On the Shore (Cottonwood Cove, #3)(74)

“You know, you keep bringing her up, but I don’t see her here with you. So, it must not have been all that good with you two, huh?” Brinkley winked, and Breen’s brows cinched like he couldn’t figure out if she was playing or being serious.

“Well, it obviously wasn’t good with them either.” He looked like a petulant child, too drunk to talk his way out of his own mess.

“You know, I checked my sources pretty well and learned that Lincoln ended their relationship long before he knew you two had been sneaking around. But that’s not really on him; that’s on you and her, right?”

“And that’s your big source for knowing the asshole can please a woman?” His laugh was loud and sloppy, and everyone around appeared to cringe a bit.

“No. My source is me. I’ve tested the goods, and I keep coming back for more,” she purred before pushing to her feet and tugging my mouth down to hers. She kissed me like she wanted the whole world to know that I was hers.

And I fucking loved that she was done hiding it.

“Fuck me,” Breen groaned under his breath, but we all heard him, and Brinkley pulled back to look at him.

“No, thank you. I’m a one-man-only kind of girl. And I’m keeping this one for as long as he’ll have me.”

Georgia and Lila both howled, and Cage shook his head with disgust, yet the dude couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

Hugh let Breen and his group know they were cut off, as the bar would be closing soon, and he wanted them out of there.

“Damn. Take care, Brinks.” The asshole paused, and I squared my shoulders in warning. If he so much as touched her, I’d knock his head off his shoulders. He held his hands up. “I’m just giving you shit, Hendrix.”

I nodded, happy to see his ass leave the bar. He held a hand up and stumbled out of the place with his entourage in tow.

“That was badass, baby,” I whispered against her ear.

“I told you I can handle myself. I just needed you to trust me.” She turned in my arms and pushed up on her tiptoes to kiss me.

Trust didn’t come easy for me.

But I trusted this woman with everything I had.





twenty-seven





Brinkley





It was a beautiful day for a wedding.

I couldn’t believe it was finally here. I’d spent the last week finishing my article about Lincoln, and I’d never been so proud of anything that I’d written.

Maybe it was because I was madly in love with my client.

Maybe it was because he had such an interesting life.

Maybe it was because his stats were off-the-charts impressive.

I wasn’t sure why this one felt so different. It was the article that was going to breathe new life into my career.

I was proud of the work we’d done together. Of the story he’d allowed me to tell.

Hell, maybe I was just emotional because the first Reynolds sibling was getting married today.

I was in the primary bathroom with all the girls, getting our hair and makeup done. We were at Georgia and Maddox’s house, where the ceremony was taking place in the next hour. The guys were all gathered in Maddox’s man cave, most likely having drinks and giving Hugh a pep talk. Lincoln was in there with them, as they’d all grown close.

Georgia and I were both bridesmaids. The maid of honor was Lila’s best friend, Del. Her mother was currently dating Lila’s father, and the two were gushing about how cute their parents were together.

“Well, you two always wanted to be sisters. I didn’t think it was possible, but at this point, who knows?” Sloane said with a laugh as she wrapped her hair around the barrel of the curling iron. She was a bridesmaid along with Rina, as the four of them had always been thick as thieves since they were kids.

“I think Tate and Bernadette make the cutest couple.” Shay held her hands to her chest. She was married to Travis, Lila’s brother, and she was also a bridesmaid.

“I’m guessing there’s a lot of sex going on with them since they’ve both been single for so long,” Sloane added.

“Ewwww,” we all said in unison.

“Why do you always have to take it there?” Delilah rolled her eyes.

“Someone’s got to take it to dirty town. You can count on me.”

My mother helped Lila attach her veil to her long, dark waves that ran down her back. She looked so stunning that a huge lump formed in my throat.

“I wanted to give you these earrings that were my mother’s,” Mom said as she handed Lila the pair of pearl earrings. “This is your something old, sweetheart.”

I glanced over to see Georgia smiling as two tears streamed down her face. Lila was like a sister to both of us, and Lila and my mom had a very close relationship.

“Thank you,” Lila said as she fanned her face with both hands, trying hard not to cry.

“Don’t you dare cry,” Sloane said as she swiped at her own tears. “I just did your makeup perfectly.”

We all wore strapless light pink gowns that ran down to the floor, aside from little Gracie, who wore an adorable white dress, and her hair fell down her back in dark spiral curls.

Everyone was sniffling when a knock came at the door. Georgia hurried to open it, just as all my cousins came flooding in. Some with babies in their arms and toddlers at their sides.