Presley hugged her back tightly, hanging on to her words like a lifeline.
Jill pulled back, squeezed her arms and then gave her a teasing smile. “Okay. One more stop. I think you’ll like this one best.”
Twenty-Five
Beckett was nervous. Not the kind of nervousness he felt about telling his siblings about what he was now sure he wanted to be his professional future. No, this was different. Like a restless energy simmering inside of him that he didn’t know what to do with. As he sat in Brothers’ Pub—or, more accurately, Leo’s side of Bros’, which is what the locals called it—his leg bounced up and down. The evening crowd of regulars shuffled in, saying hellos and setting themselves up for a night of karaoke and pull tabs. He hadn’t touched the beer he’d ordered while he waited for Jilly to bring Presley to the pub.
When the Tiger Trio, his new nickname for Gabby, Libby, and their mom, asked to come to the mainland for a little fun, he’d offered to bring them before he could think it through. It took about two seconds to realize that the reason the offer sprang from his mouth was because he wanted to be where Presley was.You’re on a timeline with this woman. It’s fine if you want to spend every moment possible with her.He could do that and not get attached. His leg bounced faster.
Finally, he saw her come through the door with his sister. They stopped in the entrance, and he had a chance to just look his fill. On the surface, she was stunning. The graceful line of her neck, the way her hair fell over her shoulders, the smile that lifted her lips. But what shook him to his core was the fact that it wasn’t any of those things making his heart race. It was knowing she hated hiking even though she pretended not to. The way she picked up a hammer, a brush, or whatever else—as long as it wasn’t a salamander—as though she didn’t want to miss out on anything. It was the way she pushed through her fears, and how shelooked below dozens of twinkle lights. The way she woke up early and smiled about it. Her eyes scanned the room with an openness and approachability and fucking lit up when they landed on him. Oh yeah. He was in big trouble. But really, how far could a person fall in one week?
They walked toward him, with Jill saying hi to several people. They didn’t move far without seeing someone Jill knew. But Smile was growing. There were more people he didn’t know than he did these days. Maybe it was because he kept so busy that it had taken him a while to notice, but their little town was expanding.
“Hi,” Presley said with a breathtaking smile. “So, this is the famous Brothers’. Whose side is this?” She leaned down to kiss him as he went to stand in greeting, making their heads collide.
“Shit. I’m so sorry,” he said.
Presley put a hand to her forehead, laughing.
“Smooth, Becks,” Jill said. She pulled her purse over her head, set it on the table, grabbing her wallet out of it. “I’ll grab drinks while you two figure out how to say hello.”
His chest tightened like a damn schoolkid who’d asked out the popular girl on a whim. “Are you okay?” Beckett tipped her chin up, looked into her eyes. Aside from her irises being a gorgeous hue of blue, like the sky on a perfect day, her pupils checked out okay.
“I’m good. A little dazed, but I think that’s par for the course, being around you,” she teased.
They stood facing each other, staring, and even though Beckett knew people were looking at them, whisperingaboutthem—he didn’t care. Five days.
“Very funny. Also, did you just make an outdoor sports reference?”
She went up on her tiptoes, pressed a soft kiss to his lips, making him wish they didn’t have an audience. When she dropped to flat feet again, she grinned. “Just because I can’t and don’t play sports doesn’t mean I don’t love a good cliché.”
“Sit,” he said. “People are watching us.” He didn’t love being the center of attention, but this time it was his own fault.
He held a chair out for her. She’d barely sat down when Liam came out of a back room with a box of alcohol weighing down his arms. Well over six feet, he was two minutes older than his brother and the funnier of the two. Leo was much more serious.
“Hey, Beck. You brought your girl,” he said, moving the box to one hand so he could shake Presley’s.
Beckett noted the subtle shade of pink that darkened Presley’s cheeks, but she held her hand out. No matter how big Smile grew, gossip would always run like water out of a faucet.
“I’m Presley,” she said.
With his short hair and stocky build, Liam reminded Beckett of a pro wrestler. He’d certainly gone many rounds with his own brother over the years.
“I’m Liam. Nice to meet you. You two here for dinner? Folks are loving the Hot Mountain Man Platter.”
Beckett’s jaw dropped, right along with his stomach. “Excuse me?”
Jill joined them in that moment. Beckett didn’t miss the way Liam looked at his sister, but he was still stuck on what the pub owner had said.
“I can’t stay tonight, but I’m coming back for that one,” Jill said. “How’s it going, Liam?”
“I’m good, Jilly. You know I’d be happy to take you out for a meal somewhere other than here any time you want.”
“Maybe you stop hitting on my sister and tell me what the hell a”—Beckett stopped, looked around, and lowered his voice—“Hot Mountain Man Platter is.”
He also didn’t miss the amusement in Presley’s gaze. “Didn’t you see the chalkboard sign? It’s a sampler of all the appetizers on the menu. It sounds delicious. I definitely want one.”
Liam and Jill laughed.
