by Rye Hart
“I guess you guys are okay,” I said with a grin.
“Just okay?”
I looked up into Wyatt’s eyes and felt my knees growing weak. I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted to be in his arms again. I felt myself gravitating toward him, closing the gap between our two bodies as his hand descended onto my hip. I tilted my head back to keep his beautiful green eyes in view. Those light green eyes that reflected the beauty of the sun at our backs.
“Why are you here?” Wyatt asked.
His voice had dropped a register, and it shivered up my spine.
“Partially to clear my head,” I said breathlessly. “Partially to see you.”
“You wantin’ more of me?” he asked.
“That wasn’t my intention,” I said. “To—you know. Do more of what we did. I just wanted to see you.”
I watched him look all around us before his eyes found mine again. His arms slipped around my waist, pressing into my lower back. I fell into his embrace, my hands planting against his strong chest as our lips connected. Fire burst through my veins as my eyes fluttered shut, and I could feel the massaging of his tongue against my lips.
I opened myself to him, moaning as his tongue caressed mine. He backed me into a tree, the bark scratching my back as I ground into him. His hands were running up and down my sides, squeezing me in all the places he could reach. I ran my palms along his broad shoulders, feeling his strength throbbing for me as I gasped for breath.
He drew back from me, my lips swollen from his assault as our eyes met once more.
Then, I saw him look around again. Like we were being watched.
“What are you doing?” I asked with a giggle.
“Just makin’ sure no one’s watchin’,” Wyatt said.
“Why? Scared someone’s videotaping us for blackmail?” I asked.
“Just don’t want my brothers to see us.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“Not sure they would approve.”
Wyatt took a step back from me as I straightened out my clothes.
“Why in the world wouldn’t they approve?” I asked.
“Just a feelin’, that’s all.”
I giggled and shook my head at how insane Wyatt was being. None of the brothers had any reason to resent Wyatt for liking me. No one, except maybe Hunter, had any reason to judge us for anything we were doing.
“Come on. Let’s get you back before your big bad brothers start suspecting something,” I said.
We walked back up the hill to the resort and saw Andrew sitting on the patio. He was sipping a drink from the restaurant, his eyes cast in the opposite direction from us. I could feel Wyatt tense up next to me as the atmosphere completely changed. It went from playful and fun to tense and judgmental the moment Andrew turned his head and spotted us.
It was odd, and I wasn’t sure how to explain it away.
His eyes raked up and down my form before he rose from his chair. I looked up at Wyatt who was eyeballing Andrew pretty hard. What was this, some pissing contest?
But then again, wasn’t this what I wanted? What I had always fantasized about as a teenager? The brothers fighting over me before they all caved at once and offered themselves up for my taking?
My pelvis burned as the two of them stared at one another.
“I hear you’re lookin’ for a job,” Andrew said.
“I’m in sort of limbo with it, yes,” I said.
“Well, I wanted to let you know that Caleb, as we speak, is lookin’ into findin’ the perfect job for you here.”
“That’s not necessary. I was just talking with Wyatt about—”
“I’m sure the two of you were talkin’ about all sorts of things,” Andrew said. “This might not be your dream job, but we could make it bearable ‘til you get what you want.”
“That’s very kind of Caleb. And yourself. And everyone else involved in this. Thank you,” I said.
“You’re very welcome, Katie. Wyatt?”
“Yep?”
“Time to feed the animals.”
“Couldn't have told me that before we left?” Wyatt asked.
“You weren’t here to be told. Almost had to send Dylan to do it. And that wouldn’t have gone over well,” Andrew said.
“All right. Katie, it was fun. Whatever decision you make on this job issue, we all support ya one hundred percent,” Wyatt said.
“I really do appreciate it. More than you know,” I said.
“I’ll see ya ‘round, Katie.”
