Page 34 of His Curvy Distraction

Hudson nodded and filled a glass with ice, then added water before setting it in front of me. He worked down the line of men who filtered in and joined me at the bar while I did what I could to calm my mind and panic.

Daniel Ryan, former front man of a massively successful band who gave it all up when he met the love of his life and moved to MacKellar Cove, slid onto the stool next to me and scowled at the mirror behind the bar. “Daisy Lincoln is going to destroy my peace and quiet in this town.”

“Daisy’s a firecracker. What is she talking you into?” Knox Randall asked. Knox owned Al’s Hardware, and we hadn’t had much contact, but I knew he was someone who was well respected in town.

“She’s trying to get us to do a show for some fundraiser. She’s relentless. Sofia is trying to talk me into it now.” Sofia was Daniel’s girlfriend and business partner. The two of them were creating their own version of success with songs they were writing together, but Daniel had mostly given up performing and the life of fame that kept him on the road and under the thumb of others.

“That’s the fundraiser for the new summer camp,” Ramsey Holland said, joining the conversation. “You should do it. Melody is helping Natalie and Daisy plan the whole thing. My daughter’s best friend goes to the summer camp and loves it. Said Natalie is her favorite adult that isn’t her mom or Melody. Daisy’s hitting up everyone to make sure the fundraiser brings in what’s needed. Natalie got hurt, and Daisy went a little nuts.”

“Is Natalie okay?” Knox asked.

It was completely irrational that I was mad Knox was asking. The man was engaged and had a pregnant fiancée, but I didn’t want him to be asking about Natalie.

“She’s fine,” I answered. “Her ankle is sprained, but she said she’s okay.”

“You’re friends with Natalie?” Hudson asked.

I realized I had the attention of all the men gathered. James raised his brows and smirked at me, waiting with the rest of them for my confession.

“She works for me. I had a meeting with her and James’s mother, Amelia, earlier. Amelia read Natalie the riot act and got me to agree that she can’t be out there alone and risk getting hurt again,” I said.

The others exchanged looks and nodded.

“Glad she’s okay,” Knox said. He looked past me to someone else. “Have you or Laura checked her out? Make sure she’s good?”

I turned and found Doctor Nico Allison shaking his head.

“We don’t usually deal with injuries like that, but I’ll make sure Laura knows. Daisy has been dragging Natalie to book club.” Nico grinned wryly, and the other men chuckled.

“What’s book club?” I asked.

“All the women get together Sunday night at Book Boyfriends Unlimited and talk about how amazing we are,” Hudson said.

The others snorted their laughter.

“Something like that,” James said. “Usually they’re bitching about something one of us did.”

“Speak for yourself,” Ramsey said. “My wife doesn’t complain about me.”

“Anymore,” James retorted.

Ramsey flipped him off, and James laughed.

“Children, we have a guest. Knock it off,” Hudson told them. He jerked his head in my direction.

“Whoa, I’m a guest?” I asked.

Hudson raised one eyebrow. “You’ve never been here for guys’ night, and you’re kind of everyone’s boss, so we need to be on our best behavior.”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t want that. I didn’t come here tonight to make everyone uncomfortable. I just wanted to...”

“Not think about Natalie Edwards for a little while?” James said.

The others exchanged a look but didn’t say anything.

I met James’s gaze and shook my head. “You’re not helping that, you know?”

James smirked. “That’s not why we come here. We come here to figure out what to do about our women. Not forget them.”

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