“What happened then?” he asks me. His question sounds innocent, but Brayden smacks him on the shoulder. Ayden turns to Brayden. “Hey! I’m curious.”
“Right.” Brayden steps closer to me, and the way he protectively leans in, it’s almost like we’re…together.
Both his cousins react. Cam’s mouth twists into a mischievous grin, and Ayden’s gaze flicks between Brayden and me. Bella and Jasalie smile at me warmly like I’ve somehow joined their unofficial club.
And I…withdraw. I take two very clear, purposeful steps away from Brayden and cross my arms over my chest. Cam frowns at my retreat, and Ayden cocks his head, almost like he’s confused.
Desperate for a save, I look wildly to Sophia. As always, she uses her inappropriate no-filter mouth to rescue me.
“You’re so hot. You look like a professional model,” Sophia says abruptly to Jasalie, who flushes pink. “Seriously. You said you live in L.A., right?”
“I do,” she says. “But I don’t model. I’ve always loathed the idea, actually.”
“Jasalie and our cousin, Dylan, just got married,” Brayden says to Sophia. “They’re having a renewal ceremony here in a few weeks.”
Sophia shrieks and clutches at Jasalie’s arm. Jasalie’s eyes widen in alarm, and I try to pull Sophia back. But she’s too enthralled to let go.
“You’re Dylan Wild’swife?”
Jasalie nods, and Bella breaks into a soft laugh. “Yes, every woman,” she says to Jasalie. “Every woman has a thing for your husband. Get used to it.”
Sophia drops her death grip on Jasalie’s arm. “I’m so sorry,” she says contritely. “I didn’t mean to be so rude. Dylan Wild is just…well, he’s freaking beautiful.”
We all laugh, and Jasalie smiles. “He is. Even more on the inside, though.”
“And that’s why we love her,” Cam says, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “She was never a screaming fangirl.”
Sophia beams at Jasalie. “You and Dylan give me hope,” she says. She glances over her shoulder. “Awesome. Slammer’s here!”
She rushes off, and I catch eyes with Brayden, who says quietly, “My cousins flew into town unexpectedly.”
“That’s nice,” I murmur.
“Hey, Bray,” Cam calls over to him. “Your bro just walked in.”
Brayden glances behind me. “That’s Luke.”
I turn to see a guy who looks an awful lot like Brayden but with dark hair instead of blond. He takes off his cowboy hat as he comes closer, and I note the same piercing blue eyes and muscular build. But his expression is harder than Brayden’s even though he’s grinning. He bears a jagged scar on his right cheek, but that doesn’t take away from his attractiveness; instead, it almost adds to his rugged sex appeal. He oozes hot cowboy, and he knows it. He smirks at me as he joins our group and nods hello to Brayden.
“Long time,” he says as he gives Cam and Ayden hugs. He turns to Bella. “Holy fuck—I haven’t seen you in ages. You look beautiful.”
“Ayden and Bella are engaged,” Brayden says to him.
“What—you think I’m hitting on her?” Luke laughs. “She’s like a little sister.”
Bella kisses Luke on the cheek. “And this is Dylan’s wife, Jasalie,” she says as Jasalie and Luke shake hands.
Brayden introduces me as the sister of the owner at Big Sky Grocer. Luke cocks his head and gives me an obvious once-over.
“You two go back?” he says immediately as he jerks his thumb at Brayden.
“Um…” I stammer. “Sort of.”
“Sort of, huh?” He winks at me. “That’s what I thought.”
“It’s not like that,” Brayden says in a hard tone. “Shut the fuck up, Luke.”
Luke puts his hands up in a surrender gesture. “Hey, I meant nothing by it. You two just look like you aren’t only connected through your employer’s sister. You’re far too cozy for that.”
