Page 66 of The Rescuer

“Not much today, but honestly, it couldn’t have happened at a better time, what with the place being closed while Hailey and I are away on our honeymoon.”

A better time for you, maybe. Me, not so much.Reece needed a place to live thatwasn’tunder his parents’ roof.

Reece swung his gaze to Charlie. “Are you handling things for them while they’re gone?”

“Nope. The missus and I decided on a last-minute vacation of our own.”

“They’re going to Puerto Vallarta. Isn’t that romantic?” their mother chimed in. “Dad and I agreed to coordinate repairs at the tavern. Where areyoustaying, Reece?”

“Uh, Neve has a spare bedroom and offered to put me up there for a night or two.”

“Well, we have spare rooms here too, don’t forget.” No, he wasn’t likely to.

She shuffled away, taking their dad with her and leaving him alone with his brothers. “Thanks for not saying anything to the folks,” he mumbled.

Charlie broke out in an idiotic grin. “About what?”

“Come on. You know.”

“What? That you turned a twofer into a threefer?” Noah quipped. “Mom’s gonna be pretty upset when she finds out you didn’t share that little detail.”

“Because that ‘little detail’ is going away and won’t matter. So she’s not going to find out, right?” Reece growled.

Charlie mimed locking his lips and throwing away a key. “Not from this boy.”

“Neve and I didn’t mean for it to be a threefer. We were drunk off our asses and don’t even remember exchanging vows.” Or getting rings engraved. “I mean, is it even binding?”

They both nodded like bobbleheads.

Noah rocked back on his heels. “You signed up for the same package we did, so I’m pretty sure it’s official.”

“Why didn’t someone stop us?” Reece sputtered.

“Didn’t look like you wanted to be stopped, which was only confirmed by that not-for-prime-time kiss you laid on her afterward. Didn’t know you had it in you, bro.” Noah smacked Reece’s arm with way too much cheer. “Dude, this was gonna happen eventually.”

“What was gonna happen?”

“You and Neve. Your dumb ass was just too damn stubborn to admit it.”

“What happened to you spouting about her and Cantrell being the perfect pair?”

A devious grin spread over Noah’s face. “I was trying to get a rise out of you. Apparently, it worked.”

“Fuck that, and fuck you.”

Noah gave him two thumbs up. “That all you got, bro? Your tits reallyarein a twister over this.”

Reece refrained from stuffing his fist into Noah’s face. “Neve doesn’t want it either! She’s more freaked about it than I am,” he hissed. His brothers traded disbelieving looks. “Look, it was a stupid, drunken mistake that one of you should have put the brakes on.” He leveled them each with a hard stare.

They returned his warning with smug smiles. “Like you’d actually listen to either of us,” Noah chuffed.

“I’m not kidding. Neve’s hell-bent on figuring out how we untie the knot, but we can’t get a hold of anyone until Monday.” Exactly why Reece was shifting the motivation completely onto Neve’s shoulders escaped him. He was as eager as she was to undo their mistake.

“I take it things went pretty badly after you got back to your room, huh?” Charlie quipped. “Too muchwhiskeykeeping your dick from doing its job?”

“Oh, shut the fuck up! That’s not what I’m talking about. We didn’t eventryto get it on.”

Noah gaped at him. “Seriously? Why not? You do like women, don’t you?” He put up his hands. “And there’s no shame in admitting you’re not ready to have your V-card punched, if that’s what’s holding you back. I’m sure Neve would be very gentle with you. Just sayin’.”

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