“Not sure I should divulge those secrets to a man who never loses control,” she teases, placing her hands on my chest. “You may run without a second glance.”
“I can promise you I’m not running. And know that my control issues are the only thing holding me back from kneeling, rolling that piercing with my tongue, before I peel these bottoms off with my teeth.”
Her breath hitches at the same time her hazel eyes brighten. She licks her bottom lip, gripping the material of my shirt as a tremor rolls through her body.
“If I thought you were ready for that, we wouldn’t be leaving this room today. Which would definitely send a message to Darby and the rest of them.”
“Is it a one-time offer?” she barely whispers.
“Nothing with you is a one-time offer. We’re moving at your pace.”
She tips up, bringing her mouth close. “You’re a dangerous temptation, Evin Graham.”
“I can say the same thing about you.”
Her lips touch mine, and she dissolves into me. I take my time exploring her mouth and enjoying what is quickly becoming my addiction. Her scent, her taste, the warmth of her body to mine. I wasn’t kidding. If I thought she was ready, we wouldn’t leave this room.
Slowly, I break away, placing my forehead to hers. “Keep your eyes closed.”
I take the ring from my pocket and slide it on her finger, noticing it’s too big.
“Oh my God!” Her eyes pop open, bulging wide. “Wha—, whe—, how?”
“Happy birthday.”
“You bought me a diamond ring for my birthday? You didn’t even know until a few hours ago.”
“This is true. I purchased the ring last night.”
“Purchased how? The store was closed.”
“Messaged the concierge and explained what I wanted.”
“There was no concierge at the desk.”
“One good thing about having Scottie plan this trip was his insistence on a twenty-four-hour contact. I utilized that benefit last night.”
“I- I- I don’t know what to say. It’s too much.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Evin! It’s a diamond ring!”
“It’s a ring meant to be on your finger. I’ve walked by that store a dozen times over the last few days, never paying attention. Until last night. Seeing your reaction to this ring in the display case, I knew it was meant to be yours.”
“I can’t accept this.”
I haul her into my arms and move to the sofa. “It’s a present, Poppy. A present with no expectations.”
“But it’s a diamond.”
“Forget the diamond.” I reluctantly move it to her third finger, noticing it fits tighter. “Is that better?”
She stares at her hand, then brings her eyes to mine. A burning sensation solders through me at the mixture of uncertainty and sadness in her expression. I cup her chin, stroking my thumb across her jawline. “Baby, what’s on your mind?”
“I’ve never met anyone like you. It doesn’t seem fair to feel this connection and you leave tomorrow.”
That’s all the incentive I need to push forward. “Say the word and I won’t leave.”
“Are you serious?”
“I don’t want to wait a month to see you at Stephanie’s wedding. I’d like to spend more time with you now.”
“Is it that simple?”
“For you it is.”
She chews on her bottom lip, holding my stare, and her voice is shaky when she speaks. “I am not ready for you to leave.”
“Thank fuck.” I crush her to me, burying my face in her neck and inhaling deep.
We sit like this for a few minutes, her body pressed tight, her heart racing. “I share a place with Ryanne. She’s super cool, but I’m not sure how—.”
“I’ve already messaged Scottie for a favor. He’ll get my room extended. We can stay here if you’re comfortable. If not, that’s okay.”
“You’ve already messaged Scottie? When?”
“This morning when you fell back asleep.”
“You were planning to stay behind?”
“I knew last night that I didn’t want to leave, but needed to get a read on you this morning.”
“Was I that easy to read?”
“The fact that you were the most beautiful thing I’ve ever woken up with sealed the deal in my mind.”
She glances around nervously before saying, “There’s something else I should tell you. You are the only man, outside of Dante, that I’ve woken up with in over seven years.”
Dante is not a threat, but jealousy spikes. “There’s no pressure here for any more than what we have right now.”
“This is unbelievable.”
