Page 23 of Bourbon and Secrets

He punches me hard in the arm and follows it up with a shoulder squeeze. The menacing kind that’s going to round out with a punch to the gut.I know, I deserve it.I let out a gasped breath as he does as predicted—anchoring a nice tight fist right under my ribs.“You know you deserved that one, right?”

I bend at the waist, hands on each knee, as I take a minute to catch my breath. A few seconds later, I follow it up with a “yep” and a nod.

Blowing out one more breath, I stretch my torso.Fuck, that hurt.“I’ll text you after lunch. I should have been at the distillery two hours ago. Ace’s cranky ass said he wanted to see me and I’m still not there.”

I turn my phone around to show Grant our oldest brother’s demanding wall of texts.

ACE

Need you here ASAP.

It’s not optional, get your ass here.

LINCOLN

Why? Hadley giving you shit again?

ACE

I’d like to see Maggie too. Please pick her up on your way. She’s not answering.

“Who fucked up?” Grant asks after reading.

“Fuck if I know.”

“Heard that Faye Calloway is the new burlesque girl at Midnight Proof. Still surprised she didn’t end up a cop, if I’m being honest. Del used to talk about her like she was one to watch.”

She’s one to watch, alright—it’s fucking hell trying not to.What the fuck was she wearing on a goddamn porch in the middle of winter?

“You catch her when you were there the other night?” My brother’s asking for a reason. Grant’s never passively curious. “Laney said she was incredible. Or rather, her words were ‘she’s a total smokeshow, I have a girl crush, and Hadley said Faye gave her lady boner.’”

Rubbing my hand across my mouth, I hide my smile. “Jesus Christ, those two.” I clear my throat before I lie. “I hadn’t really thought about it, but yeah, I saw her when I was there.”

His eyes narrow at me, and then he crosses his arms. “Hmm, that’s interesting. Is she next door staying with Maggie?”

I try to be cavalier. “Why are you asking me?”

“You live next door, first of all. And second, you’re being weird.”

“I’m being weird?” I say, pointing to myself.

“Yeah, it’s weird you didn’t mention it. You always have something to say about beautiful women around here. Fuck, you’re still being an asshole about Laney every chance you get.” He swats at me.

“You and your wife need more exciting things to talk about.” I turn back toward my car. “I’m leaving. Lark, Lily, I’ll see you a little later,” I call out over my shoulder.

“You realize I know when you’re lying, Linc?”

I don’t respond, instead flipping him off with a big smile as I get into my car.

Lily’s eyes widen as she catches my middle finger waving in plain sight.Shit. I flick on my podcast so I don’t hear her, but I watch in my rearview as she rubs her thumb and pointer finger together up high and mouths out,Middle fingers are ten bucks, Dad!

I should have never agreed to a curse purse.

Blaringmusic is the first thing that hits me when I stomp up the Calloway’s front porch. After knocking and waiting, it was easier to just let myself in. I told Faye I was coming back, but the moreimportant thing now is to bring Maggie into the distillery to talk business with Ace.

With a mouth full of cereal, Faye turns down the hallway and stops dead in her tracks when she sees me. I had expected a screech or scream, but instead, she cocks her head to the side and yells, “Couldn’t stay away, Foxx?”

It takes a lot of willpower not to laugh at that. After everything I said to her before I left—and I know it was harsh—she claps back with sarcasm. I don’t know why I like that, but it throws me off guard.Again.

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