Page 31 of Just Between Us

I tapped a beat on the tabletop with my palms. “I think we’re waiting on a few more, but I’ll start with a pint of Brewer’s Wife. You’ve got that on the rail, right?”

“Freshly tapped.” She scribbled my order on a pad of paper. “I’ll be right back with it.”

“Thanks.” I settled into my seat and surveyed the bar. The band was deep into their set, and sure enough, Lee and Annie were the best dancers out there. I clocked a few interested gazes sent my way from women I didn’t recognize.

Tourists, most likely. Any other night I might have anticipated a little midweek fun. Instead, my eyes kept wandering toward the large oak door, hoping to see a certain raven-haired bombshell with a mean streak walk in.

As luck would have it, the door swung open, and a group of women spilled through the entrance. Sullivans and Kings intermixed as the women laughed and talked over one another. It was clear they’d already started drinking at their book club. At the center of the gaggle of hens was Veda. True to her nature, her eyes were sharp and assessing as they swooped through the bar.

Behind her, my little sister MJ smiled brightly, and when our eyes caught, she offered a tiny curtsy.

I owed that girl a drink.

Behind the women were their partners, looking like a pack of puppy dogs as they followed behind. Wyatt and Beckett were chatting while Abel and Duke skulked in the background. They both looked like the Grudge was the last place on earth they wanted to be.

I caught Abel’s eye, lifting two fingers as the group surrounded me. The women each took a seat while the men begrudgingly offered grunts and chin raises and acknowledgment.

“This is nice, right?” Sloane looked around and smiled.

Abel stood behind his wife and crossed his arms. “Kind of loud in here, don’t you think?”

I chuckled. Abel thought any place other than his brewery was too loud.

The server returned with my beer and took the orders of the group. A few couples peeled off to dance or chat with friends.

“Where’s JP?” MJ asked.

I shrugged. “Not really his thing, you know?”

MJ sighed, visible disappointment settling over her shoulders. I suspected JP was a lost cause. Too many years beinggroomed by our father to see Dad for what he really was. MJ was still holding out hope that JP wouldn’t turn out exactly like our father.

Poor kid.

As the music played, I stared at Veda. Her body was intentionally angled toward my sister as they engaged in conversation. My fingers itched to run through the silky strands of her dark hair, so I kept them busy by tracing the condensation on the outside of my pint glass.

It was mere hours ago that she had watched me stroke myself to the thought of her on her knees. It was a dirty little secret that only we shared.

I grinned at the thought.

“The hell are you smiling at?” Lee asked, his pint of beer paused halfway to his mouth. His eyes flicked down, then back up to mine. “Did you fuck with my drink while I was out there?”

I scoffed. “No.”

He eyed his drink and slowly lowered it to the table. I rolled my eyes, reached across the table, and took a big gulp of his beer before sliding it back in front of him.

“Happy?” I asked, wiping the drop from my lip.

He shrugged. “Good enough for me.” Lee swiped his drink up before turning to face the dance floor.

Beside me, Veda said something to MJ before excusing herself from the table and weaving through the crowd toward the bathrooms near the back of the bar.

I polished off my drink and gently slapped my palm on the table. “Be right back.”

“Please leave that girl alone,” Abel warned.

My face twisted. “What? I’m just gonna go say hi to someone I know over there.”

Abel let out a disbelieving noise, but I let it roll off my shoulders.

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