Whiskey Men Series by Hope Ford – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Whiskey Men Series by Hope Ford – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com Tue, 08 Aug 2023 17:46:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.books2020.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Whiskey Men Series by Hope Ford – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com 32 32 Always Yours (Whiskey Men #5) Read Online Hope Ford http://www.books2020.com/always-yours-whiskey-men-5-read-online-hope-ford Tue, 08 Aug 2023 17:46:15 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/always-yours-whiskey-men-5-read-online-hope-ford Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Chick Lit, Erotic Authors: Hope Ford Series: Whiskey Men Series by Hope Ford
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Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)

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A billionaire in love with his best friend.
A woman pregnant with another man’s baby.
Together, in a friends to lovers romance.

I’ve been in love with my best friend for what seems like forever. But she wanted the one thing I couldn’t give her.

Now, she’s pregnant with another man’s baby. The “donor” wants nothing to do with her... or the child, so I do the one thing I’ve always wanted to do.

I claim her – and her baby – as mine.

She worries the whole town is gossiping. She has no money, no family and she thinks I’m doing this because I feel sorry for her.

If only she knew.

Allie is my best friend, and I tried to be content with only that. Things have changed though and I’ll stop at nothing until I make her my wife.

USA Today bestselling author Hope Ford brings you a standalone fifth book in the Whiskey Men series. If you love reading billionaire, friends to lovers, protective man, all-the-feels, and small-town romance, then you’ll love Austin and Ally’s story.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter 1

Ally

I stretch my hand across my belly and look around the low-lit room. The music is loud, people are relaxing, trying to relieve the stress of their week, and I’m sitting here completely on edge. I shouldn’t be here, but as I look over at Natalie, I do feel better that I’m not the only one here in this condition.

She leans over to yell into my ear. “We have babies… in a bar.”

She pulls back, laughing and rubbing her expansive belly. I know we’re both thinking of that popular movie from years ago where the woman was holding her baby in a bar. However, neither Natalie nor I have had our babies yet. Nope, I still have three months to go, and Natalie has four months before her baby is due.

I grab on to her wrist and shift on the bar stool. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. I shouldn’t be here. I should be at home with my swollen feet propped up and trying to rest. Isn’t that what people say? Sleep before the baby comes.”

She shrugs her shoulders and scrunches her nose up. “No, I think the saying is to sleep when the baby is sleeping. And I talked you into this because you can’t keep hiding out. No one cares about your circumstances. At least not like you think.”

And at that moment, my body physically jerks from the kick of the baby. Wow, that was a good one. I run my hand over my belly soothingly. “I haven’t been hiding out.”

But as soon as the words are out, I know I’m lying. “Fine, you wanted me out, I’m out. But I didn’t think we’d be meeting at my ol’ hangout.”

The Whiskey Whistler is a popular hangout, and I’ve been coming here since the day I turned twenty-one. Basically everyone comes here that wants to unwind in Whiskey Run.

Natalie reaches for me and wraps her hand around mine. Her touch calms me, and I’m sure it’s because we’re going through the same thing. Well, sort of. We’re both pregnant, but where she’s married and secure in her relationship, I’m single and have no one. Well, I have Austin. He’s my best friend who would literally do anything for me, but it’s not quite the same. Natalie’s husband Beau is one of Austin’s older brothers, and I’m pretty sure that Austin convinced Natalie to drag me out tonight. I hold back a sigh, not giving in to the pity party I want to have right now. “Okay, so how does this work?”

Olivia, Chloe, Abby, and Natalie all look at me. Olivia is smiling ear to ear as she pulls the book from her bag and holds it up with a big grin on her face. “Did you read it?”

I’m about to answer her when Abby gasps, grabbing the book out of her hands and then slamming it face down on the table between us. She’s looking around the bar to see if anyone saw it before glaring at Olivia. “Why do you do that? Why? I swear, I think you do it just so you can embarrass me.” She waves her hand toward the rest of us. “Yes, we all read it. We don’t have to get the book out to talk about it. We don’t need the whole town to know what we read.”

I lean in and try to hear over the bar sounds. At least it’s not a night where they have live music. This place would be packed, and we wouldn’t be able to hear anything. But even for six o’clock in the evening, it’s louder than normal.

