Page 38 of Sweet Whiskey
She looks away, rummaging mindlessly through her makeup bag. “I don’t know yet, Kins. I want to think I’d stay, but my parents wouldn’t be happy about it at all.”
I rest my head on her shoulder. “Maybe not, but in the end, it’s your choice.”
“Yeah, but they can make that choice hell,” she says with a frown.
I rub at her arm, knowing that Brielle hates when her parents throw around their money. “Maverick seems like the type to not go downwithout a fight.”
She smiles up at me. “So you wouldn’t care? If he turns out to be your brother and I’m...into him.”
Laughing, I stare at her incredulously. “I think you’re my best friend, and even if he is my brother, he should only be so lucky to get a chance with you.”
She grins, kissing my cheek and clicks her tongue. “No point in delaying the inevitable. Let’s go see if we found your daddy. Can I drive?”
I scowl, swiping my keys off the nightstand before she can grab them. “No one touches baby but me.”
Brielle winks as we leave the inn and climb into the car. It feels silly to drive a short distance, but it’s better than having to drive back.
Colt and Maverick are waiting for us when we arrive at the diner.
Brielle sighs. “I don’t care if he’s your brother. The man is hot in those jeans and hat.”
I smile, thinking the same about Colt just as he looks up at me.
His dark eyes watch me, and a heated wariness hums under my skin in anticipation of what’s to come. Maverick clears his throat as we get closer, nudging Colt’s shoulders and forcing us to break our intense stare.
I glance around them, frowning a bit when I’m disappointed Brooks and Dallas aren’t with them.
“They had to stay behind at the ranch so we don’t fall behind,” Colt’s deep voice rumbles, as if he could read my mind.
“Oh. And you’re coming with…us?” I glance over at Maverick. His arms are crossed, staring down at me with a stoic expression before they move to Brielle and soften a little.
“If that’s okay, I haven’t seen Levi in a bit. It would be nice to,” Colt says, a sheepish look on his face that doesn’t look right on his rugged exterior.
I cross my arms, rubbing at my elbows a bit. “I don’t mind. I—whatever you guys need. I’d just really like to meet the man in the photograph my mother always carried around.”
Maverick nods toward the diner. “Why don’t we discuss it over food?” He holds out his hand, and Brielle eagerly takes it, allowing him to pull her inside. I follow behind with Colt, who lingers next to me.
“I am sorry about lying, Kins,” he whispers.
I breathe out a long sigh. “I know you are, Colt. I’m not mad.”
He hums. “There’s worse things than anger. Like disappointment.”
As we enter the diner, I don’t answer him. For the most part, I’m not mad or disappointed. We barely know each other, even if we’ve been a little intimate. He didn’t owe me anything, not even the truth when I asked him about the photograph. Neither did Brooks. My initial reaction had been a little hurt, but the more I thought about it, the more it all eased.
We slide into the booth, and I take comfort in his scent being so close. Today it’s more of a warm fire on a rainy day with blankets all over me, to the point I physically relax into his side. Susanne takes our orders, a less cheerful version of herself whenshe takes in all our faces, and then we’re left awkwardly staring at one another, sipping on our drinks.
The tense silence lasts until our food is delivered, and Maverick breaks first. “What are you hoping for if he is your dad? Money?”
I glare at him. “I told you on Friday. I don’t want your money.”
“So you just want to find your dad? To get to know him?”
Colt’s fist curls, and I know he hates Maverick’s condescending tone. I reach over, resting my fingers over his.
“Believe it or not, yeah. He may be my only family left,” I say, tilting my chin up to let him know that he won’t be intimidating me.
Brielle grins. “And for a bonus, a super hot brother.”
