And when it came back, I’d be ready to meet it head-on.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
LINC
“Kristin, you and Linc better be dressed because we’re coming in.” Nora’s voice shouted from the other side of the door, loud enough to rattle the frame.
“Oh god, living next to my friends was not a smart move,” I muttered, taking a long sip of coffee. The mug was warm in my hand, the scent rich and grounding.
Kristin laughed softly from across the kitchen. I leaned against the counter, still shirtless, plaid lounge pants hanging low on my hips, watching her with that half-smile I could never quite hide. She tried not to look, but her eyes always betrayed her.
The front door swung open before either of us could move, and the women of the Diamond spilled in like a storm. Boots thumped, coats rustled, voices overlapped. The smell of cold air and perfume filled the house.
“Holy shit,” Tayla said, crossing her arms, smirking at me like she’d caught me in the act of existing. “That’s what you keep hidden under those oversized shirts and vests?”
Kristin snorted into her coffee.
“Tayla, don’t make me tell Jake you’re admiring me,” I said, grinning.
“Who said anything about admiring?” she shot back, eyes gleaming. Then she turned on Kristin. “Get in the truck.”
That was Tayla. Kipp’s sister, raised to win every argument and make sure you knew it. She’d been part of our circle long before any of us were old enough to drink, and bossing everyone around had become her love language.
“Why am I getting in the truck?” Kristin asked, setting her coffee on the counter.
“It’s Mimosa Saturday,” Nora said, frowning like that was the most obvious thing in the world.
Kristin groaned. “If I hadn’t forgotten it was Saturday, I wouldn’t have forgotten about mimosas. Let me get dressed.”
She turned toward me, flicking her head toward the bedroom in that silent way of hers that said move.
“Oh, god, we’re going to be here all day if he goes with her,” Fallon groaned. “Do you have champagne and orange juice?”
“No, and I’ll only be a second,” Kristin called.
“Confirmation Linc sucks in bed, finally,” Fallon cheered.
I slammed the bedroom door just to shut her up.
“She’s just an annoying little sister, that’s not even mine,” I said, shaking my head.
Kristin smiled as she pulled a sweater from the chair. “I’ll drop a few hints about how good you actually are in bed,” she teased, walking into my arms.
“Don’t you dare. Let them think they’re right. Only you need to know they’re wrong.”
Her laugh was low and quiet against my chest, her fingers tracing the back of my neck.
“I’m serious,” I murmured, brushing my thumb along her jaw. “You girls get loud when you’re together. Just keep your eyes open today.”
Kristin arched a brow, not buying the shift in tone. “You think whoever was prowling the fence line is going to stroll into the café for mimosas?”
“I think people do stupid things when they feel untouchable,” I said. “And until I know who’s been creeping around, I don’t want anyone letting their guard down. Not you, not Nora, not Tayla, not Fallon. Got it?”
Her teasing faded. “You want to call Fred, don’t you?”
“I’m already planning on it.”
A small smile tugged at her lips. “You’re so overprotective sometimes.”
