Page 65 of Keeping Guard
“Yeah, talked to him last night.”
“Nichole and I are cooking out Sunday, and you and Peyton, along with Nichole’s brother, Mark, and Clint will be there.”
“Peyton will like that. She’s mentioned a few times how much she likes Nichole.” Funny, a day or two ago, he’d look for excuses—even outright refuse, not bothering with an excuse—to avoid being around a group of people. Damn head doc was apparently in his head since his brain had decidedavoidwas no longer acceptable.
He was looking forward to taking Peyton to a cookout, and he was even starting to like the ridiculous dog.
Chapter Twenty-One
Peyton was over the moon happy about a lot of things. She’d returned to work yesterday, along with Eddie, who’d refused to come back until she did. Gosh, she loved that old man. Most of her day had been spent getting back in the swing of things in the brewery, but two hours of it had been with her father in his office. He was teaching her the business side of the operation, and the best part, it had been his idea.
His responsibilities weren’t her favorite part of the brewery, but if she was to take over someday—and she prayed that wasn’t anytime soon—she needed to learn how to run the business. The plus in that was she would be spending time working with her father each day. He was a different man from the one she was used to. The man who used to keep himself closed off from her and never smiled was gone. He’d even praised her quick mind a few times. She was still marveling at the change in him, had pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
A miracle had happened all because she’d finally stood up for herself and refused to marry a man she didn’t love. Being a runaway bride definitely had its benefits. Then there was Noah, whom she never would have met if she hadn’t hightailed it away from her wedding.
He’d spent last night in her bed again, and, Lordy, the man curled her toes. Her bed was going to be a lonely place when he left. But she wouldn’t think about that, not today. She was too happy to allow sad thoughts in her head. There would be plenty of time for that when he was gone.
Tonight, she was meeting his brother, and she couldn’t decide what to wear. Clothes had never been all that important to her, her preferences were jeans and T-shirts for brewing beer, pencil skirts and blouses for client meetings, leggings or shorts for home, and a few fancy dresses for dinners or special events.
What to wear for dinner with the man she was afraid she was falling for and his brother? Noah wanted to stay in, and she’d offered to cook...something. Cooking wasn’t something she was particularly good at. Why bother when she lived alone and had great restaurants surrounding her?
Surprising her, Noah had asked her to make her grilled cheese sandwiches. She’d thought that was too simple, but he’d assured her Clint would love them. She was so putting tomatoes on them, though, and she smiled at thinking of Noah’s reaction. He was out now picking up a large order of pho to go with the sandwiches. She’d told him to also stop at the bakery and choose something for dessert.
“You moving out, princess?”
She yelped. “You startled me. I thought you were still gone.”
“Obviously, I’m back.” He leaned on the doorframe and eyed the pile of clothes on her bed. “What’s with the mess?”
“I don’t know what to wear tonight.”
He smirked. “I’d say nothing if it was just me and you, but if you wore nothing in front of my brother, I’d have to kill him.”
“Drat, no clothes would be so much easier, but since I don’t want blood shed on my clean floors, I’ll wear something. I just have to decide what.” She shoved the top items aside. “Not these. I should have gone shopping, but I’m not so good with clothes, you know? I mean, what does a girl wear when she’s meeting the brother of the man she’s sleeping with? Something demure, maybe something casual, but what? Plain old jeans and a T-shirt just don’t—”
“Peyton, Peyton, Peyton,” he said. “Every time you do that, I have to do this.”
When had he moved next to her? His mouth covered hers, and she forgot about clothes. She, in fact, ended up without any on.
“This is amazing,” Noah’s brother said.
Peyton grinned at Clint. “Thanks. I see you didn’t remove your tomato.” She slid her gaze to Noah. “Your brother knows a good thing when he sees...well, I guess in this case I should say when he tastes it.”
He leveled a searing hot stare on her. “Trust me, I know a good thing when I taste it.”
She gasped. “You did not just say that.” Heat spiraled up her neck and on her cheeks. If inexperienced, naive her understood what he was implying, his brother certainly would.
“Pretty sure I did, princess.” He winked at her.
“Well...well...ah...” She needed to stop sputtering, but what was she supposed to say to that? In front of his brother? Noah had thoroughly tasted her on top of the pile of clothes on her bed not two hours ago. The man obviously had superpower talents because her girl parts were still tingling.
“Between this amazing grilled cheese sandwich and this beer you brew, I think I’m in love with you, Peyton,” Clint said. “Will you marry me?”
“If you promise to whisk me away from your Neanderthal brother, I’m all yours.”
Clint laughed. Noah growled, which thrilled her. Like maybe he was a little jealous? She glanced between the two of them. They had the same eye and hair color, and the same lush lips, but that was the only resemblance. Noah was bigger, both in height, weight, and muscles. There was an easiness—a comfortable in his own skin vibe—to Clint that was missing in his brother.
“Your husband won’t be cool with you whisking away with a princess,” Noah said.
