Page 21 of Raised On It

“Nah, Miles was too concerned with making sure our entire Crew was okay to worry about Nicolette. He’s who kept us all calm. He would go get information and updates from the hotel staff, and of course he kept us all laughing.” Amelia backs her friend up, describing the Miles I’ve gotten to know and not the version Cara referred to.

“Once he finds the right girl, Miles is going to make one lucky lady very happy. This I know for sure.”

“Emmett, I couldn’t agree with you more,” says the stylist whose name I can’t remember.

Hearing them talk about Miles this way has my heart giddy-upping on the inside, and my skin blushing on the outside.

They have no idea the stranger who has infiltrated their chat fest was just at lunch with the topic of conversation a mere hour ago. Nor do they know how I desperately hope not to let him under my skin, but I can already feel the itch from him finding its way just below the surface.

“It’s too bad nobody here at home has ever been more than a good time to him. I know we call him a man-whore, and I mean, I guess he is, but he’s never cheated on anyone. He’s just never settled down with anyone. You can’t cheat if you don’t commit, right?”

“Well, he may be a man-whore, but he’s our man-whore,” Amelia proudly claims Miles as one of their own from under the pile of foil wrapped hair hanging in her face.

“Once he meets her, he’ll be a goner, and I think he’s gonna surprise the judgy folks in this town. Enough about us. Tell usabout yourself, Mason,” Emmett says from the chair next to me.

All heads turn in my direction. “I’m sure listening to us talk about people who are total strangers to you is boring as hell.”

Honestly, I could listen to you talk about Miles all day but…

I fill them in on how I met Katie and why I’m here. Where I’ve eaten so far and how I like the town. But I neglect to mention that apparently, I’m going to marry Miles Montgomery.

Five minutes later, Amelia and Emmett are inviting me to meet them at The Verdict for drinks later tonight and I’m accepting.

Just like that.

Since when do I say yes to lunches with hot men I have no business spending time with and drinks with complete strangers I just met in a salon?

Eastlyn is doing something to me, and so far, I think I like it.

CHAPTER 7

Miles

Ihit send on my phone, sending a message to Amelia that says I’m still coming but running late.

Lou stares at me from the front window as I pull away from the house, guilt-tripping me in the process. How do people leave their kids at home? I can barely leave my damn dog home alone.

It’s a short drive to town, and I’m a little surprised to see how busy Main Street is for a weeknight. Should be a fun time since Reece is home and a good distraction from thinking about the doe-eyed beauty who will only be a few blocks down the road. Luckily, I had a Skype meeting with the team in Portland to occupy my time this afternoon, but those eyes are always haunting me.

The moment I pull the heavy wooden door open—before I’ve even had my first glimpse of neon—I know she’s here. Goddammit if I don’t feel a change in the atmosphere, like a crackle, when she’s around. What’s more surprising than feelingher in the room is finding her on the dance floor with my best friends.

I’m not trying to be a creeper, that title already belongs to Chris, Emmett’s ex who’s staring at her from the bar, but watching her sing and dance along with Amelia, Rachel and Emmett has taken me by surprise and doesn’t compute in my brain.

She’s shaking her hips with her hands above her head, one holding a bottle of EBC.

I think I just might be in love.

Wanting her is one thing but seeing her effortlessly meld so well with my friends like this is a whole other story.

There’s something about her that’s a little more refined than the rest of us. She doesn’t act differently, but deep down, it’s there. This isn’t her normal, and she’s enjoying getting to live like the rest of us regular folk for a change.

Thinking it’s time to stop stalking her like a pervert over here in the corner, I take my first step toward the bar when I see Peter, my lead at the farm, step up behind her and start bumping and grinding. I wouldn’t say I’m seeing red, but I know for certain I don’t like what I see.

Not giving it a second thought, I hastily make my way to the middle of the dance floor just as Mason turns around to see who’s all over her ass.

Mason’s eyes are as big as saucers when she sees me approaching.

That’s right, honey. If you’re dancing with anyone, it will be me.