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Commence cock fight.

“You from around here, bud?” Lucas asked.

Miles nodded. “Born and raised in Hunt, Texas…bud.”

“Then you should know that Bishop Lake has some of the best fishin’ in the state, if not the best fishin’.”

Miles narrowed his eyes. “In that little ass lake of yours? Dude, I don’t think so. Y’all piss in that lake and then fish in it.”

Lucas stood a bit taller. Honestly, he had nothing on Miles as far as his body or looks for that matter. Miles had serious muscles where Lucas was slightly built. But that didn’t stop the two of them giving each other another once over, as if they were assessing which one could beat the other’s ass.

In my mind I wondered if they were each thinking who had the bigger truck, who spoke with a deeper southern drawl, who had an old Stetson they broke out for special occasions like weddings and Christmas dinner. Pretty soon they would bust out the cell phone photos of their mounted bass hanging on their walls.

“I don’t think I know who you are,” Lucas said.

Holding his hand out, Miles said, “Miles Warner.”

“Never heard of you. You said you’re from Hunt? Funny, no one has ever mentioned you before.”

Miles took a drink of his beer before he answered. “That’s probably because I joined the Marines out of high school and fought for our country so little pricks like you could brag about your podunk town.”

“So, it’s a beautiful evening, isn’t it?” I said, attempting to break the tension.

“How do you know Kynslee?” Miles asked.

Oh no, I was not prepared for Miles to meet someone I had gone out with. Okay, so it was only one date, and nothing happened. But if he could punch his best friend from high school for making out with me over ten years ago, what would he do to the guy I had gone out with and let kiss me goodnight on the cheek not that long ago?

“We went out,” Lucas answered.

“Once,” I quickly added. “Heather went out with your friend Brad, and Lucas and I had to do the obligatory best friend blind date thing.”

My voice sounded fake. I was clearly attempting to play it off like it was nothing. It had been nothing. And it happened before Miles came back to town. Months ago, for crying out loud. So why was I so worried?

“Really?” Miles said, his voice sounding too calm.

“Then I saw her tonight and decided I would come over and say hi. Possibly ask her out to dinner.”

My eyes widened in horror. Did this guy have a death wish? Even I could feel the possessive nature of Miles. It practically oozed out of his pores. And why in the world would Lucas think I would ever want to go out again? We hardly said two words to each other. We had nothing in common. Nothing.

“Is that so?” Miles said, taking another drink. I casually stepped between the two of them.

“Lucas, how nice of you, but I’m actually with Miles.”

Lucas bounced his eyes from me to Miles, then back to me. “You’re dating this guy? Why?”

I closed my eyes. He did have a death wish. “We’ve known each other a number of years.”

“I took her…”

“Okay, Miles, let’s mingle, shall we?” I said.

“Mingle? It’s a field party. Not a cocktail party,” Miles bit back.

Reaching for his hand, I tugged him away from Lucas before he hit another person this evening.

Miles laughed.

“I’m glad you think it’s funny. Stupid idiot was begging you to hit him.”

“Yeah, he was. It was sort of amusing. You must have made a good impression on him, Kyns.”

“Hardly. I think we both were counting down until the end of the date. You threatened his manhood, and he was trying to salvage it.”

“Please, I saw him make a beeline straight to you. The guy wants you.”

I stopped walking and turned to face him. “What?”

Miles looked me up and down. I had gone for a sundress that hugged my curves in all the right ways, my favorite cowboy boots and my hair up in a ponytail to finish it all off. I was hardly dressed like a sex kitten, but the way this man was looking at me had my body filling with excitement.

“You’re the most beautiful woman here, Kyns. And I’m a lucky son of a bitch who will fight off every single one of these assholes if I have to.”

My cheeks heated. “Miles, you…”

He moved quickly, pressing his lips to mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him kiss me until I was nearly breathless.

Miles pulled his mouth away, then leaned his forehead against mine. Softly he whispered, “You’re mine, and I’m yours.”

I swallowed hard. “Yes.”

“Do you want to stay or head on out?”

Laughing, I looked up at him. “Well, considering this is your welcome home party on your farm, we might want to stay longer than ten minutes.”


Tags: Kelly Elliott Southern Bride Romance