Page 62 of Shattered Oaths

“Do you want to tell him?” I ask her. I’m not even close to being ready to confess to Killian. But if she says yes, I will walk out of this house right now, drive over to his house and come clean. It’ll be the end of our friendship, for sure, but I’ll do it if that’s what she needs.

Bella shakes her head in my hold. “No. Not yet.”

I breathe a sigh of relief and nod. “Okay.”

“Don’t tell him tonight, though, okay? About me living here, I mean. I’ll be the one to tell him. There’s less chance of him punching me.”

I laugh at that and bend down, placing another kiss on her soft lips, a groan of regret escaping me. “I have to go.”

A sinful smile teases her lips as she runs her hands down my t-shirt covered chest, her thumbs brushing over my nipples before moving lower, her fingers teasing the button on my jeans.

My cock instantly hardens as she blinks up at me from beneath thick lashes. “I’ll be here.” And then she saunters away, her curvy ass causing her dress to sway with every step as she goes.

***

Nine p.m. on a Monday night in The Boot in off season compared to in season are two very different things. The place is packed with out of towners. A country music band plays in the staging area while men and women alike two step around the dance floor like they spent the months leading up to now practicing.

Hunter, Killian, Jax and I managed to get our regular table having arrived earlier in the evening and we’ve barely moved from it since. April comes over every now and then with fresh drinks, and we thank her for it each time with a generous tip.

Jaxon’s eyes are alight in amazement and fascination as he takes everything in. At eighteen, this is likely the first time he’s stepped foot in a bar. He can’t drink, of course, but he doesn’t mind.

The corners of my lips lift in a smirk as a young woman dressed in a pair of barely broken in cowboy boots swaggers toward him and asks him to dance. He blinks up at her in pure surprise before looking at the rest of us, almost as though he’s asking permission. It’s his dad who juts his chin at him, telling him to take the lady for a dance and without another glance, Jaxon stands and follows her to the dance floor.

I chuckle, lifting my beer to my lips. “You need to teach him how to flirt,” I say, eyeing Killian.

He glares back, his face deadpan. “I’ve been with one woman in my life. I think I’ll leave the flirting lesson to you two.” He points two fingers at Hunter and me.

“Hey now. I’m about to be a married man,” Hunter argues with a frown.

Killian laughs, rolling his eyes. “Don’t pretend you weren’t the biggest fuckboy at this table before Savannah came to town and knocked you on your ass.”

Hunter gives him the finger, and we all chuckle lightly before turning our attention back to Jaxon on the dance floor, a little more confident in his movements.

My phone vibrates in the pocket of my jeans and I pull it out, my heart beating double time in my chest when I see Bella’s name on my screen.

Bella:How’s ‘guys’ night going?

I can almost hear the teasing in her tone, and I smile down at my phone, typing a response.

Me:Boring without you, beautiful.

Bella:Oh, I’m sure it is. But I’m sure there are plenty of beautiful women to keep you occupied;).

I shake my head with a chuckle, thumbs flying across the screen.

Me:There’s only one woman occupying my mind, doll.

Bella:Oh yeah?

Someone clears their throat and I look up, my eyes moving straight to Killian, whose attention is thankfully, still focused on his son, before looking at Hunter. He has an eyebrow raised in my direction, looking between me and my phone and I narrow my eyes at him, a silent conversation happening in those looks.

Stop smiling at your phone.

Fuck off.

Ignoring him, I focus back on my phone, deciding to play into Bella’s little game.

Me:Yeah. And I’m dying to know something.