Page 16 of Small Town Boy

“You sure?” Camden asked.

“Yup. Willa said so.”

“That you listened to, but not anything else she’s mentioned over the last month?” Dustin chided. The commentary was lost though, as my twin was halfway out the door.

“This a good idea?” Camden asked as we followed Nash, trying to keep up.

“Not in the slightest,” Dustin muttered.

And he was right. But there was no stopping Nash. Especially when it comes to bad decisions.

Just like now, how he’s leading the way, bobbing and weaving through the crowd, headed toward our friends. Not stopping to think how this is going to go. Or think at all, really.

The girls are in their usual spot, hugging the far corner of the rough-cut bar, their backs turned to the rest of the crowd. I stop, my breath catching as the pure beauty lined up along the bar sinks in.

I, along with Nash, Dustin, and now Camden, have long known that we’re surrounded by gorgeous women. Even ignoring Willa being a legit beauty queen, she, Kenzie, and Sylvie are beautiful, inside and out. Always have been, always will be. It’s not lost on us guys that we’re lucky bastards that they even give us the time of day, much less call us friends.

But tonight, it’s more than just them.

Flanked by a blonde on her right and two dark-haired beauties to her left, is a woman who is literally taking my breath away. Which, fuck, makes me one sappy bastard. But right now I don’t care. All I care about is getting a chance to get to know her more. Figure out what it is about her that has me so muddled.

And not letting Nash make a fool out of all of us. That’s a big one.

“Ladies!” Nash exclaims, arms raised high.

Too late.

“Go away, Nash!” Willa snarks, not even bothering to turn around.

Yeah, we’re off to a great start.

“What are you doing here?” Kenzie asks, a bright, but forced, smile on her face. Three of the four women turn to look at us, Willa still silently protesting our presence.

I watch Bronwyn, her eyes scanning each of the guys in front of me. Her facial expression is placid, but pleasant, as if she doesn’t quite know what to make of the group descending upon her. Can’t blame her there.

Until she gets to me.

We lock eyes, my own grin taking over as I start to get lost in those soft brown eyes. They’re almost the same shade as her hair, pure sweet honey. Those eyes grow wide, and the calm, relaxed look she’d been sporting goes stiff, almost anxious and unamused. Not the reaction I was hoping for.

“That’s a good question,” Dustin answers, giving his fiancée a kiss. “Nash, what are we doing here?”

“Hanging out.” Nash shrugs, like it’s obvious.

“Pretty sure you were supposed to do that at your house,” Willa snarks.

“C’mon now, no need to get your panties in a wad,” Nash retorts, slinging an arm around Willa. She shirks him off, a scowl on her face. Bronwyn quirks one brow up, clearly unsure what to make of the situation, while Kenzie and Sylvie roll their eyes, all but in unison. “You are wearin’ panties, right?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Nash winks, making a clicking sound, and then turns his attention to Willa’s left. Oh shit.

“Hi, I’m Nash Keller. You must be Bronwyn. Heard a lot about you.”

“Have you now?” Bronwyn eyes him up and down, like she’s sizing him up, trying to identify his weak spots before going in for the kill.

“Sure have. All good things. Promise.”

Gaze shifting to me, Bronwyn gives me the same once-over. No, on second thought, this one isn’t the same. The one she’s giving me is dismissive.