Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,131

the appointment. She tried to argue that she didn’t need anything from me, but I made her take it. I meant it when I said I wanted to take care of whatever she needs.

Aaron was my next call. However, I didn’t tell him. Instead, I told him he had to meet me here for a drink. It’s been a long week and I could use a little downtime with my boy. Not to mention that even though I’m ecstatic to have seen my baby, I can’t help but feel like I’m missing out on something. I should be sharing this night with my significant other, you know, the one I don’t have. That thought alone causes panic to build inside me. I want my baby, but I have no fucking clue what I’m getting myself into. Live and learn, they say.

I choose a booth at the back of the bar. I don’t feel like fielding questions about Misty and me, or the baby for that matter. I want to kick back with my oldest friend and celebrate. I’m startled out of my thoughts when Aaron slides into the booth across from me. He’s wearing a huge-ass grin. My brother.

“Gah! Tell me now!” I hear that sweet southern voice that can only belong to one person. McKinley Mills.

She slides into the booth next to me, watching me, waiting. “Evan! You’re killing me here.” She leans her shoulder into mine.

She and I have spent some time together since she’s been home from college. She’s always been a part of my life, but just recently I have learned to value her friendship as much as I do her brother’s.

“Hey now, I might just make you wait until I finish this beer.” I grin.

McKinley looks at the bottle sitting in front of me and smirks. Reaching over, she grabs the bottle, bringing it to her lips. I watch in fascination as she tilts her head back and drains it. Running the back of her hand over her lips, she places the bottle back in front of me. An ornery-ass grin lights up her face. “Now, spill it, Chamberlin,” she demands.

Aaron throws his head back in laughter, which gives me a few seconds to adjust myself. Kinley is beautiful and her little demonstration, her lips around my bottle of beer, has my mind and cock thinking about her in ways I shouldn’t.

“You win.” I reach over and grab the little brown paper bag that neither one of them have noticed. She grabs it from my hands and quickly opens it, pulling out two pink cigars.

“A girl!” she shrieks and throws her arms around me. We’re in the booth and it’s awkward, but I return her embrace the best I can. Her response lifts my spirits.

“Hell yeah! Congrats, man. You know all her dates are going to have to meet Uncle Aaron first,” Aaron jokes.

“What the hell? She’s not dating until she’s thirty,” I laugh.

“You can’t keep her locked away in some tower,” Kinley argues.

“The hell I can’t,” Aaron and I say at the same time.

Kinley just rolls those pretty brown eyes of hers, the smile never falling from her lips.

I feel some of the stress of the week fade away. I know without a doubt that these two will be with my little girl and me every step of the way.

“McKinley, is that you?” Mike, the owner of this place and a longtime friend of mine, says as he steps up to the booth.

“Hey!” Kinley removes her arm from around my shoulder and climbs out of the booth to give him a hug.

“When did you get back in town?” he asks as his eyes devour her. I want to be pissed, but I find myself doing the same thing. She’s wearing a tank top that makes her tits look incredible, a pair of short blue jean shorts, and a pair of cowboy boots. Fuck me. I knew looking was a bad idea, but I did it anyway.

Focusing my attention on Mike, I ask, “Hey, can you get us all another round?” I lift my beer bottle and give it a little shake.

“Sure, man.” He points to the small stage across the room. “Live band tonight. Kinley, you need to save a dance for me.” He winks at her and walks away.

I look over at Aaron and he’s watching me. “You see that guy?” I ask.

“Hmm,” is all he says.

Kinley takes her seat next to me in the booth. “So, now that we know you’re having