Read Online Good Wood by L.G. Pace III - Free Book Online

was in one of those old movies where the music swells and everything moves in slow motion. He was dressed in a white collared shirt that contrasted fantastically with his tanned skin and dark indigo jeans. I had no doubt that this was as dressed up as Joe ever got. In my opinion, he wouldn’t have looked better in black tie.
    I might’ve watched him for hours had Graham not called out his name. “Joe! Over here!” He looked in our direction. That’s when his forest-green eyes met mine and the corner of his mouth curled in a crooked smile. Though I didn’t realize it just then, that’s when I was done for.
    He descended the stairs with an effortless swagger that called to the “bad boy addict” in me. It wasn’t the part of me that had always been crazy about Joe. His total role reversal was equal parts attractive and disturbing. Seeing him in his street clothes felt oddly intimate after weeks of checking him out in his tool belt and hard hat. I knew I was still staring but couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He was just a foot from me when Graham stepped between us. I inhaled with incredible effort, as if I’d been holding my breath for days.
    “Good to see you out and about, son.” Graham’s tone was warm and I saw a genuine smile light up Joe’s face.
    “Hey, Graham.” Joe replied, his gravelly voice sending shivers down my spine. His eyes shifted to me once more. “Hey, little girl. What’s on tap?”
    “Not sure about that keg, but this tastes like Shiner Bock.” I felt my long dormant drawl resurface on the word ‘Shiner’. I took another sip and his eyes flicked from mine to my mouth and back again. The minute move was impossibly erotic, and I had to look away. I saw Graham chase after the volleyball that careened not only out of the pool but over the fence, and when I turned back, Joe was pouring himself a Shiner.
    “Sounds like you aren’t completely de-Texified, Ma’am.” He intentionally drawled Ma’am in a way that reminded me of leather chaps and tipped cowboy hats. I cracked a wry smile.
    “Yeah…I’m a little bit Yankee and a little bit ‘y’all’.” I conceded, and he smiled just enough to flash me his straight white teeth. Then the smile was gone and I had somber Joe back. He cleared his throat and took a long drink of his beer.
    “So…”He trailed off awkwardly glancing at the ground.
    “So…” I squared my shoulders and blinked at him patiently.
    “I have to admit, I really did love the food.” He met my eyes with obvious reluctance. “Your dad would be proud.”
    It was the last thing I’d expected from him, and might have been the sweetest thing anyone had said to me in years. I took a deep breath to steady my voice. “Thanks.”
    His sincere eyes scanned mine and then narrowed. He leaned back against the fence.
    “What brings you back to Austin? I thought you were some big shot in some fancy joint on the coast.”
    “Got divorced. My ex owned the place.”
    “Awkward.” Was his only response. We both drank to that.
    “It serves me right. I only knew him for a couple of months before we got hitched.”
    “Sounds like you.”
    I laughed aloud at his bluntness and I could tell he was pleased.
    “What went wrong?” He folded his rock hard arms and I had to rip my eyes from him.
    I tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear.
    “Oh, it was wrong before it started. So my track record for being the family fuck up remains untarnished.” I sighed, with a self-depreciating grin.
    Joe scoffed. “And all this time I thought Mac had that title all sewn up.”
    “Nah. He’s tries, but he’s a hopeless amateur.” I wasn’t sure if it was the hops or his low key demeanor, but I felt myself starting to relax.
    “Well, you know I’ve always been the black sheep, so cheers!” He shrugged and we tapped Solo cups. I knew from eavesdropping on my folks that Joe’s dad was some successful attorney. He’d cut Joe off when, after graduating high school, he’d