Only Mine (Honey Mountain #5)(69)

So, maybe we weren’t being as careful as we thought we were.

“Do you want to keep it a secret?” he asked, his lips finding my neck.

“I mean, it could all end tomorrow, right? We don’t want people at the office in our business,” I said, but my words were breathy and full of need.

“So, this is the friend from the office, huh?” a deep voice said with a chuckle, and Wolf’s head shot up to turn and see my cousin Hugh walking toward us.

Hugh was a big guy, tall with broad shoulders, long, dark hair, and he was one of my favorite people on the planet.

I put my hands on Wolf’s chest, and he straightened. “Wolf, this is my cousin, Hugh.”

“Nice to meet you. I was just—er—trying to warm her up because she was cold.” He extended his arm, and they shook hands.

Hugh barked out a laugh. “Dude. That’s rich. Your secrets are safe with me. Bring it in, girl.”

I rolled my eyes and stepped into his arms.

“Lucy, you’ve got some ‘splaining to do,” he whispered.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I started walking toward the bar. “Come on. I’m ready to get in there.”

“Have you heard her sing yet?” Hugh asked as he strode beside Wolf. I glanced over my shoulders, and they were similar in size and both a little intimidating if you didn’t know them.

“No. I’m not much of a karaoke guy,” Wolf grumped.

“Yeah. I hear you, man. Dilly and I were in college together, and this was her favorite place. She’d drag me here all the time. And it kind of grows on you.”

“Please. You love it here.” I shook my head as we approached the big, red door.

“I’ve never come without you. It’s just a karaoke bar with a bunch of drunk people when you aren’t here.”

“Do I want to know what that means?” Wolf asked as he pulled the door open for me.

The place was just how I remembered it. The last time I’d come to the city, I’d dragged Charlie here with me and Hugh. She’d sung “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John, which was a favorite of mine, too, but it didn’t really bring down the house and get the crowd going.

“Just wait, Wolf. You’re in for quite a show.”

“Dylan!” Sabine was on her feet and waving us over. Z was sitting on the other side of the table, and he looked very intoxicated, and Seb was there, too, with a girl on each side of him.

“Hey, this is my cousin, Hugh.” I introduced him to everyone, and we quickly ordered a bunch of cocktails, beers, and shots and settled around the large table.

The dim lighting, the dark red flooring, and the vintage chandeliers that dangled overhead set the mood. It smelled like nachos and tequila. Two of my favorite things.

Wolf took the seat beside me and sipped his beer, looking like he was assessing the place for exit doors.

“You look very out of place, brother,” Seb said after taking a shot of tequila and biting down on the lime.

“He does not.” Sabine winked at her big brother, and I’d noticed it each time I’d been around her; she adored Wolf. She definitely understood him, whereas I think most could misinterpret the way he carried himself. “This is so fun. Thanks for inviting us.”

I found his hand beneath the table and rubbed my thumb across his palm a few times. He let out a long breath. “It’s not my typical hangout, but it’s fine.”

“So, you just come to karaoke bars with coworkers now? What’s the story here?” Seb asked, with a wicked grin on his face.

“The story is, I asked him to come with me. He lives next door. We’re friends. I wanted him to experience a little MC Hammer.” I waggled my brows, and everyone laughed.

“Listen. This place wasn’t for me either, but here I am. Dilly has a way of making everyone have a good time,” Hugh said.

“What can I say? It’s a gift.” I chuckled as the server put down two platters of nachos in the middle of the table, and Z was the first one to dive in. He looked like he was several cocktails in already, and Wolf glanced over at me and raised a brow. “So, what do you do?” Z directed his question toward Hugh. “These guys own a hockey team and are wealthier than sin—are you in the same boat?”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Wolf growled, and Sabine glared at her boyfriend. She didn’t look like she was having a great time with him, as they weren’t even sitting beside one another.

“It just means you’re rich.” He shrugged and glanced back over at my cousin, who was normally very chill, but he was watching Wolf, and I could tell that he liked him.

“I own a bar and restaurant in Cottonwood Cove. You’ll all have to come check it out sometime.”

“Dylan told me about it. I haven’t been out that way in a while, but I’ve heard it’s got a cool sports pub vibe. Ledger helped design it, right?” Wolf asked, and he’d moved my hand to his thigh beneath the table and rested his big hand on top of it.

“Yeah. You know Ledger? He’s got an eye, man. You’re going to have to come check out all the details.”

“I met him in Honey Mountain. He showed me some of the projects he’s done here in the city, and it’s impressive stuff.”

“That’s right. You were gone for a few days. Were you in Honey Mountain?” Seb asked, and he was trying hard not to laugh. He loved to give his brother shit, and it was funny to see them go back and forth with one another.