Page 19 of Bragg's Love

Soleil giggles. “Which is why Petal offered you an entire basket of candles.”

“What’s wrong with candles?” Riley asks. “Personally, I love how candlelight creates a romantic mood.”

Moon pinches him. “Shut up, you.”

“Petal’s candles aren’t normal candles. They’re sex candles.”

At Soleil’s explanation, I freeze. Little Eden of no shoes enjoys using sex candles?

“What kind of sex candles?” I ask before I have a chance to order my mouth to stay shut.

“She’s got both kinds,” Soleil says. “Massage candles and wax play candles.”

“Which kind do you prefer, Eden?” Brody takes the words straight out of my mouth.

Eden rolls her eyes. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Actually, I’m asking for the big guy.” Brody thumbs his finger toward me.

I stuff another forkful of meatloaf into my mouth before I admit to my curiosity. I picture Eden laying naked on my bed with wax dripping from her breasts. Her perfectly perky breasts. Breasts my fingers ache to touch, to massage, to pinch.

“I thought we came here for a meatloaf contest, not to discuss wax play,” Harmony says.

Elder winks at her and her cheeks darken. “We can do both.”

“I figured out which meatloaf Eagle made,” Eden announces.

Moon glares at her. “You did not.”

Eden lifts up her red plate. “This is Eagle’s.” Judging by the scowl on Moon’s face, she guessed correctly.

“How did you know?” I ask.

She rolls her eyes. “What? I have to cheat to win?”

“I didn’t say you cheated.”

She cocks an eyebrow. “You totally implied I cheated, but it’s okay. I understand not everyone has as fine-tuned a palate as I do.”

Moon scoffs. “You do not have a fine-tuned palate.”

“Nevertheless, Eagle made the meatloaf on the red plate.”

Moon narrows her eyes on her friend. “How did you know?”

“Duh. This one has mushrooms in it.”

I take a bite. “I don’t taste any mushrooms.”

“Neither do I,” Elder adds because he may be a jerk ninety percent of the time but he always has my back.

Moon crosses her arms over her chest. “How did you know Eagle’s meatloaf had mushrooms in it?”

Eden shrugs. “Maybe Clementine should have bought her mushrooms elsewhere.”

Sneaky. I like it. I start to smile before I realize what I’m doing and stop myself. No. I don’t like it. I don’t like anything about Eden. She’s trying to stop the expansion of the brewery to spite me. I can’t like anyone who would do such a thing just because she hates me.

Chapter 7

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