Page 36 of My Mistake To Make

I step back as he says my name for the first time in days and look toward the bar, where the sisters watch what’s happening with wide eyes.

‘Oh, okay. Sorry about the toes, Tristan. It was lovely to meet you.’

I rush back toward the bar, and Zoe slides a drink to me.

‘What did he say?’

‘Huh?’

‘Doug,’ Bree pushes. ‘Did he go all caveman on Tristan?’

She’s practically vibrating out of her seat.

‘What? No. He wanted to talk to him about work.’ I sit, and Zoe laughs.

‘Bullshit. The day my brother hires Tristan Beaumont for work is the day hell freezes over.’

‘That’s what he said. What do you mean, caveman?’

My question seems to sober Bree up, and Zoe busies herself serving another customer. One who hadn’t asked to be served incidentally.

‘Bree?’

She leans over and talks directly into my ear.

‘He’ll seriously put me in the ground if he finds out I told you this, but he hated you dancing with Tristan. He stomped over here, asking why we were letting you get swept up by him, then next thing, Tristan’s hands looked to be wandering, and his mouth started looking for yours, and Doug stomped over there with pressing business. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say jealousy just bit my brother right in the ass.’

It’ll All Work Out, My Beautiful Boy

Doug

Tristan fucking Beaumont. Thatmother fucker putting his hands on what’s mine? I don’t fucking think so.Okay, so she’s not mine, and now I have to actually pay the asshole for a day’s work, but it’s worth it. He was about to kiss her. I know he was, and I couldn’t let that happen.

Stomping through the bar to interrupt their dance wasn’t my smoothest moment, but I couldn’t stop myself. Hearing herlaugh with him, seeing her hands on him, and the way she smiled up at him, fuck no.

His fingers were venturing a little too close to the waistband of her jeans, and honestly, he should be thanking all that’s good and holy he still has the use of them.

I realized the second I said his name that I fucked up. I’d stepped in, and now I needed a reason. I couldn’t tell him to back the fuck up, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t throw Cara over my shoulder, carry her back to her cabin and show her that she’s mine and only mine, so I thought on the spot and work was the only thing that came up.

Tristan, for all his faults and the fact that he’s a pretty boy who thinks he’s the best thing to ever happen to the women of Forest Falls and the vicinity, knows plumbing like the back of his hand. I wasn’t looking to hire a plumber until I got to the real tricky parts but fuck it, here we are.

‘Wait, you want me to work with you on the Reynolds’ place?’ His eyes widen, and it looks as though Cara is a distant memory for him.

‘Yeah, well, it’s a wreck, you know that, but um, sure. I’m going to need someone to look at the plumbing. I’ll give you a call.’

‘Wait.’ The word comes out as a laugh, and I turn to look at him. ‘This is not a pressing issue, but you interrupted me with Cara?’

I exhale, feeling my nostrils flare, and he laughs.

‘No fuckin’ way. Shit man. I thought your dick must have fallen off or something.’

‘I don’t know what you’re getting at.’

‘Sure, you don’t.’ He grins, and it pisses me off.

‘You want the work or not?’ I practically growl, and he holds his hands up defensively.

‘If I want the work, I gotta stay away from Cara, right?’ I glare at him, and he laughs again. ‘I don’t know, man. That is a finepiece of ass.’ I step toward him, and he backs up, still fucking grinning. ‘Okay, okay, calm down. Pussy is pussy. I’ll get it elsewhere.’

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