“You want a beer, Dolly?” Ty asks, and I follow him in the house.
If Brandon wants to pretend like nothing is happening between us, then by God, I’ll do the same and do it better. But as I take a step through the doorway, I hear him say my name.
“Dolly.” His voice is somewhere between shock and aggravation. Good, he can feel aggravation, because I’ve been feeling it for months.
“Oh, hey, Brandon,” I toss over my shoulder, looking him up and down as quickly as I can.
He’s dressed in faded jeans and a white V-neck shirt. His cowboy hat is on the chair next to him, and his shaggy blond locks are pushed back from his eyes. His chocolate eyes look me over, appraising my outfit.
I decided to keep it simple but a lot sexier than I normally wear in front of anyone. I had a few things stuck in the back of my closet that I hadn’t had much use for, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity to pull them out. I’m wearing a black tank top that’s cut low in the front and laces up in the back. The crisscrossing thin strings show off everything from my shoulders to the top of my ass.
My boobs decided to show up when I was in ninth grade and haven’t stopped turning heads since. When you work on farms, you’re around men all the time. Women are few and far between. For the most part I keep them caged with good bras and tops with inbuilt support. So tonight I thought I’d let the girls have a little fun and went braless. The shirt really called for it, with the open back and all. The deep plunge of my top and the loose material around my breasts has Brandon taking his time as his eyes linger on them.
“What in the hell are you wearing?” he says through clenched teeth. My heart flutters at him getting all worked up. I’m bringing this out in him.
I see him ball his fists at his side, and I bite my lip to keep from letting a giggle slip free. I look down at my top and the cut-off denim skirt I’m in, and shrug. The movement catches his eyes as my breasts give a little jiggle, and he takes a step forward.
“Just thought I’d come have dinner with my family tonight. I heard some of the crew was going to join us. You coming, Daddy?”
I throw the words over my shoulder as I turn and walk in the house. Normally Ty’s guys don’t all eat together, but MJ said she was doing a big meal for all of them. This is going to be like holding a match over a bucket of gasoline, but I’m tired of waiting on my love life to begin. I’m kicking this shit into overdrive.
I feel his heat behind me as I walk in the house and head straight to the kitchen. From the low growls, he doesn’t seem to approve of my outfit choice, and it makes me smile. One point for Dolly.
Mary-Jane is in the kitchen, and I start helping her right away, mostly to avoid Brandon’s gaze, but I still feel it on me the whole time. As much as this is about him, I don’t want him to know that. If he wants me, he’s going to have to come for me, because I will not be chasing him down anymore.
“If Brandon doesn’t murder you for that outfit, your brother is going to,” MJ whispers to me as we take the food out back to the long picnic table.
“Ty, I can handle,” I say, looking nervously around me. I’ve lost sight of Brandon, and I don’t want him to hear me. “Baby-daddy, on the other hand, he’s an unknown quantity.” He seems more worked up than I thought he would get, but maybe the other night sent him over the edge.
“He’s liable to pop out an eyeball with the way he’s looking at you tonight. I hope you know what you’re doing, Dolly,” MJ says and winks at me. If anyone knows what a jealous man is like, it’s MJ. It took a while before Ty even let his men near their house. I know I have that streak in me, too. I just didn't think feeling all kinds of territorial was something Brandon would have done, but it looks like I might be wrong, and something about his jealousy is doing all kinds of wonderful things to me.
My skirt is loose at my hips, and it shows off an inch or so of my belly as I reach around the table to set plates. I have to bend over a lot to reach the other side, and my boobs are all over the place. I’m starting to think the top was a mistake when I turn, catching sight of Brandon. He’s standing in the shadows off to the side. His cheeks are flushed red, and he looks to be breathing hard, but otherwise he’s a statue, his eyes never leaving me.
Soon the crew shows up, and a few of them come and say hello. Most of them I know by name, having been around them for years now. One of the older guys comes up to give me a hug, but suddenly Brandon is in front of me, asking him a question about some sort of grain seed he thinks they should start using. He’s clearly making sure the man doesn’t get anywhere near me.
After that, Brandon isn’t more than an inch or two away from me. Every move I make, he’s stuck to my side, but never touching me. Everyone else seems to know to stay away from me. None of the men will meet my eyes anymore. Brandon might as well pee a circle around me, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. A part of me loves his jealousy and that he doesn’t want anyone near me, because hell, I don’t want any women near him either, but another part of me is getting mad. He doesn’t want to be with me, but he isn’t going to let me be with anyone? Not that I even want to be with someone. The thought of another man does nothing for me. In fact, it makes my heart ache just thinking it, but he doesn’t get to pull that crap.
Ty brings me out a beer, and he shares a look with Brandon. I take a drink and look between them, not understanding what’s happening. I know something is going on between them and it has something to do with me. I can feel it. I’m about to ask, when MJ comes out and announces it’s time to eat.