Page 25 of Better Not Pout
ten
. . .
Wells
First Kiss Pick-Me-Ups?
The last personI expected to walk into my bar in the middle of the afternoon was my brother. A full day early.
Followed by another unexpected visitor right behind him…
Rosalie.
When she breezes in behind Zander like she owns the place, wearing a cute little pink, puffy jacket, smiling brightly at all my guys and carrying a big box stuffed full of candy from next door with Penny on her heels, I’m surprised as shit.
About seeing the both of them for entirely different reasons.
Penny runs over to where Frankie’s chewing on his stuffed reindeer and pounces on him playfully. Those two are completely obsessed with each other. I can’t get over it.
I set down the sander that I was using to refinish the top of the bar and walk around the bar. Zander barrels into me, tossing his arms around me in a bear hug. Even though I’m three inchestaller and have a good fifty pounds on him, he still manages to lift me off the ground.
“Surprise, baby brother!”
“Hell, Zander, I thought you were coming in tomorrow?” I say as he sets me down and steps back, smirking haughtily.
“What, you’re not happy to see me?” he says with an exaggerated look of mock offense.
“Of course I am. I’m just surprised, that’s all. You’re a day early. Where’s Ally?” I ask, glancing over at Rosalie, who’s watching the two of us, clutching that box tightly in her hands.
Shit, she probably feels blindsided by him coming even earlier than I told her.
“She’s over at the candy store next door getting some treats for the family. Man, I always forget how much I love Mistletoe Falls until I’m here again,” Zander says before following my gaze to where I’m staring over at Rosalie. “Wait, is this…”
I nod, walking over to her, sliding my arm around her waist. “This is Rosalie. My… girl. Rosalie, this is my older brother, Zander.”
She’s slightly stiff in my arms as she glances up at me, her eyes widened, then over at Zander, before looking back and forth between us again.
“Wow. There are two of you.”
Zander’s face transforms, a wide smile moving over his lips as he lets out a laugh that echoes loudly around the bar. “Obviously, I’m the most attractive brother.” He extends a hand toward her until he realizes her hands are full. “Oh shit, do you work at the candy store?”
“Uh, actually, my grandparents own it, so it’s a family business,” she says. “I brought these over for Wells and the guys to have as a little pick-me-up while they’re working.”
Zander’s brow lifts, gaze flicking to me before returning to Rosalie. “That’s sweet of you. Isn’t it, Wells?”
I roll my eyes at the fact that he’s already giving me shit and he’s been in my bar for less than ten minutes. I guess it’s fair since I give him his own fair share of shit for being the world’s most down bad motherfucker when it comes to his girlfriend. Or fiancée, once we get to the cabins and he finally pops the question.
“Thanks, Sugar,” I murmur, taking the candy from her, which Zander promptly snatches away from me. “I appreciate it.”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she says, giving me a small smile.
“It’s nice to meet you, Rosalie,” Zander says, interrupting my thoughts. “You gonna show me and Ally around town at Mistletoe Magic this weekend?”
“Uh, yeah, sure, of course,” she says with a nod. “I’d be happy to. Wells and I were already going, so it’ll be great to have you there too. Right, Wells?”
We were?
I feel her fingers digging into my side when I don’t immediately respond, so I clear my throat and nod. “Yeah. Yeah, we’ve been planning it all week, so perfect timing.”