Olivia rolls her eyes and pries the book out of Abby’s hands. “You are such a prude. This one was good. I was impressed.”

Abby shakes her head. “There was way too much sex and not enough plot.”

Natalie turns to me. “What did you think, Ally? Did you like it?”

My face heats but not for the reason that Abby’s did. No, I thought the book was good, and yes, there was a lot of sex, but I thought it added to the story. Nope, the reason I’m embarrassed to talk about it is because I couldn’t help but read the story and think about my own best friend. “It was good. I love the friends to lovers trope, though. It’s one of my favorites.”

Chloe chimes in for the first time. “Duh! We all could have guessed that.”

I shift on the seat again. I swear my ass has doubled in size because this seat feels way smaller than normal. I take the lemon off my glass and squeeze it into my water. I’m trying to think of a retort, but all I can do is stick my tongue out at her.

All my friends laugh, and thankfully, Olivia starts talking about the book, leaving me off the hook. I only joined the book club a few weeks ago, but I am already loving it. The past few months I’ve spent way too much of my time at my house on the couch. It’s only after months of doing the same thing night after night, having both Natalie and Austin nag me, that I decided I needed to get my shit together.

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Advertisement Forever Mine (Whiskey Men #4) Read Online Hope Ford http://www.books2020.com/forever-mine-whiskey-men-4-read-online-hope-ford Sat, 24 Jun 2023 21:47:49 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/forever-mine-whiskey-men-4-read-online-hope-ford Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary Authors: Hope Ford Series: Whiskey Men Series by Hope Ford
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Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)

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A billionaire married man that guards his heart.
A wife with one foot out the door.
Together, in a second chance romance. I’m completely in love with my husband. And he takes care of my needs...
as long as they’re financial or physical. Anything more is too much to ask. I know that while I might have his name, I don’t have his heart.
It’s almost like he keeps me in a very specific WIFE.
He only opens that box when we’re home alone, anything else would make me too much a part of his life. Even though I love him, I can’t live like this anymore.
I don’t want to, but I ask him for a divorce. Instead of agreeing to the separation, he tries to convince me to stay. I want nothing more than to be his wife in every way possible, but I won’t settle for anything less than his whole heart. The real question is, can he truly love me the way I need him to or is it time for me to walk away? USA Today bestselling author Hope Ford brings you a standalone fourth book in the Whiskey Men series. If you love reading billionaire, age gap, second chance, and small-town romance, then you’ll love Beau and Natalie’s story.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter 1

Natalie

I’m surrounded by the heat from Beau’s body, and I want to burrow deeper into him, but I don’t dare. I hope that he stays in bed a little longer. My leg is over his, and my arm is over his chest, while my face is buried into his neck. It’s like I’ve completely wrapped myself around him sometime in the night, and now I don’t want to move.

It’s in our bedroom where he’s most open to any kind of intimacy. If I start to move or shift in any way, he’ll find a reason to get out of bed and start his day.

So I lie here quietly, taking small breaths, making no sudden movements, and relishing the feel of him next to me.

I’m just hoping to get a few minutes of feeling his body next to mine. This is when I feel the closest to him. This is one of the reasons that I stay. It’s this side of him, behind closed doors when it’s just the two of us, that I feel loved by my husband. Any other time, I feel like I’m a roommate or even worse, sometimes a nuisance.

I take a deep breath, inhaling the woodsy scent of his aftershave that he put on after his shower last night. I try to commit everything to memory. The way he feels, the soft noises he makes in his sleep, the feel of his stubble against my cheek.

Can I really give this up? Later today, when I’m wide awake and am looking at the full picture, I know I will need to leave him. It’s time. Hell, it’s way past time. But when we’re like this and with his hand on my back, holding me to him like he can’t let me go, like he doesn’t want to let me go, well, I’m not so sure my plan to leave is the right thing to do.

I know the instant he wakes up because his body becomes tense, and he seems to hold his breath. I’m not ready for this to end. I need one last time with him, even though I know it’s shitty. I know it makes me an ass to ask him to make love to me when I know I’m asking him for a divorce later today, but I need to feel his love one more time. I need to get lost in his touch so I can carry it with me.

