Page 46 of Finding Hope

Like a clashing of the titans, two strong hands meet and shake. “Her date,” Brad amends.

I stink of urine, I swear.

“Nice to meetcha, Brad. I didn’t mean to keep her. We’re old pals.” Jack’s mischievous eyes meet mine for half a beat. “I haven’t seen her in months, so color me surprised when I saw her moving through the restaurant just now. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to say hey.” Finally, they release hands. “Actually, just before you arrived, I was asking if she wanted to say hello to my family.”

“Your family?”

“Yeah, like I said, we’re old friends. We used to hang out as a family all the time.” His dimple flashes playfully and has me looking at my feet before I reveal the only time we’ve ever hung out as a family was when I was wearing his shirt and could stillfeelhim between my legs. “Anyway, we’re all here tonight, and when I saw Britt, my sister asked that I bring her over for a quick hello.”

My eyes flare. “She did?”

“Yeah.” He steps away, confident that we’ll follow. “Just quickly, then you can get back to your date. I promise not to keep you.”

“Jack, I don’t know–”

“Evie and Bean are here, too. They saw you.”

Well, shit.

Brad’s firm hand squeezes my hip. “No. I don’t think–”

“Yeah. Alright.” I look into Jack’s eyes, then Brad’s. “Just for a second.”

Jack’s dimple flashes victoriously.

Leading us away from the restroom area, past a handful of small tables, then around a small partition, we enter a space filled to the brim with big people.

“Hey, limpdick! You found her.”

“Bobby! Jesus.”

My face burns red at the biggest fighter’s words, then as Kit elbows him in the chest. “Hush.” Standing tall, looking all elegant and beautiful and shit, I want to roll my eyes at her beauty and that damn half dimple thing both siblings have going on. “Hi, Britt. It’s so nice to see you again.” Stepping around the table, she pulls me into her arms like we really are friends from way back. “I’m so glad he caught you. You look so beautiful.”

I step back from her friendly embrace, only to find my hip possessively back in Brad’s hand. “Um, thank you. You look beautiful, too.”

“Guys, this is Brad,” Jack announces easily. “Britt’s date.”

I have only a second to wonder how awkward this whole situation is – I mean, damn! I was with Jack, I was a whore, and now I’m here with Brad – but then a duet of indrawn breaths have me gritting my teeth and looking to the end of the table.

Evelyn and Lucy Kincaid. “That’s Miss T!” Evie whisper yells. “And Mr. Maxwell, too.”

Bean giggles. I groan. Brad pisses on my leg some more via tight grip on my hip.

The man I remember as Jimmy Kincaid, though I haven’t had reason to speak with him or any of the Kincaid parents since that first time, stands and offers his hand. “Mr. Maxwell?”

Releasing my hip, Brad takes Jimmy’s hand and smiles his PR smile. “Yeah, Brad Maxwell.”

“Hey. I’m Jimmy Kincaid.”

Narrowed eyes, Brad grips Jim’s hand and grins tightly. “Jimmy Kincaid.” He looks toward Izzy for a long minute, then back to Jim. “I’m a fan.”

“Britt.” Unaware of Brad’s gaze, Izzy smiles and reaches out for my hand. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You, too.” I look at every kind face at the table. They all smile, some of them smile more mischievously than others. “It’s nice to see you all. Um, you know,” I murmur almost silently. “Under better circumstances.”

Jimmy Kincaid’s wolfish smile has me blushing like a fool and studying my shoes. “I’m just glad our boy caught you. We’ve missed you around our place.”

“You have?”

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