Wyatt tossed me a wink before he turned and headed back toward the stables. I watched him leave, my eyes hanging onto his tight ass as he ventured back down the hill. I was painfully aware of Andrew staring, but I didn’t care what he saw. I knew that I should be respectful of the fact that Wyatt didn’t want any of his brothers finding out. I wasn’t ashamed of my attraction to Wyatt, or my attraction to any of his brothers either. I was planting my feet back on solid ground and carving out a new life for myself, and I wasn’t going to hold myself back.
Though it would be a little hard to explain if it came out that I was attracted to all of them at once.
“Is somethin’ brewin’ between you and my brother?” Andrew asked.
“Why? Would that make you jealous?” I teased.
I looked up at Andrew as his eyes hovered over the horizon. Most people would think he was simply watching Wyatt walk down to the barn, but I knew him better than that. When we were kids, hanging out on the porch and talking until all sorts of hours in the morning, he would get that look in his eye whenever he was deep in thought. It was always followed by a heavy truth. One that took a second to swallow down and unpack.
And this time was no different.
“If there were, I would be, yes.”
“Really. You’d be jealous?”
“I would, yes. But there’s no point in the jealousy if nothin’s goin’ on. Right?”
He turned his gaze to me and I felt my heart slam against my chest. His dark green eyes bored into my soul, piercing straight through to the good stuff as I swallowed hard.
“Right,” I said. “No reason to be jealous.”
“I’ll let you know when Caleb finds a job for you to do here. Then you can make an executive decision about things going forward. All we want is for you to have as many options as you need to paint the life ya want. It’s what you deserve, Katie. Nothin’ but the best.”
“Thank you, Andrew. Really. And say thank you to Caleb for me.”
“Will do. Make yourself at home. The restaurant’s open ‘til midnight and the bar’s open ‘til two. It’s usually reserved for payin’ customers, but I’ll make an exception for you.”
I felt my cheeks heating at his words as he brushed by me. Just the smallest graze of his arm against mine sent my head flying into the clouds. Holy hell. Andrew had been flirting with me.
Just like he had been at that bonfire all those years ago.
When I was alone, I fell into a chair and pulled my phone from my pocket. I had to call Lizzie. I had to tell her all the things that were happening so I could keep my head from popping off my shoulders. Whitney helped to ground me when my drinking got out of control in college, but Lizzie was my best of best friends. She knew how to calm me down and she knew when to tell me the truth.
And right now, I needed both.
“Did you talk to your landlord? How’d it go?”
“Can we table that conversation in favor of another?” I asked.
“Do you have a place to live, Katie?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then that’s all that matters. You sound like you’re panicking. What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I had sex with Wyatt,” I said in a whisper.
The silence on the other end of the line was deafening.
“Like, just now?” Lizzie asked.
“A couple of days ago. After the talk with my landlord, I came back to the resort. To clear my head, and maybe to see him. We went on a walk, he k
issed me, he pushed me up against a tree—”
“Way to fuckin’ go, Katie!”
“So, this is a good thing?” I asked.
“It’s a fuckin’ wonderful thing. Girl, Michael was shit. I heard you complain more ‘bout your sex life with him than any other man ever. Period. How was he?”
“Wyatt?”
“No. Bono. Yes, Wyatt. How was he in bed?”
“Well, we weren’t in a bed technically,” I said.
“Oh shit. You got freaky, didn’t ya? In the hot tub? The steam room?”
“This place has a steam room?”
“You fuckin’ kiddin’ me? Yes, that place has a steam room. Now, where’d you fuck Wyatt?”
“In the stables,” I said.
“With all them animals watchin’? Oh, you’re into some freaky shit. I’m so proud of you I could cry.”
“Can you be serious for a second? I’m freaking out a bit here.”
“Why? Because you fucked someone after your dumbass ex-fiancé went batshit crazy on ya?” she asked.
“Well, I mean it’s only been a few days since I called off my wedding,” I said.