I slide my hand down his chest, past his belly and to the waistband of his underwear. Goosebumps rise on his arms, and when I dip my hand into his shorts, he grunts out my name. “Nat… argh.”

I smile against his neck and kiss him until he sucks in a breath and grips me tighter. If this is going to be our last time together, I want to make it good.

I kiss across his shoulder and down his chest. Going to my knees, I pull at his shorts, and he lifts his hips so I can pull them down. I kiss his navel, pressing my tongue to his hot skin before going down. I move over him until I’m sitting on my knees between his legs, and for the first time, I look into his eyes. “Morning,” I tell him with my sleep-laden voice.

He smiles at me. “And what a good morning, too.”

I look at the clock on the nightstand and take note that he has awhile before he has to leave for work. “You need to rush out of here?”

His head falls back, and he moans as my hands roam over his abdomen. “No. I got time… I’ll make time.”

I press my lips to him, savoring the taste of his skin.

My emotions surge, but I don’t relent. The early light is glaring through the curtains, and my body is on full display. Any other time, I’d be self-conscious, but knowing this will most likely be our last time together, I don't let myself feel any insecurities. I refuse to. Instead, I try to get lost in the moment and the way he makes me feel.

I need more, and I need it all. But at the same time, I don't want to rush things.

Beau reaches down between us and pulls at my lace panties. His thumb trails back and forth across my lower belly, causing me to suck in a gulp of air. “You like these panties?”

I shrug, gyrating my hips slowly across his belly. “Yes. Do you like them?”

He grunts his answer. “Yeah, but I would like them better off.”

I am about to lift up to take them off when both his hands grip my hips to hold me in place. “No, I got it.”

He grabs the lace in his hands and with a steady pull, he rips the string of my panties on first my right side and then my left. He grabs the shreds of material and tosses them on the floor. He reaches for the nightstand, and it takes everything in me to hold back. I want to tell him I’m on the pill, but he already knows that. I want to tell him that just once, I want to feel him bare, but it’s nothing that he hasn’t heard from me before. He doesn’t want children, and I didn’t find that out until after our wedding. But I did discover the lengths he’d go to make sure we don’t have any. He will do whatever’s necessary, even wearing a condom every time we’re together since my birth control isn’t one hundred percent effective.

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Advertisement Coming Home (Whiskey Men #3) Read Online Hope Ford http://www.books2020.com/coming-home-whiskey-men-3-read-online-hope-ford Wed, 17 May 2023 05:16:20 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/coming-home-whiskey-men-3-read-online-hope-ford Genre: Alpha Male Authors: Hope Ford Series: Whiskey Men Series by Hope Ford
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Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)

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A Billionaire Veteran.
A younger, curvy woman on the run.
Together, in a protective, all the feels romance. I just got home from serving in the military and I'm learning how to live as a civilian when I meet her. Elle is my younger brother’s assistant, but the minute I see her, I want to know everything about her. Elle is hiding secrets. I'm hellbent on uncovering every one. Especially peeling away the layers of her frumpy clothes to reveal the curvy body that plagues my every thought. I know she’s scared, running from something or someone. So I try to keep my distance to let her know she's safe with me. Until she forces my hand. Now there's nothing that will stop me from claiming her. But can I convince her I’m in it for the long haul and not just here to keep her safe? USA Today bestselling author Hope Ford brings you a standalone third book in the Whiskey Men series. If you love reading billionaire, ex-military, age gap, forced proximity, and small-town romance, then you’ll love Hudson and Elle’s story.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter 1

Hudson

I look around the barren house and sit down in the lone chair placed in the center of my living room. From where I’m sitting, I can see into the bedroom and the pad on the floor I’ve been using as a bed for the last week.

I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. I have enough money to furnish this house three times over, but I just haven’t felt the desire to do it. I knew when I left the Army after twenty years, it would take some time to adjust to civilian life, but so far, I’m doing a really shitty job of it.

I never dreamed I would be on edge and unable to sleep through the night, and it seems as if the lack of sleep is catching up with me.

I push myself off the chair and stretch my arms over my head. I’m mid-stretch when my doorbell rings, and I let my hands fall to my sides. I don’t rush to the door. I know it’s one of my four brothers, and I also know that they will not leave until they see me. I walk to the bedroom and shut the door. No sense in giving them something else to worry about. They won’t understand why I haven’t furnished the place. Hell, at least have a bed to sleep in.

