Page 1 of One Little Kiss

CHAPTER1

COLTON

Eighteen months ago

“What flight ya on, Pan?”

Hearing GG behind me, I cringe. I don’t know if Pan irritates me because it means GG’s tarot cards have me in their sights or because my brothers think I’ll never grow up, but neither option works particularly well for me.

“I’m flying out of Boston on Friday after my meeting,” I tell her as pleasantly as I can. It’s not the first time I’ve flown commercial, but it’ll be my longest flight crammed into one.

GG cackles, and it’s reminiscent of a sound that makes crows flock to the sky. “First time on a public flight, Pan?”

My family owns a couple of planes, but since everyone else is flying out on Thursday from North Carolina or Vermont, it made the most sense for me to fly commercial after my meeting. That doesn’t mean I like it.

“It’s not my first, GG.” My eyes roll to the back of my head like I’m thirteen again.

“Ah, ha. On American?” she presses.

Nodding, I narrow my eyes as my brother, Easton, smirks behind her on his way out the door. My hair, a touch too long in the front, falls over my forehead, and I resist the urge to brush it aside. I know he’ll give me shit about keeping up appearances if he gets the chance, so I focus on GG.

“Yes. Is there something I can help you with, GG?” Crossing my arms over my broad chest, I watch her every move.

GG is my sister-in-law’s grandmother, and she’s scary as fuck. She’s a tarot card reading, truth wine connoisseur, matchmaking pot stirrer with way too much time on her hands.

“You boys are getting so suspicious of me these days. Tsk, tsk, Pan. I was merely going to mention that maybe you’ll meet Wendy on that flight.”

My brows nearly jump off my skin they rise so fast. “What do you mean, meet Wendy?”

She guffaws and walks past me with a gentle pat on my shoulder. “All in good time. You’re not ready yet.”

A groan escapes as I stare at the ceiling.Thank fuck. No, I’m not ready for anyone she might throw at me. But then, who’s Wendy?

Peering behind me, I discover she’s gone before I can ask.

Great.

GG’s lodge has come a long way in the few years East has been here. I take a moment to observe the upgrades, proud of what we’ve accomplished. None of us could have imagined what life had in store for us when he followed Lexi here and never left. Now we all have homes on the backside of the mountain. East, his wife, Lexi, and Ashton live here full time, as do one of our adopted brothers, Seth, his wife, Ari, and their daughter, Sadie Sunshine.

A commotion at the door has me turning toward the sound. East and Halton barrel through with my oldest brother, Preston, right behind them. The family that follows is harder to explain, and as they filter into the room, I lose track anyway, but we’re all here. Brothers by blood and by choice, and their families. There’s a shitload of us now.

My mom unofficially adopted Dexter, Loki, and Trevor when we were young. They all have families that fill the space with more kids than I can count, and I smile when I see Seth’s daughter, Sadie, frantically searching the room. I’m willing to bet she’s scoping the space for my little brother, Ash, or Dexter’s son, Tate. Maybe both.

I chuckle as she spots Tate first and takes off running. She has his hand in hers a second later and drags him around the room, no doubt in search of her second target. Ashton.

“I know Hatty’s always called me his sunbeam, but I don’t think anyone can shine brighter than that little girl.”

A smile lights my face as I turn to my best friend, and soon to be sister-in-law, Rylan Maroney. She’s probably the only one who can get away with giving Halton a girly nickname like Hatty.

“Ryguy! Where have you been?”

“Trying to round up the chaos you call a family.” I understand Halt’s obsession with sunbeams. Rylan is literally glowing with happiness right now.

“Another week and we’ll officially be your family, too,” I warn with a smile.

A very undignified squeal erupts from my friend, and I can’t help but chuckle. Opening my arms, I wait for her to claim a Westbrook special. She’s finally getting her happily ever after, and I’m not sure anything could keep her away from my brother. No sooner do I encase her in a hug than Halton is growling at my side.

“She was mine first, so take your crabby ass caveman grunts elsewhere.” I love messing with him. Rylan may have been my best friend first, but she’s always been his forever. That doesn’t mean I can’t fuck with the guy once in a while.