makes them stop because she wants to change something. Then they start on another room and she does the same thing. I’m telling you, it’s making me crazy.”

  Laughing again, Mason said, “Not nearly as crazy as it’s making my mother.”

  “She’s still pissed, huh?”

  Mason nodded.

  When Ezekiel Coleman – the family patriarch – passed away six months ago, he had a vast estate. There was more than enough to go around to each of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but the family home had gone to Sam’s mother.

  And Mason’s mother – Sam’s Aunt Georgia – was none too pleased.

  Still wasn’t.

  “They’re eventually going to have to make up, right?” Sam asked.

  “You would think, but you know how stubborn my mother is. She’ll be the one to carry this on way longer than it needs to.”

  “Everyone seemed fine over the holidays.”

  “It was all about appearances,” Mason said. “There were too many people around for my mother to vent and gripe and complain. Plus, at that point there wasn’t too much going on at the house. Now that things are seriously in motion, she’s been having a fit. But she refuses to see reason on this. She got the yacht club, your mom got the house. I don’t see what the big deal is. The only one her stubbornness is hurting is herself.”

  Sam wasn’t so sure he’d call his aunt stubborn. Controlling, yes, but he couldn’t say he’d ever noticed her being stubborn. Obviously, Mason knew his mother better than Sam did, so he’d have to simply agree based on that.

  “Mom really misses her. I know they were never best friends, but I think part of the reason she’s struggling with the decisions on the house is because this fight with your mother is weighing heavily on her. She’d probably love your mom’s input on design.”

  “It could be a way to bridge this gap between them. Maybe if my mom feels included she’ll relax a bit.” He glanced over at Sam. “You should mention it to her.”

  He shrugged. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about his mother anymore. “Yeah, maybe.” He paused. “So where are we going? Is it the place over in Wilmington we hit up last month? The one with the dance floor out on the beach?”

  “Nah, too crowded for my tastes. And still too cold. A friend of mine recommended a new place. It’s a little smaller, not as loud, but I thought we could check it out.”

  It didn’t sound too promising. What he wanted tonight was the loud and crowded place where he could meet a woman who he could share a couple of drinks and dances with, and then hopefully send Mason home without him.

  “You’ve gone quiet,” his cousin commented. “I know you’re in your own head and thinking this is a bad thing, but it’s not. Trust me. You’ll have a great time, meet someone to pass some time with, and then you’ll thank me tomorrow.”

  “Damn. Am I that predictable?” Sam asked with a nervous laugh.

  “A little, but I get it. When I heard about this place I wasn’t too sure either, but…man, we just need something a little different tonight. I needed to get out just as much as you did, but I wasn’t in the mood for the kind of place where they herd you in like cattle.”

  “There’s an image for you,” he teased.

  “Yeah, right? Anyway, if we go and we’re not into it, there are plenty of other bars we can check out. No point in driving an hour and not making the most of it.”

  The rest of the ride was spent making small talk about work. Mason worked for the city in their planning and engineering department. For years, all everyone t
alked about was how Mason was going to follow in his father’s footsteps and be a lawyer, and then someday, mayor. But his cousin had surprised everyone when he announced he wasn’t going to law school so he could forge his own path.

  It was about that time that Sam actually felt a kinship to him that they’d never had before.

  Growing up, Sam could admit he and his cousin were never close. If anything, Sam kind of hated him, but it was mainly because whenever they were visiting in Magnolia and spending time with the whole family, all everyone talked about was how great Mason was.

  He and Mallory had nicknamed him Mason the Magnificent.

  Hey, they were ten when they came up with it, so…

  In the last year or so, Sam saw another side to his cousin and…well…turns out he was kind of cool. And if his parents ever took their clutches off him for a bit, he was sure Mason could be freaking awesome. And happy!

  “How are things going with the rebuilding? You’re on the committee for all that, right?” Damn. Maybe he should pay more attention to the things going on.

  Mason nodded. “Yeah. So far, everything’s going great. We received disaster relief funds and the community has really pulled together to get Magnolia Sound back on track and possibly even better than it ever was.” He paused and groaned before reaching over and punching Sam.

  “Ow! What was that for?”

  “Don’t make me talk about work when we’re going out to have fun and hopefully get laid,” he grumbled. “My job is currently sucking my will to live and as I was answering your question, I instantly slipped into politician mode – like I was speaking at a press conference or something.”

  That had Sam laughing. “Well, I didn’t want to be the one to say it, but…yeah. That’s exactly what you sounded like.”

  Luckily Mason didn’t take offense. “Someday maybe I’ll be able to speak like a real boy and not this puppet my father made me.”

  They both went quiet for several minutes. When the sign for the city limits of Wilmington came into view, Sam felt relieved. “Okay, so this place is smaller and a little quieter, but is it like a pub? A bistro? A club?”