by Rye Hart
It almost made me wonder what would’ve happened had I stayed, found a law school in the state and stuck by their sides. Would one of them have taken me in? Would I have ended up as part of the Lee clan? I never would’ve met Michael, and that would’ve been a good thing. But would I have ended up with one of them?
The thought ran through my mind all night as our party grew loud.
“You look wonderful in that suit,” Caleb said quietly.
“You haven’t seen me in it,” I said with a giggle.
“I have. You got out to go to the bathroom, and I couldn't take my eyes off you.”
“Now you know how I felt on all those fishing trips we took.”
His eyes darkened as I clamped my mouth shut. What in the world had I admitted to?
“Katie? Want another beer?” Andrew asked.
“Nope. Two’s my limit now,” I said.
“This mornin’ you didn’t drink beer,” Andrew said. “You sure you don’t want another?”
“I’m sure. Have to keep myself under control,” I said.
“You know we got your back, right?” Andrew asked. “If you get rowdy, we got ya.”
“Doesn’t mean I should be,” I said. “But thank you. That means a lot.”
“You’re important. You should know someone’s lookin’ out for you.”
The comments kept coming all night long. Flirting and bantering. Drinking and laughing. It was more fun than I’d had in years, and it came as no shock to me that the brothers would be at the center of it all. Things felt natural with them. Fluid and familiar. I found myself floating around to each of them, feeling their hands somewhere along my body before I floated over to another. It was the first time I’d felt any other man’s hands on my body but Michael’s, and I found myself enjoying their attention and their light touches and the caresses of their fingertips.
But I could tell Whitney wasn’t happy with me.
And I knew I’d hear about it in the morning.
CHAPTER 5
ANDREW
Holy fuck. The hot tub party got fuckin’ nuts. Hot babes in bikinis slinging back beers and bottles of wine. It was a dude’s fuckin’ paradise. And Katie looked hot. Hotter than I’d ever seen her. She was relaxing and enjoying her time, though I could tell her friend Whitney was a little on the angry side about her opening up some beers. What was the issue? Katie slung them back all the time in high school with us. Her tolerance was through the roof. And even if Katie did get rowdy, what little country girl in daisy dukes and boots didn’t? Work hard, play hard was my mantra.
And Katie deserved to fucking party it up.
We helped the girls stumble to Katie’s suite. Figured they’d all want to crash together. When I woke up early that morning with a pounding head and a desperate need for water, I knew the girls would wake up in much the same condition.
After popping some medicine and chugging two bottles of water, I made my way to their suite. It was my damn day off, and I was going to make the best of it. Katie was in town with two hot-ass friends, and they were celebrating Katie not marrying some asshole she met in the city.
That was an occasion I wanted to celebrate, too.
I stole some food from the kitchen and made my way to their room. I set out juice and water as well as a full bottle of Tylenol for them to have when they woke up. I started frying up some bacon and sizzling some sausage, boiling some grits and scrambling some cheesy eggs. Katie ate the shit out of cheesy eggs. It was always her go-to breakfast want. Their suite was filled with the sweet sounds and smells of breakfast as I heard them stirring, stretching, and bitching about their heads.
They were pretty drunk the night before. Wyatt had to carry Lizzie to the damn elevator, and Katie was draped around my shoulder. Whitney was volleying her pretty little self between Dylan and Caleb, which made for a lot of giggling fits as we rode up to their room. The night had been fun, but this morning, the consequences reared their ugly heads.
The girls were hungover as fuck and begging for their lives.
“Lord help me, I’m dying,” Lizzie said.
“Shut up. Your voice hurts,” Whitney said.
“There’s a man in our kitchen,” Lizzie said. “The fuck’s that?”
“It’s Andrew,” Katie said.
I turned my head at the sound of her voice as she came shuffling out of her room. She looked like hell. Hair matted to her face and her eyes all red and puffy. Leaning against the doorway like she was still half-drunk. Whitney groaned as she peeled herself out of bed as Lizzie flopped down at the kitchen table, and Katie closed her eyes while she held her head.
“Got some Tylenol on the table. Come sit on down. Breakfast is ready,” I said.
“God bless you for all this,” Lizzie said.
“Yeah. Thanks,” Whitney said.
But all Katie did was stumble to the table and plop down heavily into a chair.
The girls passed around Tylenol and juice as I put food on their plates. I wasn’t a cook like Dylan was, but I learned my way around a kitchen. Living as a single man will force that on anyone, especially if he doesn’t want to eat garbage the rest of his life. Whitney and Lizzie dug in, stuffing their mouths and moaning at the delicious food on their plates.
But Katie sat there, her eyes closed and her head still in her hands.
I washed up the dishes as Lizzie and Whitney talked. They were trying to get Katie to engage, but she kept shutting them up. Man. She must’ve felt worse than she looked, and my heart went out to her.
I wished I could take her pain away from her.
“I think I’m gonna go take a shower,” Lizzie said. “Whitney. Wanna help?”
“With you taking a shower?” Whitney asked.
“Just come on,” Lizzie said. “Get better at reading signals, city girl.”
