Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“I have no idea, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to need another drink after this one.” I hold my glass up between us.
“Drink up, girl. I’ve got you.”
We both take a seat at the bar and finish our drinks. I don’t order another, but instead, I get a water. I’m already tipsy and will do myself no favors if I’m drunk when Bax and Liam arrive.
Less than thirty minutes later, Bax shows up, and I spot him before he sees me since I’ve been keeping a close eye on the door. I watch him scan the room, looking every bit like he belongs in Nashville. He’s wearing a gray thermal under a plaid flannel, the sleeves of both pushed up his forearms, showing off his tattoos, washed-out blue jeans, and boots on his feet, with a ball cap on.
When his eyes collide with mine across the room, my stomach fills with butterflies. Even though we’ve spent a little time together since Rebecca came into town, that time has been limited, with both of us working yesterday and him wanting me to have quality time with my friend.
He closes the distance between us, and as soon as he’s close, I slide off my stool, and he wraps me in his arms, pressing his lips to the top of my head. My entire being relaxes, and all the anxiety I was feeling melts away as I sink into his embrace.
“You okay?” he asks, touching his fingers to my chin and forcing my gaze up to his.
“Yeah, he hasn’t shown up, so maybe he’s not coming.”
“He’ll be here,” he mutters, leaning down and touching his mouth to mine and his tongue to my bottom lip. When he pulls back, my lashes flutter open, and I find his eyes on my mouth. “You taste sweet. What are you drinking?”
“Lemon drop martinis.” I feel his thumb brush across my bottom lip, and my insides twist into a tight knot.
“You two are sickeningly cute,” Rebecca says behind me, breaking into the moment, and I watch Bax’s lips turn up ever so slightly before I spin to smile at her.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I love this for you.” She waves a hand between Bax and me, and then her eyes go past me and fill with concern.
I don’t even have to look to know that Liam has arrived. I feel the energy shift and get heavy with tension while the man still holding me lets me go, only to wrap his arm around my back and grasp my hip tightly as he turns us.
When I lock eyes with my brother, who is looking between Bax and me, and see how angry he is, I move to put myself between the two of them. But I don’t get very far before I’m pulled back, and Bax’s big, wide shoulders are all I can see.
“You better lock your shit down before you come any closer,” Bax bites out, moving his hand to keep me from stepping around him again, effectively blocking me in with the barstool on the opposite side of us.
“I want to talk to my sister,” Liam snaps while I try to move around Bax once again.
“Not when you’re pissed and not here,” Bax returns as Rebecca slides off her stool and moves in front of him so I can’t see her.
“I’m not going to hurt her,” Liam says, sounding offended.
“How about we go outside and take a walk?” I hear Rebecca suggest.
I can’t hear what Liam says or see his response, but a moment later, Bax’s body seems to deflate, and he reaches back for me and pulls me around to his side. I look over to where Liam was standing, seeing he’s no longer there, but I catch a glimpse of him as he heads toward the door of the bar.
“I’m going to go with your brother.”
I look over at Rebecca, who is grabbing her bag from the bar counter, and start to shake my head.
“He just needs to cool down. I’ll call you and see where you guys are in a bit,” she assures.
“Reb—”
“It’s fine.” She stops in front of me and gives me a quick hug. “I’ll call you.”
Before I can say anything else, she turns on her heels and walks away from Bax and me, disappearing into the crowd that is now standing near the door to the bar.
Great. I let out a breath. So much for keeping her and my brother apart.
I look up at Bax and find his jaw still hard, so I ask him, “You know Liam would never hurt me, right?”
“I know, but this isn’t the place for him to confront you. If he wants to talk, he can do it tomorrow after he’s had a chance to cool down. Right now, he’s still pissed at me, and I don’t want him taking that out on you.”