Page 227 of Screwged for Christmas

It took everything in her not to say that out loud, but her inner vixen nearly doubled over from the surprise. Damn did Alaska know how to grow them, and now she knew where the world’s plaid collection had disappeared to. It was the only thing anyone ever wore here. These two men favored the green version and it suited them perfectly. The dark color highlighted their identical pearly smiles and clung to their shoulders to abruptly end right below their belt line. Whatever woman ended up with these two would be a lucky girl indeed.

“Remind me to lock the door next time.” Damon looked across the bar, shaking his head.

When the two newcomers grabbed a stool, Damon wrapped an arm around her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “We’re not finished, angel. Hold those dirty thoughts for me.” Then he reached across the bar to shake hands with the two men. Men that looked identical and carried similar traits to the Savage men she’d already met. How many were there?

“Ivy, meet the Savage playboy twins. My cousins.”

“How many of you are there?”

“Too many by the count of our mom and too few by the count of the ladies.”

Yep. Playboys.

“Man, you gotta stop calling us that. Sends the wrong message about us.” The one on the right with the easy grin grimaced.

He extended his hand to her. She took it. Nice to meet you.

She slipped her hand into his and immediately relaxed. “Don’t listen to him.” Twin one tightened his hold and the softness to his eyes made her smile. “I’m Jin and this is Rebel Savage. Cool sweater. I gotta get me one of those.” Jin hooked his thumb over to his twin. “He’s the asshole, by the way, and I’m the charmer.”

“Not fair. Why do you always get to greet the girls first? Not like they’ll fall for your one-liners. Besides, I saw her first—you get your hands off.” Rebel challenged his twin, slapping him on the shoulder with a rueful grin.

“Both of you get your grubby paws off my girl,” Damon jumped in, pulling her hand free of Jin’s.

Jin pulled back, raising his hands. “My bad, but baby, if you get tired of the broody, sulky cousin of mine, give us a call and we’ll take over.” He winked and elbowed his brother, who reached over and offered a hand too.

“Yeah, that’s enough of the pleasantries.” Damon threw his bar towel at the one named Rebel and she loved how he roared with laughter and flashed a broad smile that reached his eyes and charged the air with happy vibes. As if his laughter held magic. She smiled at that thought.

Jin dragged his stool closer. “Sorry for breaking up fun time right when the good stuff started.”

As she quickly noticed, not one to let his brother do all the talking, Rebel followed up his brother’s wisdom with a little of his own. “Gotta listen to the kids more, Damon. Told ya a nice date would make the holiday pass faster. It’s good to see you finally pulling out of your shell.”

“If that is what you are here for, you can march right out the same door you two sauntered in. Did Momma send you down here to tell me that?”

“Nah. But it’s the truth.” Both Jin and Rebel looked at her as if to say thank you, but for what she didn’t quite understand. “We just need to have a chat and then you guys can get back to your kissing game.”

She moved to pull away and give them their privacy, but Damon held her close. Jin winked at her and patted her on the shoulder, which pulled a growl from Damon. What the hell was that about?

“Down, boy. We don't want your girl even if she is the sweetest candy in Savage Ridge.” Yep. That queued up the rise of heat in her and yep, there went that darn pesky blush. She braved a glance at Damon from beneath her lashes, pretending to read through her book.

“What’s up then, boys?”

She brushed past Damon to snag a couple of shot glasses and hook some of the good stuff from the top shelf.

“There’s been some rumblings among the outer communities. The older folks who live off-grid. Some men have been coming up and telling them to get out. Wanting to take over their land by force. Sounds a lot like what we’ve already gone through. Your dad told us what Reaper and his brothers found out at their place. Thought you’d like to know. We tried to call but the signals wouldn’t connect. Seems like another storm is rolling in. Would suck to be caught with your pants down if you know what I mean. So we decided to swing by on our way to picking up some supplies.”

They were right. The weather did look like it was making a turn for the worse.

Damon scratched his chin. “So I’ve heard.”

Both Rebel and Jin held up their glasses in salute before tossing them back. “Damn sweet kick. Thank you, Ivy.”

“Anyone hurt?” Damon pushed.

“Not yet. We’re keeping a close eye,” Rebel offered. She wondered what he did to earn that moniker or if it was his given name.

Pushing her glasses up the ridge of her nose, she studied them closer. Both hiked their shirt sleeves to reveal thick forearms, and several buttons at the neck lay splayed open to show a tease of hair. Frankly, the brothers made it look like spring outside. Looking between them, she couldn’t tell them apart except for the tiny scar that sliced through Rebel’s eyebrow.

“Whoever is going around intimidating the locals and leaving marked bullets knows you’re here. And it’s putting everyone in danger.”

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