Page 32 of Wood You Knot

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I frowned.

“Means she’s even hotter now,” Noah explained with a smirk. “If you don’t make a move, I just might.”

Before I could tell him to back off, Tabitha spotted us and waved, then said something to the others, and they started walking over to our table. Sage and the other woman didn’t look too thrilled at the prospect of coming over to chat with us, but they followed Tabitha anyway.

“Hey, guys. I wanted to introduce my new friends. They just moved here,” Tabitha said once she was standing beside the table. “Sage Whitaker and Lilah Willard. Sage, you already know Nix—he’s my brother-in-law,” she said with a grin, introducing me to Lilah.

“Nice to meet you,” Lilah said, and I tipped my chin and smiled in greeting.

“This is Donavon Ashe, he’s the history and woodshop teacher over at Hartwood Creek High School, and Noah Wood—another cousin of mine who also happens to be my husband’s best friend.” Tabitha continued making the introductions, pointing to Donavon and Noah each in turn. “You’ll probably end up spending some time with Donavon at the Fall Fun Fundraiser, since he wrangles the sophomores that will be helping with setup.”

“It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it,” Donavon joked. “Nice to meet you ladies, and welcome to Hartwood Creek.”

“Thanks. It’s nice to meet you too,” Sage said, politely smiling, but then her eyes landed on me. “Nix.” She nodded at me in greeting.

“Hey, Sage.” The two words were all I seemed able to get out, the rest of what I was going to say dying on my tongue when her eyes locked on mine.

I was hypnotized; it was like she was calling out for me—or calling to me. Her gaze alone was a siren’s lure. I could get lost in the depths of those green eyes for hours, but then she blinked and looked away, and the spell was broken—although not forgotten.

“Well, enjoy your evening, fellas! It’s moms’ night out, so we’re going to go drink our faces off. It’s time to introduce you ladies to my girls,” Tabitha told them, a mischievous look on her face.

About once a month or so, Tabitha met up with her girlfriends for drinks at The Quarter Lounge, and when she did…she tended to go a little wild. I’d likely be making my current beer my only beer, just so I could play designated driver later.

I couldn’t help but watch as they walked off toward the table by the stage, where Annalise Hastings, Ophelia Loucks, and Isla Bennett were sitting, a huge pitcher of their go-to drink—sangria—half-finished in front of them. The three girls waved at Tabitha as soon as they spotted her.

Tabitha, Sage, and Lilah had just joined them when Auston Robertson walked in and spotted us.

Auston was the last to join our friend group when he moved to Hartwood Creek as a teen. He and Donavon had gone to college together and both worked on the Fall Fun Fundraiser.

“Sorry I’m late, had to clean up after the meeting,” Auston apologized, sliding into the booth beside me and reaching for the last empty beer glass. The pitcher of beer that had previously been full was practically empty now, but the server, Mae, was way ahead of us.

She replaced our nearly empty pitcher with two full ones.

“Ahh, thank you, Mae. You are a godsend,” Noah said, grinning with appreciation.

“Just doing my job,” she replied before skipping off to serve other patrons.

Auston poured himself a beer and took a long sip. After swallowing, he wiped his mouth. “I’ll be glad when this fundraiser is over. So much planning goes into it.”

“Yeah, but you’re never short on volunteers,” I pointed out with a smirk. Seemed like every year, the volunteer participation from parents grew—and it was mainly moms signing up. Some would drag their husbands along, but I knew far too many were there to ogle over the good-looking, dark-haired teacher.

As one of the few eligible bachelors in town, Auston had amassed quite the fan club. He wasn’t a player like Noah, nor did he often partake in one-night stands like Donavon. He was more like me, waiting on that right person to take a chance on.

“Ha-ha,” Auston said dryly.

“Hell, some of them are gathered over by the stage,” Noah pointed out, gesturing by lifting his chin toward the table Tabitha, Lilah, and Sage had joined. Auston looked over his shoulder and grunted. “Think one of them would volunteer to come home with me? That dark-haired one…mmm.”

Auston’s head turned so fast, I was surprised he didn’t injure it, and the unamused look on his face was enough to make even Noah take pause.

“Don’t even think about it,” he grumbled.

“What, did you both call dibs? That’s not fair.” Noah sulked.

“Nobody’s calling dibs on anyone. They’re human beings, Noah.” It was my turn to frown.

“So neither one of you would be pissed off if I went over there and offered to buy one of those beautiful specimens a drink?” Noah challenged.

Auston’s jaw clenched, but he lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “Go for it.”

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