“After.”
“I don’t know.”
“Let’s go up to the Lizard. You can buy me a beer,” he says.
“Because drinking all of mine at home isn’t good enough for you?” I ask, even though I secretly love the idea.
“Because getting to watch you fawn all over the hot girl is going to be better than drinking all your beer.”
I exhale and shake my head. Something tells me he’s going to make this as uncomfortable as possible. I don’t care about him giving me a hard time, but I definitely don’t want him upsetting Lizzie. Or her thinking I blabbed to my brother about what happened last night.
“If we’re leaving, you have to help me with my yardwork before we go,” I state.
“Fine, but you better bring me another beer.”
And that’s how I get roped into going to The Tipsy Lizard with my bonehead brother on a Sunday afternoon.
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Lizzie
Everything shifts the moment he walks through the door. Without even looking up to confirm, I know Collin is here. There’s a sudden electrical charge in the air, and my body responds instantly. A shiver sweeps through me, and as much as I try to pretend it’s because my hands were just inside the cooler, grabbing two beers, I know there’s another reason. It’s the memory of his mouth, his hands on my body—despite keeping them outside of my clothing—that has me on total edge.
“Lizzie!”
I smile. “I should have known double trouble was here.”
Cade’s hand covers his heart as his mouth falls open in mock insult. “That’s cold, Lizzie Lou.”
My eyes narrow at the nickname as I rest one hand on my hip. I do everything I can not to look at Collin, because I know the moment I do, I’ll feel weak in the knees and want to throw myself at him again. With a bar full of customers, that’s the last thing I need to do.
The twins take a seat at the bar after hollering their greetings at the regulars positioned just down from them. “What can I get you?” I ask, dropping a new coaster onto the bar top.
“Nice,” Cade states, picking his up and checking it out. It’s nothing fancy. Just a basic pulpboard coaster with my logo printed on it.
“Thank you,” I reply, waiting for their order.
“I’ll have an All American draft, please,” Cade requests. “This guy has terrible beer at home. Did you know he buys a national brand, Lizzie Lou? Can you believe it? Can’t even support the family.”
A single eyebrow shoots upward, and I risk a quick glance at Collin. He’s just shaking his head, as if apologizing on his brother’s behalf. “Family?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, I know they’reyourfamily, but this place is practically one big family here, so that makes themourfamily. Get what I’m sayin’?”
“Not really,” I reply, earning a chuckle from Collin.
He sighs. “You two are perfect for each other. Both thorns in my side.”
I bark out a laugh and turn to retrieve his beer. Once it’s poured, I place it on the coaster and turn my attention to Collin. “And for you?”
“Same as the idiot,” he replies with a hint of a smile on his lips.
Lips I want to kiss…
Just as I turn to grab a second frosted mug from the cooler, I hear Cade ask, “Are you sure you want to hang out with this loser, Lizzie Lou? I’m undoubtedly the better choice. I know you turned me down before, but I’d give you a second chance, because you obviously weren’t thinking clearly the last time we talked.”
I can feel Collin’s eyes on me as I deliver the second draft to the bar. Placing my elbows on the hard top in front of Cade, I lean forward and whisper, “The loser kisses like a dream, so I’m all set, thanks.”