The doorbell rings again. I shove my hand through my hair and walk to the front door, buttoning my jeans as I go.

I jerk the door open so fast that my brother Austin jumps back. I hold back my smirk. “Oh, it’s you.”

He rolls his eyes and points at my bare chest. “What the fuck, dude? Put a shirt on, will ya?”

I turn, leaving the door open. “You do know this is my house, right? You’re lucky I have any clothes on at all.”

Austin slams the door and follows behind me. “Yeah, thank fuck for that. I’m pretty sure that image would traumatize me for life.”

“Whatever, little brother.” I grab the shirt off the kitchen counter and pull it over my head. The material stretches across my chest, and I sit down at the bar stool. “So what? Did you draw the short straw or what? You do know I’m on to you guys, right? Every day for the last week, one of you has shown up here.”

I’m not sure what they’re up to, but I know they’re all worried about me. I don’t know if they think I’m losing my shit or what, but they’re all keeping a close eye on me.

“Believe it or not, we’ve missed you, brother. And let’s be honest, today is your lucky day. You get me, your favorite brother.”

I smile and shake my head.

Austin raises his hands with a shrug of his shoulders. “What? Who would you have preferred? Ford would instantly come in and tell you that you need to get your shit together. Lucas is out of control since he found out he’s going to be a dad and is losing his shit. Beau would throw some kind of spreadsheets at you or something. At least with me, I’m not going to give you any shit about anything.”

I’ve never been one for small talk, but the truth is, Austin is pretty entertaining to talk to at least. I plant my feet and lean back against the counter. “So you’re the lesser of four evils, is that what you’re saying?”

“Absolutely.” He stands in the center of the room and does a three-sixty. I know he’s going to give me shit before he even opens his mouth. “What the fuck, Huddy? If you’re going for the minimalist look, you aced it.” He rolls his eyes as he walks past me into the kitchen. I don’t have to turn to know he’s going for the fridge. Even when we were little, Austin was a big eater. Not that you could tell by looking at him. He’s going to be disappointed, though. I’m about to warn him when he jerks open the fridge. “What. The. Fuck? Okay, maybe I should have let Ford come. No food, no furniture, you look like shit. This is probably way above my paygrade.”

“Keep talking shit and I’m going to make you go grocery shopping for me, asshole.”

He holds his hands up. “Forget it. You wanna go have a beer, you need a wingman or to go grab a pizza, I’m your guy. I’m out on grocery shopping.”

I blow out a breath and sit taller. “What are you even doing here?”

“I’m your driver today.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Oh yeah, where are you driving me?”

He walks back into the living room. “The truck you ordered is in, and they’re delivering it to Blaze. While we’re there, you may as well sit in on the weekly meeting.”

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Advertisement Something Real (Whiskey Men #2) Read Online Hope Ford http://www.books2020.com/something-real-whiskey-men-2-read-online-hope-ford Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:03:46 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/something-real-whiskey-men-2-read-online-hope-ford Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Insta-Love Authors: Hope Ford Series: Whiskey Men Series by Hope Ford
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Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51530 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)

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A Billionaire single dad.
His younger assistant, who’s looking for a good time.
Together, in an off-limits romance.

Lilian always had a no-dating rule.
For the last twelve years, she’s been the guardian of her younger sister.
She did the whole PTO, soccer mom thing.
But now that her sister’s a college graduate and married, Lilian is taking her life back… and looking for a good time.
I respected her “no dating” rule even though I’ve wanted her since the day she started working for me. Two years later and my thirst for her has only intensified.
Lily might think all she wants is a one-night-stand, but I’m determine

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Lilian

I wipe at the tears in the corner of my eyes. I’ve held it together for as long as I can, but it seems to be catching up with me now. It could be because I’ve been busy most of the day and haven’t had time to really think about things. But what can I say? I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to keep the emotions in forever. It’s not every day that your baby sister, the one you’ve raised since she turned eleven, gets married.