Lizzie tossed me a wink as she dragged Whitney back into a bedroom, then the door shut with a slam as Katie groaned.
“Anythin’ I can get you?” I asked. “Coffee? More Tylenol? A morphine drip?”
“Death? Death sounds good,” Katie said.
“Not on your life, pretty lady.”
“Haven’t been called that in a long time.”
“Which tells me you made the right choice. Any man at your side should remind you how beautiful you are every day,” I said.
“I’m sorry,” she said with a sigh.
“For what?”
“For whatever embarrassing thing I did last night.”
“Nothin’ embarrassin’ for you to be apologizin’ about,” I said.
“I’m sure there was something. When I wake up like this, it’s always something.”
“I promise, you did nothin’ wrong. I haven’t seen you have fun like that in a long time. I’m glad you got to have some finally.”
“Any reason your voice dropped a whole octave there?” she asked.
There was, but I wasn’t sure I should be talking about it with a woman recuperating from one heartache already. Even if I tip-toed around it, I’d be walking a fine line. Risking ruining my friendship with her over some fantasy I had one time at a fucking bonfire. But ever since I’d held her close in my arms that night, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. My attraction to her had always been strong, but she was “little Katie,” and that was that. I wasn’t no pervert, and I wasn’t fixing to start then.
But last night, in the hot tub, things got intense. The flirting got real, and her body started pressing into everyone, and she stayed in my arms longer than most. She curled into me with her soft curves and her string bikini, and I could feel her pressing deeper into my chest. My arms fell around her, cloaking her and trying to soak up as much of her as I could before she pushed away.
Then she moved on, making her rounds and talking to everyone like nothing had ever happened. Like we hadn’t shared that moment together a few seconds ago.
“Andrew?”
I shook my head, pulling myself from my trance.
“What was t
hat?” I asked.
“I said, ‘thank you for breakfast.’ It was very kind of you to come in here and cook for us.”
“Well, I don’t cook like Dylan can, but your friends ate it so it must’ve not been bad.”
“I’ll get to eating it once my headache goes away.”
“Take another Tylenol. You only took two,” I said. “You can take a third one. Won’t kill ya.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“Not a problem. I’d love to stay and chat, but I figured I’d leave y’all to recuperate. I’m off today, but if you need anythin’, Dylan’s got the front desk again downstairs.”
“Got any plans for your day?”
“I’m plannin’ the family reunion.”
“The Lee Family Bash is coming up soon?” she asked.
“Next week, actually. Gonna be a good one.”
“They always are,” she said.
“You know you can come if ya want.”
She raised her head from her hands and chanced a look at me. I could see her squinting her eyes in pain, and it killed my heart. But it was odd to me that she was experiencing a hangover this bad. Even with the wine she had with the girls, she only had two beers.
How long had it been since she really let loose like that?
“I think I’m going to take my breakfast to bed,” Katie said.
“Whatever you want. I’m gonna start this dishwasher, then I’ll get outta y’all’s way,” I said.
“Goodnight, Andrew.”
“It’s ten in the mornin’, Katie.”
“Well, I’m falling back to sleep sometime today. So, goodnight.”
I chuckled as she smiled at me, gracing me with that sparkle in her eye just before she shut her bedroom door. I heard the other two girls giggling up a storm in the bathroom. Probably listening in on our conversation or some shit. I started the dishwasher and left the room, ready to start the last leg of planning for the reunion.
Then I ran straight into Dylan.
“Checkin’ on the girls?” he asked.
“Yep. They’re all back asleep. Cooked ‘em some breakfast.”
“Hope you didn’t kill ‘em,” he said.
“My cookin’s not that bad, asshole.”
“Language, Andrew. And since I have you here, I want to talk about the family reunion comin’ up next week. Anythin’ you need me to do?”
“Nope. I’m gonna go double-check with Caleb on food. He’s supposed to go shopping after his half shift today. Then I’m gonna talk to Wyatt and make sure no one has RSVP’d last minute this damn time. And yes, I know. Language. Got it.”
“It would be best if you stopped cussin’ all together,” he said.
“Not a chance. Sorry it hurts your dainty little ears, bro. But I ain’t changin’. And before you say anythin’, no. I don’t do it in front of paying customers.”
“Good. Because guests don’t want to hear that kinda trash talk on their vacations,” he said. “What are we grillin’ for the reunion?”
“Figured chicken breasts, an array of vegetables, corn on the cob, some shrimp, and hamburgers.”
“What’s for dessert?”
“Banana puddin’ and Momma’s Oreo Layer Cookie Cake,” I said.
“Perfect. You sure you don’t need anythin’ from me?” Dylan asked.
“I invited Katie, but she didn’t really give me a straight up answer. Make sure to invite her again when she’s feelin’ better. I think she might like comin’. And double-check the time for me. Right now, I’ve got it in my head that it starts at two. Let me know if that’s right.”
“Didn’t you send out the invitations?” he asked.
“I made a damn Facebook event ‘bout it, Dylan. Fuck. You ask me what you can do, then you shit on me for it?”
“Yikes. Someone else needs some more sleep as well. Take a nap before you trot around doin’ all this stuff.”
