“That’s how you know he really loves you,” Emory joked. “He sees your flaws and loves you more for them.”
“One hundred percent,” Axel said, locking eyes with Dalton. “Otherwise, the sheriff would have moved on long ago.”
“Axel’s the real brat of the family,” Dalton agreed, taking a seat beside his boyfriend and tugging his hair playfully.
“You love it,” Axel said, not the least bit fazed.
“I sure do,” Dalton said in a low voice.
“I do too,” I murmured into Bailey’s ear. “Everything about you, baby.”
“Don’t you mean brat?” he said with a raised brow.
“Only in the very best way,” I said with a wink.
He laughed. “Good save, Flynn. Very good save.” He slipped his hand behind me, pushing his fingers under the hem of my shirt and stroking my lower back. “Maybe I’ll still give you that surprise tonight after all.”
He shifted in his chair, a strange expression on his face, as his fingers danced over my skin. A sense of anticipation rippled over me.
“If it’s your birthday, why do I feel like I’m the one about to get lucky?”
He smiled at me. “Let’s just say that the best gift of the night is for both of us.”
Fuck yes, Iwasgetting lucky. I hadn’t forgotten what Bailey had said in the shower this morning. He wanted me to fuck him.
Was this surprise related to that? I hoped so. Whatever it was, Bailey’s smile promised it was going to be worth the wait.
CHAPTER 26
Bailey
I enduredanother round of hugs and goodbyes when all I wanted was to go the fuck home and get Flynn naked.
“Come by tomorrow before you head back to school,” Holden ordered.
“Yes,Dad.”
He sighed as Shiloh chuckled and added, “Please.”
“I’ll come by,” I promised. “A few more weeks and the semester will be over. Then you’ll be stuck with me all the time.”
“I’m sorry school didn’t work out, but I’m not sorry you’re coming home soon,” Holden said. “I missed the hell out of you, kid.”
My throat grew tight. Flynn rested an arm around my shoulders and hugged me close to his side, as if he knew what Holden’s words meant to me.
I nodded. “Thanks. Uh, I gotta…”
“Yeah, go already,” Axel said. “Before you die of blue balls.”
“Ax!” Holden barked while Gray and Emory laughed.
“Okay, time to go,” I muttered, turning from my brothers and walking fast toward the door. Embarrassing shit was incoming.
“Have a good night!” Gray called after us. “Just remember, Flynn, if Bailey gets hurt, you get hurt!”
Flynn waved a hand over his shoulder to acknowledge Gray’s words, and then we were stepping into cool, quiet air away from the razzing of my family.
“God, they’re so embarrassing.”
