Smooth as Whiskey: An older brother’s best friend, secret relationship small town romance

Chapter 18

After eating too much cake and hanging out with my folks, I arrive at the condo. Cash isn’t home yet, so I take my time writing him a letter. I sign the bottom then go to my closet and pull out the notebooks of old letters I’d written him. I flip through them seeing my emotions spilled across the pages. I set them on his bed.

The day has finally come, I think. He deserves to know what was on my mind before he returned.

After a quick shower, I get dressed and leave for my party. I text Colt to make sure he’s on his way so we can meet up. Twenty minutes later, I’m sitting in my car in front of the BB waiting for my twin. My nerves take hold, but I don”t know why.

Before I get out of my car, I pull the visor down, check my makeup, and adjust the crown on my head. My mom got it for me, and I promised to wear it. I glance at the heart-shaped earrings Cash gifted me. He’s the only man to give me jewelry other than my father.

When Colt parks next to me, I leave my car and greet him. He”s wearing a crown that”s fit for a king. We shake our heads and walk to the barn.

“The only reason I’m wearing this ridiculous crown is for the pictures later,” Colt tells me.

“Same,” I tell him, as we take the path. The sky grows dark, and nightfall is upon us. “How are things with Cash?” he asks, not giving any fucks.

“Great.” We walk a few more steps. “He”s a good man.”

Colt nods. “He”s good for you, sis. Even if you don’t want to admit it.”

“That’s changing.” I look up at the sky as we stand behind the barn. “One day, I”m gonna marry him.”

“I know you are.” Colt smiles and pulls me into a tight hug. “Don”t let anyone make decisions for you, okay? Do what makes you happy.”

“I will.” I squeeze him, not wanting to let him go. Growing up, we had each other’s backs and still do. He knows how Beckett and Harrison have been with my relationships.

When Colt lets me go, he creates space between us and looks past me.

“Hey, man. It”s good to see you.”

I turn to see the man of my dreams standing close.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Cash tells him. Hearing his voice sends shivers up my spine, and I lick my lips.

My brother pats my shoulder, and they exchange a firm handshake before walking away.

A minute later, it’s just the two of us standing in the summer breeze. “Hi.”

“Howdy.” His gaze trails down to my cleavage, my shorts that leave nothing to the imagination.

“Damn, Valentine, you look good tonight,” he says.

His black button-up is rolled to his elbows, and I love it when he wears that old, worn baseball hat. Cash, standing before me dressed like this, is what my fantasies are always made from. “This is how you dress in my fantasies,” I whisper.

“I know,” he mutters, removing the space between us until our mouths crash together. His hand fists through my hair, and we”re dangerous and desperate, out in the open, where anyone can stumble across us. It feels like another seven years have passed since I saw him, but it”s only been hours. I”m addicted to every part of him and have been since the moment he kissed me under the stars.

“Cash,” I whisper when my back touches the barn, and his hard cock presses into me. I grab his hand, sliding it down my shorts and into my panties. His finger dips inside of me, and I gasp out, knowing it”s too reckless. I”m breathless, wanting and needing him just like this as he gives me two digits.

“You”re so wet,” he whispers, sliding his fingers to the knuckle, and I rock against him. “But we can”t do this here,” he says, removing his hand and placing his fingers into his mouth, sucking and licking as he watches me.

“All of a sudden, I want to skip my party,” I say, and the thought nearly takes over.

He smirks. “Make your move, Valentine.”

The need is so intense.

“I can’t do that to Beckett. He’s planned this for months,” I whisper. “But I want to.”

“And I’d let you.” He pulls away with a strand of my hair between his fingers. “You”re my kryptonite, Rem.”

“Let”s leave early,” I say, blinking up at him, needing relief. It’s going to be a long as fuck night.

He takes a step forward, gently brushing his lips across mine. “I”m leaving when you are.”

“Okay,” I whisper, guiding my hand over his hardness.

“I won”t be able to take my eyes off you all night.”

“Please don”t,” I say, wrapping my arms around him. “I’ll meet you inside.”

“Okay,” he says, stealing one last kiss, then we break apart.

I swallow hard, glancing back at him as we separate. The warm light from the barn splashes across his face, lighting him up.

“They”re waiting for you, birthday girl,” he whispers with a grin.

