Young Love Dies Hard: The Young Brothers, Book 1 by Nikki Lane (old books to read txt) 📗

lap and rolled my hips against his body. His rough, hungry hands kept going a little too far.

“No touching,” I gently reminded him.

“Can I see your tits?”

My bikini top was barely covering my nipples, so there wasn’t much more to see. “I’m getting there. Be patient.”

He groaned as I continued. His hands grabbed a handful of my boob.

“No touching,” I gently reminded him again.

It wasn’t long before he grabbed me for the third time.

Three strikes, you’re out.

“Hey,” I yelled. “Hands off.”

The bouncer looked our way.

“Relax, baby. I’m just trying to get what I paid for.”

“That’s not what you paid for.”

He scrunched his face and sat straight up. “I paid for you to strip, stripper.”

“It doesn’t mean you can grope me, douche bag.”

I made eye contact with the bouncer and subtly nodded him over, knowing this could get ugly, quick.

“Well, I’m not moving until I see some nipple.”

I stepped out of the way as Donny yoked the guy up by his shirt collar. “Fun’s over, asshole.” He carried him out of the room as I said goodbye to my tip.

Chapter Five

“Hold still.”

Jack wiggled in my arms, trying to escape each time the cold water hit him. He just spent the last hour rolling in the cow pasture. The smell emanating from him wasn’t pretty. I just needed to rinse the last of the soap from his hair. He wriggled free and trotted away, leaving me just as sopping wet. He shook the excess water off and then headed toward his doghouse.

I stood up and threw the hose down on the ground in defeat. I swatted away the mosquitos, a few lightening bugs glowing in the twilight.

Kasey strolled toward the barn, drudging up a cloud of dust under her feet.

“Don’t do that,” I said. “You know the dust aggravates your asthma.”

She waved her hand around to clear the air around her face.

“Where’ve you been?” I asked.

“Watching Jacob,” she said, in true annoying little sister fashion. A lollipop rested in her cheek.

“How about helping me for a change?”

“Why?” She pulled the candy out of her mouth and scrunched her face.

“Because I’m your sister?”

“Yeah, but he’s way cuter to look at.”

I shook my head and started back to the house.

“Don’t you think?” she asked.

“Don’t I think what?”

“That he’s cute.”

My gaze flitted up at Jacob who was across the way near the trail to the lake. He had just finished mowing the grass and was dumping the clippings into the compost pile. His bare arms and back even more sun-kissed than before.

“What do you want for dinner?” I asked.

“Actually, I was going to ask if I could go back to Riley’s tonight.”

I was half relieved she didn’t push the subject with Jacob. If I ever did admit my attraction to him, she’d never let me forget it. Or him for that matter.

“Again?” I said. “Aren’t her parents getting tired of seeing you?”

“No,” she said, appalled at the thought. “They love when I’m there. They think I’m an orphan or something.”

“But you’re not an orphan.” I had made damn sure of that.

“Not really, I know. But it’s so boring here. Please, Maeve?”

We walked a few more steps as I decided. “Did you ask Aunt Meg?”

“She said it’s up to you.” Kasey pouted her lower lip.

I took one more quick look at Jacob. Having another night alone with him was a tempting thought. Riley was her only friend, only one she talked about, anyway. Kasey had never been interested in sports; her asthma made sure of that. I tried to sign her up for ballet, but she had promised she wouldn’t enjoy a second of it. You couldn’t have pried me away from ballet class at her age.

“Okay,” I said.

She latched an arm around me for an appreciative hug and then trotted toward the house. It was like she couldn’t get away from this place fast enough, which was ironic since I was always trying to run to the farm.

Once I was in the kitchen, I ordered a pizza and washed the grit from under my nails.

“Dog’s in the mud again.”

I turned with slump shoulders to see Jacob walk through the kitchen door, sweaty and smeared with dirt.

“Wonderful. That’s an hour of my life I’ll never get back.”

He smiled.

Kasey came barreling down the steps with her overnight bag. “See ya.”

“Hold on a sec,” I said as her hand clung to the doorknob. “Do you want a ride?”

“No, I’ll walk.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have your asthma medication?”

“Yes.”

“And your inhaler?”

“Yes!”

“And if you have a bad attack—”

“Call you right away. I know, I know.” She rolled her eyes

“Bye,” I said, matching her dramatic tone.

She waved us off and disappeared out the door before I got a second to finish the word.

“I don’t think your sister likes me very much,” Jacob said, washing his hands.

“Why would you think that?”

“She’s barely said two words to me since I’ve been here.” He dried his hands with a dish cloth and leaned against the sink. “And she’s always staring at me…with this look on her face.”

I held back a chuckle. “Trust me. You should consider that a compliment.”

He nodded and replaced the dishcloth on its hook. “Greenhouses are good for the night. Left the rotten tomatoes in the bucket by the door for compost.”

“Good,” I said. “Pizza’s on its way.”

“Awesome,” he said. “I’m starving.”

Jacob and I made the walk down the driveway to meet the delivery guy. We didn’t bother waiting to get back to the house to eat. When we were back inside, a single slice was all that remained of the large with pepperoni.

I rummaged through Uncle Jim’s liquor cabinet.

“How about a drink?”

“I don’t drink.”

I pulled out the bottle of Jack Daniels and two shot glasses. “Geeze, Jacob. One drink won’t kill you. Aren’t you allowed to have any fun?”

“I have fun.”

“When?”

I sat on the wicker furniture on the porch.

Jacob sat next to me. “Okay, so it’s been a while.”

I poured each of us a drink. “Here,” I said, handing him one. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.” I held up