A Drop of Pretty Poison: A Brother’s Best Friend Romance (Pretty Poison Trilogy Book 2)

There’s something calming about driving down the street with Laiken’s feet up on the dash as she sings along to the radio. Most of the time, she’s even better than whoever the song belongs to. I wonder if she would be opposed to replacing every song in my music library with her singing it.

I pull into her driveway, and she hops out of the truck, coming around to the driver’s side while I shoot a text to Cam. Today is our meeting with Marc. We spent the last two days going over all the possibilities, and it’ll take more work than we originally thought, but it’s definitely an opportunity we don’t want to pass up.

“I’m so tired,” Laiken says as she leans against the door. “Seriously, I’m feeling the lack of sleep today.”

I chuckle, remembering everything from last night. My mom was at work, and I may or may not have bribed Devin into sleeping elsewhere. It had been too long since we were able to get lost in each other. And I don’t think there is a single surface in my room that we didn’t take complete advantage of.

“Regretting it?” I ask.

She rolls her eyes. “You know I don’t. But I am going to take a nap while you and Cam are at your meeting.”

The thought of lying next to her and getting some more rest is so tempting. I certainly didn’t get any more sleep than she did. I shut off each one of the five alarms I had set, but when Laiken took matters into her own hands—and mouth—I was up in both mind and body.

My head falls back against the seat. “Mmm, can I join you?”

“I wish,” she replies. “But you have a deal to make. And besides, with you in my bed, I don’t think we’d get any sleep.”

I unbuckle my seatbelt. “Yep. I’m not going. I’ll tell Marc I’m sick.”

Her whole face lights up as she laughs, just in time for Cam to come out. He walks around to the passenger side and climbs in. We had discussed him meeting me there, but this way, we can go over everything on the way there.

“What’s up?” he greets me then frowns. “Why do you look like shit?”

Laiken covers her mouth with her fist while I pinch my lips together. “Yeah, you don’t want me to answer that.”

His face falls, and that bleach idea is probably looking real good to him right now. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

Turning to Laiken, I give her a tired smile. “All right, we should get going.”

“Good luck,” she tells me, and then she arches up to kiss me through the window, only for Cam to whimper. She breaks the kiss and stares blankly at him. “You do know you’re an actual child, right? Yuck, cooties.”

“All girls do have cooties,” he jokes, then immediately whips his head over to me. “Say a single word and I’ll fuck you up, Wilder.”

My mouth slams shut as he stops the words before they come out. Laiken goes for one more kiss and I throw my hand over Cam’s eyes while my lips meet hers.

“Love you,” I murmur.

She smiles. “Love you, too.”

As she heads inside, Cam starts looking through the glove box and then over to the center console. I watch him for a second until it dawns on me that this isn’t his car.

“The fuck are you doing?” I question.

He keeps searching around. “There has to be something I can shove into my eye sockets around here somewhere.”

I snort, shaking my head as I put the truck into reverse and pull out of the driveway.

IF YOU SAW MARC on an average day, you would think he’s just some surf bum who has never held a steady job. His long hair is pushed out of his face and he is constantly wearing a pair of shorts and a half buttoned shirt. But pulling up to his house, I’m reminded of just how rich he is.

See, he doesn’t just own Wax and Waves, which has four different locations from here to the top of the state, mind you. Believe it or not, Wax and Waves was his passion project. Something he did to feel closer to the ocean again, since he grew up surfing. His main income earner is a string of coastal cuisine restaurants that stretches all the way up the coast.

“Goddamn,” Cam says with a whistle. “This place is massive.”

I hum as I put the truck in park and turn it off. “This is his vacation house.”

“Can he adopt me?” he jokes.

We both climb out and climb the ten concrete steps to the front door. As we press the doorbell, the tune of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”by Israel Kamakawiwo’olefills the house. Seriously, I don’t think he does anything small.

“Hey, guys,” Marc says as he opens the door. “Come on in.”

He leads us through the house and into the backyard, where his own personal oasis looks like a tropical vacation. Cam may be onto something. I wonder if he would adopt me.

“Have a seat.” He gestures toward the two seats with contracts in front of them. “Did you get a chance to talk it over?”