In another lifetime, I”d walk in holding his hand for everyone to see that Dr. Cash Johnson belongs to me and that I”m his. One day, I promise myself. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.

I glide down the hallway to the big room in the barn with my heart fluttering. The lights are dimmed, but as soon as I enter, Beckett yells and points in my direction.

“There”s Remi,” he says, whistling. Heads turn toward me, and my eyes scan around the room. Moments later, Cash pops up behind Beckett, smirking. I”m lost in his gaze as I give him a small smile.

Colt moves toward me, grabbing my attention. While we stand beside one another, the seventy people in the room sing Happy Birthday.

“I almost feel like a celebrity.” Colt covers his mouth so no one can read his lips as he speaks to me.

“Isn”t this song weird?” I whisper back. “It’s so awkward.”

We”ve had this same conversation during this song since we were old enough to talk. Since we”re twins, the family makes a bigger deal out of this day than they should.

“I”m glad I get to share this day with you,” I tell him, and we hug.

“And many more,” Kinsley and Sterling yell from the back of the barn. Harrison makes a fart noise, and everyone chuckles, then the music is cranked loud enough for dancing but still low enough for conversations.

“So glad we could get that out of the way already,” Colt says. “But I bet you five bucks it won”t be the last time we hear it.”

He holds out his hand, wanting me to shake.

“Not taking that one,” I say, slapping him away. The more everyone drinks, the more times it”s sung. We used to count. I think the record is thirty-seven times.

Before anyone can approach us, Colt and I escape to the keg and pour ourselves a cold one.

“Cheers,” I say. Haley comes over and hugs me. She”s carrying a bright pink bag, and when she hands it over, by the weight alone, I know it”s a book.

“It better be dirty,” I whisper in her ear.

“The filthiest. It”s about a hot veterinarian with skills and a massive you know what,” she says, wagging her brows.

Laughter escapes me. Colt shakes his head as he walks away.

Cash stands by the entrance chatting with Hayden. They”re laughing about something, and I love it when he smiles like that, showing his perfect teeth. As if I summoned him to turn his head, he glances in my direction, then focuses on me.

We”re entranced, lost in a cosmic tumble.

“Am I imagining things, or is Cash eye fucking you from across the room?” Haley asks with a brow popped. “You don”t even have to answer. I fucking knew it.”

I glance at her and take a sip of my beer.

“Oh my God,” she whispers. “You”ve had sex.”

“Haley, I haven”t said a word, and you”ve already made up the whole scenario in your head.”

“I read a lot, okay? Don”t blame me,” she says. “Please tell me it”s incredible.”

“Better than incredible,” I whisper, trying to hold back a smile.

Telling the truth sets my soul on fire.

She squeals, but then she freezes in place, and her mouth falls open. “Oh goodness. Someone just spilled three beers on Emmett.”

I turn my head to catch Emmett tossing his soaked T-shirt to the side, grinning wide. With his abs out and his pants hanging low on his hips, he leaves no room for the imagination.

“He”s a thirst-trap,” I say, shaking my head. The keyword in that sentence is trap.”

“Great, because if he”s showing, I”m one hundred percent looking,” she says with zero shame. “Wow. I didn”t realize he had so many tattoos. He”s giving me bad boy vibes, which does all sorts of things for me,” she continues.

Haley narrows in on him as he throws a ball toward the red plastic cup. It sinks inside and he high-fives one of the ranch hands. I don”t remember his name because he just started working for my parents.

“I need to grow some balls and just ask him on a date,” Haley says.

I smile and witness Emmett glancing at her. The chemistry is there, and damn, it”s intense. “He”d probably say yes. But you should be careful with him. He might be quiet, but they’re usually the ones a girl can’t trust.”

“I don’t want to marry him. I want him to wreck me.” Haley chuckles.

“He will,” I tell her. “Just watching out for you and your heart.”

“I no longer have a heart,” Haley says. “I’ll be fine.”

About an hour after the party starts, I”m three beers in, and my inhibitions are slowly fading away. That”s a bad thing because it gets to a point where I don”t give a fuck about anything.

Haley and I laugh with Kinsley as she fills us in on the local tea she just learned. Then she turns to me. “Heard you fucked Harrison up.”

“Yeah, and did he tell you why?” I ask her, knowing they”re close.

