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“Awkward fish buddies for life,” he promised, eliciting a small smile from me.
“Quiet, you loud shits!” Killian shouted.
“Which means!” Sam continued. “Since she brought home the win, Raven gets to pick any one thing she wants—”
“Within reason,” Declan cut in fast.
“That’s no fun,” Raven said.
“But damn smart,” Cade replied.
“So, Raven,” Lucas began, “winner for the Byrnes, future Mrs. Byrne, bringer of chaos, what’s it going to be?”
“Bringer of chaos… I like that,” she mused. Hip cocked, she tapped a finger to her lips as she hummed to herself. I laughed because I knew exactly what she had planned—mostly because Nolan and I had helped her. As she pointed to each person, she said, “I need… Declan, Lucas, Sam, Killian, Finn, Maverick, Roan, Axel, Cade, and Cole.”
“What the fuck are we doing?” Axel asked.
“We’re going to have a lumber-snack contest!” Raven announced as she clapped her hands together happily.
“Jesus fucking Christ.” Declan ran a hand over his face. “Honey—”
“Don’t you honey me,” she interrupted. “I want a shirtless, wood-cutting, lumber-snack contest, and that’s what I’m getting.”
“That’s a safety hazard!”
“Eh, fuck it.” Maverick threw back the last of his beer. “Better than lawn darts.”
“One fucking time!” Sam exclaimed.
“Come on, Stabby McGee,” Killian grabbed Sam by the shoulders, “let’s go chop some fucking wood.”
It was fairly obvious that no one had anticipated Raven’s level of preparedness for this contest. When Raven came to Nolan and me with her idea, Nolan agreed to help if he didn’t have to compete. As a result, we had ten massive blocks of wood and axes lined up on the far end of the house. Everyone had been so preoccupied with the race that no one had noticed the stuff we set up.
After a mess of protesting and excited agreement, Raven managed to get every single one of the guys shirtless and situated behind a block of wood. To say most of the onlookers were female was an understatement, but I didn’t blame them. Good Lord, what a sight the ten of them were.
And Lord help me, I was trying not to stare at him. Why did Killian have to look so damn good? Why couldn’t he have come back fat and balding? I’d always found my husband to be attractive but shoot. The muscles, tattoos, and longer hair were doing it for me. My lady parts were having too much say in the thoughts I had about him. I hugged the winner’s shirt I’d made closer to my chest as if that would hide my sinful thoughts.
“Really this might be the best idea you’ve ever had,” I whispered to Raven.
“I’m having Nolan film it,” she replied with a wicked grin. “I’m keeping this forever.”
“You’ll have to figure out how to top this next year.”
“Naked wood chopping?” Raven suggested with a laugh.
“I don’t think you’ll get Declan to agree to that,” I said. “But I’d love to see you try.”
“I need to put it out there that this isn’t standard safety procedures,” Declan announced loudly. He gestured down the line. “No shoes, no shirts, no sharp objects. That should be how this goes.”
“Okay, Daddy Declan,” Axel scoffed.
“No,” he retorted.
“Your complaint has been heard and thus filed under we don’t give a shit,” Finn said.
“Amen,” Cade agreed.
“When one of you loses a fucking toe, don’t come running to me to bitch,” Declan snapped.
