More Than I Could (62)

Luke turns to me and smirks. His chin hosts the same dimple as Chase’s. There’s a hint of mischief in his eyes that I’m familiar with—Gavin has the same one.

“You must be the woman everyone is talking about,” he grins.

“Luke …” Chase warns.

“I am the woman everyone is talking about,” I say, feeling him out. “My name is Megan, and it’s nice to meet you.”

Luke seems impressed. “

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” I tell him.

“Is that so?”

“Yup.”

“It was all good, right?” he asks. “My brothers have a habit of making me look bad because they’re so intimidated by my good looks.”

Chase snorts.

“It was mostly good,” I say. “Gavin talked a little crap, but it wasn’t too bad.”

Luke’s jaw drops. “That bastard.”

Everyone at the table chuckles, and I’m relaxed once again.

“Dad,” Kennedy says. “Can I get a cookie?”

“You just had a milkshake. Do you need more sugar?”

Luke huffs and pulls out his wallet. He takes out a five-dollar bill and hands it over to his niece. “Yes, she needs more sugar. What kind of question is that?”

“Don’t tell Uncle Gav, but you’re my favorite,” Kennedy says.

Luke winks at her. “If he starts pulling on me, let me know. I have to stay ahead.”

Kennedy gives him a thumbs-up and leaves for the ordering counter. As soon as she’s gone, Luke leans in.

“I have news,” he says. “Alyssa isn’t pregnant.”

“You better go buy a fucking box of condoms,” Chase says, shaking his head. “Tell me you learned something from this.”

“I learned something from this.” Then he tilts his head toward me and whispers, “I did not learn anything from this.”

Despite Chase’s unamused stare, I laugh.

“What are you guys doing here, anyway?” Luke asks.

“We came to get me boots because apparently boots are required clothing for Peachwood Falls,” I say.

Luke snorts. “From what I hear, I’d have thought my brother would require no clothing from you.”

“Mind your business,” Chase tells him.

“You’re a bit of a shit starter, aren’t you?” I ask Luke.

“Oh, just a bit. I like to keep everyone on their toes.” He yawns. “I just left Alyssa’s.”

“The woman you thought was pregnant?” I ask.

He nods. “Yup. That’s her. And it took us all night and all morning to decide to take a break. At first, she was pissed at me over a joke. Then I was pissed at her for being pissed at me. Then she thought she was pregnant, so we were both panicking. But now that’s behind us …” He shrugs. “We’ve maxed out my emotional reserve.”

“That’s understandable,” I say.

He waves at Kennedy. “I’m going to get going. I just wanted to come in and give Chase some crap.”

“Gee, thanks,” Chase says.

Luke gets up. “I’ll call you later, Chase. Nice to meet you, Megs. You’re everything Gavin said you were.”

I laugh, mainly at Chase’s reaction. “Well, I hope that’s good.”

“It’s great.” He walks backward toward the door. “Bye.”

“Goodbye, Luke,” Chase says. Then he sighs. “Well, that’s Luke. See? You weren’t missing much.”

I lift my foot until it’s in his lap. His eyes go wide as I rub his crotch.

“I think he’s funny,” I say. “A nice mix of you and Gavin. What about your other brother? Mallet? Is that his name?”

Chase holds my foot against him. His fingers slip beneath my jeans, and he grips my ankle. I don’t know what’s hot about that, but my temperature spikes.

“Mallet’s an asshole most of the time,” he says. “He’s a good guy. I probably like him better than Gavin and Luke. But he’s … always pissed off.”

“Who? Uncle M?” Kennedy sits down with her cookie.

Chase grins, letting go of my leg. “That cookie is as big as your head.”

“I know. And I still have two dollars.”

I giggle and drop my foot back to the floor.

Chase looks at me. “You girls ready?”

“Yup,” Kennedy says, spraying cookie crumbs across the table.

I nod, even though I’m not.

Sure, our lunch is over, and there’s no reason to take up a table. But sitting here with the two of them, chatting about random stuff and making each other laugh—it’s one of the breeziest, most relaxing Sundays I’ve had in a long damn time.

At least I get to go home with them.

“Let’s go,” I say.

We get to our feet, and Kennedy leads us to the door. Chase walks behind me, pressing his hand into the small of my back.

“Thank you,” he whispers in my ear.

Kennedy skips off to the truck.

I stop as Chase walks around me to hold the door. “For what?”

He doesn’t give me enough room to step outside without running against him. I don’t mind.