Page 31 of Bull Rush

“You’re married, remember?” I echo his earlier statement to me.

It’s an idle threat on his part anyway. He doesn’t like strip clubs, and he’d never touch Vic, not knowing how she treated me. But the thought of it still makes the jealousy curl around my spine, and he knows it. This is tit for tat for all my honeymoon talk.

“Am I?” he taunts, leaning in until I can feel his breath on my neck. “Because if I was, I’m pretty sure she’d remember how good I can be to her. How well I take care of her. All theways I could put us both out of our misery.” His lips are against my throat by the time he’s done, whispering the last of his words against my skin, and it’s working. Flashes of the two of us are all I can see, like I’m on my deathbed, and I’m granted one last chance to remember all the best things I ever felt and tasted and saw… and they were allhim.

“Ramsey…” I say softly.

“Just ask.”

I don’t answer him. I can’t. I’m trapped between wanting him and wanting to believe I’m over him. I can feel his hands ball into fists around the ribbons, and he buries his face in the crook of my neck as my silence stretches on.

He takes a deep breath a few moments later, and then he digs his fingers into my ass and hauls us both up to our feet, setting me down on my heels. His hand wraps around my jaw and tightens, and his lips press against my ear.

“Then don’t do this to us again until you can.” He releases his grip on me and disappears upstairs to his room, leaving me feeling likeI’vesomehow fucked up instead of him.

FOURTEEN

Ramsey

BO:

You coming out tonight for guys’ night?

We’re celebrating Anson’s birthday.

Am I invited?

Frankly,I’m not sure whether or not I’m back in the Briggs family’s good graces. I could use a night out, though, some time and distance away from Hazel. She’s been invading every thought I’ve had since I got here, and since she’s dead set on tormenting the hell out of me before she’ll even consider giving in, I could use a night off from it.

BO:

You’re still our brother for the time being.

Where are we headed?

Downtown. Grabbing dinner at Brady’s at seven and then to Seven Sins for some drinks. Try to see if we can play wingman for the confirmed bachelor and get him laid for his birthday.

See you at Brady’s.

When I get done with helping Kell and Elliot for the day, I take a quick shower back at the ranch house and get cleaned up for dinner. Hazel left a note that she’s staying for the dinner talk she’s arranged for the guests tonight, so I won’t be missed by going out with the rest of the guys.

By nine, we’re winding down dinner and having a whiskey and laughing our asses off as they sing “Happy Birthday” to Anson while he scowls at us.

“That was fucking uncalled for,” he mutters as he pulls the candle out of the cake and tosses it to the side. One of the waitstaff, a cute blonde who clearly was trying to flirt with him, had made him blow it out.

“You make it too easy.” Cade’s chest rumbles with laughter as Anson flips his brother the bird. Hazel’s youngest brother is night and day from her oldest, wild and free where Anson’s quiet and calculated.

“Fuck off. I was promised steak and drinks. Not a fucking musical.” Anson’s the conservative one of our little friend group, and he’d rather spend his nights at home with his son, watching ball, camping, or hitting his bed early to try to catch the fish in the morning, than be out with us.

“Gotta let us have a little fun.” Bo pushes the fresh glass of whiskey the waiter’s brought to the table toward his brother. “Drink up, and maybe you’ll enjoy it more.”

“Doubtful.” Anson flashes me a pointed look. “And I expectedmore from you.”

“I’m just along for the ride. Don’t blame me!” My laughter dies, but the smile doesn’t.

“Some balm for your grumpy ass.” Kingston, one of Anson’s partners at his construction company and a good friend of his, pushes some cigars wrapped in a black ribbon his way. “You can enjoy an intermission before our next stop.”

“Thanks.” Anson holds up the cigars and nods to his friend. “Maybe. Or I might just head home to smoke one.”

---