Before the Sunset (Cottonwood Cove, #4)(59)

“You’re fine, brother. The bird is still in the oven.” Hugh pulled me in next.

Dylan walked toward me, her round belly leading the way. I’d been thrilled that my cousin and her husband were joining us this year. The rest of the Thomas family were all in Honey Mountain, but these two owned a hockey team, and they had a home game tomorrow, so they’d decided to stay in the city where they lived. Wolf didn’t want her traveling that far for one day just to eat turkey, as apparently, getting around was getting tough on her, being so pregnant.

“If you’d been any later, I’d be holding baby Hugh in my hands.” She laughed as she wrapped her arms around my neck, and her belly stood between us. She was naming her firstborn after my baby brother, Hugh, as they’d always been really close. We’d all been surprised when she’d gotten pregnant because Dylan and I had always been the two that said we’d be content just being great aunts and uncles. And now here she was, getting ready to be a mama. I knew she’d be amazing because she and Wolf loved each other fiercely.

“Sorry about that. We had an issue with the horses,” I said, completely lying because everyone was watching me.

So, condom-free sex was my new favorite thing. I couldn’t get enough of Reese or the feel of her without anything between us.

We had checked on the horses just before we were getting ready to leave, but when she’d bent over in the barn, wearing those tight jeans and her cowboy boots, I couldn’t wait another second. I had to have her. So, we’d gone at it in an empty stall, which required another visit to the house, because we’d both had hay in areas where hay should never be.

“Oh, no, were the horses okay?” Georgia asked, because she completely believed my bullshit story.

Brinkley’s eyes locked with mine, and she smirked. She was watching me like she’d just solved a murder mystery. I looked away quickly as I hugged Wolf, and my mother handed me a beer and winked.

“Hey, I need you for a minute.” Brinkley glanced around to make sure no one was paying us any attention as she motioned for me to follow.

She stopped in front of the hall closet and opened the door and shoved me inside. Georgia and Maddox’s house was custom-built, and of course, they had a window in their oversized hall closet with views of the ocean in the distance. It provided enough light to see one another, and I crossed my arms over my chest.

“What are we doing in here, Brinks?”

“What’s going on, Finny?” She raised a brow, and I knew she was counting down in her head because she was not a patient woman. She’d give me a short time to answer before she started her torture tactics.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She reached up and pinched my upper arm so hard, I squealed. “Ouch. What the hell was that for?”

“Stop being a baby. And don’t you dare offend me by lying. I wasn’t born yesterday, you bastard.”

I rubbed at my sore arm and gaped at her. “None of us were. That makes no sense.”

“Cage and Hugh know what’s going on, and you’ve left me and Georgie out. That’s sexist. And rude. Have women not been through enough, for God’s sake?”

I groaned. “This is not me being unfair to you for being a woman. You’re acting insane. They don’t know anything.”

The door whipped open, and Hugh stepped inside. With both he and I in the closet and then you add in petite Brinkley, it was getting a little crowded. I stepped deeper into the abyss of all of Georgia’s holiday boxes and luggage.

“Why are we in the closet?” he asked, before taking a long pull from his beer.

“I’m pissed that he told you guys what’s going on but left out me and Georgie. You know how I feel about picking sides between men and women.”

“Ahhh… so you think he’s a sexist pig for telling us that he has real feelings for Reese and not telling you? You aren’t always the best secret keeper, Brinks.”

“For fuck’s sake. Apparently, neither are you. I told her you didn’t know anything.” I threw my hands in the air.

The door opened again, because heaven for-fucking-bid anyone in this family have a private conversation. Now it was Cage stepping inside, with Georgia right behind him, shoving themselves in and pulling the door closed.

“I figured it had to be something good, seeing as you’re all packed into the closet.” Cage pushed Hugh back a little so he could stand all the way up.

“Georgia, apparently, Finn doesn’t feel that we should be in the know about his real feelings for Reese and that their relationship is not fake. Just as I suspected.”

“Actually, I was the one who suspected it first,” Cage hissed. “And don’t be all righteous. He didn’t want to tell you they were banging because you’d tell him that he had to confess his feelings to her first. And that would have run her off.”

“Yes. The Reynolds men should always lead with the penis,” Hugh said, crushing his beer can after taking the last sip.

“You’re sleeping with her? Jesus, Finny. You should have established the relationship before you went there.” Brinkley poked me hard in the chest. “This is why you come to us first and not these jackasses.”

“Way to go, brother. Once again, we hadn’t shared that. And I’d rather not be in the closet discussing this with you guys while Reese is out there.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Her fucking parents are ten feet away. Can we not do this right now?”