“Poppy, I finally understand more about Pierce Kendrick than I thought possible. Twenty-four hours ago, I didn’t know you existed. And now you consume my thoughts.”
“What do we do when you go home? Our worlds are so different.”
“Why don’t we see what the next few days bring and talk about it then?”
A timid smile spreads across her lips, and she lifts her hand, wiggling her finger. “Thank you for this. It’s gorgeous.”
“You’re gorgeous.”
“Evin, it really is too much.”
“If it freaks you out, I’ll hold on to it until you’re ready.”
“I’m afraid if you try to remove it I may have to hurt you.”
“It would suck to be injured on our first official day together.”
“You laugh, but I can do some serious damage if provoked.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Chapter 4
Poppy
An eerie feeling of being watched prickles over my skin, and I slow the kiss, peering over Evin’s shoulder. A little squeak escapes and his neck twists.
“You two enjoying this?” he rumbles.
Miller and Pierce are wearing the same expressions from last night. “It’s the second highlight of my day so far. Now I understand why you aren’t answering Darby’s texts.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Obviously.” Pierce wiggles his eyebrows. “Morning, Poppy.”
“Good morning.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Evin grouses.
“Not particularly. ”
Evin turns back to me, blows out a breath, and tightens his grip on my waist. “Can you understand why I despised him?”
“Sweetie, we’re making out in a public hallway. Maybe I should go to the pool.”
He takes my hand and walks us to where Miller and Pierce are standing. “I need to talk to Scottie and handle some business. I’ll catch up with you later,” he tells them.
Their smiles grow even wider. “Do what you need to do. We’ll be around.”
“I don’t want to hear it from you.” Evin picks up on whatever is on his mind.
“Too bad, man. It’s been a long time coming.”
“Shut up.” Evin’s grip tightens and he guides us past them.
At the entrance to the cabanas, he jerks to a stop, twirling me until I’m flush against his chest. His eyes blaze with a deep amber gleam as he circles my hip with his free hand. “It shouldn’t take long to get my shit done. You have a key if you’re ready before I get back.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“This group can be intrusive and highly inappropriate.”
I tip on my toes and kiss him quickly. “Evin, I work in show business in Vegas. I can handle them.”
His lips curl on one side, and he squeezes me again before leading us into the private area. Scottie’s lounging on a float in the pool, and when he spots us his face lights up.
“Flower Child!” he shouts, and heads swing our way.
I don’t miss the surprise in Darby’s expression when she sees our joined hands. “Hey.” She comes over, embracing me warmly. “I’m glad you’re here.”
I wave to everyone else, sensing their curiosity.
Scottie lifts himself out of
the pool, drying off before joining us. He kisses my cheek, then glances at Evin. “You need something?”
“Yeah, let’s talk privately.”
Darby’s eyes lock with Evin, and I know the instant the twin bond kicks in. Her smile beams brightly. “Come on, Poppy, we have a chair saved for you.”
Evin tugs me gently back and brushes his lips along my forehead. “I’ll see you soon. Call if you need anything.”
“If she needs anything, we can have it delivered. She’s in expert hands,” Scottie notes.
“I’m trusting you to keep an eye on her.”
“What the hell is it with you guys? Pierce and Miller said the same thing. We have a party of five women, two of which are pregnant, and two gay men. What is going to happen?”
Darby giggles loudly, and I swallow down my humor. Evin slices his eyes to the side, clearly not amused. I flash him a smile before Darby ushers me to the patio.
“This day just got much more interesting!” Ashlyn claps.
I drop my bag, remove my dress, and reach for a towel when there’s a sharp intake of breath followed by a low whistle.
“Holy shit, did Evin see you in that suit before you came down here?” Billy inquires.
“Yes, why?”
“He let you out of the room?”
“What’s wrong with the suit?”
“Not a goddamned thing. It’s not the suit. The body, the ink, the piercing… it’s the entire fucking package.”
