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“You, Knox, and Brax.” He shakes his head, chuckling. “All three of you stare at her like she’s the last drop of water in the desert.”

I clench my jaw. Why has he been watching? “Mind your own business, Linc.”

“I’m just speaking the truth.” He grabs his beer and tips it toward me. “It’s going to be interesting when she finally chooses one of you.”

The thought of Callie choosing Knox or Brax over me sends a bolt of possessiveness through my chest. “Who says she has to pick one?”

Lincoln’s eyebrows shoot toward his hairline.

I tip my chin up.

He shakes his head. “Fuck, you’re serious.”

“You know, I like you a lot better when you’re working and too busy to give me hell.”

“Ah, but it’s my night off.”

“And yet here you are,” I tell him. “Nothing better to do?”

He shrugs. “This is as entertaining as anything.”

“Well, stop butting into my business and worry about yours.” I tip my head toward Otto who is staring at Linc like he’s hungry.

“Shut up,” Linc grumbles.

“That’s what I thought.” I turn back to my work, but what Linc said runs through my head. The idea of her with anyone else pisses me off. But sharing her with my brothers? I think I can manage that. It’s always been the four of us against the world. Why should that change now?

The bar finally empties out around two in the morning. My muscles ache from the long shift, but there’s a different tension coiling inside me as I watch Callie count her tips at the end of the bar. She’s let down her hair and it falls in messy brunette waves around her face. My fingers itch to grab a hand full and slam my mouth to hers.

“It was a good night,” she says, sensing my approach. “Even with your brother knocking out that tourist.”

“Knox has always had a temper.” I lean against the bar beside her, our shoulders almost touching. “Especially when it comes to you.”

She stills, eyes fixed on the stack of bills in her hands. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what it means, Alley cat.” I reach out and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re our girl.”

“I’m not⁠—”

I grip her chin and tip her head up, bringing my lips close enough to brush hers. “You are,” I murmur, tongue tracing the seam of her lips.

“Jax,” she breathes my name.

I close the distance between us, slipping my tongue into her mouth and devouring her, stealing her breath and savoring the soft little moan she releases for me.

Maura barges through the door from the kitchen. We spring apart like teenagers caught by their parents. Maura stands there, keys jangling in her hand. “If you two are done making eyes at each other, I’d like to lock up sometime tonight.”

Callie hurries to gather her things, avoiding my eyes. I watch her movements, the way she tries to calm herself, smoothing her hands down her jeans and tucking her hair behind her ears.

“This conversation isn’t over,” I murmur as we walk out into the cool night air.

She looks up at the stars, a small smile playing at her lips. “I know.”

And in those two words, I hear hope. A chance to keep the only woman I’ve ever wanted.

Chapter Seventeen

BRAX