A Buckhorn Bachelor by Lori Foster Read Free Book Online Page B

compliments.”
    That made his dad’s smile widen, and the three of them shared more elbow nudges.
    â€œNow what?” Issy demanded. “What’s with all the...” She jabbed her elbows left and right, mimicking them and making them all laugh.
    It was Sawyer who spoke up this time. “It takes a certain woman to throw a man off his game. We know the truth of that from experience.”
    Adam cocked a brow. “You’re talking about when you met Honey?”
    â€œAnd when Morgan met Misty,” Sawyer confirmed.
    â€œAnd when I met your mother,” Jordan added. “When you were only four years old and hiding behind her knee.”
    Adam scowled. “Now wait a minute...”
    His protest caused another round of guffaws.
    â€œOh, please tell me,” Issy said, shooting him a teasing smile. “I’d love to hear about Adam as a boy.”
    That opened the floodgates, and the jibes poured free.
    Oddly enough, now that Adam was out of sorts, Issy smiled and tucked into her food with renewed hunger, eating while they regaled her with goofy stories of him as an awkward kid.
    But they spoke with unmistakable fondness, and every so often Issy sighed and smiled at him. Huh. So his uncles and dad were pretty good at this sort of thing. He should have realized that sooner.
    When they finally wound down, the food was nearly gone.
    â€œYou must have a fast metabolism.” Sawyer nodded at her nearly empty plate. “You don’t look big enough to have eaten all that.”
    â€œI guess.” She munched down a remaining fry. “I don’t do well with idle time, which is why I was gonna spend my off day pullin’ weeds down by the shore before I spotted that poor cat in the tree.”
    â€œYou pull weeds in your bikini?” If so, Adam thought, then it was a wonder all the fishermen didn’t congregate in that particular cove.
    â€œMaybe,” she drawled in that fetching accent of hers, “you failed to notice the heat. It’s downright steamy.”
    â€œI’m sure he noticed,” Jordan murmured.
    â€œHe’s slow,” Morgan said, “but not stupid.”
    With a growl, Adam said, “Maybe you guys should quit helping me now.”
    â€œIs that what they’re doin’?” Issy pointed a fry at them and laughed. “Y’all don’t make it easy to tell. But I can assure you, Adam needs no help.”
    That pleased the elders, but Adam wondered what the hell it meant.
    Morgan cocked a brow. “He doesn’t, huh?”
    â€œNope.”
    Sawyer looked at Jordan, who only shrugged.
    Adam waited for her to expound on that, and instead she finished off the last pickle and two fries on her plate.
    Amused, Morgan asked, “Dessert?”
    â€œNot for me, thank you.” She looked inquiringly at the others.
    His dad declined. “I need to get back to the clinic.”
    â€œAnd I’ll have patients showing up soon,” Sawyer said.
    â€œThen I suppose I should get back to pullin’ my weeds.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s the truth I’ve let things get overgrown. My schedule just stays so busy.”
    â€œDating?” Sawyer asked.
    Issy laughed and laughed, as if that was the funniest thing ever.
    Adam didn’t see the humor. She could have a date every night if she wanted. If Amber had her way, it might happen still.
    To keep his dad and uncles from getting the wrong impression, Adam explained, “She’s the school librarian, I think you all know that. But she also volunteers extra hours at the school. Isabella is great with kids, especially the kids who struggle with learning disabilities. She goes out of her way to ensure they all can read.”
    Finally done with her chuckles, Issy said, “Sometimes it’s just a matter of findin’ the right book for the right child. They’re not all on the same level, and for a certainty, they don’t