Page 29 of Winning His Wager
He looked good next to Dylan. Very good. How interesting.
His scowl deepened when Mateo Hauffman, the eldest brother who had recently moved back to Masterson, came up to Dylan. Mateo touched her on the arm. Dylan shot him a grin. Poor guy had a bit of a fascinated look on his face.
That was two guys her sister had sniffing around her tonight. She suspected Dylan didn’t realize it, either.
“She looks very nice,” Dixie said. “She’s beautiful.”
“All of my girls are beautiful girls. All of you,” Dixie’s mother said quietly. “She does look very pretty tonight.”
Dixie looked at her. Arthur had taken off to the counter to grab her mother some punch. After ordering Devaney to stay with her mother. How much of her sisters’ lives had been consumed with watching over their mother?
She knew Dylan’s had. Dylanstilltook care of Dahlia and Dorie especially. Mothered them more than their actual mother did. Dixie suspected Dylan was a bitparentified—no denying that. It wasn’t fair to Dylan at all.
Yes, Dixie hoped that girl was shacking up with that beautiful Tyler man. Dylan deserved to have a life of her own for once. And Fletcher was one of the best, most honorable men Dixie had ever known.
“You think she’s boinked him yet?” Devaney asked.
“Oh, I hope so. I really hope so. I think she deserves it, don’t you?”
Fletcher Tyler was the kind of man every woman deserved, after all. Good, kind, loving, hardworking, beautiful—a woman would be lucky to have him look at her just like he was looking at Dylan right now.
It warmed her insides to think about it.
17
Will was sweating.Even though it was too damned cold out, he was sweating. He’d gotten the dude’s message to meet him behind old R.J.’s at ten. And he’d better do it, or else.
He just stood there, shivering. Until the old truck pulled in.
“What’s this about?”
Will wasn’t going to admit he was scared, but he’d heard things about this guy. Not good ones. Mostly that the dude was batshit crazy. Sammy and Toby were terrified the guy was going to come after them next. He’d been threatening Kurt and Ashton too. But Ashton was dead now—that Brandt Barratt guy had killed him and everything. And Kurt—he was hurt bad. Everyone was just waiting for him to die or something.
Now…it was like Bruce Tyler was coming after Will now.
Bruce had followed him around town for days. Will was sure of it. At first he’d thought it was one of those other Tyler guys—but he was sure now. Kind of hard for Will to miss.
Bruce Tyler stood there, a ball bat in his hands. Whistling. “Hello, Willy Boy. Glad you answered my call.”
“Did I have much choice?” Tyler had made it clear—either Will showed up, or Tyler would be going after Abby next. His sister wouldn’t stand a chance against this sociopath.
Abby was tough as nails, but Bruce Tyler was a fucking lunatic. Everyone knew that.
And he was like superhuman.
Will was seriously wishing he had some OPJ right now. Maybe he wouldn’t be so scared he wanted to piss his pants. “What’s this about?”
“You are going to do something for me, Willy.”
“Why should I?”
It was the dumbest thing he had ever asked.
Will knew it when the baseball bat slammed into the side of his left leg.
He went down, trying not to howl. “Why did you fucking do that?”
“Because, see, Iknowyou know the men I am looking for, son. I just know you do. And I know your daddy is probably involved up to his eyeballs. You want me to go after him and your sister next? She’s passably pretty. It won’t be too hard to make her acquaintance. I could close my eyes when I screw her, I guess.”