Where We Belong (Alabama Summer #3.5)

Gross.

“You are fucking dead!”

I stare, wide-eyed as Ben pulls the guy up, nearly lifting him off the ground before he slams him against the wall and cuffs him.

I’ve never witnessed Ben arresting anyone before, or really doing any type of police work.

Sweet mercy.

This is foreplay right here. The best kind of foreplay.

The authority in his voice, the way he’s showing his power over this creep, cuffing him with one hand while keeping him pinned to the wall.

I might have to start doing ride-alongs.

“The fuck, Kelly?” The guy yells, struggling against Ben’s hold and craning his neck to see behind him. “What the fuck are you doing in a women’s lingerie store?”

Ben leans in closer. “What the fuck are you doing stealing panties, you sick fuck?”

Grinning, the guy limply shrugs. “You found my fetish. No shame in my game.”

“Ew. Get him out of here.”

“Yeah, that’s sick. The cop is crazy hot though. I mean . . . damn.”

“Seriously. I might steal something while he’s in here.”

I smile at the small group of women standing by the registers. I’m used to the general public gawking at Ben.

I gawk too. Allll the time.

Ben yanks the guy back, pulling him off the wall and moving toward the entrance. “Didn’t you see the squad car outside? Are you that fucking stupid you’ll try and rob a place with a cop parked in front of it?”

“Figured you were in the donut shop on the corner.”

My mouth falls open.

So stereotypical.

“Yeah? Well, fuck you. I only go there on Fridays.”

Shaking my head, I press my fingers to my lips and smile against them.

Ben gets to the door, looking back at me over his shoulder. “Buy them both,” he yells, that dimpled grin on his face, and I know he means the outfit I’m wearing and the glimpse of the one he got in the text.

The small group of women all jerk their heads in my direction, gaping at me.

I look from them proudly back to Ben, waving and smiling big, watching as he hauls the creepy panty-thief out of the store. My eyes lowering and lingering on his firm ass.

And I gawk. I mean . . . damn.

Ben

“WHAT THE HELL? NO BACHELOR party? How can you not have a bachelor party? It’s tradition, man.”

I swallow my mouthful of beer as CJ returns to the table, carrying a long neck for himself and handing one off to Luke. After taking a swig, CJ spins the vacant chair next to me around and sits in it, leaning his elbows on the high back and staring expectantly across the table.

“It’s your last night of freedom,” he adds, persistent with his argument. “You’re just going to pass that up?”

Reed shrugs off the question, sliding his hand around the bottle in front of him. “What the fuck do I care about having a bachelor party? The only woman I want grinding in my lap is that sexy as hell waitress over there.”

Leaning back in his chair, Reed strains his neck and looks across the room at Beth as she carries two plates out from the kitchen and walks them over to a booth along the wall.

“Goddamn,” he groans. “I get to marry that.”

As if hearing or sensing the attention she’s getting, Beth looks up at that exact moment and smiles at Reed.

“Jesus,” he mutters.

A laugh rumbles in my chest.

Christ, he’s fucking whipped like the rest of us. Never thought I’d see the day.

CJ sets his beer down on the table. He looks between Luke and myself. “Come on. Sin City? Nobody else thinks we should’ve gone to Vegas or something?”

“To gamble?” I ask, grinning, already knowing the answer. He’s not pushing a bachelor party to hit up any casinos. “That’s probably not a good place for you. No offense, man, but you suck at poker. How many times have I cleaned you out?”

“Is that relevant? They have live sex shows there. Girl on girl. Who the hell said anything about gambling?”

“You know you can’t participate in those, right?”

He cocks his head. “Do you own the fucking Vegas handbook? How do you know? They could ask for a volunteer.”

“Right.”

Shaking my head, I dig my phone out of my back pocket when it starts to vibrate with a call. Seeing the unknown number again, I hit ignore and toss it onto the table in front of me.

Fuck. I’m going to have to deal with this shit soon. She keeps fucking calling.

CJ turns his attention on Luke. “What about you? Wouldn’t you have gone to something like that?”

“Have you met my wife? Mouthy redhead?” Luke lifts his bottle for a drink, his eyes widening a bit. “I like my balls where they are.”

“Pussies,” CJ grumbles. “All three of you.”

“Man, what-the-fuck-ever. You’re just looking for an easy opportunity to get your dick wet,” Luke says. “Go fucking nuts at the wedding. Women are always horny as shit at those.”

Reed jerks forward in his seat. “You better not go fucking nuts at the wedding.”

CJ frowns. “Why not?”

“Why? You’re paired up with my sister, that’s fucking why. Keep your dick in your pants and stay the hell away from her.”

“How am I supposed to do that if I’m paired up with her, dumbass?”

“You know what I mean,” Reed growls. “Don’t make me regret asking you to be a part of this. You walk her down the aisle, you dance with her for that one required song, and that’s it. After that, you don’t know her.”

“What if she wants to dance with me more than once? I’m just supposed to tell her no? That’s fucked up.”

“She won’t.”

“Really?” CJ cocks an eyebrow, looking arrogant. “Hate to break it to you, man, but I’m a phenomenal dancer. Took classes and shit when I was a kid. Slow, fast, I can do it all. Trust me. She’ll want another dance. They always do. And I’m not a dick. I’m going to dance with her if she asks me.”

Reed narrows his eyes.

“Especially if she’s hot,” CJ adds, smiling and nodding slowly. “Is she?”

Gritting his teeth, Reed glares across the table, looking almost as murderous as he did that night in my kitchen when CJ was hitting on Beth in front of him.

They’ve become close since then. It’s one of the reasons why Reed asked him to be in the wedding. Another was Beth. She’s good friends with CJ now too. Doesn’t matter though. A sister is a sister. My best friend married mine and I still pound on Luke if he says anything even remotely sexual about Tessa in my presence.

Or if he thinks it.

I lean forward and slap CJ across the back of the head. “Shut the fuck up before he beats on you.”

He jerks his head in my direction, rubbing at his scalp. “You know we’re about the same size, right, Kelly?”

“About.” I grin. “You think you can take me?”

“I took Jacobs.”

“Fucker, we all took Jacobs. He was such a little bitch,” Luke laughs, setting his bottle down and smiling big, no doubt remembering that in-service training day and the ass-kicking he gave Jacobs in the ring.