Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
He seems agitated, so I place my hand on his arm to soothe his ruffled feathers. “It’s fine.” I drop my hand and turn to address Archer. “I was married, recently divorced.” I don’t bother telling them we got the official notice this week.
“Damn, Kennedy. I’m sorry. He’s an idiot, though,” Archer replies.
I smile. “Thank you. Our marriage was over a long time ago. To be honest, I’m no longer sure we should have even gotten married in the first place. We were good friends, and then we were more, and now we’re divorced.”
“Well, that clears things up. You’re drinking with us tonight.” I turn at the sound of the new voice and see a woman about my age walking toward us. She stops when she reaches me and offers me her hand. “I’m Ramsey, best friend to the bride and cousin to these lugs.” She points at Declan and Archer.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kennedy. My grandma Maureen is neighbors with their mom.”
“Aunt Carol told me you might be here tonight. And from that end of that story, I just heard you could use a night out.”
“I’m actually just here to unlock the building and lock up when you leave.”
“Nope. You’re officially invited to join us.”
“Hey,” Archer speaks up. “What if I was going to invite her to hang out with us?”
“Archer.” Declan’s voice is a low warning that does nothing but elicit a laugh from his brother.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. Besides, Palmer is preggers, so she can’t drink. We need someone to help us consume all the alcohol that’s currently in the back seat of my car.”
“Babe, I think you went overboard,” another delicious-looking man calls from the open doorway.
What in the hell are they feeding these men in Willow River? I watch as he walks toward Ramsey. His arms are loaded down with reusable shopping bags, but when he bends his head, she meets him in a soft kiss.
“Thank you.”
The way he looks at her… no man has ever looked at me that way. Lyle and I dated for a year, were friends before that, and married for four, and not once at any time during our history together did he ever look at me like I was his entire world.
I want that.
I want to be someone’s world.
I want to be someone’s number one.
I don’t know what my future holds, but I do know that I’ll never settle for less ever again.
CHAPTER
FOUR
Declan
I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s watching Deacon and Ramsey as if they are the greatest things she’s ever seen. I feel an elbow in my side, and I silently grunt before turning my glare on my little brother. He smirks, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
“Where do you want this?” Deacon asks Ramsey.
“Kennedy?” Ramsey defers the question.
“The refrigerator is ready for drinks, and the caterer is going to set the food up there on the tables along the wall.” She points to where she’s talking about.
“This is all alcohol,” Deacon tells her.
“Right.” Kennedy stands, and Deacon follows her to the refrigerator.
“She’s cute, huh?” Ramsey asks.
I look down at my little cousin, who, in the last few years, has been more of a sister to my brothers and me. “Yep.” I know what she’s trying to do, and it’s not going to work. I keep my expression neutral.
“I think I’ll ask her out,” Archer says.
He takes a step forward, but my arm juts out, and I slap him in the chest, halting further movement. “No.” So much for staying neutral. If anyone asks her out, it’s going to be me.
“What do you mean no? She’s single. I’m single, and we’re both hot as fuck. I don’t see the issue,” Archer says. He takes another step, but my arm holds him back.
“Not happening.”
“What’s not happening?” Deacon asks.
My head whips around to see that he’s not alone. Kennedy stands next to him. Her eyes volley between my arm holding my little brother back and my face. “Archer’s just being an ass,” I mutter.
“I’m going to run to the kitchen and grab a couple of freezer buckets and fill them with ice,” Kennedy tells us. She holds up her phone. “Grandma said they’re in the storage closet.”
“I’ll” Archer starts, but I’m quick to talk over him.
“I’ll help.” I drop my arm, glare at my brother, and motion for Kennedy to lead the way. I hear Archer cackling with laughter behind me, but I ignore him. I have no doubt Ramsey is also sporting a wide grin. I love my family. We’re all close, and at times like this, it’s a curse. They know me, sometimes better than I think I know myself. I can’t hide my interest in Kennedy from them no matter how hard I try.
“You okay?” Kennedy asks once we’re out of earshot.