Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

GEMMA

After a couple of beers, Gemma forgot about her swarmed bees. No use crying over split hives. Hopefully, her efforts to catch the queens and rehouse them paid off. There wasn’t anything she could do about it now.

Between Kylie trying to turn the Brew House into a dance club and the seasonal brews, Gemma had the best night out in a long time. The same couldn’t be said for Parker and Dean.

What was up between those two?

With her arm hooked through Kylie’s, they continued their dance off as they left the bar. Whatever was up Parker’s ass was his problem. It wouldn’t ruin her and Kylie’s good time. Dean was on his own. Chicks before dicks.

Maybe she’d had a few too many.

“Well, it’s getting late,” she said.

Dean’s gaze found her, like it had for the hundredth time, and she couldn’t help herself. She popped her hip slightly.

Kylie peered between the two of them as she left Gemma’s side and snuggled up to Parker. “You’re at Patty Welker’s farm, right?”

“It’s my farm now.” Dean lifted his chin.

Was that pride? It was absolutely adorable on him.

“Isn’t that like three blocks from your place?” She pointed to Gemma. “Right?”

Kylie turned to Parker for confirmation.

“Yeah,” Parker gruffed.

“So instead of us driving like fifteen minutes out of our way, why doesn’t Dean take Gemma home?” Kylie suggested.

“No,” Parker snapped.

Gemma cocked her head as she peered at her brother. “Why not? He’s going to come by to drop off bees and fix my extractor tomorrow. He might as well find out where I live tonight.”

Kylie nodded with a wide grin. “Perfect. So, Dean, you’ll take Gemma home?”

As he opened his mouth, but Parker interjected. “No. It’s fine. It’s not out of the way.”

What was his problem? Gemma glared at her brother.

“I’m exhausted. I want to go to bed,” Kylie whined.

“You can sleep in the car. Gemma, let’s go,” Parker snapped his fingers and pointed to Kylie’s sedan.

Gemma shook her head. “I’m not some dog. You can’t snap your fingers at me.”

“It’s really no problem. I can get her home,” Dean offered.

Gemma sauntered over to Dean’s side, adding some extra swivel in her hips so she could to rub her defiance in her brother’s face.

Why was he all crazy protective brother suddenly? It was Dean . While she’d had a crush on him in the past, and he’d only gotten hotter, it didn’t mean that he saw her as anything other than Parker’s annoying little sister.

Holding her brother’s gaze, she looped her arm through Dean’s.

“Gemma,” Parker growled through gritted teeth.

“For the love of God, Parker. Leave it alone.” Kylie tugged at him. “I want to go home. They are grown ass adults. Quit it and get in the car or else I’ll let Dean take me home.”

Both Gemma and Dean snickered.

“Fine!” Parker huffed. “Text me when you get home.”

In the world of fines, that was the least fine Gemma had ever heard. “What was that about?” Gemma asked climbing into the cab of his truck.

“I have no idea,” Dean shrugged.

He knew, but wasn’t talking. It wasn’t the first time Parker and Dean kept secrets from her, and it sure as shit wouldn’t be the last.

She glanced in his direction as the driver’s side door opened and he climbed in. He had a light stubble on his cheek, as though he’d shaved the previous day. He was so fair, it wasn’t noticeable unless they were in the right lighting. Like from the dome light of an F-250.

Damnit. She wasn’t supposed to be thinking about stuff like that. He was just taking her home as a favor. Facing forward, she placed her hands in her lap.

As he started the truck, the radio came on. Old Dominion’s Coming Home came through the speakers, and the two of them shared a look. They held each other’s smoldering gaze for a hot minute, and her heart skipped a beat.

Dean Welker looked at her like that .