Chapter 5

chapter

five

Landry

I'm fucking pissed.

Should I be?

No.

No, I have no claim on her attention. But having her personally request to meet Cain just chuffed my hide. Yeah, he's internet famous, but who gives a shit. He's also married.

"Something bothering you?" Cain shoulder bumps me when we step out onto the porch.

I shake my head. "Nah, man. Just got a headache. It's been a long day." I pinch the bridge of my nose.

"Let's play some cards, yeah?" Cain says.

Linc shuffles the deck. "I wanted to ask y'all for a favor. Well, it just needs to be one of you. I'm thinking Jade won't be too keen on it being you, Cain. So that leaves you two knuckleheads." He glances at Greyson and then me.

Greyson frowns. "Whatever you need, man, you know we got your back. Everything okay?"

"The baby's okay, right?" Cain asks.

"Everything is fine. Natalie just got put on modified bedrest today. She's at risk for some complications, but she doesn't have them right now."

"That's good. But scary," I say.

He nods. "That's my whole world." His voice cracks with emotion. Then he clears his throat. "Anyways, here's where the favor comes in. This weekend, she and I were scheduled to go to Tennessee to check out that wedding venue."

"Y'all are already married," Greyson says.

"Pay attention, fucker," I say. "You've heard Natalie talk about her dream for her uncle's property."

Linc nods. "Right. And now that dream belongs to her and Brook. Especially since Brook lost pretty much everything a few months ago. Wildfire took out her entire vineyard."

The urge to get up and pull her into my arms hits me. I clench my teeth. I don't know what kind of spell that woman has put me under, but I am not a hugger. And I'm definitely not one to offer comfort. Not to say I'm heartless, but I'm just not the soft and cuddly kind.

"Anyways," Linc continues. "Since the girls intend to give you boys the contract to build everything on the property, it seems only fitting that one of you go. You'll be able to see what is feasible and what isn't." He shrugs. "I'd just planned to take a lot of pictures."

"What aren't you saying?" I ask.

He blows out a breath. "Natalie's plan was for us to infiltrate the place. Evidently, they only host four weekends a year to perspective couples, one each season. The rest of the year, they're booked solid with weddings."

"So y'all were gonna pretend you aren't already hitched?" Cain asks.

Linc slowly nods.

"I think I see where this is going," Greyson says. I do not like the wicked grin on his smug face.

I know where he's going too, but I'm waiting for Linc to spell it out.

"Natalie is talking to Brook and she's the obvious choice to go in my shortcake's place since this will be their business together. Now she just needs a fake fiancé for the weekend." He glances at me and then Greyson.

A tight growl comes from my throat.

"I'll do it," Greyson says. "Brook is smoking hot."

"The fuck you will. I said I'll do it and I'll do it."

"You actually didn't say anything," Greyson points out.

Fucker.

"You just grunted like a damn caveman."

I glare at Greyson and cross my arms over my chest. "Whatever. I'm doing it."

"Maybe I want to do it." My brother cocks a brow at me.

"I don't give two fucks what you want. I'm doing it." I stand.

"I think I have a yard stick inside somewhere if y'all need to measure things," Linc says with a grin.

"This headache is getting worse; I'm gonna go home and sleep it off."

"We need this contract, baby brother; don't let me down."

"Fuck off."