There’s a chorus of “mmhmm” around the space and heat creeps up my cheeks.
I don’t have a chance to respond when there are a series of clicks and I whirl to find Stephanie with her phone.
“I’m plastering these everywhere to keep me in check. You are my inspiration,” she informs me.
“You have a gorgeous body.”
“I’m getting married and the motivation is high. I need your workout regimen.”
“I don’t know if it’s a regimen as much as a job,” I joke, situating myself on the chair. “Dancing up to seven nights a week is more like a lifestyle.”
“I’m going to start dancing,” Megan declares, raising her cocktail in the air, “right after my sister’s wedding.”
“Send me those pictures, Steph. I’ll need them for after this baby gets here,” Darby instructs, rubbing her hand over her stomach.
“When are you due?” I point between her and Ashlyn. “When are you both due?”
“I’m due in December, but if this baby is like Devin and comes early, they could be Irish twins.”
At the term Irish twins, a jarring pain stabs in my chest. Faintly, Ashlyn’s response of January registers before a dull ringing fills my ears.
Stop this! My subconscious screams, and I instantly am back to normal. All eyes are on me. “Sorry, I was registering how wild that is.”
“You have no idea. I’m putting my foot down after this girl gets here,” Darby goes on.
There’s a pregnant pause, then a loud cackling from my other side. Ashlyn, Stephanie, and Megan are all in fits.
“You do that. Put your foot down.” Stephanie throws her head back, slapping the side of her thigh. “Can’t wait to see how that goes.”
“How what goes?” Scottie rejoins us, his phone in hand.
“Darby’s going to ‘put her foot down’ about more children when their daughter is born.” Ashlyn uses air quotes.
Scottie glances between the two pregnant women and looks appalled. “Both of you might as well give it up. That ain’t happening anytime soon. Annie already told me Pierce is working on plans to add to your house. And Miller did the preliminary planning with the mansion.”
Darby lets out an exasperated moan at the same time Ashlyn cradles her abdomen.
“It sounds like your husbands want huge families.”
“You’re working tonight, right?” Scottie asks.
I nod.
“Too bad for you, these tales are more fun with cocktails.” He digs in the cooler and hands me a sparkling water, then refills his cup with a bright pink liquid. “So, here’s the cliff notes version. Pierce will do anything in the world for Darby. But with his mission to build his family, he’s relentless. We all guess there are at least four more years of this.”
I gasp, slinging my face to her. “How many children do you plan to have?”
“I said three, he wants five.”
“I thought he already has two from his first wife.”
There’s a silence that settles in the air, and a sense of dread fills me. Before I can backtrack, Darby shocks me by asking, “My brother isn’t coming home with us tomorrow, is he?”
“I don’t think so.” My answer comes out soft and shaky. I clear my throat and revise, “I hope not.”
There’s a collective sigh before Darby’s girly squeal breaks the tension. “I knew it.”
Scottie perks up and shakes his head. “He’s not leaving, Flower Child. I’ve already extended his stay.”
“You work fast.”
“Occupational tendency. I get things done.”
“That he does,” Stephanie agrees.
“Are you okay with that?” I watch for any sign of disapproval from Darby.
“Of course, this is awesome!”
“Doesn’t it seem impulsive and spontaneous?”
“Poppy, you do not know who you’re surrounded by. We may seem like normal and composed people, but there’s a lot under the surface.” Ashlyn draws my attention back to her. “My story is the most spontaneous of the crowd. I walked out of an awful business function and into the bar next door to drink my irritation away. Miller was on a business trip and we hit it off. I spent the weekend with him and snuck away, leaving a note and a fake name. Months later, fate brought us back together, and now we’re married and having a baby.”
“Wow.”
“My story is boring. I met Todd at Darby’s wedding and had the best weekend of my life. Then rejected his advances until he wore me down. He was so sure of us he relocated his life and his business to Charlotte and gave me no choice but to fall in love with him.”