“So what? I think if you’re really honest with yourself, you haven’t loved Michael in a long time. You were with ‘im out of obligation for all the shit he did when your momma died. That’s not love. Nothin’ to move on from,” Lizzie told me.
“I guess you’re right. I haven’t loved Michael for quite some time now,” I admitted.
“Good, now that we got that settled. What’s got ya freaked?”
“So, Wyatt and I went for a walk a bit ago, and he kissed me again, but when we walked back up to the resort, Andrew was sitting on the patio.”
“Did he see? Oh, does he like to watch? He struck me as a freak.”
“You think everyone’s a freak. Lizzie, focus.”
“Sorry, go on,” she said.
“Wyatt had to go feed the animals, and Andrew asked me if anything was going on with Wyatt and me.”
“Wait, wait, wait? Don’t the Lee brothers own those resorts? What the hell is he doing feedin’ his own damn animals?” Lizzie asked.
I sighed and shook my head. “I don’t know Liz, maybe he likes to be hands on to make sure things get done? Can we get back to the point here please?”
“Okay, okay. So, Andrew asked if you and Wyatt were a thing?” Lizzie prompted.
“Yes. And I told him no.”
“Why’d ya do that?”
“Wyatt’s paranoid about his brothers finding out.”
“Oh, so you’re his dirty little secret. You like that kinda shit?”
“It doesn’t bother me,” I said. “But I playfully asked him if he was jealous.”
“Oh shit. I know where this is goin’.”
“And he said if something was happening, then he would be,” I said.
“Girl! You got those brothers hooked on you! You have no idea how proud of you I am right now. My little girl’s all grown up and shit,” she said.
“I’m freaking out a bit here,” I said.
“Honestly, Katie? I’m just glad you’re not crushed after your weddin’ to that asshole fell through. You're gettin’ back out there. Not lettin’ your past with him rule your life. That’s a good fuckin’ thing. I was worried you’d dwell on this shit for too long. And I know it feels like your life is kinda upendin’ itself quickly, but ya had plans and they failed, so shit’s gotta change. Nothin’ wrong with that. Just gotta roll with the punches. The bright side is this: you’re gettin’ good dick, ya got a place to live, and ya got a job you’re about to start.”
“Eh, sort of,” I said.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“I’m actually not too worried about that right now,” I said. “So, any advice?”
“On what?”
“On how to approach this stuff with the brothers?”
“I mean, sure. Fuck ‘em both if ya get the chance.”
“Why did I expect anything other than that?”
“I don’t know. Your fault. Anyway, I’m kinda in the middle of work, and my boss is givin’ me the stink eye. But when you sleep with someone, do me a favor.”
“What?” I asked.
“Don’t fuckin’ wait two days to tell me ‘bout it.”
I laughed as I hung up the phone and relaxed into the chair. I closed my eyes, allowing the sun to shine on my face as I drew in a deep breath. One step at a time. That was really good advice. Things were falling into place slowly but surely, and all I had to do was keep doing what I was doing.
Especially if that meant doing Wyatt.
CHAPTER 11
ANDREW
The day of the reunion was upon us and, in wonderful Lee fashion, shit still wasn’t fuckin’ done. And since I was the only one not working at the resort that day, I was tasked with filling in all the damn holes my brothers created when they said they’d do shit but didn’t. I had to finish up the grocery shopping and get those trash can bags that could fit a small fuckin’ army. I had to make sure we had enough propane to grill out and see about possibly getting another damn grill altogether. Caleb didn’t inform me that his was broken until the morning of the damn thing which meant I now had to figure out how the fuck we were going to feed one hundred-plus people on one damn grill.
Leave it to fuckin’ Caleb.
Then, there were the activities: movies for the kids and cornhole for the adults drinking because of their kids. I had to make sure we had enough beer, and I still had to come up with two more activities to entertain a bunch of drunk adults.
Great.
The day was going to be painful enough as it was, but it did present an advantage. I had Katie’s number on account of telling her I’d call her when Caleb found a job for her here. Which meant I could see what she was up to.
