Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“Are you not even going to say hi to me?” Naomie asks, fitting herself under Tucker’s arm and he stiffens at the contact.
“Naomie,” I rumble.
She smiles then looks up at Tucker. “I need a drink.”
“You know where the bar is.” He steps away from her, and her expression gets tight.
If I didn’t know the kind of woman she is I’d feel bad for her, but I do know and I wish my brother would see that he’ll never find happiness as long as her nails are clawing away at him.
“Brandy for you.” Willow glides up to me placing the short glass filled with dark liquid in my hand before fitting herself to my side and turning toward Naomie holding out her hand. “Sorry to intrude. I’m Willow.”
“I’ve heard about you,” Naomie says, taking her hand. “I’m Tucker’s wife Naomie.”
“Clay’s mentioned you.”
“Has he.” Naomie’s eyes glitter and she looks up at me.
“He told me that you two had gone on a couple of dates. It must have been super awkward when you realized that you were dating his brother.” She laughs.
I press my lips together to keep from smiling. Leave it to her to get the bullshit out in the open before Naomie can even think about sideswiping her with it.
“Very.” Naomie smiles tightly, then looks around. “I’m going to go get a drink.”
“The blueberry martini is amazing.” Willow calls to her back as she starts toward the bar.
Naomie lifts her hand without so much as a backwards glance.
“You’re evil.” I turn Willow toward me, capturing her waist in one hand.
“Why would you say something like that?” she gasps as she places her palm against her chest.
“You know why.” I dip my head and brush my mouth across her smiling lips.
When I pull back her smile slides away and her gaze searches mine. “Are you okay?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“Why, because you’re a big badass who can take care of himself?”
“Yes.”
“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes.
“Is your sister and her husband coming tonight?”
“She hasn’t messaged, so probably not. She and Harlen might not have been able to get a babysitter for Ava on such short notice.” She takes a sip of her drink then looks toward the couch and whispers. “Grace seems really sweet. Are she and Dayton dating?”
“Just friends.” She nods, not seeming at all surprised by that news.
“I’m going to keep her company for a bit if you’re good being here alone in your badassness.”
“I’m good.” I tap her bottom and she steps out of my hold. As she takes a seat on the couch between Grace and Ivy, Tucker comes to stand next to me.
“You really care about her.”
“I do.” I don’t even bother looking at him as I watch her say something that makes Grace toss her head back and laugh, the sound grabbing both Miles and Dayton’s attention.
“Naomie wasn’t supposed to come tonight.” At that I turn my head to look at my brother and find his eyes across the room with his jaw hard, and when I glance to where he’s staring. I see Naomie leaning over the bar with her ass in the air as she talks to the bartender. “She’s having an affair. She thinks I don’t know about it, but I do.”
“Jesus, Tuck.”
“I’m meeting with a lawyer Monday.” His eyes meet mine. “She quit her job when she found out she was pregnant, and I’ve been supporting her since then. I need to make sure that I’m not going to have to pay her alimony.”
“You told him?” Miles asks, joining us and Tucker jerks up his chin.
“Do you have proof she’s cheating?” I ask.
“Guy’s a cop at the station. She met him at a dinner we went to a while back. His wife called to let me know that her husband was sleeping with my wife.”
“Does the husband know that you know about the affair?”
“No, his wife hasn’t confronted him yet. She’s trying to get a job and to tuck away some cash before she contacts a divorce lawyer.” His hands ball into fists. “They have a son who’s just three, so she’s been a stay-at-home mom for the last few years.”
“Dick,” Miles mutters.
“Yeah.” Tucker takes a swig from his beer. “I can barely stomach to be around her, I don’t even want to think about what it would be like if we had a kid.”
“You’d figure it out.” I tell him.
He clenches his jaw. “I should have fucking listened to you,” He scrubs his fingers through his hair. “I should have—”
“Don’t think about that, right now you need to sort this shit out and deal with whatever comes.”
“I’m gonna need a place to stay after I do hand her over the divorce papers.”
“I always have a spare room.” Miles puts in then adds. “And Dayton’s place is almost done, I’m sure you could crash there for a while until you figure out what you want to do.”