Page 53 of Hold Me Until Morning

His gaze raked over her. “The best taste. I’m going to remind you of what that means later.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.” She dragged her fingers down the front of his shirt, gripping it in a fist at the bottom as she leaned in close. “Why don’t you grab a pitcher of margaritas while you’re at it? We have a few more coming.”

My little sister waved the martini glass that swam with the last dregs of her favorite bright-pink concoction. “This girl needs another cosmo, too.”

“Do I look like I have ten arms?” Caleb tossed out.

“I’ll help.” Ryder drained his whiskey and slammed it to the tabletop before he grabbed my sister by the back of the neck and kissed her hard. “Be right back.”

“Hurry,” she returned, voice breathy.

I scrubbed a palm down my face.

Bunch of loved up motherfuckers, the lot of them.

Ryder and Caleb disappeared into the fray, and Paisley hopped onto a stool, glancing between Savannah and Dakota. “So, like I was saying before Cody showed up, I haven’t seen her in like eight years and haven’t talked to her in six. We weren’t besties or anything?—”

“Good, I wouldn’t want to have to stab her.” Dakota spouted the razzing.

Paisley laughed. “Don’t worry, Doodle-Boo, no one could ever replace you. But I think you both will really like her. There was something about her that always drew me in, probably since she loves horses almost as much as I do. She’s a little younger than me and crazy beautiful. Super genuine and sweet. She’d moved away out of the blue, and I never got the whole story behind it, but I found out she was back, so I decided to invite her tonight. I didn’t figure anyone would mind.”

“Of course not. We’re always excited to meet new friends. Family we didn’t know we had.” Dakota glanced at Savannah when she said that.

I swore, my sister always made the effort to ensure those around her knew how important they were.

Appreciation deepened Savannah’s features, and she lifted her copper mug. “To family we didn’t know we had.”

“And you…” Paisley suddenly pointed at me just as I was sliding onto a free stool.

My brow lifted for the sky as I slung back in the seat. “Yeah?”

“I want you on your best behavior.”

I let a smirk slide to my mouth. “Come now, Paisley-Cakes, I’m always on my best behavior.”

I tossed the nickname my sister had called her for her entire life back at her. The two were ridiculous with the names they gave each other.

Eyes narrowing, she jabbed that finger harder in my direction. “And that right there is exactly the kind of behavior I don’t want to see. I haven’t seen Hails Bells in years, and I don’t want you chasing her off by trying to get into her pants.”

Hails Bells? Case in point. But damn, I had to admit, it was kind of cute.

I lifted both hands in surrender. “Now why would I go and do that?”

“Oh, I don’t know, because she’s stunning and you are…you.” Paisley gave a snarky tip of her head. “You’ll turn on all that charm and take off with her, and then she’s never going to talk to me again since you’ll ditch her before the sun comes up.”

“I would never?—”

Dakota cut me off with a disbelieving laugh as she polished off the last gulp of her drink. “Cody Cooper, don’t you dare say you aren’t guilty of that every single weekend.”

“Well, I can promise you I’m going home alone tonight.” It flew right out like truth.

Because I truly wasn’t in the mood. Normally, I’d already be making the rounds, scoping out the crowd, waiting for someone to catch my eye.

“Really?” Paisley challenged, her brow shooting for the sky.

“Really.” I said it like an oath.

Signed and sealed.

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