Play for Keeps (The Devil's Share #6)(23)

We’d stopped dancing at this point. The four of us were kind of loitering in the middle of the dance floor. I wrapped my arms around her neck. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Jacks took my hand and spun me back into his arms, moving to the rhythm once again. “You can congratulate them after Dash and Lexi leave for Greece.”

Luke chuckled. “Yeah, you guys want to see Lexi act like a bride? Try stealing her thunder today.”

Jacks and I danced away and he put his mouth close to my ear. “So many Devil’s Share babies.”

“I know, right? Can you imagine if you guys ever tried to tour again? We’d each need our own bus.”

“Oh, we’re never touring again.”

I pulled back, studying him. “You don’t ever get the urge to play like that? To have millions of fans screaming your name?”

“I guess every once in a while I feel that itch. But it’s not strong enough for me to load up the fam and head out on the road.”

“No?”

He shook his head smiling. “You know how hard it would be to find a place to fuck you on a tour bus with two kids running around?”





Chapter Twenty-Two





Luke

My fiancée was pregnant. Harlow had come bouncing into our bedroom first thing this morning, the sun barely up. She’d climbed on top of me and held that little stick up so I could see. She didn’t talk, and neither did I.

We’d cried.

And then made love, twice.

I couldn’t wait to tell my best friend I was going to be a dad, but her wedding definitely wasn’t the time or place. I had a speech to give.

I tapped the microphone in my hand. “Hey, everyone, I’m Luke, the third most important person at this wedding.” I waited while everyone laughed. “You see, my best friend married my brother today, so I’m kind of a big deal.”

I looked over at Lexi and winked. She blew me a kiss.

“I’ve known Lexi for what feels like my whole life. I met Lex when I was just a teenage boy with a lust for music and a hellacious crush on her.” Dash shot me a look and playfully scooted her chair closer to his.

“I owe a lot of my success, and most of my happiness, to Lexi. She taught me how to believe in myself, she taught me how to forgive, how to protect. She taught me how to go after what I wanted and how to stand up for what I believe in.” I swallowed past the small lump in my throat. “I spent a long time thinking that no one would ever be good enough for her, that no one would ever be worthy of her love. Her adoration. But I was wrong. My brother is the perfect man for our girl.”

I made eye contact with the man who married my first love.

“It all started when Lexi walked backstage in killer boots and tiny shorts, stealing Dash’s horny little heart.” Everyone laughed again. “If Dash and Lexi hadn’t gotten pregnant with Halen, Smith wouldn’t have met Dylan and Evie wouldn’t be here.”

I looked to my right. Smith was sitting next to his fiancée, their sleeping infant in the crook of his arm.

“And then Jacks would have never been introduced to Bryan. Those two are beating us all, right? Married with two kids.” I shook my head, chuckling at the family of four all piled on top of each other in two chairs. “And if I hadn’t had to run away from my home that was suddenly packed with couples and kiddos, I’d have never met Harlow. And I couldn’t imagine living in a world where she wasn’t by my side.” I winked at her.

“It all began with Dash and Lexi. Those two show us all, on a daily basis, what it means to be a team. What it means to be a family. And I know I’m not alone here tonight when I say that I am so damn happy for the two of you. So, let’s raise up our glasses, and toast Dash and Lexi.

“Toast my brother, and my best friend, the start of it all.”





TAKE A SNEAK PEEK AT THE FIRST BOOK

IN THE NEW RIFFRAFF SERIES:





Royalty





Chapter One





Mason





Before

“Hey, bud, you awake?”

I felt him in my room, but I sure as shit wasn’t ready to open my eyes. I’d had a long-ass night.

“Hey? Can you hear me? Wake your punk ass up.”

Yeah, I could hear him. The music in my headphones had paused itself a few hours ago. Reluctantly, I opened one eye. I knew he wasn’t going anywhere until I acknowledged him.

“I’m up.”

“When did you get into town? And why are you sleeping with your Beats on?” He put his hands on his hips. “Are we going through another emo phase? Because I have to tell you, the first one was annoying as fuck.”

I snorted out a laugh as I sat up in my bed. “No. I’m wearing my Beats because even through the headphones the sound of my incredibly hot stepmother screaming, Don’t stop. Fuck me harder was giving me a chub.”

My father made a face and looked down at my crotch. “You didn’t rub it out, did you?”

I rolled my eyes. “No. I tried for a good ten minutes to remind my traitorous dick that it was my old man fucking her like that. But when that didn’t work I called an old friend to come over.” I paused when my dad held out his fist for a bump. I obliged because he was right. I was a boss. “She couldn’t stay the night though, and I was terrified of a round three. Hence the beats.”