Page 62 of Small Town Boy

It’s Dawgs

I glance over at the TV that we have all but muted in the background, checking the score. Sure enough, the boys in red and black are on top—as it should be.

And they sure are.

Bronwyn

Then yay!

I should let you get back to the game. Willa’s giving me the evil eyes for texting…

My thumbs hover over the keyboard, ready to tap out an answer, but I stop myself. As much as I want to tell her that I’d rather be with her—or at least texting her—I’m not sure we’re there yet. The last two weeks have been amazing. She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever met, and I’m baffled as to why she spends any time with me. I’m grateful that she does. And I want to make it worth her while. Both orgasmically and otherwise.

Still doesn’t mean I need to be texting her that I’d rather be with her than the guys.

Plus, I know she needs the time with the girls. Kenzie, Sylvie, and Willa have embraced her with open arms, including her in everything they do. Kenzie even dragged her wedding dress shopping earlier this week. If you didn’t know better, you’d think that Bronwyn had been the fourth little girl on the playground making a pact to always be besties with those three, rather than someone who had only been in town six weeks.

“Yo, Noel!” my twin shouts, snapping his fingers at me from my right.

“What?”

I snap my head up, looking at him, wondering where the fire is. All three of them are looking at me, a mixed bag of expressions on their face. Nash looks annoyed, which given his snapping doesn’t surprise me. Camden looks concerned, like any good doctor would if their patient was acting out of the ordinary.

And then there’s Dustin.

Sitting directly across from me, a smug, knowing look staring back, Dustin might as well be the proverbial cat who ate the canary. He knows. Worse, he knows he knows. Even worse than that, I can’t say shit about it. I gave him grief for years about Kenzie—making it known that I knew he still loved her and that I disagreed with how he’d handled things. Hell, he hadn’t been back in town for five minutes last year and I was reminding him what the library hours were so he could right his wrongs.

He’d reminded me then, and many times since—payback is a bitch. And I bet I’m about to find out.

“How’s that tractor?” he asks, smirk growing even bigger. I’d reach across the table and smack him, except I probably deserve this.

“Fine.”

“What’s wrong with the tractor?” Nash asks.

“Nothing.”

“It good and cranked?” Dustin follows up.

Fucker…

“Is that why you’re not paying attention, because you’re texting Bronwyn?” Nash exclaims. “Duuude….”

He snaps his wrist, making the “whoopshhh” sound like he’s cracking a whip. Yup, should have expected that too.

“Get it all out,” I tell them. “I’m a man; I can take it.”

“I think it’s great,” Camden interjects. “You deserve someone who makes you happy. Have you taken her for a ride on the tractor yet?”

Nash spits out his drink, the spray covering the game board. Camden flies back in his seat, trying not to also be a casualty. Dustin slaps his hand on the table from laughing, and even I can’t hold it in. It’s always the quiet ones.

“And here you think you can’t talk dirty,” I say.

“Was not intended as a euphemism. Was actually wondering if you’d taken her out on the tractor.”

We laugh even harder, Camden joining us this time. It’s just the tension breaker we needed.

“No, not yet.” I take a swig of my beer, filing away the idea. I have no clue if Bronwyn would be interested in seeing the nursery or any of our operation, but the idea of showing it to her makes my heart swell. I want to involve her. Want her opinions. Because I’m secretly hoping she’ll be the one helping me run it. “Soon.”