Page 4 of Beckett the Bad Boy (Suitor’s Crossing: The Caldwells #4)

BECKETT

The Suitor’s Crossing Senior Center is busier than The Ole Aces on a Friday night, and that’s saying something since it’s a Thursday afternoon.

Pink, purple, and silver-haired ladies swing their artificial hips around the center’s dance floor, while men in orthopedic shoes shuffle at their sides to a lively polka number.

Gramps bends to whisper something into his partner Lucille’s ear, and they both laugh as they circle the floor.

Seeing his happiness makes me smile, while I search the edges of the room for my younger brother, Griffen. He’s our grandpa’s caretaker and never far from his side, though Gramps is more independent than I think Griffen gives him credit for.

Finding my brother saddled in a chair too small for his giant frame, I head in his direction.

“Hey, man.” I raise a fist to bump his in greeting before taking a seat next to him.

“What are you doing here?” he asks.

“Kennedy called. Guess the lodge will be hosting the Chili Cook-Off this weekend, and I’m here to recruit you for set-up tonight. Her schedule is packed tomorrow, so this is the only evening she has free time before Saturday morning.”

Griffen grunts and shrugs his massive shoulders. Though he’s the youngest of my brothers, he’s the biggest, and the Caldwell men aren’t exactly slouches in the size department.

“Sure, just let me know what time. This is all Gramps has planned today.” He motions toward the dance floor. Gramps and Lucille have found new partners with the changing of the song.

“What about you? You know you don’t have to stay here monitoring his every step. You can have your own life.”

“I’m good,” he says, and I shake my head at his stubbornness.

It’s not that he’s anti-social, but Griffen is on the shyer, more introverted side of our family. He and our sister Kennedy are two peas in a pod when it comes to that sort of thing.

“ You’re good ,” I murmur under my breath. He’s a lone wolf is what he is. “You need some fun. To get laid. Hell, you act like a member of the senior center despite being forty-fucking-years too young.”

My gaze travels over the group of geriatrics my brother has chosen as his companions until a misplaced woman—a young woman with her eyes stuck on Griffen—stops my perusal.

“What about her? She seems interested.” I discreetly gesture to the girl.

Her strawberry blonde hair is braided into a crown around her head, and she seems to be recreating the style on the lady seated in front of her.

“Heidi?” Griffen stiffens beside me. A flush rises on his cheeks, and I grin.

“Yeah, Heidi . Looks like you’re interested, too, baby brother.” My elbow playfully nudges him as I surreptitiously glance between Heidi and Griffen, amused by the sudden tension in the air.

Sexual tension.

At least, that’s what I’m chalking it up to, hopeful for my boulder of a little brother.

“We’ve barely spoken to each other,” he says, like that explains why he’s blushing at the mention of her name.

“Doesn’t matter. She keeps stealing peeks at you. Go over there and ask her out.”

“Just because you flirt with every woman in your vicinity, and have left a string of sexual conquests behind you, that doesn’t mean I want the same thing.”

“What the hell? I’m trying to help you. You make me sound like an asshole.” My teeth grind together at his description of my romantic past. I haven’t been a saint, but damn, it’s not like I lead women on.

They know the score.

They want a hot night with a firefighter? I give it to them. No strings attached.

“Sorry.” Griffen sighs. “I’m just not like you. That’s all I’m saying.”

I bump his knee with mine. “Thank fuck. There’s only room for one bad boy Caldwell in this town,” I joke. “But seriously, if you’re not interested in Heidi, that’s cool. Just… Think about it. Think about your life outside of Gramps. You deserve something for yourself.”

He grimaces but nods, and I know that’s the best I can expect from Griffen on the subject.