Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Could I bring a date?” Blue asks, surprising both of us.
I glance up at him, but his calm, steady gaze is fixed on my brother, giving nothing away.
“Um, sure, yeah,” Bay says, rallying quickly. “Of course. I didn’t know you were seeing anyone. Sorry, man.” He exhales. “Guess I’ve been more out of it than I thought. Had no idea you had a girlfriend or that my sister was pregnant.”
“That’s not your fault,” I assure him, glad that he seems more chill about my big “surprise” than he did yesterday on FaceTime when he first found out. But Baylor always does better with emotions after he’s had some time to process. “I was keeping things very private.”
“And I don’t have a girlfriend,” Blue adds, focused, still locked on Bay. “Yet.”
“Yet, huh?” A slow grin spreads across Baylor’s face as he slaps Blue on the arm. “Good for you, man. That’s what I like to hear. Glad you’re seeing someone. It’s past time you got back out there.” He glances my way, adding with a meaningful lift of his brows, “Especially if he has a bunch of women thirsty for his grunts. Someone has to lock him down and protect him from the horny fans.”
“I don’t need protection,” Blue says. “But I will take two tickets to the benefit. It sounds like a good time.”
Baylor nods. “Awesome. I’ll tell Charlotte.” He collects his duffel bag from beside the entry table, turning back to us as he reaches for the door. “Tell Clover I stopped by, and that Charlotte and I are on board to help out, too, okay? We know this is going to be a long process, and she’s going to need all her people to pull together to help her through.”
“Thank you, I will,” I say, my chest filling with gratitude. “That will mean so much to her. I know it does to me. Thanks for being such a great big brother.”
Tucking a crutch under my arm, I reach out, pulling him into an awkward, one-sided hug.
He kisses the top of my head. “Of course, dude. You know I’m always here. And I’m ready to step up as an uncle, too.” He pulls back, fixing me with a more pointed look. “Starting with being there when you tell Mom and Dad if you want. You’ve gotten lucky so far, but sooner or later, the news that you were in a car accident is going to spread outside of Louisiana. You don’t want them finding out about the accident—or the baby—like that.”
“I know. You’re right.” I nod, some of the simmer fading from my blood at the thought of spilling the beans about Bean to my parents. I’m not looking forward to that. At all. But it has to be done, the sooner the better. “I’ll try to set something up with them tomorrow,” I promise as Baylor reaches for the door again, “and let you know if I think I need backup.”
“Sounds good,” he says. “Charlotte and I are just hanging out at the house tomorrow, having a lazy Monday. So, I can come over here, or you can swing by our place anytime. Whatever.”
“Okay, thanks,” I say, though I have zero intention of swinging by “anytime.”
He and Charlotte aren’t married yet, but they already suffer from newlywed syndrome. Dropping by their place unannounced is a good way to end up stumbling upon my brother and his fiancée naked and up to no good in their vegetable garden. Well, no good from a little sister’s perspective. Charlotte clearly enjoys all the very bad things she and Baylor get up to together.
Against my will, my gaze slides Blue’s way, my thoughts returning to all the bad things I want to do to him.
“Later, man,” Baylor says, clasping Blue’s hand. “Good luck on that air mattress. Saw it on my way to the john. Maybe half of you is going to fit on that, if you’re lucky. I’ll bring my king-sized one for you if I can find it. For a guy your size, a full isn’t a long-term solution.”
“I’ll be fine,” Blue assures him. “Drive safe.”
“Will do.” Baylor lifts a hand my way again.
I wave.
He starts down the hall…
Blue closes the door…
And finally…
Finally…
I’m on him in seconds, tossing my crutches to the floor as I twine my arms around his neck.
“Torture,” I breathe as he lifts me into the air, guiding my legs around his hips. “That was torture.”
He groans in agreement as his tongue strokes into my mouth. He tastes like oregano, a hint of garlic, and that salty, clean Blue taste that I can’t fucking get enough of. He tastes like unspoiled wilderness, clean desert air and a hint of something earthy and fresh that I can’t quite—
“Aloe,” I murmur against his lips as he carries me down the hall, his big hands cradling my ass like a treasure.