“No,” she admits. “He wouldn”t say, but I have an idea why.”

“I want to date who I want to date. Period.”

“Ah, knew it has something to do with that. I could just tell. And Beckett?”

“He doesn’t know yet,” I confirm. “I don’t want to hide anymore.”

My sister grins wide. “Then don’t.”

I meet her eyes. “Do you remember a long time ago when you used to text me about sending wishes to the universe?”

She snickers. “Oh God, yes.”

“Kins, some of them are coming true.” I look at her, studying her face. She grabs my hand and leads me away from everyone, and we lean against the wall in the corner of the room. Hayden is still chatting with Cash.

Her expression grows serious. “He’s in love with you, Remi.”

“I’m in love with him, too,” I admit. “So madly, deeply, stupid in love with him, and I’m going to fuck up everything. I know it.”

She places her hand on my shoulder. “Are you manifesting fucking it up?”

“Probably.”

“I want you to start telling yourself that everything is going to work out, and it’s going to be fucking wonderful and easy! Speak that shit into existence like you did before. I’ve got your back, sis. So does Hayden.” Kinsley pulls me into a tight hug. “Claim your man.”

We grab another drink, then join Haley. As I glance toward the entrance, Easton and Lexi enter the barn, and I swear everyone freezes in place.

Lexi and I chat and hug and her being here was a surprise I didn’t know I needed. Seeing her in love and happy gives me hope, too. After a few minutes, they get in line to play beer pong.

When they’re across the room, Haley chuckles. “You were right. He is intimidating.”

“Right?”

The overhead lights dim and a colored disco light twirls above. Emmett excuses himself and then Haley speaks up. “I”ll be right back.”

I search the room for Cash, but I don”t see him. I stand on my tiptoes, wondering where he went. I always find him.

“Searching for someone?” that familiar voice says from behind. I turn and he’s close, almost too close.

“People will talk,” I say, smirking, knowing more than my family fills this room.

“Do you care?” he asks, placing his hand on my hip. Electricity buzzes through me as he leans in and whispers in my ear. “Because I have no more fucks to give.”

“I don’t care. Not on my birthday,” I say.

“Then dance with me.” He holds out his hand, and I take his fingers in mine. This gorgeous man leads me to the middle of the room and places his hands on my waist as we sway to the music. The only time we”ve ever danced was under the stars, alone, and in secret. It was only ever me, him, and the crickets.

When he pulls me close, I meet his warm hazel eyes. Today they look blue.

“Now what happens?”

“I guess we wait to see if someone wants to fight me at your party,” he says, twirling me around.

I laugh, holding onto him and grabbing my crown so it doesn’t fall to the ground. As soon as he lifts me upward, I snort.

When I catch sight of Lexi and Easton dancing, I focus back on Cash.

“Do you think we look at each other that way?” I ask, wishing and wanting to capture his lips.

“Without a fucking doubt,” he mutters, moving in close.

As my eyes flutter closed and we”re a millimeter away from kissing, I hear a man yelling Lexi”s name.

I look around, trying to see who it is. They”re on the other side of the room.

“No,” Lexi says with anger in her voice. “I have nothing to say to you.”

I stand up on my tiptoes and see her ex-boyfriend Beau reaching for her hand.

Easton steps forward, and I think he might snap Beau”s wrist off his body. “Don’t.Touch. Her. And if I were you, I’d take a step back.”

“Oh shit,” I whisper. “Fuck, we need Beckett and Harrison to pay attention.”

Lexi”s brothers Brett and Chris step beside Easton, and they have that look in their eyes like they want blood. The last thing we need is the deputy called out here.

Beau yells something. Then Lexi”s voice is crystal clear. All that theater she”s done has helped her project over an audience. “You cheated on me!”

The music stops, and I hear gasps and chatter. With each passing second, it grows out of hand, so I rush to my brothers.

I shove my fingers into my mouth and whistle like my mama used to do. Their heads pop up and they turn toward me. “Fight!” I yell, pointing to the center of the room.

Beckett and Harrison go from happy to pissed in two seconds. I push through the crowd with Cash”s hand in mine.

“You have the audacity to call me a liar after everything you put me through? You’re a cheating bastard!” Lexi yells.

I move in front of Beau with my hands on my waist and I grow angrier by the second. Cash stands behind me, ready to break his neck if he lays a finger on me. Beckett and Harrison push through the crowd and join us.

