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Never once have I acted on this silly crush, though. Never in my life have I ever even breathed that he was someone I was interested in, not until the night my brother proposed to my best friend, and Ramsey made us all voice our choice of men in attendance. Never once have I touched him with more than just a teasing punch or elbow.
That changed tonight.
This is the third straight song we’ve danced to. My feet are killing me, but that’s not going to stop me. I wanted to squeal with excitement when he said his prize was me being his dance partner for the remainder of the night. I knew it was only to keep Jade’s cousin Jackie at bay, but it was time with him. His hands on me and mine on him. No way in hell was I passing that up. I pretended to be excited that I won when in reality, I never wanted to lose anything so damn bad in my entire life. When Jade spoke up and changed the outcome of the bet, I was all too eager to drag Brooks’s fine ass out onto the dance floor.
I know that our dancing doesn’t mean anything. However, it’s almost like a childhood fantasy come true. For one night, I get to have all of his attention, and that’s enough for me. It’s not like I’m in love with him. He’s just my childhood crush, and I’d be lying if I said that eleven-year-old Palmer wasn’t screaming from excitement.
Hell, I would have been happy to spend my evening with any of the Kincaid brothers. Even the twins that were making a Jackie sandwich earlier out here on this very dance floor. They’re all sexy as hell. It’s more than their looks, though. They are genuinely good guys, hard workers, and even though Orrin, so far, is the only one showing signs of settling down, they’re not man-whores. They don’t blow through women like it’s their job. At least, I don’t think they do. They do a pretty damn good job of hiding it if that’s the case. Willow River is a small town, and word travels fast. I’ve never heard anything but great things about the Kincaid brothers or the Kincaid family in general.
Carol and Raymond Kincaid raised nine good men. I think they deserve the right to ask about more grandchildren. Before I know it, a smile pulls at my lips, thinking about Carol giving her sons a pouty lip and asking for grandbabies.
“What’s got that smile lighting your face?” Brooks asks.
I move my gaze from the crowd back to him. “I was just thinking about your mom and her giving you and your brothers a pouty lip and a sob story to match asking for more grandkids.”
“That’s pretty accurate.” He nods. “What’s even funnier is that none of us have said we’re never having kids. In fact, I’d say coming from such a large family, we’ll all end up with a kid or two. What my mom and dad, by association, fail to realize is that it’s their intense connection and the way that they love one another that’s held us off this long. I’m pretty sure that I speak for all of my brothers when I say if we can’t have that, we don’t want it at all.”
I want to ask him about Blakely’s mom and Declan. We all know she passed away as the result of a car accident not long after Blakely was born. There have been rumors, but I’m sure most of it is small-town gossip. Not to mention, it’s none of my business.
Instead, I go for, “So do you want kids one day?”
“Yeah.” He gives a slow bob of his head. “I couldn’t imagine not having a loud, chaotic home. What about you?”
“There were only three of us, but yeah, one day.” The song turns to a fast one, and I inwardly curse the deejay. Just as I move to step away from Brooks, he manages to grip my waist and turn me so my back is to his front. He points in front of us, and I lose it. My head falls back, resting against his shoulder as my laughter takes over. In the middle of the dance floor are Maverick and Merrick, his twin brothers. However, instead of Jackie, they’re dancing with their mom. They’re making the silliest of dance moves, and Carol’s face is beet red. She’s also smiling from ear to ear. My eyes move past them to find Raymond shaking his head and laughing at his two youngest sons while they dance like loons around his wife.
“I bet there was never a dull moment in your house growing up.” I glance over my shoulder to find Brooks’s eyes already waiting on mine. I swallow hard at the nearness as his hot breath brushes across my cheek.
“Never.” He mouths, “Chaos,” and I nod, definitely understanding what he means.
Instead of releasing me, Brooks slides his hands to my hips, and we begin to move to the beat. I’m glad that the lights are turned down low. I’m sure my face is as red as a tomato. Before I know what’s going on, my best friend and the lady of honor steps in front of me, my brother at her back, holding her much like Brooks is holding on to me. Ramsey grabs my hands, and the two of us let loose. We ignore the men behind us, at least that’s what I try to do, and just enjoy dancing and acting a fool with my best friend. Eventually, Brooks and Deacon have to let us go because we’re jumping around and being silly, much like Maverick and Merrick. When the twins appear, each one taking one of us by the hand, Ramsey and I don’t hesitate to follow them to the center of the dance floor and join them in their silly antics, taking Carol’s place. I glance around and find her in Raymond’s arms. They’re both wearing matching smiles.
Merrick is my partner, and he moves in behind me, aligning his body with mine. His hands are on my hips as we gyrate to the music. As the youngest of the Kincaid clan, these two sure know how to throw down some moves. I can’t help but wonder if that’s a trait they learned from their older brothers or if that’s just their own swag. I’m sure they were a hit at their high school dances.
Merrick turns me in his arms and holds me close as we rock to the beat. “You know,” he says, his lips pressed close to my ear, “we started this to fuck with Deacon. He gets all kinds of jealous anytime anyone, even us, puts their hands on Ramsey.”
“That’s cruel.” I smile up at him, shaking my head.
Merrick shrugs. “Yeah, but it’s our job as Ramsey’s family, to mess with him. What I didn’t plan on was getting a two-for-one deal.”
“Well, thank you for the pleasure of your company, good sir,” I tease him.
He nods. “You’re right. It’s a triple deal.” I raise my eyebrows in question. He’s totally lost me now. Merrick flashes me a cheesy grin before lowering his lips to my ear once again. “We get to fuck with both Deacon and my brother, and I get to dance with you.”
“Your brother?” I ask confused.
Before he has time to answer, I get to make my own assumption when Brooks appears, laying a heavy hand on Merrick’s shoulder. “I’ll take it from here, Mer,” he tells him. The entire time his eyes are locked on mine. There is an expression on his face that I can’t name.
The breath stalls in my lungs as Merrick chuckles but steps back, and Brooks takes his place. I could be imagining it, but his grip on my hips feels tighter, and the set of his jaw more prominent. I don’t even realize I’m doing it until I feel his stubble beneath my palm as I lay my hand against his cheek.
“You okay?”
He pulls me closer and nods. His jaw is still tight; I can feel it twitch, and I tense, not sure if it’s me who’s upset him. “You have a debt to pay, Palmer,” he reminds me.
“Oh. I’m sorry.” I don’t really know what to say because it was a dance with his little brother, and I was already dancing with Ramsey, and he didn’t seem to mind. My hand drops from his cheek and lands on his shoulder.
Brooks shakes his head, expels a heavy breath, and grabs my hand, resting it back against his cheek. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m just… tired, I think. You didn’t do anything wrong, Palmer.” Deep blue eyes will me to believe him.
“We don’t have to keep dancing. It was just a bet,” I remind him.