Maybe see if she wanted to come with me.
“Hello?”
“Hey there, beautiful. How ya doin’?”
“Hey, Andrew,” Katie said. “What’s up? Did Caleb find something?”
“Not just yet. Things are sorta on hold since this family reunion thing is goin’ on today. Speakin’ of, I gotta run into town for a whole lotta shit. Wanna come along?”
“Um, sure, yeah. That would actually work out better. Since I’m coming and all.”
“I’m glad you decided to come. I know people are gonna love to see ya,” I said.
“I’ll send you my address. Just give me, like, thirty minutes to piece myself together. If you get here and I can’t answer, though, Lizzie might be here. She’s dropping off something she borrowed.”
“Not a problem. See ya in thirty.”
“See you soon, Andrew.”
She shot me her address, and I made my way to her apartment. An afternoon with Katie all to myself was going to be awesome. I had a lot of errands to run and having her at my side was going to make all this shit more bearable. Plus, she was a pro at figuring out fun things to do. She set up half the damn games at bonfires when we were younger.
She could help me come up with more activities for everyone to do.
I got to her apartment and ran up the steps. She was on the top floor of her building, and I was huffing a bit once I finally got up there. I knocked on her door a few times before someone finally answered and, just like she said, it was Lizzie.
In a fuckin’ crop top shirt and some low-rise cut-off jeans.
“Hey there, handsome,” she said with a grin. “Come to pick up my best friend?”
“I have. I take it she ain’t ready?”
“Is she ever? It takes Katie forever to get ready nowadays,” she said. “Come on in. You can hang out and wait.”
Lizzie pressed herself a little too close to me as I came through the front door. It was awkward, standing in the room with Lizzie and her stomach showing. Her tits were spilling out of her crop top, and her ass was practically falling out the bottom of her jean shorts. She was Caleb’s type, for sure, but nowhere near mine.
I enjoyed my women a little more put together than her. Not high maintenance or shit like Dylan sometimes enjoyed but put together enough to have some damn dignity.
“So,” Lizzie said. “What y’all gettin’ into today?”
“I got errands to run for a family reunion Katie’s comin’ to,” I said.
“Errands? The fuck? You ain’t takin’ her somewhere nice? Shit, I thought this was a date or somethin’ by the way she was runnin’ around here.”
“Runnin’ around?” I asked.
“Yep. Like a damn chicken with no head.”
I grinned at the comment as footsteps sounded behind me.
“Okay, Andrew. Ready to head out?”
I turned around and took Katie in, my eyes scanning up and down her body. Fuck, she looked good. Her trademark cowboy boots and some well-worn jeans and a top that left none of her curves to the imagination. She was put together but showed just enough sass to make me grin. She wore a splash of makeup and her hair falling down her back.
I couldn’t believe I was going to have to share her with my whole damn family today.
“Ready when you are,” I said. “Ya look good, Katie.”
“Thanks. You clean up alright yourself.”
“Too bad this isn’t a date then, you two all cleaned up and such,” Lizzie said.
“Would you like that?” I asked.
“Like what?” Katie asked.
“For this to be a date.”
Lizzie’s eyes bulged, forcing me to bury the smirk crawling across my face as Katie shrugged.
“Maybe,” she said. “You never know.”
But I did know. I knew at the bonfire that night in high school and I knew now. She wanted this to be a date. She wanted to be at my side. She wanted me to sweep her off her damn feet and court her like a proper man should.
She’d always wanted it.
“Come on,” I said. “I’m gonna need your expertise in somethin’.”
“Need games to be planned?” Katie asked.
“See? Ya know me so well,” I said.
“You have cornhole, right?” she asked as we walked out the door.
“Yep. Three game sets,” I said. “Lizzie stayin’ at your apartment?”
“She’ll be fine. I told her to make herself comfortable.”
