Page 16 of Hat Trick Daddies

“Seemed appropriate.”

“I like your style,” she agrees, waving the bartender over. She orders her own piña colada, then puts her elbow on the bar and looks at me. “So, what brings you to Minnesota?”

I laugh. “Oh gosh, how long do you have?”

“Hours,” she says, smiling at the bartender as he drops off her drink before turning her attention back to me.

I grin. I like Kenzie.

“Well…” I say, and start telling my new friend all about the path that brought me back to my hometown.

CHAPTER SIX

Tyler

I swing openthe driver’s side door of my car, the glossy black paint gleaming under the orange haze of the streetlights.

The cool night air wafts in as I slide into the smooth leather seat, the faint smell of my cologne greeting me like an old friend. This car is my pride and joy, and I make sure it stays looking like it just rolled out of the showroom.

Glancing out the window, I see Nick, who’s leaning casually against the passenger side door, his good hand resting on the roof likeheowns the car.

His other hand is wrapped up in a neat bandage thanks to Doc Perry, and he’s giving me that smug, expectant look he always does when he wants something.

“What makes you think you’re getting a ride with me?” I ask, my smirk widening as I press the ignition button. The engine roars to life, a low, satisfying growl that vibrates through the car.

Nick lifts his injured hand, his expression deadpan. “You gonna make me drive with a busted hand?”

I snort, clicking my seatbelt into place. “That’s not all that’s busted about you,” I shoot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Funny,” he mutters flatly, shaking his head as he climbs into the passenger seat. He shuts the door with a little more force than necessary, and I smirk to myself.

The cabin fills with the soft rumble of the engine as I ease the car out of the parking lot. The tires crunch lightly over the gravel before we hit the smooth pavement of the street.

The city lights come into view as we head downtown, a shimmering backdrop of gold and white against the deep indigo sky.

I glance over at Nick, a sly grin tugging at my lips. “So, what do you think the odds are Ally shows up at the bar tonight?”

Nick rolls his eyes, his expression already halfway to annoyed. “What are you planning, Ty?” he asks, leaning back in his seat like he’s bracing for the worst.

“Nothing…much,” I reply, trying to sound innocent but not quite pulling it off.

The grin stretching across my face probably gives me away. “Just thought maybe I’d see if she wants to share a drink or a ride home.”

He groans, throwing his head back against the headrest. “Do you ever think with anything other than your…”

“Relax,” I cut him off, my grin widening. “She’s new here. She’s probably lonely, looking for friends. I’m just being hospitable.”

Nick crosses his arms over his chest, the movement stiff and deliberate. “You shouldn’t shit where you eat, Tyler,” he says flatly, his voice carrying that older-brother edge, even though we’re essentially the same age. He was born first, but that hardly counts.

It’s the same tone he uses when he’s convinced I’m about to do something reckless, which, to be fair, is pretty often.

I laugh at that, shaking my head as the city lights reflect off the hood of the car. “I eat wherever I want, bro. And you’ve got to admit, Ally’s something else.”

“She’s also the new doctor,” Nick points out, his tone sharpening. There’s a flicker of something more in his voice, concern, maybe, or frustration. It’s hard to tell with him sometimes.

“And? She’s hot, smart, and knows how to stitch a guy up. What’s not to like?” I glance over, half expecting him to argue, but he just exhales through his nose, shaking his head.

Nick falls silent, his gaze locked on the road ahead. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, the usual teasing grin on my face fading slightly.

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