It was a message. Not a robbery.
“Cowards,” Beau snarls. “If they wanted a fight, they could’ve just shown their faces at the Barrel.”
That’s how we figured they knew we weren’t home. Someone we didn’t notice must have tipped them off that none of us were on the property. “They wanted to remind us they’re not going anywhere. Neither is Miles Keller. He still thinks he can bully his way onto our land by using those fucking morons.”
Jasper rolls his shoulders, tension radiating, even now in the morning light. “They’re gonna regret it.” Before I can respond, he glances at the clock. “We should probably wait until Lawson gets here before we get into it.”
Beau’s grin turns mischievous. “Speakin’ of Lawson…”
Here we fuckin’ go.
“You think they slept together?” Beau asks, lifting his mug. “Because my money would not have been on Lawson to make the first move out of all of—”
“I swear to god,” Jas cuts in. “If Law got to kiss her before me, I’m gonna lose my mind.”
I scrub a hand over my face. “You two sound like fucking idiots.”
“That a yes or a no?” Beau presses.
“I’m sayin’ stop speculating like a couple of horny teenagers.”
Jas smirks. “You jealous too, Linc?”
That word hits harder than I expect.
Because, yeah.
I’m fucking jealous.
I was jealous last night when I watched her dance with Jasper. I was jealous of the way she looked at Beau. I was jealouswatching the way she fit against my brother’s body, the way her laughter carried across the room. But I’m not jealous in a way that I don’t want them to have her, too.
No. That’s not it at all.
I’m jealous because I want her too.
I can’t avoid it anymore.
I’ve tried.
I’ve tried so goddamn hard.
After everything with Melissa, I didn’t think I could ever let myself open up like that again.
But Abigail’s just… she’s fucking everywhere. She’s everywhere, and I want to be wrapped up in it. I want more rides in the snow. Dinners with her at the table. I want to feel her lips on mine. Feel her skin shiver beneath my touch. Feel her breath against my neck as she moans my name. I want slow mornings with her. Hard days on the ranch. I haven’t even had her, and yet, I want her.
And I don’t know what to do with that.
“Drop it,” I mutter. “Both of you. This isn’t a competition. We talked about it.”
Beau opens his mouth again, and the front door swings open. Lawson steps inside first, broad shoulders filling the frame, posture different than usual. Taller. Steadier. Like something, finally, after all these years, has clicked into place.
And then Abigail walks in behind him.
The three of us lock our eyes on her.
She looks… nervous. Not scared. Not regretful. Just aware. Of us. Like she knows we’re all clocking the same thing at the same time.
And jesus fucking christ.
