Page 63 of Crave Me

I chance a look at Blaire, her face paling slightly before she turns to face Hannah, asking her something I didn’t catch.

“I’m doing pretty great lately, Harlow. You doing good? When are you heading back to school?”

“I’m free until mid-January,” she nearly purrs. Right in front of everyone, shamelessly. She’s in her last year of college and it must be doing good things for her confidence.

“Well, enjoy your break,” I say, my tone kind but clipped. I turn to face my sister-in-law. “Where are my brothers? Or did I just crash a girls-only New Year’s Eve?”

“They’re in the kitchen pulling out drinks and food. Sawyer was being his overprotective self and wouldn’t let me carry the beer out.”

“Good. I agree, gotta keep my niece or nephew safe in there. I’ll be back. Ladies, good seeing you. I’m going to go find my brothers.”

I excuse myself and walk through the large dining room and back to the kitchen where all of my brothers are, plus Reid. Lucky for everyone here, especially Blaire, Cole-fuckface-Barnes is nowhere in sight. Hopefully he’s spending his New Year’s Eve rutting into the hollowed center of a fucking tree stump.

“Hey, boys! How’s everyone doing tonight?”

“Hey, man. ’Bout time you made it. Girls still keeping it together out there?”

“Got held up taking care of a few things. Yeah, they’re doing good.”

“Good, now help us carry all this out.”

“Jesus, she made a damn feast of appetizers,” I joke. But honestly, there’s tray after tray of food. She must think she’s feeding an army, cause there’s no way all of this will get eaten.

Sawyer points at each of us before speaking. “Yeah, she’s been working hard on it, so you assholes better fucking eat it all.”

We each grab what we can and carry it out to lay on the bar top. She’s made cranberry brie bites, bacon wrapped dates, various dips, crab stuffed mushrooms, breads, tarts, crème brûlée, and so much more. Everyone praises Ivy before digging in.

“Okay, Blaire, why didn’t you bring Cole?” Ivy asks, and I can’t help but listen over my shoulder even though I’m a ways away from them and straining to hear.

“He’s not my type. We went on one real date, and he was just a little pushy after, and I can’t stand men who are so forward,” Blaire says, and I snort.

“So, the date wasn’t good? You brought him to my wedding, I kinda assumed . . .”

“He brought me to The Night Owl for our first date. Which is fine, I guess. But not my ideal first date.”

“Okay, now I want to know, what is Blaire’s dream date?”

“Oh gosh, that’s actually pretty easy. He’d take me somewhere new, someplace that shows me who he is, somewhere I could experience what he likes through his eyes.”

“Well, Blaire Hollis! I was not expecting that. I like it!”

And just like that, I know I’m taking Blaire on our first date and exactly where I’m taking her.

“What about you, Kinsey?” Ivy asks my sister.

“I’m so lame and such a homebody. Probably something intimate and quiet? I don’t really date.”

“What?” all of the women snap in unison at my sister. Her face pales and I stiffen, not liking her being put on the spot. My brothers all seem to feel the same as their body language changes as well.

“Well . . .” Kinsey sweeps her hand out to all of the men standing around with their arms crossed, visibly agitated. “I’m a Hayes, first of all, and second, I’ve got those four brutes for older brothers. No one has had the balls to touch me. And the ones who have? Well, why don’t you ask Sawyer.”

Ivy’s head whips to her husband. But it’s Harlow’s big mouth that keeps Sawyer from being able to defend how he broke Alex Ford’s hand when he caught him grabbing Kinsey’s ass after a football game she cheered at in high school.

“Wait, you’re not a virgin, are you? There’s no way!” Harlow practically yells.

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!”

“What the fuck?”

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