“Those are beautiful stories.”
“They didn’t come without struggles, but Darby’s is the real fairytale.”
“Does it have anything to do with why Evin despised Pierce for twelve years?” I blurt out and slap my hand over my mouth, horrified at my bluntness.
Darby’s eyes stay bright. “Oh yeah. And he had good reason. My brother is fiercely protective, and the aftermath of my split with Peirce caused a lot of heartbreak and rage for everyone. The feeling was mutual from both siblings. Miller despised me as well.”
“Oh God. You and Pierce split up?” It seems rude to ask, but my heart is racing, wanting to know more. Flashbacks of my last twelve years pass through my mind; there was so much that happened. Then it sinks in. “Twelve years is a lifetime.”
“That was the twelve years of hatred and misunderstanding that we both lived in hell.”
“Not everything was bad. You created your business and brand, built an empire that eventually became sought after, met me, and made some great friends,” Stephanie chimes in with a motherly tone.
Darby flashes her a grateful smile filled with love.
“Since we’ve started down this road, let’s get it over with so we can move to the good stuff with Poppy.”
Darby nods her agreement, rolls to her side, and settles. “I met Pierce when I was seventeen and he was nineteen. He walked up to me at the gym and asked for my number. That was it. I was in love. Pierce bypassed school and went straight into the family business. Evin and I both attended college close to home. Pierce and I were solid, and shortly after graduation, we found out I was pregnant. It was a shock, but since we’d already discussed marriage, we rolled with it. Then I lost the baby.”
I can’t stop my audible intake of breath, and my hand involuntarily goes to my stomach. Her face twists and she drops her gaze. “Oh Poppy, did I hit on a sensitive—”
&
nbsp; “No, not at all. I can’t imagine how awful it was.”
She gives me a sad smile and goes on. “I didn’t handle it well, pushed Pierce to the ultimate breaking point, ran away, and left him in the wreckage. I was selfish—”
“Darby!” Stephanie warns, and Darby throws her hand up in defense.
“Steph, we all know I was selfish. Even if it was self-sacrifice.” Her focus comes back to me. “While I was dealing with my loss, Pierce turned to alcohol and drugs, falling into a rough crowd. Maya and Cole were born, and Pierce never married their mother. I assumed he was in love with her, he assumed I moved on, and it took a huge dramatic event for the truth to come out. In true Pierce fashion, once he learned the truth, he made it his mission to fix things. And here we are.”
“He wants to make up for lost time.”
“Well, when this baby girl comes, we’ll have our hands full. I’m putting the brakes on for a while.”
“We’re not wasting time on that subject. The bets are rolling in. You can get in on a timeline, Poppy.” Scottie waves off Darby’s scoff. “Now that all the heavy stuff is out of the way, it’s time to discuss the unthinkable. Evin Graham is not the same man he was a day ago.”
No one says anything, waiting for me to comment. The quiet is worse than a dozen nosy questions. Being on the hot seat with this crowd is one hundred times more nerve-wracking than performing in front of thousands of people a week. “We didn’t sleep together!”
Why this is the first thing that comes out of my mouth is beyond me, but it utters without my control.
“Oh, we know that,” Billy calls from the pool.
“How?”
“One look at you in that suit is enough to know he’s on the brink.”
“What’s wrong with my suit?” I repeat from earlier.
“Not a fucking thing, but considering you are here with us, instead of tied to a bed upstairs means he’s practicing the art of self-restraint.”
“He’s a gentleman.”
Scottie and Billy exchange a glance that sends a prickle up my spine. “Are you saying he’s not?”
“Pips, that man shows all the qualities of a beast in the bedroom.”
“Eek, on that note—I’m going to the bathroom.” Darby stands and grimaces. “I want the clean version. I can’t think of my brother doing anything in the bedroom.”
Evin's Fight (Southern Charmers Book 3) Page 4
