Read Online You Only (Cameron Farms Book 1) by Melanie Jayne - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Melanie Jayne
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face.
“Sounds good.” He could hear Lily Rose’s footsteps running down the stairs. Glancing at the clock on the microwave, he did mental math.
Lily Rose raced into the kitchen. “You stayed.” She hugged his thigh.
“I waited to say good-bye. I’ve got to go but I’ll look for you in the parade line up. OK?” He ran his hand through her silky hair.
“OK, Miller and I will look for you, too.” She squeezed his leg tighter.
“Love you, baby.” He dropped a kiss to the top of her head.
“Love you, Uncle Finn.” She let go and skipped to Hale’s side.
“Hope you have a fun day.” Hale dropped her arm around Lily Rose’s shoulders. “Maybe I’ll see you tonight.”
He stopped at the back door and turned to look at the two girls. “I hope you make it.”
The ladies said in unison, “Bye.”
****
“This is gonna suck. I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Hale grumbled as she parked her SUV in the nearly full parking lot behind the repurposed old mansion often used for upscale parties. She took off her sunglasses and looked into the rearview mirror, making sure that her eye makeup had not smeared during the drive. “OK, I can do this,” she chanted as she strode to the front door. The coolness of the air conditioning hit her body, and she rubbed her arms to lessen the goose bumps that immediately appeared.
“There you are, I thought you might chicken out.” Jasmine lightly kissed her cheek then stepped back and eyed her appearance. “Yes, I like the pants, you look dressy, yet comfortable.”
Hale had spent the better part of an hour sending photos to Jasmine’s phone of possible clothing choices. After much consideration, they decided on white pants with wide legs that flowed as she walked and a white sleeveless sweater with gold and silver metallic threading throughout. She wore gold flats to give her feet a break after walking the parade route today. She had let her dark hair dry naturally, so her waves made it both sexy and soft. She added a few gold rings and bangles to complete the look. “Thank God, no heels, my feet and legs are still aching. Standing on pavement is a killer.”
“Suck it up, beauty is painful, or that’s what my mama always says.” Jasmine laughed.
“I think I’m ready, let’s get this over with.” Hale felt the flutter of nervousness, but she was here, so why put off the inevitable?
Jasmine grasped her arm and steered her toward the ballroom and the party. By the time they entered the room, they had gained Izzy and a few others. Hale felt surrounded by friends.
When she entered the ballroom, the first thing she noticed was that there were no chairs or seating area. Attendees stood in groups, drinking, chatting, and trying to juggle their glasses and the tiny plates for appetizers. There was a small combo playing softly and the room was rather warm. “Definitely no food for me,” she told Jasmine softly.
Her friend nodded, she wore a light blue slip of a dress and high, silver sandals. “Bad planning, nowhere to put your glasses or plates. Stupid Bitsy, very bad planning.”
Izzy asked the ladies for their drink orders. Hale chose tonic water with lime, and Jasmine requested a glass of white wine. As he walked toward the bar, Jasmine asked, “Not drinking tonight?”
“Not with this crowd. Plus, I want to get home before dark.”
“You know, you could sit with us for the fireworks. Moe and my folks are joining us, so it isn’t like you would be a third wheel.”
“Thanks, but I’m not sure how Miller will react, so I want to be home with him. Some dogs can get pretty upset by fireworks, even if they are off in the distance.”
“You and that dog, sometimes, I swear that you two are a couple,” Jasmine teased.
“Hey, he is the perfect male. He loves me for me and as long as I give him food and a little attention, he’s happy.” She’d showered the dog with love since the day she rescued the mastiff, and never regretted taking him
“Sounds good.” He could hear Lily Rose’s footsteps running down the stairs. Glancing at the clock on the microwave, he did mental math.
Lily Rose raced into the kitchen. “You stayed.” She hugged his thigh.
“I waited to say good-bye. I’ve got to go but I’ll look for you in the parade line up. OK?” He ran his hand through her silky hair.
“OK, Miller and I will look for you, too.” She squeezed his leg tighter.
“Love you, baby.” He dropped a kiss to the top of her head.
“Love you, Uncle Finn.” She let go and skipped to Hale’s side.
“Hope you have a fun day.” Hale dropped her arm around Lily Rose’s shoulders. “Maybe I’ll see you tonight.”
He stopped at the back door and turned to look at the two girls. “I hope you make it.”
The ladies said in unison, “Bye.”
****
“This is gonna suck. I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Hale grumbled as she parked her SUV in the nearly full parking lot behind the repurposed old mansion often used for upscale parties. She took off her sunglasses and looked into the rearview mirror, making sure that her eye makeup had not smeared during the drive. “OK, I can do this,” she chanted as she strode to the front door. The coolness of the air conditioning hit her body, and she rubbed her arms to lessen the goose bumps that immediately appeared.
“There you are, I thought you might chicken out.” Jasmine lightly kissed her cheek then stepped back and eyed her appearance. “Yes, I like the pants, you look dressy, yet comfortable.”
Hale had spent the better part of an hour sending photos to Jasmine’s phone of possible clothing choices. After much consideration, they decided on white pants with wide legs that flowed as she walked and a white sleeveless sweater with gold and silver metallic threading throughout. She wore gold flats to give her feet a break after walking the parade route today. She had let her dark hair dry naturally, so her waves made it both sexy and soft. She added a few gold rings and bangles to complete the look. “Thank God, no heels, my feet and legs are still aching. Standing on pavement is a killer.”
“Suck it up, beauty is painful, or that’s what my mama always says.” Jasmine laughed.
“I think I’m ready, let’s get this over with.” Hale felt the flutter of nervousness, but she was here, so why put off the inevitable?
Jasmine grasped her arm and steered her toward the ballroom and the party. By the time they entered the room, they had gained Izzy and a few others. Hale felt surrounded by friends.
When she entered the ballroom, the first thing she noticed was that there were no chairs or seating area. Attendees stood in groups, drinking, chatting, and trying to juggle their glasses and the tiny plates for appetizers. There was a small combo playing softly and the room was rather warm. “Definitely no food for me,” she told Jasmine softly.
Her friend nodded, she wore a light blue slip of a dress and high, silver sandals. “Bad planning, nowhere to put your glasses or plates. Stupid Bitsy, very bad planning.”
Izzy asked the ladies for their drink orders. Hale chose tonic water with lime, and Jasmine requested a glass of white wine. As he walked toward the bar, Jasmine asked, “Not drinking tonight?”
“Not with this crowd. Plus, I want to get home before dark.”
“You know, you could sit with us for the fireworks. Moe and my folks are joining us, so it isn’t like you would be a third wheel.”
“Thanks, but I’m not sure how Miller will react, so I want to be home with him. Some dogs can get pretty upset by fireworks, even if they are off in the distance.”
“You and that dog, sometimes, I swear that you two are a couple,” Jasmine teased.
“Hey, he is the perfect male. He loves me for me and as long as I give him food and a little attention, he’s happy.” She’d showered the dog with love since the day she rescued the mastiff, and never regretted taking him
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