I watch as Carrie walks around the reception, hugging people, laughing, and smiling ear to ear. Her husband, Phillip, is a good man, and I’m so glad that they found each other. She was a freshman in college when he was in his fourth and final year at the same university. They dated for four years, and as soon as she graduated, he proposed. After that, everything went by super fast. We planned a wedding. We moved all of her things into his house last week, they got married today, and tonight will be her first night in her new home with her new husband.

I thought I was ready for all this, but obviously it’s going to take me some time to adjust.

Carrie and Phillip have a way about them that sort of makes me envious. He walks around the room with her, keeping a protective hand on her but also letting her stand out and be the exuberant woman that she is. Randomly, he reaches out to kiss her, and she smiles up at him.

I have to force myself to look away because it somehow feels like I’m butting in on a private moment between them.

I nod my head at my date, who’s standing a few feet away. He’s enjoying a second round at the buffet, and the way he’s smiling I know that he’s thinking this is more than it is. I’m going to feel bad if I hurt his feelings when I tell him we can’t go out again. I probably should have thought about that before I asked him to be my date. I’m going to blame Carrie for that one.

I take a sip of my champagne and let the fruity taste tingle its way down my throat. I look out at the party and don’t recognize a lot of people. Unfortunately, Carrie and I don’t have any family, and we only have a few close friends here. The majority of the people are from Phillip’s side of the family, but I love watching as they all hug and love on Carrie. She deserves to be a part of a big family.

I try not to feel down or that I’m being left behind. I know my sister loves me.

As if she can hear my thoughts, she turns to look at me, and I push my feelings to the side as I smile at her. She hugs her husband, whispers something to him, and then makes her way over to me.

Just watching her walk across the room brings back all the memories of the last twelve years together. Holding her in my arms when I told her our parents were killed in an automobile accident, helping her navigate puberty, high school, her first boyfriend and heartbreak. The day she graduated from high school. When she got accepted to Jasper University. The day she came home and told me she’d found the man she was going to marry, her college graduation, and then today when I helped her put her veil on before walking with her down the aisle to her husband. We’ve practically grown up together because at eighteen, I wasn’t ready for all of this.

She stops and points at me. “What’s that look?”

I sniff and shrug my shoulders, acting as if I don’t have a clue what she’s thinking about. “What look?” I finish my drink and set it on the tray of a server passing by. “Oh you mean the look that says finally, I get the house to myself. Finally!”

She doesn’t laugh. Instead, she looks at me worriedly. “Are you going to be okay? I mean, you’re going to be at the house… by yourself.”

I laugh it off even though she’s putting voice to exactly what I was thinking last night in bed, mentally preparing myself for today. “Yes, I’m going to be all right. Of course, I am. As a matter of fact, you may want to call before you come over because I may be having a dinner party, or entertaining… or, or something.”

Carrie reaches over and wraps her hand around mine. “Stop it, sis. I’m being serious. You’ve never been on your own before. I’m going to feel bad, leaving you to your puzzles and reality television.”

I try to hold back the grimace. I knew I should have tried harder to pay for her to live on campus the last four years. Instead, she was home with me and saw my sad nightly ritual of watching reality television while doing puzzles. It has a lot to do with the fact that there was never extra money for going out, traveling, or shopping. Nope, the last twelve years have been spent on raising Carrie, her therapy, and putting her through school. The fact she’s graduated with no debt was something I really wanted for her, and at least I was able to make that happen.

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Advertisement Reluctant Husband (Whiskey Men #1) Read Online Hope Ford http://www.books2020.com/reluctant-husband-whiskey-men-1-read-online-hope-ford Fri, 03 Feb 2023 20:31:57 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/reluctant-husband-whiskey-men-1-read-online-hope-ford Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Romance Authors: Hope Ford Series: Whiskey Men Series by Hope Ford
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Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >53

A rich playboy who doesn't believe in love. A plus-size nurse who is a ray of sunshine. Together, in a marriage of convenience.

I'm in love with Lucas Blaze, the player grandson of the woman I take care of. I'm nothing like the women he dates, so the chances of him noticing me are slim to none. Until the day he asks me to marry him.

Lucas is the youngest Blaze Brother. He works twenty-four seven, and his only use for women is to get his rocks off when he's taking a break from putting his family's liquor brand into every store in the country.

