Page 17 of Summer with a Brother's Best Friend
And I can’t wait to fuck her with them on.
The place is chic but still cozy with its mix of tables and inviting white leather chairs. The owner, Vivian, kept so many of the original elements, accentuating the cathedral ceilings and the stained glass windows in the front instead of hiding or replacing them. Bookshelves line the space, but my favorite thing is that you can only get wine, tap water, or sparkling water here.
That’s it.
And tourists and locals alike can’t get enough.
Sam is behind the bar, and she nods at us as we approach. “What can I get you?”
The girls order glasses of white wine and I do the same, though, truth be told, I’d rather have a beer.
Sliding my card across the bar, I motion for Sam to keep it open as Reece and Vienna gush over her bangs and the more red than brown color of her hair. It’s…strange. There’s never a shortage of conversations like these at my bar, but I’ve never had a reason to really pay attention.
But I could sit here and listen to it all night, because this is the closest thing to a date I could take Reece on without Maddox being suspicious. She’s happy and so am I.
For now.
My heart squeezes at the thought of losing her after it feels like a part of me has come alive in the last few weeks she’s been home.
Sam tells them about the book club the bar runs, and I watch as Vienna and Reece nod enthusiastically, talking about whatever the upcoming read is, the details sending my eyebrows into my hairline.
It sounds…spicy. But hell, if a book club with a variety of smutty books would keep my girl in Love Beach, I’d buy every single one for her.
Thanking Sam for their drinks, the girls move around the bar, sliding between patrons to peek at the bookshelves. Reece winks at me over her shoulder, and I feel that simple acknowledgment like a physical caress. Nothing about being with her feels temporary; it just feelsright.
And the longer I let this go on, the harder it will be to let her go. Thoughts of selling the bar or maybe opening a second location close to where Reece lives flit through my head, the latter taking hold with enthusiasm.
It’s crazy.
But not that crazy.
Taking a sip of my wine, I stare at the glass in horror as I swallow the cool, crisp liquid. It’s delicious. Shamefully so, and I instantly feel like I’m cheating on my brews down the street while also wondering if I can get a bottle of this to go.
“It’s good, right?” Reece’s eyes sparkle as she watches me, taking a sip of her own drink.
“I really hate that I like it,” I admit.
“I can see that.” She laughs. “What do you think about this one?” Reece asks, holding up a book with a ripped, sweaty guy on it.
“I think I should probably start hitting the gym,” I say, looking down and patting my abs through my short-sleeve Henley. Reece picked it out, admitting she liked how the seafoam-green color looked against my tan.
Giving me a wicked smirk, she steps into me, placing her hand on my chest and popping up on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear.
“I licked every dip and line of your abs last night. I think you’re doing just fine.”
Suppressing the groan, I wrap my arm around her back and pull her flush against me, her eyes dancing with amusement.
And lust.
“You can lick a lot more than my abs tonight with that mouth.”
She giggles, but I’m not kidding.
Not even a little.
“Y’all know you can’t whisper, right?” Vienna says, eyebrow raised and lips quirked as she pretends to read a random page in the book she’s holding.
“Man, she’s nosy,” I say, burying my face in the crook of Reece’s neck.
