Page 36 of The Best Friend's Billionaire Brother
Now, anytime Wyatt got the chance to keep himself active, he took it. He’d even gone grocery shopping with his mom, which had been a horrible mistake. He loved his momma, but she’d officially turned her grandchild radar on him. When was he settling down? His answer ofI don’t knowdidn’t work anymore. Well, it had never worked, but it worked even less these days.
“You just hold your horses,” Josiah growled, breaking Wyatt from his thoughts.
Thank goodness. His older brother to the rescue. Wyatt didn’t need to fall down that rabbit hole again.
Their dad leveled his eyes at Josiah. “You got nothing. Just call it and take your licks, boy.”
Mrs. Fredericks laughed, bumping her shoulder against Wyatt’s mom. “Those two. You think they’ll ever grow out of that?”
His mom scoffed. “At this point? No.”
Stephanie scooted down in her chair. “Come on, Joe, just play the game.”
He glared at her. “Don’t you start.”
Israel set his cards down and looked at his phone. “Carrie Anne should be here in a second. Whatever she was working on, she says she’s finished.”
So far, the game consisted of Wyatt’s parents, Hunter and Josiah, Gabby’s parents and her sister, and Israel. Bear…he didn’t care for card games. He was in the living room, snoozing in the recliner. Wyatt had no idea where Carrie Anne, Gabby,orBandit were.
The past few days, it seemed like whatever sort of relationship Gabby had with Bandit had upped a notch. They’d almost been inseparable. For some reason, after kissing her, their being together annoyed Wyatt even more. It shouldn’t have, and he tried not to be, but it didn’t stop the errant thoughts that said she was with the wrong guy. Wyatt had thought about talking to Bandit, but he was going to have to accept that they were together.
He shook his head. He didn’t need any of his thoughts going down that road. He needed to keep his eyes on his cards and his mind in the game. No images of Gabby or Bandit needed to mess up his concentration.
Josiah’s eyes widened, and Wyatt followed his line of sight. No wonder Josiah was gawking. Gabby stood in the doorway, looking like a magazine model in a form-fitting little black dress with red boots. Her hair was hanging in loose curls flowing around her shoulders, and, man, those dark eyes of hers were sparkling like a New Year’s fireworks display.
“Goodness gracious, honey, you look fantastic,” Wyatt’s mom said.
Mrs. Fredericks stood and walked to Gabby as Carrie Anne sidled up next to her.
Carrie Anne giggled. “She looks amazing.”
Amazing? Fantastic? Did those words even do her justice? “Whoa.” The word slipped from his lips before he could wrangle anything better.
Wyatt’s dad twisted in his seat. “I don’t think that dress is long enough.”
Wyatt’s mom popped his dad’s arm. “Hush. It’s touching her knees.”
“And painted on,” Wyatt said. Again, his mouth was saying things faster than his brain could work. “Where are you going in that?”
Gabby settled her gaze on him and flashed him the most dazzling smile he’d ever witnessed. “I’m going to dinner with Bandit.”
“You’re going out with Bandit tonight?” Stephanie dropped her cards and sat up straight.
A light pink covered her cheeks as she looked down. “Yep, he’s taking me out.”
Stephanie blinked a second, and her mouth opened like she was about to say something before she clamped it closed. “Are you sure you’re only going to dinner?”
Wyatt jerked his attention to Gabby’s sister. “What?”
“You do see how she’s dressed, right?” Stephanie laughed. “That’s going to be some date.”
This date business with Bandit didn’t sound good at all. Not when Gabby was going out looking all…dressed up.
The clutch Gabby was holding began ringing, and she fished out her phone, putting it to her ear. “Hey, I’m ready.” She held up her finger and stepped away.
Carrie Anne walked to Israel, kissed him, and then sat in the chair next to him. “So, what are we playing?”
It was as if that dress was no big deal to anyone but Wyatt. It covered everything just fine, but what if some creepy guy got handsy with her? Could Bandit knock their lights out like he was supposed to? He was a good man, but he wasn’t the put-your-dukes-up kind of guy. That dress called for a man with a solid right hook.
