Carter’s watching them too, and he frowns at me. “I know we need that fuckboy to invest in the new bottling facility, but I hope that doesn’t mean I have to like him.”
“Is this the singles corner?” Shay pushes to stand between me and Carter.
Carter sighs. “It appears so.”
“Am I a bad sister for hating them a little?” she asks.
I follow her gaze to Jake and Ava. It appears they took the lead from Molly and Jason, because they’ve abandoned their game of pool to dance. Jake’s hands are all over his wife, from her hips to her softly rounded belly.
“That’s not hatred,” Carter says, smiling at the two of them. “That’s jealousy.”
“They’re just perfect together,” Shay says. “I’ll never, ever find that. But after growing up and seeing Mom and Dad love each other so unconditionally, I can’t bring myself to settle for less.”
“Nor should you,” Carter says softly.
I catch a flash of blond hair and turn my head just in time to see Molly tugging Jason into the kitchen behind her. “Where the hell are they going?” I mutter.
Shay squeezes my shoulder in silent sympathy. If I wanted to hide my feelings for Molly from my family, I’ve done a piss-poor job of it. “I didn’t realize they knew each other.”
“Who says they do?” Carter asks.
“Has Ralston decided if he’s going to buy in?” Shay asks.
I shrug, unable to say more when my thoughts are on what Molly is doing with him in the kitchen.
“You can leave,” Carter says. “You’ve done your duty as Mr. Bossman, and Shay and I can take it from here.”
I flash my brother a grateful look. If I stay, I risk barging into that kitchen and pulling Jason off Molly. I want to keep her from doing something she’ll regret tomorrow, but I know it’ll come off like I’m some overprotective father—the last thing I want to be to her. “I think I will.”
Sliding my hand into my pocket, I palm my keys and eye the door to the kitchen. I’m parked in the back, but I’m self-aware enough to know passing Molly and Jason on my way out is a terrible idea.
Shay seems to read my thoughts. “Maybe go around front.”
“Good call.”
She bumps her shoulder against mine and smiles. “See you in the morning for the big move.”
I meet Carter’s eyes. “Make sure she doesn’t try to drive home.”
He nods. “Of course.”
Molly
“Christ, you’re gorgeous,” the guy whispers into my neck. I blink, my head spinning as I try to remember where I am and who I’m with.
My mouth tastes like lime and tequila. Sleep tugs at me, but I shake my head to chase it away and try to focus on the guy I’m straddling. We’re in a car . . . his car?
He trails kisses across my collarbone and snakes a hand down the front of my dress to cup me through my bra. I focus on pinning down my thoughts, but it’s like catching snowflakes. They melt away each time I reach for them.
His car. Yes, this is his car, and he’s . . . I blink at him, and he grins at me. I met him at the party. I smile back, drunkenly proud of myself for piecing this much together.
We’re in the back of his car in the Jackson Brews back lot, and his name is . . . Jason. Jason who likes blondes.
“I spotted you the second I walked in tonight.” He tugs my dress down and scrapes his teeth over the top of my breast. “Wanted to do this from the moment I saw you.”
My eyes float closed, and my head lolls to the side. It’s freezing out here, but my skin is hot. Too much. I drank too much. And there are too many hands on me all at once. At my waist then palming my breast, my ass, in my hair. Another slides up my thigh.
“Stop. I . . .”
He pulls back and meets my eyes. “Are you okay?”
I swallow hard and nod, my day coming back to me in a rush. Remembering Brayden’s conversation with Ethan makes an old, ugly feeling rise in my chest. Like a blooming weed that steals the sun from everything else. I just wanted to forget everything. And then this guy . . .
I press my mouth to his, trying to chase the thoughts away with his touch. His hands resume their exploration, and he tugs down one side of my wide-necked dress to reveal my lace bra.
“So hot,” he murmurs, lowering his head.
I rock into him as he sucks my nipple through the lace, loving the way the sensation obliterates everything else. He tugs the other side of my dress down and off my arms until I’m in nothing but my bra from the waist up.
I’m broken, and no amount of proving myself will ever be good enough, but here—in the arms of this stranger—I can forget all that. I can be sexy. Wanted. Not a charity case like Brayden sees me.