I nod. “We did, and we agreed that the surf shop is the perfect place for the bar we want to open, if you’re still offering it.”

“I am, but I’m also offering something else.” He folds his hands on his lap. “Being in the hospitality industry, I have knowledge and expertise that could be invaluable to you. There’s a lot that goes into something like this, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s easy to end up in over your head.”

“We’d definitely appreciate the guidance,” Cam confirms, and I nod in agreement.

Marc smiles. “I’m prepared to offer you one better. Hayes, you have come a long way since the troubled kid I first met. And over the years, you’ve become a cherished member of my family. I hope you know that.”

“I do,” I tell him. “And I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me and my family.”

The underlying meaning is only received by him, and he smiles as he realizes that I know. It’s a secret he and my mom would never let get out, but when my dad first left, my mom almost lost the house. I remember seeing the foreclosure notices come in the mail. And then one day, they just stopped, and everything was fine. I thought she had just managed to catch up on things with some extra overtime. It wasn’t until I was older that I learned it was Marc.

He paid off my mother’s mortgage, making sure we kept a roof over our heads. And he did so while asking for nothing in return. Because of that, the man sitting in front of me will always have the utmost respect from me.

“Anytime,” he says, then gets back to business. “I made a few calls and did my due diligence, and this is what I’m willing to do. I will give you the surf shop—my gift for you taking such good care of it over the years. But I’d like you to consider taking me on as a silent partner while you two get this started.

“The legalities of this sort of thing can be overwhelming, and I’m afraid your age will make people try to take advantage or dick you guys around. I already have most of the right pieces in place, and I’m willing to take the brunt of the setup costs. You two will be responsible for the renovations. This is your vision, after all. But if you do end up running short, let me know and we will reevaluate terms.”

I’m not seeing a single flaw in the deal. Ever since he drilled me with questions the other day, I’ve been doing more research on it, and the legalities involved look like a pain in the ass. You wouldn’t hear a single complaint out of me about not needing to deal with it.

“Why do I feel like we’re on an episode of Shark Tank?” Cam quips. “What’s the catch?”

Marc chuckles and shrugs. “No catch. I had to work my way to where I am today, and while I think it taught me a lot, there’s something to be said about giving a couple young men the support they deserve.”

“So, what? We’d each own a third of the bar?” I ask.

“No, I don’t want to be that involved,” he answers. “The only thing I’d like in return is ten percent of the profits for the first year. After that year, I will sign the bar over to the both of you. I just want to be able to keep an eye on things for the first year. But this is your business. Your venture. I’m just the helping hand.”

I turn to my left to look at Cam, and he grins back at me.

“I think you have yourself a deal,” I tell Marc.

He looks happy with our answer. “Great. I really believe in you both. In front of you are the contracts just stating the terms, so we can get things moving. Read them over. If you feel you want to have a lawyer look at them, please do so.”

I snicker as I pick up the small packet. “I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”

Everything is cut and dry anyway. It’s not filled with a bunch of complex words I’ve never heard before. It basically just states everything he explained to us. And when I sign my name on the line, I take a picture and send it to Laiken.

“I’m looking forward to this,” Marc tells me as I hand him the signed contract. “I think you’re really going to thrive, and it’ll be a sight to see.”

“Thank you,” I reply. “Seriously. I really appreciate you.”

He tears up as he nods. “You’re a great guy, Hayes. You were just dealt a couple shitty cards.”

“Can’t argue with you there,” I chuckle.

Cam gets done reading everything over and signs his copy before handing it to Marc. They shake hands as Cam thanks him as well.

“We’re all set,” Marc says. “Put a sign on the door of the surf shop stating that the location is closed with the address for the nearest Wax and Waves. And I’ll send a crew over there tomorrow to get the merchandise out of there so you guys can get started.”

We both nod, thanking him again. He’s given us an amazing opportunity, and we’re both grateful for it.

After we say goodbye, Cam and I walk out of Marc’s house with smiles on our faces. I know the whole ride home is going to be spent going over all the different ideas, but as I see Laiken’s text telling me how happy she is for us, last night plays through my mind once more, and I come up with an idea of my own.

THE EXCITEMENT RUNNING THROUGH my veins is better than adrenaline. I’ve spent most of my life just trying to get through to the next day, but for the first time, I feel like I have something to look forward to. And it’s only going to get better from here.

