Page 42 of Bragg's Love

“Which was an oversight. As a local business, we should do business with other local businesses to help the community.”

I yank my hand away. I don’t want to feel the jerk’s skin. Thanks for the reminder. “You’ve been here for years and now you decide to play nice with the other kids?”

“I always play nice with the other kids,” Elder says.

That’s it. I’ve had enough.

“What did Winter Falls do wrong to deserve the Bragg brothers coming to town? Everything was perfect until all of you arrived. But you couldn’t stay away. No. You had to come here and ruin everything for everyone. Poor Peace nearly had a meltdown. And now with the brewery and the expansion and—"

Miller steps close and lowers his voice, “I’m going to kiss you now to shut you up.”

Goosebumps explode over my entire body. I push up on my tiptoes to get into his face. “I freaking dare you.”

“Oh, darling. You have no idea,” he mutters.

And then his lips are on mine. I expect them to be hard, but they feel soft as he gently urges my mouth open. I don’t concede and bite his bottom lip instead. He groans and gentle is a thing of the past. He thrusts his tongue into my mouth.

I moan as the taste of him bursts onto my tongue. Beer, musk, and man. Three of my favorite things in the world.

The door bangs open and Elder exclaims, “Aha! I knew it!”

I yank my lips away from Miller’s. My inner hussy whines. She was all ready to get down and dirty with him on the nearest available surface. I shake my head. Enough!

I will not have sex with a man who pities me. The last thing I need is a pity fuck.

Chapter 14

My wife says she’s going to leave me because I play poker too much, but I think she’sbluffing. ~ Text from Elder to the Bragg brothers

Miller

“Welcome to poker night!” Elder says as he opens the door to me and Riley.

“I’m not stepping inside this house if Brody is in there.” I have no patience for one of Brody’s stupid pranks today.

“Hey! I’m the only one who’s allowed to make fun of my twin,” Riley says.

Elder frowns at me. “What’s your problem? It’s poker night. Of course, Brody’s here.”

Brody pops up behind Elder and waves. “Hi!”

I turn around to walk away, but Riley stops me and nudges me toward the door. I plant my feet.

“No way. The last time we played poker together Brody rigged the chandelier to fall on the table when he was losing.”

Brody raises his hand. “One, I wasn’t losing.”

“Yes, you were,” Elder, Riley, and I say in unison.

“Two, it was an accident.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “An accident? You literally cut the chain.”

“And I got the shock of my life for it.” Brody shivers. “I’ve learned from my mistakes.”

“Which means his pranks are worse than ever,” I mutter.

“I never figured big, bad Miller for a scaredy-cat. Do you want me to get you your security blanket?” Brody wiggles his eyebrows and sticks out his bottom lip.

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