Cheap Trick

Chapter OneLogan“That is disgusting, sis,” I tell Quinn, shaking my head as I watch her pull maraschino cherries out of a glass of vodka with a spoon. “You know I can make you a real drink, right?”She pops one in her mouth and nods. “I do, but I kinda like this. Actually, go ahead and make me one. You still owe me for filing your taxes.”“You want another drink on top of that?” Dean raises his eyebrows. “Haven’t you had enough?”“Fuck, you’re so lame,” Owen quips, clapping Dean on the back. “Drink as much as you want, Quinn. On the house.”“Don’t tempt me,” Quinn laughs, getting another cherry out of her cup. “I have a very small window to enjoy alcohol before Archer knocks me up again. Like tonight.”Dean wrinkles his nose. “That’s even more disgusting than the vodka-cherries.”Quinn laughs, enjoying poking at Dean. I go back around the bar, making drinks for a few customers before bringing Quinn a Jack and Coke, trading it for the glass of cherries. It’s a weekday night, but the

Chapter ThreeDanielle“I could get used to this view.” Scarlet lowers her sunglasses and winks at Weston, Logan’s oldest brother and Scarlet’s husband.“They do look good,” I agree, stretching my legs out in front of me. We’re lying out by the pool at Logan’s parents’ house, watching all the Dawson brothers help put in a new patio. Sweat drips down Logan’s chest, glistening in the sun. I grab my lemonade and take a big sip. I almost kissed Logan last night and watching him move heavy cement pavers is doing bad things to my head.And even worse things to my body.It’s a hot summer day, but the heat coming off of Logan is no comparison to the noon sun in the middle of June.“I’m related to them all,” Quinn says, shaking her head. “Now I know how Dean feels when Archer and I joke about hooking up.”“Oh, honey.” Scarlet pushes her sunglasses back up onto her nose. “You do not joke.”Quinn flushes a bit but laughs. “It is fun to watch Dean recoil in disgust.” A cry comes through the baby

Chapter FiveLogan“Hey.” Danielle takes her purse off her shoulder as she walks through the back door of the bar. We’re getting ready to open, and she just got here for her shift. The heavy door closes with a whoosh behind her, sending her hair flying around her face. She reaches up to tame it, and the light yellow fabric of her sundress stretches up over her breasts. She’s not wearing a bra, and I can see the faint outline of her nipple through the fabric.I swallow hard, talk down my dick, and look away.“Hey,” I say back. “You look nice.”“Thanks. I’d say the same to you, but I don’t want to lie.” She flashes a grin and walks past me and into the office to put her purse away. I readjust the heavy box of booze I’m carrying, trying—and failing—to keep my thoughts PG.“You look nice?” Owen stands in the threshold of the kitchen, shaking his head. “At this point, I don’t think you even want out of the friendzone.”Ignoring him, I breeze right past and set the box down on the counter n

Chapter SevenDanielleI stick my fork into the cake and rest my head against the kitchen cabinet. I trade the fork for a bottle of wine and take a big gulp. I need it to wash down the taste of carrot cake. Normally, I steer clear of this stuff, but it was the only cake Walmart had in their bakery at one AM.Feeling sick from all the cream cheese frosting, I close the cake box, wipe my eyes, and push myself up off the kitchen floor. I drop my fork in the sink, take the wine, and go out onto the back porch, wanting the quiet of the night to open up and swallow me whole.Sundance is looking out his Dutch door, head hanging low and his lips slack. He’s nearly asleep, but he perks up and nickers softly when he sees me. I chug another mouthful of wine, grab a pair of flip-flops, and walk through the damp grass to the corral. I spill a bit of the wine when I climb through the wooden fence, and Sundance tries to lick it off my arm when I get to his stall.“I’ve made a mess of things again,”

Chapter NineLogan“So you’re telling me that I’m going to be down two bartenders?” Owen looks up from the plate of leftovers he brought home from Mom and Dad’s.I stare at him for a good few seconds. “That’s all you’re taking away from this?”He shrugs. “Yeah. Now I have to work.”“Wow. What a crazy concept to work when you’re at work.” I take a seat at the kitchen table and pull a roll off Owen’s plate. The fucker ate the rest while I was at work. “You did hear me, right?”“Of course I heard you.” Owen sits back, looking right at me. “You know I love you,” he starts. “And I know you’re in love with Danielle, even if you’re not willing to admit it to anyone.”“I’m not—”“Lie to yourself all you want.” Owen picks up his fork. “But it’s useless lying to me. I’m the better version of you, remember? I know everything.”I let out a slow breath and go to the fridge to get the second plate Mom sent over. Well, that’s if Owen didn’t eat it too. This is one of the rare occurrences where Owen