Cam and I walk into his house, and as we enter the kitchen, my eyes land on Laiken. She has her hair pulled back and she’s dressed in an oversized t-shirt and a pair of loose shorts. It’s such a casual, don’t-give-a-fuck look, but she still manages to take my breath away.

She takes a step toward me, but her eyes stay on her brother. “I’m going to kiss him, so if you’re going to whine about it, I suggest you look away.”

He mocks her and flips her off before giving me an up nod. “I’ll catch you later.”

The second he goes up a few steps and turns the corner, Laiken jumps into my arms, pressing her lips to mine in a bruising kiss. “I am so fucking proud of you.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I tell her honestly.

She hums. “Totally not true, but I’ll take it.”

Kissing her once more, I put her down. “I can’t stick around. I have to go down to the shop and put a sign on the door. But I was wondering if you have any plans tomorrow.”

She squints and looks up toward the ceiling. “I don’t think so. Why?”

“I want to take you somewhere. Can you be ready by nine?”

Surprise takes over her features. “Nine? In the morning? Do I get to know what’s getting you out of bed that early?”

I shake my head. “Nope.”

She pouts but I lean forward and press a quick kiss to her lips. I turn around and go to leave, when something dawns on me, and I glance back at her.

“Do you want to go for a ride?”

Her grin widens as she bites on the tip of her thumb. “In your truck or on you?”

And that’s all I need to hear before I walk over and pick her up, throwing her over my shoulder as she squeals.

SURPRISES HAVE NEVER REALLY been my thing. I’m not good at coming up with them, and even when I do, I manage to let something about it slip before it happens. But this time I got lucky. Only needing to keep the secret for less than a day is manageable.

I had planned on picking Laiken up in the morning, but being as she slept at my place again, I had to bring her back to hers to change instead. I offered to take her out to breakfast, but when we noticed no one was home, I opted to eat her instead.

The diner’s choices just don’t compare.

Now we’re in my truck, and as my phone tells me we’re getting close, I’m starting to get nervous. What if this was a stupid idea? What if she doesn’t want anything to do with this? What if she thinks I’m insane for bringing her along?

I see the sign outside of the house, and the realtor’s car parked in front. I pull up behind her as Laiken looks around.

“H?” she asks. “What are we doing here?”

An anxious smile stretches across my face. “Well, with the deal Marc made us, I have a decent amount of extra money, and I was thinking about buying my own place with it.”

She bites her lip as she thinks about the exact same thing I did when I got the idea. “Do that. You should definitely do that.”

My nerves settle in an instant. “I’d really love to have your input.”

Her head turns to look at the house and then back to me. “This is going to be fun.”

We get out of the car and I introduce Ramona, my realtor, to Laiken. Ramona begins briefing us on the property as she leads us to the front door, only for Laiken to add her two cents.

“Did he make sure to tell you that a dishwasher is a requirement?”

I stick my tongue in my cheek as I roll my eyes. And as Ramona walks through the door, I put my arm around Laiken’s waist and tickle her side.

Leave it to her to keep me humbled.

TURNS OUT HOUSE SHOPPING is even harder than bar shopping. The first one we saw was way too big. It was pretty, don’t get me wrong, but the moment Laiken mentioned that someone could sneak in and live on the other side of the house and I’d probably never know about it, I ruled it out.

At the second, I didn’t even want to go inside. There was no yard, front or back, and the house was placed way too close to the busy road we were parked on. I would never be able to sleep if I had to listen to cars whizzing by all night.

With each house we see, I take a mental note of Laiken’s reaction. The look on her face when we pull up, and again when we walk through the front door. Every single thing she says gets tucked away like there’s going to be a test on it later.

The third house shows promise. It’s located in a nice neighborhood, and it’s within walking distance to a few bars and restaurants. We step inside as Ramona opens the door, and the inside is probably the nicest we’ve seen. The living room has a fireplace, and the kitchen is right off it.

“This would make the perfect bachelor pad,” Ramona tells me.

The moment the words leave her mouth, I know I’m going to get shit for them. Sure enough, Laiken spins around and raises her brows at me.

“Do you need a bachelor pad?”

