Page 13 of Spreading Her Wings

“Nah,” Auston said with a laugh. “It’s not really my thing.”

When the door opened again, I wanted to curl in on myself.This can’t be happening.“Girls, leave your sister alone. You’re supposed to be going to the store. Now, get.”

They scurried away, murmuring their complaints that they never got to have any fun, and Aunt June floated down the few stairs to the grass where we stood. “I’m June Mitchell. I’m Katie’s great aunt.”

“I’m Auston Johannson. It’s very nice to meet you, ma’am. You have a beautiful home.” My aunt eyed the tattoos on his neck and hands, forced suspicion dancing across her face.

“Thank you, and thank you for spending your afternoon helping with the gutters. I tell Katie I don’t like her up on that ladder, but she does it anyway.”

I rolled my eyes, moving to wrap my arm around her shoulder. “I’m very capable, Aunt June. I’m also very careful.”

“I’m happy to help any time.” Auston crossed one leg in front of the other, tucking his hands in his pockets. When the muscles in his arms flexed, I swallowed.

Auston caught my eye, and when I looked down and blushed, Aunt June giggled. “It’s nice to meet you, Auston.”

“You too, Mrs. Mitchell.”

“June. I thankfully haven’t been a Mrs. in many years.”

He laughed, and when she was gone, I turned my wide-eyed expression to him. “I’msosorry. My sisters are thirteen years younger, and my aunt is very involved…”

“They all seem great,” Auston interrupted. “It was nice being able to help. Plus, now you owe me another favor. Win, win.”

I scoffed, throwing my head back. “Oh, do I? Why is that? I didn’t ask you to help with the gutters.”

“Because then you have to come to Vegas.” The way his laugh rang out said he was proud of himself.

“That’s a tall favor.”

He shrugged, throwing his arm over my shoulders and walking me towards his truck. “I’ll make it worth your while. Now let’s go. You owe me a drink.”

“I thought I owed you afavor.”

“You do,” he said with a wink before opening the door of his truck and pointing. “I’ll take both.” I climbed in, looking back in time to see the curtains on the living-room window move. I’d have to deal with all of her questions later.

Simone looked up and squealed excitedly when I walked into the bar with my arm around Katie’s waist. She smiled and lifted her hand, wiggling her fingers in a wave. There was an extra bounce to her step when we walked through the door, like she enjoyed being here more than she wanted to admit.

“Hey, babe!” Simone hollered from the bar when we were close enough to hear her.

Katie settled onto one of the stools with an excited greeting, leaning on her arms against the counter and drawing my attention to her raised cleavage.Fuck me.Her smile was comfortable, and when she laughed, the sound sent a warmth to my dick.

I was done for.

As I stepped behind the bar and grabbed the bottle of tequila from the top shelf and a glass, Logan turned the corner. He clapped his hand against my shoulder before wrapping his arms around Simone and nuzzling her neck while she giggled. Katie watched them with a look of adoration, maybe tinted withlonging. Did she want that? Is that why she wanted to know about the breakup?

“Bout time you got here, bro,” Logan said, pulling my attention back to the glass I’d set on the counter. “Thanks for bailing on me today.” He laughed, and I didn’t miss Katie’s quick look in my direction.

I rolled my eyes with a grin. “Frankly, you should be happy we’re here at all. And I told you, something came up.” I topped the tequila with a splash of soda and squeezed a lime into it, giving it a small swirl with my finger. Katie watched, and when I licked my finger clean, I winked at her.

She blushed, taking the drink from me and sipping it. “That’s my fault. I put him to work,” she said with a giggle.

“I’m sure youdid.” Simone winked at her, glancing at me from the corner of her eye.

I grabbed my beer, preparing to correct her, when Ash and Jackson walked in the front door. “Oh hey, the whole damn party is here!” Jackson shouted, shimmying his way to the counter and planting a kiss on Katie’s cheek.

She tossed her head back and laughed, her smile tugging at my heart. She used a small black straw to swirl the ice around the glass in her hand, bouncing her gaze between the friends who surrounded her as they greeted each other with pats on the back and hugs.

“So, let’s talk Vegas…” Jackson wasted no time, rubbing his hands together and dropping onto the stool next to Katie. He was probably prepared to talk about how many roulette tables he was going to bet red on or how many penny slots he’d play for free drinks, even if he’d lose more money on those than he would spend on the alcohol. The logistics and travel plans had been set for a month.

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