Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Doubard stood taller, his eyes filling with anger, but that glare was for Brandi. “What did you say?”
“Nothing,” she clipped out, giving Brett a chilling look.
“No,” Doubard barked.
I jumped, but Brett held me still.
Jake went to Emma’s side, and Olvander stood next to Kayla, his hand on her hip.
Brandi gasped, then shrank back in her seat.
He rounded the table, coming to her seat. “I told you to leave her alone. I told you tonight was important.” He took her purse, her phone, and he stepped back. “We’re leaving.”
“But—” she gaped, the blood draining from her face, before she looked around the group.
Everyone was watching.
“Colby, come on—”
“No.” He held his beer out to Jake Bilson, who took it without a word, and Colby raked a hand through his hair. “I’m so sorry, everyone.”
“You don’t apologize—”
He ignored Brandi as she shoved to her feet. He finished, speaking over her, “—we will be leaving.” He fixed her with a glare. “Let’s go.”
She didn’t move. The two were in a heated stand-off.
Colby only raised one eyebrow, another kind of warning flashing in his gaze, before she broke. Muttering curses, she reached for her things, but he held them out of her reach, looking over her head again. “I’m so sorry again.” His gaze fell to me for a moment, and he winced, before giving Brett a stiff nod.
Brett returned the motion.
The tension in the room lifted, almost dramatically, but Brandi was still trying to grab for her purse and phone. “Give me my things, Colby. Or I swear—”
His gaze fell to her, and that same warning flared again. “Finish that statement and we’re over.”
She pressed her lips together, a frustrated snarl slipping out.
His eyes held firm and narrowed, that threat not lessening, until she gave in.
The fight left her, and she warmed, pressing up against him. “Honey, what was it I said? I just wanted to get to know her. That’s all.”
He barely controlled his eyes from flicking up, but his hand lowered. He shared a last look with Stone before striding out of the backyard. Brandi was right on his heels.
Brett’s hand stroked over my back.
That trickle of awareness that had been waiting spread to my front, and it turned into an excited flutter. And that began to warm me all over, including moving between my legs, where I began to ache.
A brief moment of silence followed in their wake, one that I paid no attention to, until Dusty cleared her throat. “Well, then. I now need a drink, and since I’m not pregnant, I intend to get drunk. Husband?”
Stone tilted his head towards her. “Wife?”
“You got baby duty tonight.”
He chuckled, a promise of something else there that rang between the two, something loving, but also something exciting. “Sure, Dust. No problem.”
She tipped her head back, a deep laugh coming from her. “I know what that means, but you’re not deterring me. I’m drinking.” Her eyes found me, sobering. “I’m so sorry for everything Brandi said. She,” she winced. “It’s her way with people. She thinks she’s charming when she takes some of the darkest moments in your life and chucks them back at you as if they don’t matter. I know I shouldn’t say this, but I cannot wait until Colby moves on to the next girl.”
“Dusty.” Emma also stood. “I’ve decided that I’m also drinking.” She said to Jake, “You also have dad duty tonight.”
He grinned at her as she passed by him, her hand touching his chest as she followed Dusty to the bar. “I’ll take dad duty any day if it means you’re letting loose.”
She tipped her head back, a very sensual and confident chuckle trailed out.
Brett slipped into the seat Brandi vacated, his arm resting over the back of my chair. He turned into me, blocking everyone else out. His eyes were heavy on me, making that ache start its own drumbeat. “You okay?”
Silent, I nodded.
His eyes darkened. “You need to go?”
Silent, I nodded again. That ache was growing.
His hand moved to my leg, sliding to the inside of my thigh, and held there.
We were both transfixed by the other.
My chest started rising and lowering, the need for him rising up, overwhelming me. I didn’t understand it. I couldn’t explain it. But it was there and I was feeling it, and Brett had picked that up.
His eyes fell to my mouth. I licked my lips. Slowly.
A deep guttural groan escaped him.
I was really hoping no one was paying attention to us. I had that fleeting thought before my leg twitched, closing Brett’s hand between my legs, and that was enough.
Brett shoved back his chair, grabbing my hand. “We gotta go.”
“But—what?”
I had no idea who said that.
We were fast heading out. I was trailing behind Brett just as Dusty and Emma were coming back with their drinks. I noted the margaritas and gave them both a thumbs-up. “Those look delicious.”