“You won’t be ruining my birthday, Beau. Please leave,” I say, keeping my tone cool. I’m not here to instigate, I just want them to stop.

No words come out of his mouth.

“Out you go,” Beckett pushes forward, grabbing Beau’s shoulder. Harrison grips his other one, and they lead him outside.

Easton takes Lexi’s hand, and they escape, but I understand. There are too many eyes on them, and they’re already being watched.

I turn to Cash, and his finger hooks my belt loop. He tugs me closer to him. “Are you good?”

“Yes,” I say, happy that he”s this close, tempted to nibble his lip. “I am now.”

“Rem,” he growls as my fingers brush against his cock. He’s had a semi since his fingers were buried inside of me.

“I need you,” I whisper. Just as he opens his mouth to speak, the microphone comes on. Feedback echoes and Harrison speaks with his mouth too close, so it sounds like a jumbled mess.

“Sorry about that, ladies and gentlemen; I thought we said pricks weren’t invited! Let the good times roll,” he says, and he seems like he”s in a good mood.

Everyone laughs, and then the music continues like nothing happened.

“I”ll be right back,” I tell Cash, and he nods. Before Harrison can return to Grace, I loop my arm in his. “Can we talk?”

“I guess.” Harrison leads me down the hallway to his office. He walks in and looks around, making a face. “Someone had sex in here.”

“Ew,” I tell him. “It wasn”t me, I swear.”

We move to the supply room. He shuts the door and crosses his arms over his broad chest.

“I owe you an apology,” he says. “I’m sorry for ever questioning you. I love you, and I want the best for you. I wanted to make sure you weren”t being used. I know you two were together the last time he was here, okay? And I know more than I should. But at the end of the day, this is your relationship, not mine. You said you loved him, and that”s enough for me,” Harrison explains.

My bottom lip quivers. “Thank you. I”m sorry, too.”

“I still think he”s too fucking old for you, but it is what it is,” he says.

I adjust the crown on my head. “The heart wants what it wants.”

“You”re really into him.”

“It”s love like you have,” I say.

My brother nods, and his grin catches me off guard. “Does Cash know?”

I meet his blue eyes.

He shakes his head. “Have you told him how you feel?”

“I—”

“I asked him directly, Remi,” Harrison flatly says. “I asked if you”d said ‘I love you’. It”s not words we throw around lightly. When he couldn”t answer, I thought your relationship was bullshit.”

“It”s not though.” My heart rate increases, and I remember all the times we”ve been together and how we”ve never exchanged those three words. It”s not that I haven”t wanted to tell him, it”s just, well, I don”t know what I”m afraid of.

“I know that now. If you love someone and you”re madly fucking in love with them, you have to say something, sister. Don”t make the same stupid mistake I did, okay? It was awful. I wouldn’t wish that upon you. Promise me.”

“I promise,” I whisper as my brother hugs me. “Did you tell Beckett?” I ask as I squeeze him.

He creates space, holding his hands tight on my arms. “No. That”s your problem to deal with.”

“Thanks,” I say, pulling away. “I’ll tell him soon.”

“Good, and until then, I”ll keep your secrets,” Harrison says. “But also, if Cash hurts you, he”ll wish he were dead.”

“That”s not funny.”

“I”m not laughing.” He doesn”t crack a smile.

We walk down the hallway together. “Happy birthday, sister. I hope your dreams come true.”

“They already have,” I say when I meet Cash’s gaze. I smile at Harrison and walk away.

Electricity pulls me toward him, and when I”m close, I lead him outside.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

“Perfect,” I tell him, knowing I need to tell him how I feel.

When we”re alone, I push him against the barn. His fingers are in my hair, and I desperately kiss him. It”s hot and passionate, and I need more of him, all of him.

“I have a confession,” I moan against his mouth.

“Remi? Cash?” Lexi says. She”s on Easton”s lap, and I realize we ruined their moment.

“You didn’t see us,” I say, walking back inside, giving them privacy.

Cash joins me. “You were saying?”

“Can we leave now?” I ask, turning to him.

“Whatever you want, birthday girl. It”s your night,” he says.

I grab his hand and lead us away from it all.

Right now, I need to be alone with him. Our future depends on it.