“Plan on it. Last night was a wild ride, and I’m exhausted.”
“You’re not the only one. Took me three cups of coffee to remember my name this mornin’.”
“Had you taken Whitney to bed with ya last night, she could’ve reminded you of it all night long,” I said with a grin.
“Not my type. You know that. Let me know if you need anythin’ else.”
“Just a double-check on the time and to make sure someone else invites Katie,” I said.
“I can do both,” he said. “And remember, you’re off today. If I see you ‘round that front desk or fiddlin’ in the stables with the animals, I’m tearin’ you up.”
“Got it. Family reunion shit and no work shit.”
“Language,” he said.
“You know I’m gonna keep cussin’ just to piss you off.”
CHAPTER 6
WYATT
Sunday was an optional work day for me, and I decided to take it. With this new property we’d acquired for the resort, there were marketing and advertising decisions that had to take place. Coming up with slogans and planning out commercials, trying to find a way to tap into the East Coast and how we could get them excited about going and booking a room at our new Charleston resort. My eyes were going cross-eyed looking at everything, and I knew I had to get up from my desk. I’d drive myself fuckin’ insane trying to come up with things on the spot if I didn’t clear my head. That was my job: marketing and advertising for the resort. That and helping Andrew out with the animals when he got swamped with other stuff Dylan was always throwing at him.
And the best thing to clear my head during a day like that was a good horseback ride.
“Wyatt?”
I turned around as I walked toward the back door and saw the prettiest sight alive. Katie was standing there with her curly hair bouncing around her cheeks. It used to be so long and big with poof but having those curls all around her face suited her now that she was in her twenties. She came up to me smiling and threw her arms around me, and I soaked up her warmth for as long as I could.
“You look good for someone’ nursin’ a hangover,” I said.
“I see you talked to Andrew,” she said.
“Briefly. You get a nap in?” I asked.
“I did. But when I woke up, Lizzie and Whitney weren’t around. You know where they headed off to?”
“My guess is either back to the bar or the pool, though they might’ve been scheduled to leave today. Most of the guests were before things happened.”
“Oh, man. I didn’t think about that. You think Dylan would look it up for me and see if they’ve checked out?”
“I’m sure he’d do anythin’ for you if you flashed him that pretty smile of yours,” I said. “You gettin’ yourself into anythin’ today?”
“Just a horseback ride. I was going to see if the girls wanted to come with me, but since there’s a chance they aren’t even here, you want to go with?”
“That’s actually what I was headin’ to do. Work’s got me all tangled up in my brain, and I need a chance to clear my head.”
“Awesome. I went to see if Hunter wanted to come, but he’s nursing a pretty bad hangover himself. He was still throwing up when I knocked on his door.”
“Yep. That’s a bad one all right. So, what you’re sayin’ is that I was your third choice to go ridin’ with?”
“You weren’t even on my list until I saw you,” she said with a grin.
“Oh, I’m hurt. My poor heart.”
“Come on, Mr. Sensitive. Let’s get us some horses.”
“Sensitive? I ain’t sensitive. I’m a cowboy.”
“With emotions,” she said with a giggle. “Now come on. We’re burning daylight.”
Katie took my hand and tugged me out the back door. Her skin was soft and smooth against mine. Inviting, just like her hug had been. I held her hand tightly as we walked toward the stables and I released her to pick out her horse. She came trotting back with the all-black stallion and a big smile on her face. I watched as everything came rushing back to her. How to put a saddle
on a horse. Cleaning his hooves before we went out. I watched her fluid movements as she mounted the horse, throwing her leg over Midnight’s back as she sat tall with pride.
It was really good to see her smiling.
“You coming?” Katie asked. “Or are you gonna rearrange that saddle one last time?”
“Just makin’ sure the horse is comfortable, too. This one here’s Sunshine. She’s a spitfire with an attitude. Gotta make sure she’s comfy, otherwise, she’ll buck ya off,” I said.
“Yikes. Well, be careful. I’m not equipped to administer CPR.”
The thought of her lips anywhere near mine caused me to stumble as I threw my leg over the back of my horse.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Yep. Let’s go.”
The two of us rode together in silence as the stamping of hooves underneath our bodies filled my ears. I was glad to finally have some alone time with her. It was something I’d been craving for years. Ever since prom and how royally I’d screwed that shit up, I’d been looking for an opportunity to have Katie all to myself again. But when she announced her engagement, I threw all ideas of that out the window.
Until a couple of nights ago when she called the wedding off.
We rode down a trail that went through a bit of the forest out back of the resort. It was one of the more intermediate trails, and Katie was handling it like a champ. The smile on her face was so big it almost closed her eyes, and the way she stayed mounted on the horse gave me the perfect view of her ass. It was hard paying attention with her body rolling up and down like it was.
So, I ran up alongside her and slowed both our horses down.
“Something wrong?” Katie asked.
“Just lettin’ our horses breathe. Midnight’s pumpin’ air pretty hard,” I said.
“It’s beautiful out here. Do all your resorts have trails like this?”
“They do. It’s our signature offerin’. Each has somethin’ different, but all of them have horses and trails to ride ‘em on.”
