Under the Dusty Sky (Holloway Farms)

hand without my brothers, or Daddy, around. But this guy is hot, and I want a reason to touch him and see if he feels the way I imagine he does.
    “ Bentley McKinna.” He shakes my hand. Hard and calloused. He’s a working guy, which is the best kind.
    “ Like the car?” I feel stupid for saying it, but Bentley laughs. His teeth are unnaturally straight and white as fresh milk.
    “ Never heard that one before.” He’s mocking me.
    He is like the car. Hard and smooth and sexy…
    Seriously, Graceland.
    I’m staring again.
    I paste on my best smile and run my hand through my hair, messing it up and tossing it to the side. At school, the hair toss gets me pretty much whatever I want. I don’t know why guys like long hair so much, but it works.
    “ So why are you hangin’ out in my stable?” I smile wider and jut my hip out, forgetting I’m wearing mom jeans.
    “ I hiked out here.” He shrugs.
    “ Why? It’s like twenty-five miles to town.”
    “ No, I hitchhiked out here from halfway across the country. I’m supposed to start work for your father next week. Just wanted to see some of the countryside. Guess I’m early, huh?”
    I don’t get a chance to reply, but I’m not sure I can. Hitchhiked? Who does that?
    Bentley turns and moves back around the barn, returning with a duffel over his shoulder. He looks like one of those guys in World War II movies who are always dirty but still manage to be insanely gorgeous.
    And this gorgeous hitchhiker is going to be living in my backyard for the summer.
    Maybe this summer won’t be as bad as I thought.
    “ I can give you a ride to the house.” I point at the quad and Bentley looks around me.
    “ My bag?” he asks.
    “ Sit on it.”
    I hope he’s watching as I turn and swing my hips on my way back to the quad. If Hunter were here, he’d slap my head and tell me my actions are insinuating things far beyond my age and experience. I don’t even know what that means. But he says it a lot.
    All I know is Bentley’s hot, and I want to have fun with him. No harm in that.
    I look back at him, throwing my hair over my shoulder again.
    “ Are you coming?”
    Bentley has a smirk on his face, but his eyebrows are pulled low over his eyes. He’s thinking.
    “ How about I drive?” He tosses his bag on the back rack.
    I laugh.
    “ How ‘bout you just get on?”
    He climbs behind me and leans back, holding the rack. I take one more quick glance over my shoulder at him and gun the engine.
    I stand up out of habit, but I know my butt is right at his eye level.
    Insinuate my ass.

CHAPTER 2
    Graceland
    As I pull into the yard, our family dog, Rasp, comes bounding up the drive, barking like crazy with his crackly voice. He was attacked by a coyote as a pup. Almost had his throat torn out. Hence the name Rasp.
    “ He don’t like strangers.” I warn Bentley and then clamp my mouth shut. I can’t believe I just said that. Can I sound any more country?
    “ Rasp, down!” I turn my attention back to my dog, and push him gently with my boot while slowly guiding the quad into its parking spot.
    Bentley smiles. “I’m great with dogs.”
    “ You don’t know Rasp–”
    My mouth drops open when Rasp scurries up to the machine and plants his golden butt in the dirt right in front of Bentley. His tail thumping in the dirt, and his nose is frantically sniffing the air.
    Bentley leans over and scratches Rasp’s ear. He lets out one small growl before easing into Bentley’s touch. Bentley turns his head and makes this I-told-you-so face.
    “ Not to brag, but I’m better than that guy on TV.” He winks at me and hops off the quad. It’s a friendly gesture, and my heart falls. I’m the little sister already, which is not what I’ve been planning the whole ride home.
    The screen door slams, and I jump to face my father. His normally goofy and cheerful face is set in the look that means trouble. The twins are on the porch grinning. Those asshats love it when Dad’s mad at me because it’s rare.
    “ Graceland Marie Holloway. I do not work my ass off day and night to buy toys that you think you can just joyride on.” His voice booms as it’s caught up in the breeze and carried away into the wide open landscape. I know I’m in trouble, but while Daddy might scare everyone else, he doesn’t scare me. His hard gaze lands on Bentley, and everything changes.
    A smile spreads across his broad face. My dad’s built like a football player. And not the little ones