Page 18 of Just Between Us

Next to me Abel shifted in his suit, drawing my attention. My hand clamped on his shoulder. “You nervous?”

“Nah.” The hard twitch at the corner of his mouth communicated otherwise.

My laughter rang out. “You’re so full of shit.”

I glanced at the gathering crowd. We stood just inside Abel’s Brewery, looking out onto the sand dune cliffs where Sloane and Abel would be married. The afternoon sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the sandy cliffs, encasing the brewery in soft, golden light.

“I’m happy for you.” Kings weren’t known for sharing their feelings, but I hoped he understood the sincerity in my voice.

Abel took my hand in his. “Thank you.”

Side by side we watched as more guests took their seats.

Duke Sullivan sat with our nephew Gus on his lap. His brothers and their spouses sat around him. Over the past several months Kate and Beckett Miller had worked on rebuilding Sloane’s family farmhouse. Whip flipped Lee the middle finger, and they both laughed before shaking hands. MJ looked so grown up in her fancy dress as she smiled at every guest, engaged in small talk, and made silly faces at Gus.

Abel laughed and shook his head.

I studied his face. “What is it?”

“Just this.” He gestured toward the wedding guests. “You think anyone would have believed Sullivans and Kings would be in the same room but be practically family? It’s wild.”

I exhaled and shook my head. “It is pretty fucked up.” Everything was shifting, and I wasn’t certain how I felt about that.

My eyes narrowed. “I think I’ll toilet paper Lee’s truck to make up for it.”

My older brother shook his head. “You are such a child.”

I shrugged, not bothering to argue with him. As we waited, I scanned the crowd. My eyes fell on Veda Bauer, and my face split into a sly grin.

Another intriguing mystery to unravel.

Veda was standing apart from the crowd, dressed in a one-shoulder satin dress in a deep charcoal color that hugged her curves and accentuated her bright-jade eyes. A high slit on one side revealed the smooth, tan skin of her thigh, and my mouth went dry.

Damn, she is pretty.

She must have felt my attention on her, because when she looked over her shoulder, her stare could have made even Lucifer’s balls freeze and fall off.

My older brother winced. “Yikes. What the hell did you do to her?”

I assumed with the wedding planning, he hadn’t yet heard about the egg-and-milk incident. My grin spread as I shook my head. “I don’t know ... I don’t think she likes me.”

Abel’s face scrunched. “Why are you smiling like that?”

Energy coursed through me as I drank in the way her scowl and piercing green eyes were directed at me. My shoulders danced. “I kind of like them feisty.”

Abel pinched the bridge of his nose. “Jesus. Do not mess with the one woman who’s helping us out of Dad’s mess. That woman looks like she would crush your balls and smile about it.”

“What’s her deal?” I whispered to Abel.

He shrugged. “JP was tight-lipped about it.”

“Typical.” I nodded.

“I guess she was working as a consultant for some huge corporation in Chicago when things fell apart. When the deal fell through, it ruined her career.”

My face twisted. “Seriously? All that because a deal went south?” Seemed odd.

Abel shrugged again. “Apparently not just any deal—the deal of the century. It was a slam dunk and she bungled it. I’d watch out if I were you.”

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