Chapter Eleven
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Dizzy was simply being kind. Easton was well aware that he was uptight, especially compared to his free and easy older twin. Despite running a ranch the size of a small country Noah rarely showed any stress whatsoever, making everything he did look easy.
“You don’t have to say that.”
Frowning, she slapped her water bottle onto the end table. “I’m not just saying it. You’re fine the way you are. Don’t let your brothers and cousins make you think that you have to change. Anyone that truly cares for you will accept you as you are.”
“Warts and all,” Easton added with a grin. “You forgot that part.”
“Since when do you have an ego problem? Normally you’re cock of the walk, sure of yourself. Even when you should question your judgment, you usually don’t.”
“Shit, that kind of hurts. Even when I should question myself? I hope that doesn’t happen often.” From the expression on her face he could tell she was thinking about Friday night. He could have handled the entire situation a hell of a lot better. “I apologized for that.”
“You did and I didn’t say a word.”
“You didn’t have to. You’re like my mom—every thought she has is right out there for everyone to see. Don’t take up poker for a living, sweetheart.”
The endearment had slipped out before he could help it but then he remembered calling her something like that when she’d been younger.
“Your mother is a wise and wonderful woman.”
Easton would never disagree but he found he liked jousting with Dizzy. She was fun and he’d had little of that lately. Plus, he hoped that perhaps he was getting her mind off of her own issues and problems.
“That wise woman named me Easton at the same time her sister-in-law was naming her son Westin. They thought it was cute. Even your parents wouldn’t have done something like that.”
Dizzy was openly laughing at him now. “Wow, even my parents? That’s a hell of a thing to say. I guess Tami and Louis do march to their own drummer, so to speak. But let’s remember that my name is Desiree Anastasia. I’m not quite ready to forgive them for that either, so I feel your pain.”
He couldn’t ever remember anyone calling Dizzy by her real name but he had to admit that she would understand his predicament.
“It’s a pretty name,” he said. “It…suits you.”
A flush crawled up her cheeks making her look even more fetching than she already did in her cutoff jean shorts and plain white blouse. The shorts showed off shapely tan legs and the blouse was unbuttoned just far enough that he could catch a glimpse of her bathing suit top and the curve of a breast, full and ripe. They’d just fit his hands…
Stop. Just stop. This is Dizzy.
“It’s a ridiculous name but I guess Dizzy is as well. I bet you think that suits me even better.”
It was Easton’s turn to be embarrassed. “I don’t think that at all.”
“I know what everyone thinks about me, so please don’t pretend.”
It didn’t appear to bother her though, and for that he admired her. Dizzy had always lived her life to please herself and no one else. Maybe that was what he should work on instead of trying to be a little more relaxed. Not that either of them came naturally.
He wanted to say this delicately and find the exact right words. “I think it’s great that you don’t put too much stock in what other people think about you. You do whatever you want to do.”
Giggling, Dizzy slapped a hand over her mouth. “Even if what I want to do is strange or weird?”
“Even then.”
She tilted her head and studied him for a moment. “And just what do they say about me behind my back? That I howl at the full moon? That I cast spells over the neighbors? Wait…how about that I can read people’s minds? I wish I could do that.”
“No, you don’t,” Easton replied immediately. “Didn’t you ever see that movie? You definitely don’t want to know what others are thinking. I sure as hell wouldn’t, especially as most everyone thinks I’m a pain in the ass. And no one thinks you howl at the moon. They might think that you hold séances and talk to the dead, though.”
Dizzy’s brows pinched together. “Séances? Why would they think that?”
A grin spread across Easton’s face. “Because I told them?”
She slapped his arm, her eyes wide with surprise. “Easton Anderson, you did not.”
“I didn’t.” He shrugged but still enjoyed her look of outrage. “I think people just say that you like all the New Age-y stuff like crystals, meditation, yoga.”
“Yoga is not new,” Dizzy protested. “It’s thousands of years old. So is meditation and Eastern medicine. Yoga would help solve that kink in your back. You should try it.”
His hand automatically went to his lower back right above the left hip. “How did you know? Did Leann mention it?”
“I could tell by the way you favor it when you sit down and stand up. Yoga would make you feel better. Sitting all day long is slowly killing you.”
“That’s a cheery thought.”
Standing, she took their water bottles into the kitchen and tossed them into the trash. His gaze followed her graceful movements and then lingered on her breasts, pressing against the worn cotton fabric of her blouse. Easton was definitely a boob-man and he’d never noticed Dizzy’s before, but now he had to wipe his chin from drooling. He had to concentrate to follow what she was saying when all he wanted to do was explore her bared body.
Focus, man. You’re losing it.
“I could show you a few yoga poses that aren’t too difficult. You could do them in the privacy of your own home. No one would ever know,” she teased, casually leaning a hip against the countertop that separated the two rooms. “Your secret is safe with me. And after all, you’re supposed to be trying to loosen up, right? What better way to shut up your brothers than to tell them you’ve taken up yoga?”
She had a point, although knowing his brothers they’d just give him shit about doing yoga instead. But it was out of his comfort zone…
And damn, he could still hear Carter’s voice in his ear declaring that if Easton didn’t ask Dizzy out he was going to.
Fuck that.
And Easton kind of wanted another reason to see Dizzy, although he was having a hard time admitting that to himself. This attraction was becoming a nuisance but asking her out might just be the answer. He hadn’t met too many women that he liked more after spending time with them.
Taking a deep breath, he plunged in to the treacherous waters. This was a terrible idea.
“I’d like that but I do need to get back to the office now. How about I pick you up for dinner later and then you can show me afterward?”
There. He’d done it. He’d asked her out. A pool of sweat had formed on the back of his neck as he waited for her answer. Did she realize what he’d just done? This was a huge shift in their relationship. Seismic. If she said yes, nothing would be the same again.
What the hell have I done?
Stop being so dramatic. When did I become like this?
“We could do that,” Dizzy answered slowly, her gaze never leaving his. Her light brown eyes were soft but didn’t betray what she might be thinking inside. Maybe she could play poker after all. “What time should I be ready?”
Ready. What a funny word. He’d never be ready to take her on a date but he also couldn’t ignore this growing…fascination. Within just a few days she’d turned his world upside down. He was going out on a date with Dizzy Foster and he was going to do yoga. At this point, anything could happen. He might just quit his job, join a motorcycle club, and see the world on the back of a Harley.
That was just as likely as dating Dizzy and yet here he was. Acting completely out of character. This was what happened when he left his office. He was safer at work, safer in an environment he controlled.
Because one thing was for sure…no one could control Dizzy Foster, least of all Easton.