“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.
“Yep.” My reply is clipped, and I take a deep breath. I don’t want to be an ass to her.
“You sure?”
I exhale slowly. “Yeah, just been a long day.” That has to be the reason I’m being so territorial over her. She’s in town to help her grandmother, and she’s recently divorced. She doesn’t need Archer sniffing around.
“I think this is it.” She stops in front of a door. I watch as she enters the code into the keyless lock. It beeps and the small light flashes green. Pushing open the door, she hesitantly takes a step. She feels around on the wall, taking a step farther, and yelps.
On instinct, my hands reach for her, pulling her back against my chest. “I’ve got you,” I tell her. She’s breathing hard. The sound of her heavy breaths fills the darkened room.
“I’m sorry. I was looking for the light and… I tripped and… I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be.” My arm is snaked around the front of her body, holding her to me. I can’t help but notice that she’s a perfect fit. Her body molds to mine as if she were made to be right where she is.
She releases a long shuddering breath, and her shoulders relax. “Thank you for saving me.”
She moves as if she wants out of my arms, but no way am I letting her go, not knowing what’s surrounding us. “Stay,” I whisper, my lips next to her ear. I feel her body shudder, and my cock thickens. Knowing that I need to get myself together, I place my hands on her hips to steady her. I keep one there while the other searches the wall for the light switch.
“Found it,” I tell her, flipping the switch. The room illuminates with a soft glow, and she turns to smile up at me. My heart stalls in my chest. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Her big brown eyes have this sparkle to them when she smiles, and I instantly want to know what they look like when she gets off. Do they sparkle, or are they filled with heat and desire? And her lips, are they as soft as they appear? I squeeze her hip, sliding an arm around her waist as I bite down on my cheek to keep myself from bending my head and finding out.
“Thank you.” Her smile is bright, and her cheeks are flushed. I can’t help but wonder if that’s the embarrassment or if I have that effect on her. I hope like hell it’s the latter. Does she flush like that everywhere? My eyes dart to her chest. She’s completely covered, but my imagination is vivid when it comes to her, and I can see her in my mind. Her chest flushed, nipples tight.
“What are we looking for?” I ask, trying to control the urge to kiss her while pushing the images of her naked to the back of my mind. This is not the time. It’s been years since a woman has had this effect on me. Hell, I don’t know that I’ve ever had this reaction to anyone before her. Instant and blazing hot. I push it down and try to pretend I don’t want her.
“Grandma said there would be freezer buckets to store ice for drinks.” She steps over the box that almost tripped her and scans the room. “There.” She points at the top shelf, where two black buckets with lids sit.
Stretching her arms above her head, she attempts to reach them. Moving quickly, I step behind her, once again aligning her back to my front. “Let me,” I say, my voice husky. Kennedy falls back to her feet, which places her body even closer to mine. She’s trapped in front of me while I work on bringing the first bucket down from the shelf.