I don't wear the right clothes, I don't mingle in the same high-profile groups, and I sure as heck don't know the first thing about pleasing a man.

But to make his Granny happy, Lucas is willing to marry me.

Our marriage is one of convenience and I know it won't last.
But try telling that to my heart.

USA Today Bestselling author Hope Ford, brings you a standalone first book in the Whiskey Men series. If you love reading about curvy women getting the hot guy, opposites attract, jealousy trope, marriage of convenience, and small-town romance, then you'll love Lucas and Isabella's story.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Isabella

I’m scanning the front page of the newspaper as I walk up the steps to Lottie’s room. She may be eighty-one years old, but if there’s any mention of her five grandsons, she’ll spot it quickly, and heads are going to roll. She likes them to stay out of the gossip column, but it seems one, two, or heck, all five of them make their way into it at some point or another, and I’m just trying to save their asses and keep their grandmother from getting upset at the same time.

I almost trip on the stairs when I turn the paper upside down and spot Lucas Blaze. I should have known one of them would make the front page, even if it is the bottom. And there he is. Lucas Blaze, youngest brother of the billion-dollar whiskey company. He’s got his arm around some woman, and even though it looks innocent enough, the headline reads Lucas Blaze is on the Prowl Again. I would laugh at the stupid headline, but I’m too busy staring at the man in question. He looks good, but he always looks good. And just like every other time I see him, there’s a tightness in my chest and a flutter in my belly. Forcing my eyes off him, I fold up the paper as I get to the open doors of Lottie’s bedroom and en suite living room. There’s no way I can take this paper in there. No way! Heck, I don’t want to see the disappointment on her face, and I definitely don’t want to get into a conversation about Lucas and how he needs to settle down. I mean, yeah, I wish it would happen, but I can’t see it happening anytime soon and definitely not with the likes of me.

I stow it on the hall table, force a smile onto my face, and walk in. My smile falters just a little when I spot Lottie sitting in her chair with a pale face. If nothing else, the woman always has her makeup on. She says you can’t face the day if you’re not ready, and to her, ready is dressed, made up, and hair done, and she wouldn’t be caught dead without earrings.

She must see the worried look on my face because she points at the table next to her with all her makeup strewn about. “I’m getting to it. I just needed a little rest.”

I sit on the chair in front of her and shrug. “I think you’re beautiful without it.”

She reaches for me, and her frail hand squeezes mine. Her strength may not be what it used to be, but the sentiment is the same. “You’re too good to me, Issi.”

I smile and shake my head. “I could say the same about you.” The fact is, I could say a lot more. Lottie was my grandmother’s best friend and like a second grandmother to me growing up. Especially when my own grandma passed away. I know she’s trying to fill the huge gap in my life since she passed, and I love her for it. We’ve always been close but even more so lately. “What do you think, G?” I call her by the nickname I gave her a long time ago. “Do you want to go naked today?”

She gasps, and a look of shock lights up her face. “Naked! Well, I never, Isabelle Stevens.”

I can feel my face flush hot. “I meant your face... no makeup.”

She bursts out laughing. “I knew what you meant. I’m just giving you a hard time. I want to at least put some mascara on. I can’t let people think I’m already dead.”

She lifts the tube of mascara, and her hands shake as she tries to unscrew it. It’s hard seeing her like this, but there’s no way I would walk away from her. “Let me do it, G.”

She hands over the tube easily, and I take it from her. “So did you sleep well?”

And as soon as I say it, I know it was the wrong thing to say. I’m sure she remembers that last night was the big fundraiser in Jasper and that the Jasper newspaper worked through the night to get the papers delivered this morning. Her eyes widen, even as I’m coming at her with the wand in my hand. “Where’s the paper?” she asks.

I should have thought this through a little bit because there’s no way to avoid her gaze while applying mascara to her lashes. “Hold still.”

She opens her eyes wider and holds still. I finish one eye, and she doesn’t hesitate. “Okay, so what happened last night? Have you heard from any of my grandsons? What about Lucas? Is he up this morning yet?”

“Hold still,” I tell her again and lean in for the other eye. She does as I ask, but I know this is not something she’s going to let go. I finish the second eye, screw the cap, and grab the handheld mirror on the table. “What do you think?”

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