I chuckle at the jealousy in her tone. “Oh, definitely. With a stripper pole and everything.”

I’m expecting her to flip me off or roll her eyes, but nothing prepares me for the way she purses her lips as if that’s actually not a bad idea.

Such a fucking temptress.

THE FOURTH HOUSE TAKES the cake for the worst of it. Hands down. From the moment we walked in, something felt strange. The walls were painted black, and the carpet was all ripped up, leaving the subflooring exposed. But we looked around anyway for the fuck of it. And that’s when we found the door.

You know in horror movies, when they’re walking around the abandoned house, and they see something that looks like it could be a door but it’s not supposed to be? Yeah, it was one of those. Maybe we should have considered the fact that Ramona decided to stay in the living room while we looked around, but the moment a cold chill ran over us both as we stared at the door, we booked it out of there.

I PULL UP TO the final house of the day, and Laiken gasps as she sees it. The large porch is similar to the one she has at home, and the cedar shakes give it that homey look. I can already tell this is going to be her favorite.

“This one is a little higher than the price range you sent me, but it’s too beautiful not to show,” Ramona says.

The moment we walk through the door, I feel at home. It’s two stories, with the living room being right inside the front door. There’s a fireplace with a mantel that Laiken falls in love with, rubbing her fingers along it as she admires its beauty. The kitchen is a good size and features a large island in the center.

“Look!” Laiken says. “It has one of those racks to hang your pots and pans.”

I smile at her excitement. “There’s just one problem. You can’t reach that.”

Her eyes narrow as she glares at me, only to hoist herself onto the island and touch it just for the sake of proving me wrong.

There’s a bathroom downstairs, along with one of the bedrooms, but the main suite and two more bedrooms are upstairs. Laiken looks around, talking about how much potential this place has and all the things I could do with it, while I stare out the window at the large yard.

I’m not sure this house has any flaws, other than the price. It’s close enough to everything and big enough for us to have a family in one day. We may not be buying this house together, but that doesn’t mean we can’t end up spending our lives here. Besides, if she’s going to be over all the time, she needs to like it.

But the bachelor pad is also still an option, and it’s within the price range that I wanted to pay. I’m sure if Ramona hadn’t made that comment, Laiken would have loved it. She seemed interested when we first walked in, anyway.

All I know is I have a lot to consider.

AFTER A DAY FULL of looking at house after house, we’re famished. There’s a place that Laiken has wanted to try but hasn’t because it’s a little off the grid, but we’re only twenty minutes away from there so we decide to go. And I won’t lie; the food is great, but that’s not what has my attention.

As I sit across from Laiken, listening to her talk and getting lost in the sound of her voice, I can’t help but think about our relationship. We’ve come so far in such a short amount of time. From games of cat and mouse, to sneaking around, to hitting rock bottom. It was all worth it because it got us here—where I can reach across the table and hold her hand just for the fuck of it.

There’s a glint in her eyes as she tells me about the song she’s been working on. That’s one of the things I love about her. She’s so passionate about the things she cares about. The kind of person where if you’re lucky enough to have her attention, you hold onto it with everything you’ve got. I’m just glad that I realized the mistake I was making before it was too late.

I’d never be able to forgive myself if I lost her forever.

I’ve always heard that age-old saying, the one that says when you know, you know. Honestly, I used to think it was just bullshit that people said to buy into the whole idea of love. But sitting here, looking at her now, I realize they’re right. You just fucking know.

And I know without a fraction of a doubt that I will spend the rest of my life loving the woman sitting across from me.

As she excuses herself to go to the bathroom, I take out my phone and send a text to my realtor.

Put in an offer on the last house. Take 15k off asking.

Her response shows she was waiting for my message.

To be honest, you could offer lower than that and they would probably take it, but there is another offer on the table.

Yeah, that’s not going to work for me.

I don’t want to risk losing it. 10k off asking and tell them I’ll pay cash.

Okay, but that’s still higher than you originally wanted to spend. Even higher with the closing costs.

I picture the look on Laiken’s face as we pulled up, and the way she was in awe of the inside. I can see it all. The two of us sharing the same space, raising a family and growing old together in the house Laiken fell in love with from the moment she saw it. And I want it all.

I don’t care. Do it anyway.