Page 11 of Sweet Whiskey
A hollow laugh rumbles out of my throat. “Well, I wasn’t going to turn it down. I could kind of use the money.”
The man sitting to the right clears his throat. “You going to introduce us to the pretty lady, Colt? Or you want us to leave so you can have her all to yourself?”
My nipples harden at Colt’s answering growl, and I tuck my arms closer to my chest, keeping the notepad in front to hide them.
“Kinsey, this is Dallas,” Colt says, nodding to the man on his right. He’s a little leaner than Colt, but still tan and muscular. I assume they all work outside for the majority of their days, the hats sitting on their heads not just for show. His blue eyes ensnare me, and I almost feel like I’m drowning when I stare into the depths of the clear ocean. I’ve always loved blue eyes.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Dallas says, holding out his hand. I blush, ignoring the shiver that pebbles across my skin when the rough callouses on his palm caress me.
Letting go, I wave him off with a small laugh. “No need for the ma’am. Makes me feel a little old.”
He flashes a bright smile. “I’ll try, but Southern hospitality has been injected into my DNA.”
Colt shakes his head before jerking toward the man on his other side. “Brooks.”
I hold out my hand to greet him, gasping at the golden brown-green hue of his hazel eyes. Like a melted caramel dipped in moss, it’s the most stunning color I’ve ever seen. I take it back, forget blue eyes when this is something that would make the most gorgeous gemstone. “H-hi,” I stutter out. My skin is flushed with nerves, and my heart picks up at being so close to these alphas and how attractive I find them.
His mouth lifts in the corner as he grabs my hand and turns it before kissing the back of it. “Pleasure to meet you, darlin’.”
My insides melt, the lisp in his accent making the sentiment ring sweeter than ever. I clear my throat, facing Colt again. “What can I get for you guys?”
Colt’s eyes drag down my neck until he looks back up to my face. “Just a round of beers. Tracy will know what kind.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Regulars, eh?”
He shrugs. “It’s nice to get out after a long day of work. Beats sitting at home.”
Brooks nods. “Especially when you share an apartment with other alphas and only one shower. We have to air it out by the time we’re all done.
Dallas glares at him while I laugh, giggling through the fingers covering my mouth.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh at you. I’m sure you work very hard, it was just such a vivid thought. I can only imagine the smell.”
Brooks smiles, resting his arms over the back of the booth. “The summer is coming to an end, so it’s not as bad with the temperatures dropping.”
“Does it get cold here in the winter?” I ask, thinking about how chilly it already is in the mornings.
Colt nods. “We don’t get snow, but the ground freezes over.”
A whistle echoes, and I look over my shoulder to meet Tracy’s gaze with her hands up. I turn back to the men who are scowling at her and giggle at their pouts.
“Sorry, I think I’m taking too long, and she knows it’s not about drinks. I’ll be right back.”
Hurrying to the bar, Tracy is already removing the bottle caps from the beers and setting them on the counter. Her eyebrows raise.
“Be careful, honey. Those men will eat you alive.”
God, I hope so.
I blush at the thought, and she laughs as if she heard it. With pinched lips, she shakes her head. “Just be careful.”
Before grabbing the bottles, I stare at her earnestly. “Are they… Are they not good men?”
Tracy sighs. “They are, but two of those men are the type that will get ya tied down faster than you can blink. And the other is a puppy dog you can’t shake. Tell 'em it’s on the house as long as they behave.”
My heart gallops wildly. That doesn’t sound half bad, but I don’t tell her that, considering how insane I feel for being attracted to that.
“Thanks,” I mutter out, and grab the beer to head back to them. Just as I set their drinks down, thebell goes off, and it’s followed by a chorus of wallops and shouts.
