Naughty Stranger (Dangerous Love 1)

Rhett scoffed against the rim of his beer bottle. “I’ve never known Kinsley to hate anyone.”

Boone nodded in agreement. These guys knew Kinsley as well as Boone did. They’d grown up with her, watching over her when Boone wasn’t around, even if his sister didn’t need them to. Kinsley was sass and fire, but she tended to have a big heart toward people unless there was a good reason not to.

“Well, I hope he deserves her” was Asher’s reply.

Boone frowned, his gaze settling on the girl he viewed as a second sister across the bar. “Remy’s a smart girl. Even with Kinsley’s worries, I’m sure Remy knows what she’s doing.”

Asher nodded, mouth pinched in a firm line. He rose a moment later, giving Remy a long look. “I better get out of here,” he said, turning back to Boone and Rhett. “See you tomorrow.”

Boone nodded his goodbye, and waited for Asher to leave through the front door before asking Rhett, “Think we should worry?” Boone had seen Asher fall off the deep end twice. Once when his mother died. The second time when he broke Remy’s heart.

Rhett paused to consider. He finally shrugged. “He left instead of drinking himself stupid. I’d say he’s good.”

Boone took a sip of his beer as Remy returned. “Is Asher okay?” she asked, worry shining in her eyes.

“He’s fine.” Boone offered her a gentle smile, hoping it reassured her. “Tough case is all.”

Remy glanced toward the door with longing in her eyes. Boone wasn’t any expert in love, but he never understood why Remy and Asher couldn’t figure their shit out. They both looked miserable without each other. “So, I hear congratulations are due.”

Her gaze flicked back to Boone and she gave him a soft smile. “Thanks.”

Rhett inclined his head. “He’s a very lucky man.”

Remy froze statue-still and side-eyed Rhett. “When did you start saying sweet things? Is this a new side of Rhett West I should know about?”

“Nope,” Rhett replied gruffly, reaching for his beer. “I heard the line in a movie once and figured it worked here.”

Boone barked a laugh, knowing she was right—sweet typically wasn’t in Rhett’s demeanor. “You’ll let us know if there’s anything we can help you with,” he said to Remy. She didn’t have any family left after the grandma who raised her passed away, leaving her with a hefty inheritance she’d receive once she married but a loneliness that Boone saw in her eyes sometimes.

“Thanks, but I’m good,” Remy finally answered. “We’re keeping the wedding small.” She grabbed Asher’s shot glass, placing it beneath the bar. “So small that I’m thinking of having the ceremony in a month or so.”

“That’s fast, isn’t it?” Rhett asked.

“A little bit.” Remy nodded, wiping up a spill on the bar. “But Damon’s excited.”

Boone felt his stomach tighten, the iciness rolling over his spine with his instincts calling this a red flag. He glanced at Rhett, who was watching Remy carefully. And that reaction was why Damon always rubbed Boone wrong. Everyone was suspicious of him. And why was that exactly?

“Could you—”

The bar’s front door slammed open, and Kinsley charged in, wild-eyed.

“Oh, my fucking God,” she screamed, her hair an unruly mess. “Why is your damn phone turned off?”

Boone lifted an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware it is.” Maybe he’d accidentally hit the power button when he sat down?

He went to reach for his phone, when Kinsley closed in and grabbed his arm. “No, come on, you gotta go.”

Now that she was near him, he noticed tears in her eyes, her ashen face. “What’s happened?” He leaped off the stool.

“It’s Peyton,” Kinsley said, breathless. “I was on the phone with her…she got in an accident. It sounded bad, Boone. So bad.”

“Oh, my God, is she okay?” Remy gasped.

Boone didn’t wait to find out. He kept his sister’s arm in his grip, tugging her toward the door. “Where?”

“I don’t know.” Tears rolled down Kinsley’s cheeks. “I just heard the crash. Her scream, Boone. I heard her scream, then the screaming stopped.”

He glanced back over his shoulder at Rhett. “Get the location.”