Page 83 of Big Dill

“Hey, Jami. Did you kiss the cod yet?” Scott yells out.

Nope. Oh, hell no.

“Ah…”

“Doc there behind the counter, does a whole ceremony,” Scott explains.

“If you’re going to be one of us,” Susan pipes in.

I cast a pleading glance at Brody. He pushes off the wall, moving closer just enough to reassure me. “We’ll cut her some slack tonight. She’s learning the game.”

I give him a grateful look.

“Maybe next week,” he says, and I wag a finger at him like he’s in big trouble.

Laughter bubbles around us, and that’s when Jaxon and Rachel come over.

“Look at you,” Jaxon says, eyes wide. “Brody’s dart skills are rubbing off on you.”

Rubbing off on me.

I gulp, heat rushing to my face. My brother is too busy greeting everyone else to notice, but Rachel…oh, Rachel notices. She simply smiles.

“You’re a fast learner,” she says.

“It’s actually kind of fun. Were you able to get a sitter for tonight?”

She exhales. “I don’t know what I’d do without my parents. They’re keeping Laci overnight.”

“Then you need another beer,” I tell her, spotting her nearly empty glass. Glancing at my own, I add, “So do I. I’ll be right back.”

I head to the bar and order two more beers. As I glance around, I notice Liam and Elise talking—but Elise keeps sneaking glances at Brody, and Liam keeps glancing at me. My stomach tightens as I remember the closeness between Brody and Elise in high school, how everyone assumed they’d get married. I shake my head and turn back to Doc. Not sure how he earned that name, unless he really is the town doctor. After all, the mayor drives a plow truck so…why not?

The stool beside me squeaks. Heart jumping, I spin, expecting Liam, but no. It’s Brody.

“Liam’s coming your way,” he warns.

I’m about to turn, but his hand lands on my thigh, holding me in place. His body presses against mine, his mouth is near my ear. His voice drops lower when he says, “For the record. If you’re going snowmobiling at anyone’s cottage…it’s mine.”

19

Brody

I zip my coat all the way up and tug my toque down over my ears, watching Jami do the same. Her fingers fumble with the edges, and I reach over and help her. The second our hands touch, sparks of want zing through me and I quickly pull away, like a child caught with its hands in the cookie jar.

All right then.

Since I drove us here tonight, my eyes sweep the pub for Jaxon, scanning the warm haze of laughter and clinking glasses. I need to know if he’s ready to leave, or if someone will have to give him a ride home. That’s what this town is about, looking out for each other, making sure no one’s left stranded.

I glance at Jami, who has been fighting a yawn for the past hour, and I may have fibbed when I told her I was ready to go. I know she doesn’t want to be the one to drag me home if I weren’t ready, but I want to go…because it’s what she needs

I spot Jaxon leaning over a pool table with Rachel and a couple of others, cue in hand. When Jami grunts, I glance at her again to find her fiddling with her gloves, curling the fingers, twisting them as if they’re knots she can’t untangle. Damn, she’s really tired.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell her, crossing the room.

Jaxon whispers something to Rachel and she laughs. Maybe my mother was right calling it with those two. She was absolutely wrong trying to match Jami with Liam, however. I catch his eye and jerk my thumb toward the door. “We’re headed out. You ready?”

“I’m going to hang out for a bit,” he says.