Page 6 of Beckett the Bad Boy (Suitor’s Crossing: The Caldwells #4)

BECKETT

“Earth to Beckett! Anyone home?” My twin brother calls my name from across the six-foot folding table we’re adding to the line of tables against the north wall.

According to Kennedy and Beth, this is where the fundraiser contestants will set up their cooking stations.

“I’m right here. No need to shout.”

Ezra snickers and moves to grab the next folded table. “Then consider responding the first time I say your name.”

“Whatever,” I mumble with little heat.

I’m not in the mood to banter with my brother. I’m too distracted by the curvy woman currently smoothing out a wrinkle in the tablecloth she is positioning on a table further down the line from us.

Her round ass wiggles as she bends further, the back of her shirt riding up to reveal a sliver of soft, pale skin, and my mouth goes dry at the sight.

What the fuck?

This isn’t Victorian England.

One smooth strip of a woman’s back shouldn’t make my heart pound or my cock thicken in anticipation.

Anticipation for what , I’d rather not hazard a guess.

“Something going on there?” Ezra asks as he shuffles over to my side.

“What? Where?” Playing dumb. Always the best strategy when you want to avoid answering uncomfortable questions. Especially from family.

Ezra ignores my poor attempt at evasion. “You know what. That woman over there. Eliza? Lizzie?”

“Beth,” I correct him automatically, before immediately regretting it once I realize he was playing me. Pretending not to remember her name to force my hand.

“Yeah, Beth … Kennedy’s friend.” There’s a wealth of meaning in those two little words.

Because we don’t fuck our sister’s friends.

Granted, the rule is moot for Soren and Ezra since they’ve already fallen in love with their own women, but it still stands for me and Griffen.

Especially for me.

Because I don’t do drama.

I don’t date within the Suitor’s Crossing town limits.

Yet I’m contemplating breaking all of those rules with Beth.

She’s gotten under my skin during our brief interactions. Hell, I almost kissed her in the hall after spouting that sappy shit about ‘nothing I wouldn’t do’ for her.

Once my brain caught up to what my reckless mouth was saying, I took control of that shit and booked it out of there.

“It's about time you got here!” Kennedy’s voice rings out from across the room, and I look up to see who she’s talking to.

Grady and a few guys from third-shift saunter through the doorway. My sister must have roped them into helping, too, since the fundraiser is for the firehouse.

Grady waves in greeting but continues walking to where Beth is straightening another tablecloth. His chin dips, and I can tell he's checking out her ass.

My fists clench around the metal table in my hand. Sweat makes my hold slippery, and it crashes to the floor with an ear-piercing clatter.

Everyone stares before returning to what they were doing.

Everyone except for me.

Because I’m too focused on watching Grady sidle up to Beth.

“She may be Kennedy's friend, but we're adults now. If you want her, you shouldn't let her connection to our sister stop you, especially if you don't want Grady snatching her for himself.” Ezra picks up the fallen table with a pointed stare at the couple.

They're not a couple.

Fuck, I don't know what's wrong with me.

I don't get jealous or possessive over women. Grady chatting up Beth shouldn’t annoy me, even if I did warn him away from her.

Because he was right.

Beth isn’t my sister.

He doesn’t have a rule about dating locals. I’m the one with the issues, not him.

So, why shouldn’t he flirt with her?

Because she’s mine.

The immediate feral response punches me in the gut. It’s illogical. The claim of a Neanderthal, which I’ve never been accused of being.

Sure, I’ve got the bad boy reputation, but I’m a good man. I treat women with respect and don’t view them as objects to own.

But I can’t shake this feeling that Beth belongs to me.

After laughing at something Grady says, she pats his arm then exits the room. Probably to grab more supplies from the lodge’s storage closet. We keep all sorts of decorations, furniture, and whatever other crap Hearthstone has accumulated over the years in there.

One kiss , I reason .

One kiss, that’s it.

Maybe the outlet will rid me of this obsession for Beth, because right now, she’s a mystery.

A beautiful, curvy mystery.

I know we run in the same social circles, despite never meeting before this week, and I know she works at City Hall. That she lives across from the fire station.

Three basic things that barely scratch the surface of a person, yet I’m beguiled enough to contemplate throwing caution to the wind and breaking all my rules for her.

To hell with it.

My determined stride shoots me past contemplation and headfirst into action.

I’ve already decided to steal one small piece of Beth for myself.

One fucking kiss.