Page 94 of Bourbon and Proof

“I like the idea of having a family, but that doesn’t need to include babies. I don’t think I ever allowed myself to want things like kids.” I swallow whatever little bit of fear I have in saying it, because I wonder if he feels that way too. “Why? You offering?” I ask lightly.

Ace cuffs a piece of hair behind my ear. “You should know by now that I’ll give you whatever you want, Hadley.” With that, he holds me closer, like he can’t imagine letting go. “I think hearing you tell me you love me was one of the best moments of my life.”

I glance up at the sky, trying my hardest not to gush about this not-so-casual conversation on a dance floor. “So it was ‘I love you’ and not, ‘fuck me harder’ or ‘yes, Daddy?’”

He leans into me, and just below my ear, says, “Those are a close second and third.” Peering back, he smiles. “I never could understand what it felt like to build a family of my own—my brothers and Griz will always be that, but you and me...” He kisses my forehead. “Having you is more than I ever expected. So truthfully, sugar, I’ll take on whatever makes you happy. You want more horses, babies, two more speakeasies? It’s fucking yours.”

But before I can say anything else, Linc interrupts, leaning into our space. “I’m just going to say it...”

Faye sways with him, trying to pull him back. “Foxx, you’re cutting into their dance.”

He kisses her on the lips. “Love you the most, Peach. But”—he points to Ace, moving his finger up and down—“you two look”—he makes anOwith his pointer and thumb—“really fucking good together.”

Faye just rolls her eyes at him and smiles at me.

Linc holds out his fist, and I bump it, followed by the wrist flick, elbow tap, and jazz fingers to round out a handshake that we made too many years ago. I smile when he says, “Couldn’t be happier for you, Hads.” Then he glances up at his brother. “You too, asshole.”

Ace just grunts at him, but I know he likes hearing it.

I look around the crowd and see Marla swaying with Del, while Romey and Prue twirl each other with cocktails in hand. And a bit farther out, I see Griz with his arms crossed, talking to Hawk. I squint through the crowd of swaying bodies to gauge their body language. Griz isn’t much for confrontation, but as he walks off with the fire chief, I glance at Faye and notice her watching too.

Something doesn’t feel right.

Chapter 38

Ace

“Can we get out of here?”I ask, moving my hands lower, down her back. As much as it’s been a great day, I want to go home and get my wife naked before the fireworks start sounding off.

She leans in and lightly kisses my lips. “What’s in it for me?”

“Sugar, if you need me to remind you exactly what being this close to you does to me, then I’ll happily bend you over the closest table and show you.”

Her eyes widen as she nods excitedly. “You feel like putting on a show this time?”

That sounds like far too much fun, and my thoughts move back to Strutt’s Peak and the scene we very much enjoyed watching. I hum against her and say, “You’re going to be the death of me.” Grabbing her hands, I lead us away from the dance floor. “But I’d happily show off all the ways I can think of rewarding my bratty wife.” I slow so I can say to her quietly, “I think I’d like to tease people and give them a glimpse of what they’ll never get to have.”

A few folks wave as we head away from the dance floor. There are plenty of eyes witnessing the oldest Foxx brother openly adoring his unexpected wife. It feels good to do. I look down at the way she’s shuffling her feet and the fact that we’re moving at a snail’s pace. “Need me to carry you?” I ask as we hit the edge of the grass.

I smile as she slips off her boots, and then holds them in one hand.

“Yes, please,” she says. Between walking the green and making the rounds, hunting through all of the crafts tents, and just dancing now, I’m betting she’s reached her limits.

I raise her hand to my lips, kissing along her knuckles, and then turn her wrist over to kiss along the healing tattoo. I love that these words are here—something for everyone to see, but it’s just for me and her. “Alright, let’s go,” I say, bending forward, nudging my shoulder into her waist, and then hoisting her up and over my shoulder.

She yelps before cackling a laugh, and then gives in to it. “How about a game of strip chess? We haven’t done that one yet,” she suggests.

I give a tight-lipped smile to the older couple that passes us and clearly overheard her suggestion. Grabbing a handful of her ass in these cute jean shorts, I say, “Strip chess sounds like you hustling me. You should just ask me to take all my clothes off for you, because we both know how that game will go.”

“Okay, take all your clothes off for me, then,” she says through a giggle.

Chuckling, I glance at the horse trailer at the end of the road. Her horse needs to get out and stretch. She’s been in there for long enough. “One second,” I say, moving us toward her Mustang instead. “Leave your keys in your car for Griz to take. I’m guessing he won’t be too far behind us.”

The road is lined with parked cars. And it’s mostly quiet, except for a couple making out in the back of a truck, and the muffled sound of a transistor radio playing some bluegrass from the ice cream truck at the far end of the block. But almost everyone is down by the stage and dance floor, getting rowdy over the cover band that I can hear is just starting a new set.

I walk around the exterior of her car. It’s loud as hell and an eyesore, but she loves it. And it drives like the devil. Placing her down on the trunk, I kiss her smiling, waiting lips. I can get lost while kissing this woman. It’s exactly how I like—lips pressing, tongues wet and warm, lulling the other into a promise of edging foreplay and blackout orgasms.

She hums against my lips and,fuck, do I want her right this second. I wrap my arms around her and slide her closer, letting her feel the way she’s already made me hard.

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