Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Instead, I casually lifted a hand as Lori and her husband circled the drive and pulled away.
“I’m gonna start the grill,” Scout stated. He was the only one who didn’t feel the awkwardness of the moment.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Wyatt said, relaxing his outrageous reactions. “Bryce, Gray, we met Mace in town. His family owns a bar that’s been here for a hundred and seventy or eighty years.”
Mace nodded, otherwise, staying quiet as he followed Wyatt inside.
“Wyatt’s baiting you?” Bryce said as the two of us took up the rear, slower returning to the house.
“Yeah, but I claimed him,” I said possessively, locking the door behind me once inside.
When I started back to the kitchen, Bryce blocked my path. “You know, this is how it starts. I see it in you. I tried to get her out of my head, but she didn’t budge. She didn’t even pursue me. I couldn’t help but do everything to lock her in.”
“All I’m thinking about is having some sex and company while I’m here,” I said. Bryce was trying to help me keep Mace in his mental place in my life. Before Bryce responded, Wyatt came back into the living room, locking a hand on both our shoulders.
“Dude, he’s hot. Isn’t he?” Wyatt said, first to Bryce then waggling his eyebrows at me.
Tool.
“You’re playing with fire, Wyatt,” Bryce said, moving out from under Wyatt’s hold, opening the view of Gray, Scout, and Mace in the kitchen, staring at us.
“We know how to act properly, Mace,” I tried to excuse our bizarre behavior. “Bryce, raise your hand. He has a baby on the way. Scout, you next.” I waved a hand in his direction to get him to comply. “He’s the chef and career military.” As I spoke, I gradually made my way back into the kitchen. “Gray, raise your hand. What to say about him…” I sidestepped Mace, because he took a giant step backward as I came forward, and headed to the refrigerator. I grabbed Wyatt’s Heineken and twisted the top off before handing it to Mace. “He probably does bite. Be forewarned.”
“He’s not wrong,” Gray said sarcastically. Mace’s grin was bright and full. Finally.
“I’m Slade. And no one else here matters. You can ignore them.” I sent the bottle cap flying to the trash can.
“This is Mace,” Wyatt said. “The front of his bar is a café and saloon. The back is a liquor store that took some time to find this morning.”
“Did it?” Mace asked, lifting the bottle to his lips. The way they pursed fascinated me. Plump and full, while he took a long swig.
“Not so long,” I answered, my hip resting against the island, lost to watching his Adam’s apple bobble as he swallowed.
“Wyatt acted an ass,” Scout said, coming through a side kitchen door, gathering a stacked tray with raw steaks, spices, grilling tools, and his can of beer.
“I was outgoin’ and charmin’,” Wyatt corrected defensively. Which gathered all the pffts and eye rolls from the room. They knew what Wyatt was about.
“The baked potatoes are almost ready. Grab the foil, Willis, and come outside. The steaks go on soon.” Scout’s presence had stolen the room, and he was off again. The rest of the guys following.
“Can I make a bathroom run?” Mace asked. In another pretty impressive move, he tilted the bottle to his lips, and I watched him drain the beer in continuous gulps. He was still skittish as hell, not making eye contact with anyone, especially me. I had hoped the familiarity with the guys might have relieved that tension.
“Sure. Bathroom’s down the hall.” I pointed directly behind Mace.
As silly as this felt, I tried for no sudden moves. I took the path around the kitchen island, down the hall toward the bathroom. When I was certain Mace followed, I counted off the doors, trying to remember which one was the guest bathroom. “Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve been here. I think it’s this one.” On the first try, I pushed open the correct door, reaching in to flip the light switch on. “Hey, I got it right.”
“We always wondered about the person who bought all this land,” Mace said, waiting for me to move out of the doorway, no matter how badly I wished he’d squeeze past me.
“Yeah, a friend sent me the listing. It took me about ten seconds to hit send on an email offer. There should be everything you need if your sister did her job.”
“Well, that’s questionable then,” Mace said, going inside the small room, grasping onto the side of the door and shutting it.
“We’ll be on the patio when you’re finished. The door’s in the kitchen.” I waited for a response; there wasn’t one. With my chin tucked to my chest, I stared at the design in the hardwood floors, glad that Mace was here with me, even if it was awkward as hell.