Southern Charm, Destiny Miller [top novels .txt] 📗

Tyler headed across the hall and into the kitchen.
Following Tylers lead, Colten looked at Cat and said, "Did you know for a Southerner to pick the biggest steak before other gentlemen decide which one they want is against the rules of southern etiquette?" Colten said aloud enough to reach Tyler ears in the Kitchen.
"It's not against the rules when there's no other gentlemen around!" Ty jokingly fired back.
With a small endearing chuckle Sally told Colten he better hurry. When he disappeared into the kitchen she turned around and asked me if I minded steak and potatoes for dinner tonight.
"If you don't mind, I'm really not hungry tonight. I'd just like to go on up, take a shower and head to bed." and no more dodging poison darted questions.
"Are you sure, you feeling OK? You look a little pale."
Aunt Sally was right, Cat looked pretty fragile. Looking more closely at her, I could see that her clothes looked new but pretty rumpled and beneath her eyes, she had light violet shadows.
"I'm alright" Ms.Hale said again in her honey voice. I don't know who she was trying to kid, Sally or herself. "I'm just really tired."
"Well... alright then. Just head up those stairs in the hallway and you can pick any bedroom you like. Just call me if you need anything sweet heart."
"Would it be OK If I pay cash?"
"We can do all that in the morning when your rested up."
Standing up on tired legs I started to walk towards the door but turned around to say good night to Sally, only to catch Conners heated gaze that chased away all the chills and the coldness in my body replacing it with a warm secure feeling. More tired than I thought, I forgot Conner was still in the room, otherwise it would have been near impossible to have forgotten him.
With a slight nod to Conner, I gave Sally a quick goodnight and dashed up stairs, already knowing which bedroom I'd pick- the one Grams and I always used. I can't wait to welcome the oblivious in sleep.
After changing into my PJ'S, I crawled into the queen size bed and wrapped my self in the robin egg blue comforter. The last thought that drifted into my mind before I was dragged into sleep was if I'll get to see Conner again.


Back down stairs Sally whirled around and her once liquid blue eyes froze into cold hard ice cubes that shot ice lances at her nephew.
In public Sally is the Belle of the South, in her charity events she's a general in a floral skirt, in front of family she's the adored monarch with a backbone of steel, her word was a law not to be broken or toyed with.
"When I left that girl into your boys hands I thought you would have made her welcome, instead I came back into this room and she looked like she would rather take her chances with this rain."
"We just asked her a question. That was all."
"Well, what was the question?"
"Just where she's from."
"And?" was said with a no nonsense tone.
"We asked her where shes been. Its not like we asked her social security number for a background check."
"Do not sass me, young man. Did she willingly part with that information, or did you three dragged it out of her?"
"Aunt Sally, you have to admit, a beautiful young woman like her, showing up here alone in a rain storm is a little off." I said trying to convince her in the simple logic of my statement.
For several strained seconds I thought Sally finally understood the boys and mine view about the whole Cat situation, but I was wrong. Aunt Sally didn't see it our point at all because within a bat of a eye she fired off questions after questions, each one asked in a more angrier voice than the question before.
"Did you not see her pale face? Did you not think that she might have been lost and this was the only place she could find? Did you not think she might have came here to get some peace and not get question like a criminal?"
"Aunt Sally just listen to what I'm saying-"
Rolling right over my words she continued with her rant.
"Did you not think at all! You boys should be ashamed. And one more thing, When have you ever been in charge in who can stay here and who cant? Conner Braden this is my

Bed N' Breakfast and my

guests."
Aunt Sally whole body shook more than a rattle snakes warning, but her eyes never once wavered from mine.
I don't think I have ever seen her this angry. Not even the summer when Ty, Colten and I were young and put toads in the toilets through out the house, along with letting a couple of snakes loose. We just wanted to see if the snakes could find the frogs, but things didn't work out like we planned. Their was a convention going on in town, so the house was more crowed than usual. Some of the guests came across the snakes and frogs and ruin the whole experiment. The women were screeching as if the animals were gonna eat them alive, their men tried to calm their wives down while trying to hide their amusement and theirs kids were as crazy as the whole situation. Too put it simple, everything was chaos and putting it mildly, Aunt Sally was pretty upset.
She broke the heavy silence, only saying, 'Bless your little damn hearts Conner,' then turning around sailed right out the door leaving me to my thoughts.
Sitting back down on the love seat I thought over the whole Miss Cat Hale problem. Who names their daughter Cat anways? Is that even her real name? For goodness sake the only thing we know about her is her 'name' and that shes been to New York and Texas. She could be a thief for all we know... a thief that has such beautiful green eyes filled with such much sadness that it tugs at your heart.
Heaving out a sigh, I got up to walk over to the window. Maybe Aunt Sally was right...again. Just because she didn't want to talk about herself doesn't mean she's a bad guy. Hell, even Colten doesn't like talking about himself and I trust him with my life.
Hearing a noise behind me, I turned around hoping it was Cat so I could apologize. Instead seeing it was Tyler and Colten standing in the doorway both looking remorseful, Well Tyler looked remorseful while Colten looked a little guilty.
"We were wrong guys," I told them.
Nodding their heads in agreement, they both went to sit down on the couch.
"I know this is gonna sound kinda weird guys, but I think I remember her from somewhere," Tyler said looking at both Conner and Colten.
"You probably remember her from one of your wet dreams," Colten teased Tyler.
"Hell, your probably right, she gorgeous. Did you see her legs? They freaking went all the way up to her chin."
"Nope, I was to busy looking at those curves. She has more curves than a damn mountain. What do you think Con? What did you like?"
Conner knew he could always rely on these boneheads to drag him out of a pre brood. "Uhuh I'm not gonna talk behind a ladies back, that's ungentlemanly

. I'm heading to bed. Night guys."
"Spoil-sport" one of them muttered while he was heading out the door.
Walking slowly up the stairs he wondered if she would still be here in the morning. If she was I owe her an apology. And while I'm apologizing I could see if she might want to go have breakfast or something.

Chapter Two

Rolling over on my side I looked out the open curtain window. It was a pretty morning with the sun shinning, and a light breeze made the lush green leaves dance on the oak tree outside my window. On one of its branches was a small plump Blue Jay that was singing its heart out; listening to its musical chirping everything felt right in the world.
Snuggling deeper into the covers, I was prepared to doze off but a slight knock at the door had my back stiffening and reality came to chase off that rare peaceful moment.

A childish plan of pretending to still be asleep danced acrossed my mind, taking a quick glance at the alarm clock on the stand next to the bed it read 10:30, too late to be sleeping.

Hearing a slight tap on the door again got me jumping out of bed and moving toward the vanity table. Taking in my reflection I knew I was a lost cause. Apparently from looking at my hair, I cant pull off the sexy just got out of bed look, unfortunately. But at least the shadows under my eyes were a little less noticeable, thanks to a good night sleep.

"Yes?" I asked, picking up a brush on the vanity table.

"It me...Conner."

Shit, "One second Conner."

Out of everyone in this house, it had to be Conner? Of all the people to see me with morning breath, wrinkled Pj's and

hair that looks like a family of rats lived their.

"I just... I was wondering if I can talk to you for a minute" Conner muffled voice said through the door.

Brushing out the last tangle I took a deep calming breath and ignored the urge to take one last look in the mirror knowing it was hopeless to look any better went to open the bedroom door.