Bishop Brothers Series: Four Book Complete Set

Chapter 4-3

Smiling, I shrug and take a sip. “Ooh, this one tastes different.”

“I ordered Bermuda Triangles. It sounded more tropical.”

I laugh at how serious her tone is and take another sip. “These taste like trouble.”

“Oh, trust me, they are. These got me in so much trouble during Frat week my sophomore year, I swore to stay away from them forever.”

“That lasted long.” I grin.

“Vacation is an exception,” she states matter-of-factly. “And bonus, I don’t have to get up tomorrow and give an oral presentation for a psychology exam.”

My head falls back as I burst out laughing. Natalie was always known for being the life of the party, whereas I always had my face buried in a book. Nursing school nearly killed me. There was no time for ludicrous parties or getting so drunk I couldn’t function the next day. Even though nursing school certainly made me want to.

The following morning, I wake up stretched out in my king-sized bed with a slight headache. Though I only drank two of those Bermuda Triangles, we didn’t stop there. After we soaked up the sun, Natalie dragged me to the hotel bar until Adam came and tore us away. He walked me to my room before leading Natalie back to theirs.

Rolling over, I check my phone on the nightstand and see a text waiting for me.

Natalie: Continental breakfast in the lobby! Meet us there at 9!

Natalie: AND MIMOSAS!

Natalie: To cure that hangover you probably have, you lightweight ;)

I smile and laugh at her messages. Natalie has always known how to keep things entertaining.

Once I’ve showered and dressed, I make it down for breakfast just on time. Natalie and Adam are already at a table waving me over.

“Good morning, sunshine,” she says with a bright smile.

“Does she always wake up this perky?” I direct my eyes toward Adam as I take a seat.

“Only on days I don’t have to work or when I wake up in paradise,” she answers for him with a dreamy sigh.

“I thought you’d be out fishing already?” I reach for the mimosa already set in front of me and take a drink.

“I was.”

“He was.”

They both speak in unison like a lovesick couple who finishes each other’s thoughts and sentences.

“I was on the water by five. Came back to check on Nat and have breakfast with her before I head back out.”

“I expect you to catch us enough fish to last all winter, okay?” Natalie teases.

“Don’t forget the lobster and crawfish, too,” I add.

“Yeah, I’m on it.” He winks.

“Well, I’d better grab something to eat to soak up this alcohol before I end up like Nat during Frat week.” I wink in her direction as Adam tilts his head to give her a side-eye.

I eye the buffet like it’s the best thing I’ve seen all year. It’s full of pastries, fruit, and yogurts on one end, and hot items on the other. I grab a few pieces of sausage and a spoonful of scrambled eggs before heading over to the other side.

As I’m walking toward the fruit platters, I notice a couple guys with full plates making their rounds from the hot and cold sections. They’re acting like they haven’t eaten in days. I smile internally at the thought of these two bulky guys eating enough for four. They definitely aren’t from around here. Though they’re both good looking, I find myself eyeing the blond guy. He’s got the palest blue eyes, and his shirt is stretched across his muscular and wide chest. Not half bad actually.

The guy speaks in a very noticeable Southern accent, and suddenly I’m finding myself a little flushed at the thought of him saying my name with that accent.

“Dude, these ain’t nothing like Mama’s pancakes, but they sure smell good.”

“Yeah, I can tell the maple syrup isn’t homemade either, but I can’t complain when we’re in the Keys.” They both chuckle as they continue piling food on top of food.

And they live with their mama. Great. I always know how to pick ’em.

I’ve dated a man, or rather boy, who was highly dependent on his mother, and as much as I like a guy to be respectful to his mom, being a mama’s boy isn’t the quality some think it is. In fact, it became borderline annoying.

Just thinking about how my ex would have to text his mother goodnight after we had s*x sends shivers down my spine. Maybe that makes me the weird one, but there needs to be a healthy balance.

I take my seat with Natalie and Adam a few tables away from where the Southern men are sitting while trying to shake the images of my ex from my head. Natalie’s discussing how she swore she saw a Kardashian sister in the bar last night, and Adam’s pretending to add to the conversation by throwing in some ‘uh-huhs’ and ‘mm-hmms.’

Just as I stab a sausage link and shove it into my mouth, I feel a shift. Natalie looks up over my shoulder with wide, dreamy eyes, and I know somebody is standing at my side.

“’Scuse me, ma’am?” I hear the Southern accent and immediately feel the hairs on my neck rise.

I chew as quickly as I can and swallow it down, nearly choking when I try to speak. “Uh, yes?”

Up close, he’s even bigger looking. Well over six feet tall, and I can almost see his ab muscles through his shirt.

“I was wonderin’ if you could help settle an argument between my friend and me?”

I blink up at him, mouth gaping open. “Sure.” I clear my throat, realizing what he’s doing. I’ve heard dozens of pickup lines start just like this. It usually ends up being something super cheesy. By the smirk on his face, I’m almost willing to bet him and his friend are arguing about how pretty I am and want me to say which one I’d go on a date with.