Page 25 of Found By You

I open my mouth to respond when a light tap hits me on the shoulder and has me turning.

Maci’s stunning smile fills my vision and it’s like a whole room disappears until all I can see is her. She came.

Her deep red hair flows evenly down either side of her busty chest. She’s done up to the nines—and I swear she’s glowing—wearing high-waisted black leggings, a low-cut maroon long-sleeve that hugs tight to her mouthwatering hourglass curves, and battered brown cowgirl boots that look like they’ve seen mud.

“Hey.” She smiles, lifting her hand in an awkward wave while holding her purse and flimsy coat in the other.

I push back on my stool to stand. “Hey, when did you get here?”

“Like five minutes ago,” she says. “I’ve been looking for you. I thought finding your tall ass would’ve been a lot easier.”

I grin. “You should’ve texted me. I would’ve stood up for you.”

She giggles.

“You didn’t walk here, did you?” I ask, my jaw tight at the thought. She scrunches her nose in the same cute as fuck way she did earlier over craving a jar of peanut butter. I’m a goner for that look.

Stan coughs loudly enough to catch my attention. I turn and all eyes are on us.

“Hey, Maci,” Levi shouts. “Nice to see you again.”

Maci smiles kindly. “You too, Levi.”

I gesture to her at my side. “Everyone, this is Maci,” I announce, quickly going through the motions to introduce her to everyone. The entire time, I keep an eye on Butch. He hasn’t taken his eyes off her and how close she’s drifted to me. And while I can’t get enough, my brother has a look etched into his gaze that could kill.

I take Maci’s coat and drape it over mine on the back of the chair then pull it out for her to sit. I lean down to whisper in her ear, “Did you want something to drink?”

She places a hand on my forearm, squeezing it as she whispers, “Yes, but don’t leave me here alone. I think there’s something wrong with your brother…”

I throw my head back with a laugh and take her hand in mine. I ignore everyone and walk her hand-in-hand over to the bar, ordering myself another beer and a virgin raspberry mojito for her.

“I would’ve picked you up,” I tell her, paying for the drinks.

She rolls her eyes. “I knew you were going to say that. I decided last minute. It was after eight by the time I started to get ready.”

“Still,” I grunt. “You said you’d call.”

Her smile drops into a yelp as she’s roughly bumped from behind by a couple of rowdy assholes. She’s pushed forward and nearly straight into the bar top. I wrap an arm around her and draw her into me, shoving back the guy who bumped her.

“Watch it,” I growl. He puts his hands up, giving a weak apology to Maci before he retreats. Maci sags against me for a moment and my chest tightens. “You all right?”

She nods, righting herself. “Yeah.”

We take our drinks and weave our way through the growing crowd. I keep a firm hold on Maci’s hand as we do. The need to keep her close is uncontrollable. I have to. It’s like there’s an outside force demanding it of me. And I listen.

When we return to the table, Levi is yanked onto the dance floor by one of Cassidy’s friends, whom I never caught the name of. The timing is perfect, however. “Move down, Stan,” I say.

Maci takes his spot and I return to mine beside her. Butch’s over assessing expression hasn’t faltered and it resumes the moment we’re comfortable. I kick his shin under the table, and his head snaps to me. “Knock it off,” I growl lowly.

Stan stands with a clap of his hands. “All right, fuckers, are we doing birthday shots or what?” He points around the table before landing on Maci, he asks, “What’s your poison, pretty lady?”

I clench my jaw with a tick at his choice of words.

Butch snorts, eyeing me as he toys with the neck of his beer bottle between his fingers. Watching me, her—us. And I don’t like what he thinks he sees.

“I’m all set, thank you,” Maci says, sipping her drink.

Stan groans dramatically. “Aw, come on. We’re already down one here tonight cause she’s pregnant. Don’t tell me you are, too.”

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