Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I shrug. “I won’t. You can place any kind of ridiculous stunt on me for breaking my word that you want. It doesn’t matter because it’s not going to happen tonight.” I make sure I add that on there because I don’t know what tomorrow will hold.
I also know that it’s going to be hard as hell to lie next to her and not be buried balls deep inside her, but I gave her my word, and a man has nothing if he doesn’t have his word. I fight a grin. My dad would be proud of that last thought.
“Fine. I’ll come home with you. Now, give us ladies a show.”
I smirk down at her as I lift my arms and flex. Whoops and hollers from our table greet me, and even a few not at our table. Willow River is a small town, and I know everyone here. They all know I’m not one to show off unless there’s a gorgeous redhead taunting me to do so.
Scarlett licks her lips before turning to my sisters-in-law. “I need a drink.”
The ladies agree, and before I know it, the bartender on staff tonight is bringing shots to the table for the ladies. Crosby and Ramsey pour orange juice into shot glasses so that the ladies can all toast together. That shot sets the tone for the rest of the night.
I sit at the table with my brothers, Deacon, and Heath, as we watch the ladies dancing and drinking. At first, I tried not to be obvious about watching Scarlett, but I should have known that eventually, one of my brothers was going to bring up the kiss.
“So, Popeye?” Rushton asks.
I shake my head. “Some ridiculous name she came up with because of the size of my biceps. She actually asked me if I ate a lot of spinach.” Of course, she was kidding, but that shit’s still funny.
“You too seem… close,” Orrin says.
“We met at the wedding.” It’s not a lie, but not the complete truth either. I don’t know why I don’t just spill the beans. We all know I will, well, not the intimate details, but as brothers, we don’t really keep secrets. Brooks tried, and we still found out about him and Palmer. It worked out for them. Scarlett, she’s not sticking around, so their meddling and the meddling of their wives is unnecessary.
“Bro, come on, that was not a first kiss.” Sterling gives me a pointed look.
“Since when do we kiss and tell?” I ask him.
“We don’t if it’s a forever kind of thing.”
“Scarlett is a free spirit. Wild. She’s not about to get tied to a small town like Willow River.” She’s told me enough that she’s not staying so I know it to be true. We’re just having fun. That’s all this is.
“So there is something there?” Brooks prompts.
“We’ve hung out a couple of times.”
“Be careful, Arch. She’s not sticking around.” Ryder’s voice holds a touch of sadness.
I wish we knew why Jordyn left. Even more so, I wish my brother wasn’t hanging in limbo, waiting on the woman he gave his heart to to come back to Georgia. He’s hurting. He misses her, and it’s tough to watch. We’ve always been there for each other, quick to help solve issues, but this one, it’s not something we can help with. Ryder and Jordyn will have to figure it out on their own. I just hope that she comes home, and they can either work things out or get the closure that I know he needs.
“Just hanging out, Ry,” I tell him.
“So, that wasn’t your first kiss?” Declan inquires.
“Nope.”
“And that possessive hold you had on her?” Heath, Piper’s husband, asks.
“You were seeing things.”
“Nah,” Maverick says. “We’re all seeing fine. It’s you who’s not seeing things clearly.”
I turn to my little brother and glare at him. He just shrugs.
“Mav’s right,” Merrick adds. “We all saw not only the hold you had on her but the look in your eyes. Never seen you look at a woman like that.”
“Ramsey said she signed a one-year contract to work for Palmer and then plans to leave,” Deacon says.
I raise a curious brow, and he laughs. “I listen when my wife talks.”
“She’ll be here a little less than a year. Nine months or so, I guess now.”
They don’t tell me to be careful. They don’t have to. Ryder is the only one who speaks about it, but I know the others are thinking about it. The Kincaid men don’t fall often, but when we do, we fall hard. I know this about the men in my family, but I’ve got this on lockdown. Two consenting adults enjoying each other’s company.
Will I miss her when she’s gone? Yeah, I’m sure I will. She’s a cool chick. Gorgeous and unlike anyone I’ve ever met. Will my heart be broken? Not likely. I understand their concern. “I’ve got this,” I tell them. “This is no different than anyone else I’ve hung out with.”