Page 33 of Just Between Us

Veda gestured between us. “You want me to challenge you in a paintball match?”

I could barely contain my excitement. I gestured toward the table of Bluebirds. “It’ll be a group outing. I can tell my sisters we’re all bonding. They’ll eat that shit up. Unless ...” I lifted a shoulder. “You’re too afraid to lose.”

Fire danced in her green eyes at my challenge as her jaw flexed. “You’re on.”

Her hand jutted out between us, and I captured it, tugging gently so her body was flush with mine. “I can already imagine how pretty you’ll look when I’m gazing down at you ...” My words dripped with innuendo, and heat flashed in her eyes. Her lips parted as I stared at them. “When I’m looking down from the winner’s podium. Obviously.”

Veda’s nostrils flared. I laughed and sauntered toward our group before I stopped to look over my shoulder. “Are you checking out my ass right now?”

She was, and heat flooded her cheeks. With a shake of her head, Veda breezed past me, bumping my shoulder as she went by.

Game on, Precious.

NINE

ROYAL

My whole body buzzed,knowing I was about to kick Veda’s ass in some serious paintball. My skin crawled with pent-up anticipation.

Fox Paintball was on the outskirts of Remington County, nestled into ten acres of wooded fields. It was peak season, so I had called ahead and guaranteed our reservation. With field names like Carnage, Wasteland, and Ghosttown, there would be plenty of opportunities to wipe the smug grin off Veda’s pretty little face.

I leaned against the hood of my truck, eagerly waiting for everyone else to arrive. Over the past few days, my sisters and I had cobbled a group together so the Saturday-morning outing would be fun for everyone. It was best if no one knew the real reason behind my bet with Veda.

MJ arrived first and leaned next to me with a grin. “Gang’s all here.”

I glanced down at her. “Who decided to show?”

I only cared that Veda showed up.

MJ pointed around the parking lot as cars and trucks I recognized pulled in.

“Wyatt was busy at a football camp, but Penny pleaded to participate. Lark promised to watch over her but doesn’t want to play, so she can hang with Sylvie and Gus.”

I nodded. “We’ll take care of the little one.”

MJ scoffed. “That girl is hell on wheels. I’d watch out if I were you.” MJ jutted out her chin. “Kate and Beckett are in. So is Whip, but Em has to work at the library. Annie’s also busy at the art studio. Abel’s out, but Sloane plans to come and watch. So ... that leaves Team Sullivan with Penny, Kate, Beckett, and Lee. Our side will have you, Whip, me, and Veda.”

I had moved to speak up when MJ cut me off with one finger raised in the air. “But ... Veda informed me you ran your mouth, and now she’s Team Sullivan. Nice going, sport.”

Team Sullivan?I frowned, but if I was going to win our bet, we had to be on opposing sides. “I’m assuming JP didn’t want to risk rumpling his suit?”

MJ nodded. “That would be an accurate assumption. I called in a couple of pinch hitters or—” She waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Whatever they’re called. Tall Chad and Other Tall Chad are both going to play on our side.”

I gave my sister a hard side-eye.

“What?” she asked. “It was them or Ms. Tiny. I had to make a choice.”

Kicking off the hood of my truck, I grumbled: “I would have taken my chances with the old bird. She’s ruthless.”

“And a thousand years old.” MJ’s laugh cracked through the air behind me. “I’m not used to seeing you like this. Competitive, sure. But grumpy? The new girl is really getting under your skin.”

Side by side we walked toward the entrance, casually greeting the others as we made our way inside.

Lark and Sloane sat in the viewers’ stands with Sylvie and my nephew. The rest of us made our way into the building to go overthe rules, sign a few waivers, and receive our equipment for the day.

I caught an eyeful of Veda, and my jaw went slack. She was dressed in canvas sneakers and black jeans that hugged the curves of her ass. Her matching black T-shirt was threadbare and plastered to her chest. I could barely make out the coral-red strap of her sports bra. Her long, dark hair was pulled neatly into a bun at the base of her neck.

I must have stared a bit too long because when I glanced at her, her icy stare was pinning me in place. A lopsided grin spread across my face.

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