“Worked, too.” Bobbie Jo grinned. “Only, it wasn’t you dancing with Cowboy that had Jake so pissed off. That was all Jeremy’s doing.”
Emily shrugged. “Speaking of that jerk, what’s the deal with you two, Bobbie Jo? I know he’s Austin’s dad, but you aren’t seeing him again, are you?”
“Hell, no!” She shook her head. “Jeremy may be Austin’s biological father, but he’s not exactly what I’d call daddy material. After dealing with him for the past year, I’m pretty sure I’m through with men altogether. The only guy I’m interested in is this little fella right here.” She dangled her keys from her fingertips, displaying a photo of Austin.
“But don’t you want more kids someday?” I asked.
Bobbie Jo shrugged. “You know, I always saw myself with at least two kids, a boy and a girl. But every time I even think about having another baby, my uterus cringes.”
I laughed at the mental image she left me with, and Emily joined in. “I’m sure you’ll change your mind when the right guy comes along. Besides, Austin would probably like to have a daddy one day…a real one.”
“He already has four of the best father figures I could ever ask for. I’m not worried about filling that role in his life. I doubt anyone could, anyway.”
“All right,” Emily said, taking a step back from me. “I’m done. Take a look and tell me what you think. But no making faces.”
If she had to warn me not to make a face, I could only imagine how bad I must look. Bobbie Jo was smiling, though, so maybe Emily had used clown makeup. I stood and walked over to the full-length mirror in my bedroom and gazed at… Oh!
I didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror. Stunned, I turned to face Emily. “Holy crap! You’re a magician.”
Bobbie wore a huge grin. “Look at how your blue eyes pop. And I love all the sexy red curls framing your face. Anna, you look beautiful.”
Emily smiled proudly. “See? You’re a total hottie! Now I’m going to have to dare you to do something crazy. Prepare to get wild tonight,” she said with a saucy grin.
Bobbie Jo rolled her eyes. “Don’t listen to her. Ever. And for God’s sake, don’t take her up on any dares. The last time Emily accepted a dare, she ended up in Witness Protection.” Bobbie Jo wrinkled her nose playfully. “And we’re all still paying for that one.”
Emily laughed. “Hey! Don’t make me go back to calling you Bobbie Jugs again.” She glanced over at me. “Did Bobbie Jo tell you that she and I haven’t always gotten along?”
No, but I could imagine why. “Not exactly.”
“Oh, yeah,” Emily said, nodding. “As far as I was concerned, Miss Cheerleader could’ve taken her pom-poms and shoved them.”
I looked at Bobbie Jo for confirmation. “Really? That bad?”
Bobbie Jo smiled. “True story. But I didn’t take it personally. I knew it was only because Emily was jealous that I had dated Jake before her.”
“Well, I knew that much,” I said, remembering our days at camp. “I always thought Bobbie Jo and Jake were the perfect couple.” Bobbie Jo laughed before I even realized what I said. “Oh my God. Emily, I’m so sorry. Forget I said that. I don’t always think before I speak.”
Emily grinned, as if she wasn’t the least bit concerned with my verbal blunder. “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. I do it all the time.”
“That’s no lie,” Bobbie said.
As I turned to smile at her, my gaze touched on the mirror. In the reflection, I caught a glimpse of the window…and a shadowed face staring back at me. I gasped and spun around so quickly that both women jolted from their seats.
“What’s wrong?” Bobbie Jo asked.
I glared at the window, but there was nothing there. “I, um…sorry. For a second, I thought I saw something outside.”
Emily picked up her cell phone. “Do you want me to call Jake? He could come over and take a look around.”
“No, it’s okay. I think my nerves are just getting to me.” Which I’m sure is exactly what the Barlow boys were hoping for. Those bastards.
Chapter Eleven