Resilient (2) by Nikki Mathis Thompson Read Free Book Online

planet.
    “Good. Amber seems great. Way to go, bud!” She was surprised that she really meant that. He deserved to be happy.
    “So, you here with a date or did you come with your girls?”
    “No date. There’s this young fellow from class sniffing around, but I don’t think I’m interested.”
    “Good.” That was all he said. She had no idea what that meant.  
    “Cab, please, thank you.” She smiled and grabbed her now full glass. She turned towards him, knowing she only had a few moments until his date reappeared. She put her hand on his arm and looked into his eyes. “I’m glad you’re happy, Ian.” She smiled and pressed her lips to his cheek, then walked away.

    Chapter 6
    She walked briskly to the bathroom. She sat down on the seat and put her head into her hands. Katrine emptied her lungs and her bladder. She was grateful that was over. She had seen him with her and introductions had been made, pleasantries exchanged. How did she go from the pursued to pouting on the pot? She shook her head and stopped that line of thinking.  
    It is what it is… And ain’t, what it ain’t.
    And wasn’t that the truth. Now she was going to go out there and enjoy the fact that all of her girls were under the same roof.
    And get sloshed. Okay maybe not sloshed, but severely buzzed.
    Mature? No, but who the hell cared. Teddy wouldn’t get home until after lunch, so she had plenty of time to sleep it off, or run it off.  
    She did her best to ignore the attractive couple and that was easier now that they were mingling with other groups. The girls were deep in conversation when Charlie came up to them with the most delectable man ever. She had their complete attention.
    “Friends, I would like you to meet our neighbor, Shawn Brooks. He just moved here from Baltimore last month and has joined a law firm in town.”
    No one spoke, they were all too busy salivating. He was at least six foot with hair trimmed close to his perfectly shaped head. His skin was the color of rich caramel and his perfect white teeth peeked out from under some seriously lush lips. He made Denzel look like Homey the clown.
    “Good evening, ladies, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Holy shit, his voice was like a soft vibration to their nether regions. They were all gaping at him with their mouths open. Katrine was the first to get the blood flow back to her head. “Welcome to Texas, Shawn. I hope you enjoy it. This is Paige, Izzie, and my sister, Maddie.” He nodded hello to Izzie and Paige, but then he locked eyes with Maddie. Katrine was looking back and forth between the two of them.  
    Katrine discreetly nudged her mesmerized sister. “What about Wes?” Katrine whispered out of the side of her mouth.
    “Shut up, drooling over here,” Maddie said, ventriloquist style. Eventually he excused himself from the group and Charlie smirked knowingly.
    “I cannot believe you’ve kept him under wraps!” Izzie squealed.
    “I was just waiting on the chance for the big reveal.” Charlie was enjoying their hormonal fluctuations way too much.
    “Damn, Mads. He was looking at you like a starving carnivore that found a steak tree,” Katrine teased.
    “Yeah, well, he is fine, but not my type.”
    “Maddie, I thought you didn’t see color? All men and women are created equal, blah blah blah…” Charlie said.
    “No, it’s not that. It’s just, he’s…he’s just…a lawyer.” Maddie said it with repulsion.
    “Oh—My—God! Can you ever date a man that has a decent career for once in your life?” Katrine groaned.
    “You dated a doctor and where did that get you? I don’t like men who use all of their energy and attention on their career. They totally bore me.”
    “Ouch, by the way. And just because he’s a lawyer doesn’t mean he’s boring or a workaholic. What does this Wes guy do again?” Katrine asked, raising her eyebrow.
    Maddie was silent for a moment and then said, “He’s a very talented painter-slash-musician. He’s