Page 23 of Until It Was Real

I rush off without finishing my sentence. My truce with Rhett is a fragile thing. If he figures out I’m sick, he might go back to trying to get me fired. And I need the health insurance. More than I need a friend.

Chapter 8

“Go ahead. Steal my shoe. See what happens.” ~ Rhett

Rhett

“Did you bring your lucky charm?” Kai asks.

I grunt.

Miles wags his finger at me. “Grunting isn’t an answer, Mr. High and Mighty.”

“I am not Mr. High and Mighty,” I grumble.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize your girlfriend, Dakota, is the only one who can use the nickname.”

“Not my girlfriend.”

“I heard they were cozied up in Eli’s closet during the hurricane,” Zane says.

“I heard Eli caught them naked in his shower,” Kai claims.

“We were not naked in Eli’s shower,” I grumble.

I’ve never been naked with Dakota. The only time I touched her was to tickle her. I barely touched her ribs and my cock was ready to explode out of my pants.

But I won’t be touching her again. Not after how she ran off when Eli arrived. It’s obvious she’s keeping secrets. But what are they? And will they ruin the company? My family? My idiot brothers already love her, but I won’t allow anyone else to break their hearts. Not after what Dad did. Never again.

“Are we going to play poker? Or are we going to tease Rhett about Dakota all night long?” Jaxon asks.

Miles throws his arm over Jaxon’s shoulders. “Don’t you worry. We’re also going to tease Eli about Paisley all night long.”

Eli’s had a crush on Paisley since high school. When the hurricane ruined her brewing facilities – she’s part owner of theFive Fathomsbrewery here on the island – he couldn’t rush to her side quick enough to offer her use of the extra space in the distillery.

We were planning to use the space to expand the distillery but the hurricane and the local brewery needing help put those plans on hold. I don’t mind. I’m happy Eli is occupied with Paisley instead of working himself to death.

Eli clears his throat. “It’s my house. Tease me and I’m kicking you out.”

Zane bursts into laughter. “As if you can keep us out.”

Eli glares at him. “You are not crawling in through the window in my fitness room again.”

Zane shivers. “No way. The window is tiny.”

Kai wiggles a set of keys in the air. “Good thing we have the keys.”

“And the alarm code,” Miles adds.

Eli rubs a hand down his face. “How the hell did you get my alarm codes?”

“Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies,” Miles sings.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Zane points at Jaxon, who’s opening the front door. “Let me guess, our nerdy brother has too much work to do to spend time with his family.”

Jaxon removes his glasses and pinches his nose. “I’m required to attend poker night, but if we’re not playing poker, I have work to do.”

Eli frowns. “Do I need to hire you an assistant?”

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