“Yup, positive,” she replied with a radiant smile.
River was truly going to benefit from this awesome group.
Time would tell.
“I wish Jett was here.”
Patience was fairly hushed mouthed, so I was surprised when she randomly blurted that out. The others seemed just as stunned as I was. The young woman glanced around the yard at everyone and her gaze landed on her son who was giggling at something Gramps said to him. It was endearing how Gramps and Jurnee’s parents had all taken to every kid in the group.
“I want him to know Griffin and I miss him.” Patience’s eyes were sad and Ruby wrapped her arm around the woman who everyone thought one day would be her sister-in-law if Jett ever took what was clearly meant to be his.
“He will, sweetheart, just give him a little more time and don’t give up on him. I know he misses you too,” Ruby told her.
Jett had a lot going on from all the stories I’d heard. He was giving all he could to the military right then and didn’t make it home often. Ruby also mentioned at the last party she wished her brother stopped being so honorable when it came to Patience. I guess he thought keeping her in the friend zone was the right thing to do when he wasn’t around, but Ruby said she didn’t agree and they were both miserable with his decision.
It sounded familiar but at least he kept his communication open and was there for his friend, even if they too should be more.
Bronson hadn’t done that.
My gaze swung toward the group of men and my eyes locked with Bronson’s. He gave me a questioning look, asking if I was okay without saying a word and I nodded. Sometimes the hurt came back but I’d forgiven him and I wasn’t going backward now. He was too important to me.
After getting over my initial thought I found myself doing exactly what Alley accused me of just moments ago.
“There she goes again undressing him with her eyes,” Alley chanted, causing everyone to laugh hysterically.
Me included because she was spot on with her assessment.
Chapter Twenty
BRONSON
If she kept lookingat me that way I was going to be in deep shit.
When Lake undressed me with those big brown eyes of hers, my pants tightened and my cock pressed against my zipper uncomfortably. I needed to think of something to tone it down a few notches before I popped the button on my jeans.
Baby kittens, helping old ladies cross the street, the soft slap of the lake's water against the dock.
It was working until Kace laughed and opened his mouth, his words bringing my mind right back to the body part I was working to forget about.
“Bronson is trying hard to control his pecker from growing like a weed.”
“How in the world did you snag sweet Teal with that mouth?” Rowan scoffed, addressing Kace.
A grinning Kace slapped Rowan on the back. “Not all of us can be Casanova. Teal likes me just the way I am.”
I’d heard about Rowan’s nickname that some of the guys had given him a long time ago and it had stuck with everyone. He hated it, but he let them rib him in good fun. The man was headover heels in love with his wife, always had been. They got their second chance and I was hoping to get mine.
“Hey, Teal,” Rowan called out toward the group of ladies. “What do you see in this dipshit?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, his eyes widened and he spun in the direct opposite direction of the women. Sure enough like a magnet for money, Embry had come up behind him. There she stood with one hand on her hip and another outstretched, palm up.
“Well shit,” Rowan muttered, once again not thinking.
“That’s two, Casanova,” she said, smirking.
The tiny devil must have been waiting in the wings knowing one of us was bound to slip up and had overheard the conversation. All the guys started laughing as Rowan dug out his wallet and shoved some money in Embry’s hand.
Then he pointed at her. “Don’t call me that or I will withhold any more money from you.”
