Page 12 of Gorgeous

“What the fuck?”

I jump in response to the familiar voice.

Cade Jameson has entered the building, and holy alien babies, he’s wearing a motherfucking tank top with his dress shirt hanging open. Those delicious pecs toy with my emotions as they flex underneath the snug fabric, taunting me with ridiculous requests like: Bite me, Breck.

Crazy, right?

But Cade has some serious voodoo going on because I take an unintended step in his direction when he snaps, “Are you seriously getting him drunk, Hayes?” Cade charges over to the two drunks and snatches the bottle of liquor from the table before turning and pouring it down the sink.

“Aw! Come on, Major. I was just having a little fun with him. He had some nerves.”

Cade mumbles something low that sounds a lot likestupid motherfuckers.

“Cade.” Theo’s glassy eyes meet mine like he just realized I was here. And then he smirks at me. “Jameson,” he mutters.

“Don’t talk to me right now, Von Bremen. Commander is going to be fucking pissed that you’re drunk two hours before the wedding.”

“Jameson.”

Shoulders hunched, Cade sighs at the sink before straightening and walking to the table, sliding a glass of water in front of Theo. “Drink all of it.”

Theo laughs at the glass of water and tries to lay his head down on the table. “No, no, no. Stay upright,” Cade scolds, his tone laced with exasperation, pulling him up in the chair by his shoulders and then glaring at Hayes. “This is your mess. Sober his ass up right now.”

“Jameson.”

Cade loses his temper, yelling into the kitchen with the voice of a Marine. “What, Theo?”

Silence.

You could hear a mouse burp in China. That’s how quiet it is in this kitchen until Theo snorts and points to me.

“Your jelly girl is behind you.”

Jelly girl? What the hell is with these people and nicknames? First I’m Breck who has pies and now I’m jelly girl? Should I be insulted or flattered that they take notice of me enough to give me a nickname?

I’m going with flattered because I’m an optimist.

And well, the fact that Theo made it sound like it was Cade’s nickname for me—however terrible—makes me feel pretty fucking amazing.

Until Cade whips around and faces me with hardened eyes like the last thing he wants is for his jelly girl to be here.

I blink back at his scowl and swallow. Except, it seems like I’ve swallowed a tennis ball, so I try swallowing one more time before I offer him a hesitant smile.

Mason comes in and places his hand on my shoulder, completely out of breath. “Good. You found them,” he says to Cade. “And Breck.” He smiles at me with a glint in his eye that I’m not sure what to make of until he says, “She has pies.”

Theo, and who I assume to be Hayes, doubles over laughing. I’ll admit, it was a super dumb thing to say, but damn Mason, could you not have kept my little blubber to yourself, you walking orgasm?

I’m about to apologize to Cade when I notice he’s smiling too. He wipes any evidence of a smile off his face, clearing his throat and addressing me for the first time since I’ve been standing here.

“Breck.”

“Hi.”Hi? Really? Where is your inner hot girl? Your inner cool kid?

“Hi,” he says, his voice full of gravel.

Did I bring a change of panties? If I didn’t, these will have to come off. Major Jameson is going to dehydrate my lady parts with that broody look and sexy voice.Damn it.You are a professional, Breck.

“I, uh, I didn’t know what Anniston wanted me to do with all the pies. We have thirty in the back of the van.”

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