Page 66 of One Night Bride
There was nothing for it. I was going to have to take a swim in the Pacific. I reached down and pulled off my boots, a couple of the guys starting to whoop and holler. They were fucking crazy. And as a grin spread across my face, I wished Ruger and Killam were here with me. If I had to be away from my blood brothers, at least I’d found a new group of brothers.
I pulled my shirt over my head and stepped out of my jeans. Thank God I wore boxers today and not tighty-whities. I took a step toward the water and Wyatt pulled me back.
“We forgot one thing. You have to wear these.” Titus held up a pair of red Speedo thongs.
Rip almost couldn’t get the words out. “It’s a town law.”
The beer was about to come back up. “I definitely won’t fit in those.”
“Yeah, yeah. We all have big dicks. Put the fuckin’ Speedo on.” Bain wasn’t messing around. And considering I’d heard he was the prison warden, I didn’t want to see what moves he had up his sleeve.
“Fuck.” I snatched the pair out of Titus’s hand and dropped trou, pulling the Speedo up and trying to tuck myself inside the tiny pouch in front. There was a hell of a lot of breeze happening on my backside at the moment.
I saw a flash go off, and I lunged at Charlie, who cackled as he darted out of the way. “For posterity’s sake!” he shouted over his shoulder.
I let him go and decided to get this shit over with. I ran into the ocean, the guys following behind me, their cheers worthy of a Super Bowl party. The water was still freezing and I could have gone for a wetsuit, but I dove into the wave the first second I could. I came up for air and tossed my hair out of the way, a fine spray of sea water raining drops down on the relatively calm surface of the water.
Swimming back toward shore, I put my feet down on the sandy bottom and shook my head. All five guys had their phone out recording this stupid dare. Once the water was ankle deep, I took a bow, then turned around to do some shuffle dance Killam taught me a few months ago off that stupid app Ticker Talk or some such shit. The hollering went on until Rip threw me a towel and I wrapped it around myself. I’d be shivering for days.
Titus clapped me on the back before pulling me in for a hug. “You’re a good sport and I’m glad we’re brothers.”
Wyatt did the same, shaking with laughter. “Man, that was epic. Wait ’til the girls see it.”
I put my clothes back on and felt like I’d made a place for myself here in Auburn Hill. Hell had lived up to its nickname when Esme wanted an annulment, but the place had quickly turned into my new home.
28
Esme
“Good morning, sunshine,” I whispered against Remington’s scruffy cheek.
He groaned in response, but there was a smile on his face as he lifted an arm out of the covers to pull me on top of him. His eyes popped open and his expression turned to horrified.
“Why are you already dressed?”
I loved his scratchy voice in the morning and his hair all a mess. It was a side of him that was reserved just for me. His hips thrusted up, and as tempting as it would be to slide back under the covers and get undressed again, we had things to do today.
“Not today, mister.” I thumped his chest and rolled off him to stand by the bed. “We have a date.”
He rubbed his eyes and sat up. “It’s Tuesday. Don’t you have work?”
I shook my head, sending my ponytail flying. “Nope. I took the day off because I thought I’d still be in Wyoming begging you to take me back. But I underestimated my charm. You took me back way quicker.”
He lunged out of bed like he intended to grab me. I shrieked and ran across the room, grabbing his jeans off the chair and throwing them at his chest. He caught them but let them fall to the floor.
“Put those on and I’ll make you breakfast,” I said breathlessly, clutching the doorframe.
He grinned, walking toward me slower now, letting me look my fill. The man was stark naked, and it was a sight to behold. Ranch work had carved out an Adonis. Thankfully, I had every day for the rest of my life to look at him. The ring on my finger and the license from the state of Nevada said so. I would not be swayed from my plans for the day. I’d spent all day yesterday texting people to set things up.
“Get back in bed and I’ll make you forget about breakfast,” Remington rumbled, a wild look in his eye.
I bit my lip, considering. That was a very lovely offer. One I knew he’d make good on. Very good on. Then I squeezed my eyes shut, blocking out the beauty of his body and those blue eyes that held so much heat I felt scorched all the way over here.
“No! You’re trying to dick-stract me and I’ve put together a fun day for us. You always put together dates for us and I want to do the same for you.”
He snickered. “What’s a dick-straction?”
“Ask Wyatt. He knows.”
