Page 101 of For the Promise

Besides, my terror he won’t choose me? Nope. No problem at all. I force a smile. “Why would anything be wrong?”

“You look like you saw a ghost.”

“Just imagining the sweet, sweet victory when we surprise your brothers.”

I jump out of the car before he can question me more. I’m afraid if he asks too many questions, I’ll confess my love. Which would be a fool move. We’ve barely started dating. He’d hide in his lab with the door locked and barricaded if I declared my love this early.

“I’m thinking the official notice on the door to the officesalong with some yellow tape. We’ll put more yellow tape on the garage door entrance to the distillery, along with some crab shells scattered on the ground.”

Once I’ve explained my plan, we get to work. I’m putting the finishing touches on the crab shell ‘evidence’ when I hear a car pull up. I glance over my shoulder. Shit. Eli’s massive SUV is parking next to Jaxon’s Mustang.

“We’re busted!” I throw the extra yellow tape and crab shells in my bag before rushing to Jaxon and grasping his hand. “We came back to the distillery because you had another brilliant idea inspired by me of course and noticed the signs.”

Eli and Paisley approach and I squeeze Jaxon’s hand. “Stick to our story.”

“What are you…” Eli trails off when another car turns into the parking lot.

Who now? This is ridiculous. The one night I decide to prank the distillery all of the Raider brothers show up. Well, not all. I do have one ace in the hole. As in Dakota is keeping Rhett away.

Miles, Zane, and Kai pile out of the second car and make their way to where we’re gathered.

“What’s going on?” Kai asks.

“What are you doing here? Is there a problem?” Jaxon asks. Oh, he’s good. Going on the attack.

“Kai said you were throwing out good whiskey,” Zane answers.

Miles grins. “And we’re here to drink it.”

Jaxon scowls. “I’m not throwing out whiskey.”

Kai points at him. “I saw you.”

Jaxon crosses his arms over his chest. “I do not throw out whiskey.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask Paisley.

“We were … um…” She stutters as her cheeks darken.

“They were here to recreate the night she got pregnant,” Miles answers.

Eli growls. “How do you know?”

He smirks. “I didn’t. But I do now.”

“I’m hungry,” I announce in an overly loud voice. “You promised me dinner, Jaxon.”

“What’s this?” Eli asks before Jaxon can respond. He rips the notice off of the office door. “We’re being shut down by the Island Environmental Protection Authority for fatally disrupting a nesting site for the Spectacled Dune Crab?”

Miles, Zane, and Kai rush to Eli.

“What the hell is going on? What’s a Spectacled Dune Crab?” Zane asks.

Kai kneels down and picks up one of the shells. “I’m guessing it’s a plastic crab.”

“Plastic?” Miles snatches the shell from Kai. “What’s going on?”

“Now I know why you wanted to borrow my laminating machine today,” Paisley mutters.

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