Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 94903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
I don’t have to look at Chase to know he’s grinning.
His foot taps the top of mine before he slides it back and sits up again.
“Well, now that both of you are against me …” She sighs and looks at the door. “Hey! There’s Uncle Luke.”
Our attention turns to a younger version of Chase and Gavin walking to the table.
Luke is a touch shorter and thinner than Chase but carries the same playfulness I associate with Gavin. His hair is styled to the side. His legs are clad in denim, and a flannel shirt sets atop a white T-shirt. Is that a gold chain around his neck?
“Fucking great,” Chase mutters just loud enough for me to hear.
“What do you know?” Luke says, sitting beside me like we’re long-lost buddies. “It’s like I saw your truck out there and came in to see what’s happening.”
“What are you doing in Brickfield?” Kennedy asks, clearly smitten with her uncle.
“Well,” he says, narrowing his eyes and earning a giggle from his niece. “You are entirely too young and innocent for me to divulge such things.”
Kennedy makes a show of rolling her eyes.
Luke turns to me and smirks. His chin hosts the same dimple as Chase’s. There’s a hint of mischief in his eyes that I’m familiar with—Gavin has the same one.
“You must be the woman everyone is talking about,” he grins.
“Luke …” Chase warns.
“I am the woman everyone is talking about,” I say, feeling him out. “My name is Megan, and it’s nice to meet you.”
Luke seems impressed. “
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” I tell him.
“Is that so?”
“Yup.”
“It was all good, right?” he asks. “My brothers have a habit of making me look bad because they’re so intimidated by my good looks.”
Chase snorts.
“It was mostly good,” I say. “Gavin talked a little crap, but it wasn’t too bad.”
Luke’s jaw drops. “That bastard.”
Everyone at the table chuckles, and I’m relaxed once again.
“Dad,” Kennedy says. “Can I get a cookie?”
“You just had a milkshake. Do you need more sugar?”
Luke huffs and pulls out his wallet. He takes out a five-dollar bill and hands it over to his niece. “Yes, she needs more sugar. What kind of question is that?”
“Don’t tell Uncle Gav, but you’re my favorite,” Kennedy says.
Luke winks at her. “If he starts pulling on me, let me know. I have to stay ahead.”
Kennedy gives him a thumbs-up and leaves for the ordering counter. As soon as she’s gone, Luke leans in.
“I have news,” he says. “Alyssa isn’t pregnant.”
“You better go buy a fucking box of condoms,” Chase says, shaking his head. “Tell me you learned something from this.”
“I learned something from this.” Then he tilts his head toward me and whispers, “I did not learn anything from this.”
Despite Chase’s unamused stare, I laugh.
“What are you guys doing here, anyway?” Luke asks.
“We came to get me boots because apparently boots are required clothing for Peachwood Falls,” I say.
Luke snorts. “From what I hear, I’d have thought my brother would require no clothing from you.”
“Mind your business,” Chase tells him.
“You’re a bit of a shit starter, aren’t you?” I ask Luke.
“Oh, just a bit. I like to keep everyone on their toes.” He yawns. “I just left Alyssa’s.”
“The woman you thought was pregnant?” I ask.
He nods. “Yup. That’s her. And it took us all night and all morning to decide to take a break. At first, she was pissed at me over a joke. Then I was pissed at her for being pissed at me. Then she thought she was pregnant, so we were both panicking. But now that’s behind us …” He shrugs. “We’ve maxed out my emotional reserve.”
“That’s understandable,” I say.
He waves at Kennedy. “I’m going to get going. I just wanted to come in and give Chase some crap.”
“Gee, thanks,” Chase says.
Luke gets up. “I’ll call you later, Chase. Nice to meet you, Megs. You’re everything Gavin said you were.”
I laugh, mainly at Chase’s reaction. “Well, I hope that’s good.”
“It’s great.” He walks backward toward the door. “Bye.”
“Goodbye, Luke,” Chase says. Then he sighs. “Well, that’s Luke. See? You weren’t missing much.”
I lift my foot until it’s in his lap. His eyes go wide as I rub his crotch.
“I think he’s funny,” I say. “A nice mix of you and Gavin. What about your other brother? Mallet? Is that his name?”
Chase holds my foot against him. His fingers slip beneath my jeans, and he grips my ankle. I don’t know what’s hot about that, but my temperature spikes.
“Mallet’s an asshole most of the time,” he says. “He’s a good guy. I probably like him better than Gavin and Luke. But he’s … always pissed off.”
“Who? Uncle M?” Kennedy sits down with her cookie.
Chase grins, letting go of my leg. “That cookie is as big as your head.”
“I know. And I still have two dollars.”