Never Say Never: Gravel Hill Boys Book Two

15. Ian

Leaningagainst the wall next to Zac, who was stretched out on a chair exuding his usual “fuck off” vibes, I could still feel where I’d been jabbed in the gut with a thermometer.

“Having fun?” Beau asked, sauntering over to where we were hanging.

I threw my arm around his shoulder. “I’m here to celebrate my best friends. Why wouldn’t I be having a good time?”

“I don’t know. You look lonely.”

“Nah. Just wondering if Brooklynn has any single girlfriends I haven’t met yet.”

“Doubtful, considering we grew up together and you know just about everyone she does.”

“I should’ve checked the guest list and added a few options.”

Beau snorted. “Sorry we didn’t invite a gaggle of supermodels as party favors.”

“You should be. Next time make sure there’s a few to choose from. At least. The more the better, in case I’d like to double up.”

“You’re a fucking manwhore. And there won’t be a next time. I’m getting engaged once and married once, so enjoy yourself while you can. This is a one-and-done.”

I gave him a shove. “I know that, jackass. I meant the next time you have a party.”

“You’ll need to talk with Brooklynn. She’ll be planning all our parties from now on.”

I huffed. “Great, like she’s going to invite randoms.”

“Then throw your own damn party, you cheap son of a bitch.”

I pulled a face. I had a house filled with period antiques. The last thing I needed was a bunch of drunk gorillas lounging on my Victorian settees or spilling beer on my Persian silk rugs.

Alicia, our new tour manager, added her two cents.

“You’re a real jerk, you know that?”

What else was new? The woman got on my last nerve, so I didn’t bother to respond.

“I came over here to chat, but I should’ve known better,” she grumbled as she turned in the direction she’d just come from.

“I don’t think she likes me.”

Beau laughed. “Of course, she doesn’t like you. How many women do?”

I shrugged. “Love ‘em and leave ‘em. That’s my motto.”

Beau stared after Alicia before turning back to me. “You ever shag Alicia?” he asked, looking concerned.

That would be all I needed. “Nah, you know what they say. Never shit where you eat.”

Zac gagged. “You have such a way with words.” He looked up at Beau. “How the hell do you write songs with this neanderthal?”

“I have a sensitive soul,” I said. “I know what women want and what they like. I don’t need to fuck them more than once to have them falling at my feet.”

“Knock it off,” Beau said, shaking his head. “For someone who grew up surrounded by women, you sure don’t think highly of them.”

My mouth dropped. “Whatever, dude. I leave every woman I’m with wanting more.”

“You treat them like they’re disposable,” Zac argued.

“Because I’m not interested in a relationship? What’s wrong with that? Other than Beau here, I don’t see any of the rest of you hooking up with the same girl.”

“I have,” Zac said.

“Oh sorry. Guess sleeping with the same girl two or three times before sending her on her way makes you a relationship expert.” My sarcasm was intended. “I stand corrected.”

Brooklynn wandered over, smiling, and looking beautiful. After the scare earlier this summer when her ex struck her and shoved her into the pond on her property, it was a relief to see her happy and well.

While Beau canoodled his future wife, I leaned against the wall next to Mr. Tall, Testy, and Tattooed and noticed that the woman from earlier, the one who’d shoved her thermometer in my gut, was glaring at me. Again.

What the hell is her problem?

“Hey, Brooklynn,” I said, grabbing hold of her sleeve. “Who’s that woman over there? The blonde in the navy dress sitting with Lianne. The one with the great arms.”

Zac burst out laughing. “Great arms? That’s a first.”

I shrugged. “It’s not like she’s got any tits to speak of.”

Beau slapped me on the back of the head. “Watch your mouth when you’re near my wife.”

“You’re not married yet,” I groused, rubbing the back of my head. Jerk.

“Doesn’t matter.”

He scanned the crowded room until he saw Liane chatting with Luke, while the woman with the great arms shot daggers in our direction.

“The one who looks like she wants your balls roasting on a spit?”

I cringed. “Yeah, that one. She looks familiar.”

“Probably one of your fuck and ducks,” Zac said, “which would explain why she wants your nuts in a vise.”

I waited for Beau to lay into Zac, but it never happened.

“How come he doesn’t get smacked in the head?” I demanded.

“Go ahead,” Zac said. “I dare you.”

“The very elegant and rather angry-looking woman with the great arms is Madison something,” Brooklynn said. “Lianne introduced us. They work together. I’m not sure why she’s here since none of you seem to know her.”

“Madison Enright?” Beau asked.

“I think that’s what she said. Maybe she was at one of your concerts.”

“Nah, that’s not it. I think she’s got me confused with someone else. She came up to me earlier and jabbed me in the gut with a fucking thermometer and said it was mine. I don’t even own a thermometer, and if I did, how the fuck did she get it?”

“A thermometer?” Beau asked.

I pulled the pink and white stick out of my pocket. “Yeah. She stormed away before I could tell her it wasn’t mine. She’s been giving me the evil eye ever since.”

Brooklynn grabbed my wrist and yanked it toward her. “That’s not a thermometer. Ian, you idiot. It’s a pregnancy test.” She twisted my wrist even further to read it, and I let out a yelp. “A positive pregnancy test!”

I let go of the little plastic stick and it clattered to the floor. Taking a giant step back, I assured them that it wasn’t mine. “I’ve never even seen one of those things before.”

Brooklynn’s eyes went wide, while Zac leaned forward to read the stick for himself.

“Holy fuck,” he muttered.

Beau shook his head and frowned. “When she said it was yours, I’m pretty sure she didn’t mean the test stick.”

Agitated, I ran my hand through my hair. “I’m telling you, that’s what she said.” I raised my voice. “She walked over to me, poked me with that stick, and said, ‘It’s yours, asshole.’”

Three sets of eyes stared at me: Brooklynn, Beau, and Zac, who apparently felt that whatever was going on was worth him lowering his shades. I stared back and was about to ask them what their problem was when Brooklynn thrust the heel of her hand into my forehead.

“Good lord, Ian. You can’t be this stupid.”

“Ow!” I pressed my palm against my forehead and scowled. “Calm your tits,” I snarled.

Beau drew closer, and for a second, I thought he was going to hit me too.

“You’re so fucked,” Zac declared.

Beau nodded. “What he said.”

I just stood there, glaring and wondering what the fuck was happening.

“Allow me to interpret what my beautiful fiancée here is trying to say,” Beau offered.

I took a step back. “You gonna hit me too?”

“No, but you might prefer that to what I’m about to tell you.” He grabbed me by the shoulders so that we stood face to face.

“It seems as if Ms. Enright over there is pregnant, and considering she gave that test stick to you and said it’s yours, that most likely means you’re the daddy.”

I blinked. Once. Twice. I turned toward Madison, whose eyes narrowed even further as I gaped at her from across the room.

Oh. Holy. Fuck.Philadelphia. The Four Seasons. The blood drained from my head. My vision grew spotty and my legs turned to liquid. Breathing became difficult, and my gut twisted.

The room began to spin. Before I could help myself, my legs gave way and the floor came up to meet me—hard and fast.