Page 47 of Make Me Whole
Chapter Twenty-Three
BRADLEY
Holy shit.
Wait, I had to say it again… Holy freaking shit.
Like a hawk, I'd been eyeing the path that led from the house for the past twenty minutes. Impatiently waiting for Hailey to arrive. No sooner had she disappeared into the house, before Sawyer dragged my ass to the creek. Up until a few seconds ago, I was still plenty pissed with the guy.
But now, I wanted to hug him for coming up with the idea in the first place. Shifting from one foot to the other, I took in every detail like the greedy bastard I was. She was a goddess dressed in a pair of denim cut-offs and a tank top so snug, I could clearly see the black bra beneath it.
She'd twisted her hair into some intricate knot on top of her head, with a few stray strands framing her face, leaving her neck wide open. All that creamy skin on display had my fingers itching to touch and my tongue begging to taste.
I could already envision dragging my lips down the slender column of her throat, nipping and sucking as I went. Gently grazing her skin with my teeth; slowly teasing those moans out from deep inside her.
The back of Sawyer's hand connected with my arm in a hard smack; effectively pulling me from my little fantasy. "Close your mouth. You're drooling, man."
"Yeah, I know."
Laughter bellowed from beside me. "Well, I'll be damned. Guess ol Jeremy was telling the truth when he said he found you and Hailey making out in the parking lot?"
With a groan, I squeezed my eyes shut and let out a breath through my nose. Apparently, all the typing in the truck was him firing up the grapevine. "Jeremy's mouth is too big." I felt the rush of anger spread through my body, tension pulling my muscles together. Don't get me wrong, I didn't give two shits who knew I kissed this woman, or that I wanted to do it again sometime soon.
But I wasn't oblivious either; I knew people had warned her against me. Hell, she'd even been witness to me coming home with another woman. I just didn't want her to think she was in the same category or that she was some kind of conquest.
As if he knew exactly where my thoughts had gone, Sawyer placed a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about it, man. I told him if he knew what was good for him, he'd leave gossiping to the schoolgirls and old ladies."
Opening my eyes, I focused on my friend. "She's different. Don't ask me how I know, I just do." Trusting him with my confession was easy. Not only was he my best friend, but he'd probably experienced everything I was feeling right now and then some.
Before he came to work on the ranch, Sawyer had been married to his high school sweetheart. Unfortunately, the cloud of suspicion surrounding him due to his father's crimes had been too much for her to handle. Without looking back, she'd walked out on their marriage and left town.
He hummed in agreement as he bent down to retrieve two beers from the cooler between us. He was in the process of twisting the cap off the first one when I held my hand up. "Not for me, thanks."
His brows pulled together. "Since when?"
Since Hailey doesn't drink. I didn't know the details of her DUI, but she'd just about admitted it was bad enough to make her swear off alcohol. I wasn't about to indulge while she looked on. And I couldn't imagine her finding the smell of beer on my breath appealing when I kissed her later.
Because the kissing would definitely be happening.
When I was met with Sawyer's quizzical stare, I realized I hadn't answered him yet. "Don't need booze to have a good time. Water or soda is perfectly fine."
My friend looked at me as if I'd just escaped from the loony bin before shoving the beer back into the cooler and mumbling, "This is how it starts."
When he stood at his full height again, he pressed an ice-cold soda into my chest. "Thanks." With a chuckle, I accepted the drink and immediately unscrewed the cap so I could swallow down a good amount. Behind me, I heard the sound of splashing water immediately followed by a woman's shriek.
Steadily, my gaze traveled along the creek bank, taking in the sight of our friends–and a few people I didn't know–having a good time. The only person who was missing was Beckett.
As I knew it would, my attention shifted to where Hailey was standing in a circle with Jessie and my sister. Whatever they were talking about had a shy smile playing on her lips while she shook her head vehemently. Even from my vantage point, I could see her cheeks change color.
I would've done just about anything to know what they were talking about that had my sweet girl's cheeks turning that deep shade of red.
Without missing a beat, Jessie's hands moved wildly through the air as she explained something which had her audience of two breaking out in laughter. Of course, only Hailey's would reach my ears. Like it always did, it glided over my skin before settling somewhere in my chest.
I wanted to close my eyes and just let the sound of it wrap around me.
"What now?" Sawyer's voice invaded my corner of happiness.
Aiming my frown his way, I uttered an annoyed, "Huh?"
