Her Lucky Love Read Free Page B

out to a bar was apparently the way to end that.
    Sure it was.
    Jackson and Tyler were already in a booth in the back, away from prying eyes. Well, as away as they could get. Considering they were Coopers, they were fodder for town gossip no matter how hard they all tried to stay out of the spotlight.
    Considering all that had happened these past few months, they really hadn’t tried all that hard. His youngest brother, Matt, had been a ghost haunting the old Marlow place for eleven years, yet no one had known about it until he found a way to break the curse. Matt’s wife, Jordan, was a witch, and she’d had to deal with the stigma of being different in a small town.
    His brother Justin was one of Santa’s executives. Yeah, that Santa. And Justin’s other half, Rina, was a freaking elf from the North Pole. Tyler was a cupid while his soon-to-be-wife, Abby, was a harpy.
    Yes, their world was a little bit weird, and the town knew some of it and guessed about the rest of it. There was no hiding from them. None at all.
    But, they tried, so Brayden made his way to the back booth and slid in beside Tyler since Jackson liked his space more than anyone he’d ever met. Considering his brother lived in a sprawling home by himself, he took that need to the core.
    “It’s about time you got here,” Tyler drawled as he took a sip of his beer. “Thought you’d flake out on us.”
    “I don’t flake,” Brayden said as he signaled Eddie, the bartender and owner, for a beer. There was no use telling the man what kind he wanted. He’d get what Eddie felt like drawing from the tap, as it was in some small towns.
    “No, you’re the reliable one,” Jackson said as he narrowed his eyes.
    Damn brother, always knowing what was on his mind.
    Yes, Brayden was the reliable one. The one that did everything for everybody without wanting a thank you. He’d always been that way. Even as a kid he’d help out when needed. Not that his brothers were jerks or anything. The Coopers always helped out when needed, but Brayden seemed to be the one needed most.
    But, he didn’t have a choice.
    It was his penance.
    After all he was the lucky one…right?
    Absentmindedly, he traced the coin on a leather strap around his neck, feeling the magic warm and spark under his touch.
    Jackson scowled and tilted his head. “You gonna tell us what that coin is any time soon? You’ve had the thing for years and haven’t spilled the beans.”
    Tyler nodded and elbowed him in the gut as Eddie brought over his beer. Brayden gave him a quick nod and took a sip. Nice, crisp with a little bit of hops to make it tingle. Perfect. Eddie knew what the hell he was doing. That’s why he and his brothers never fought over what to drink. Eddie always had it right.
    “Stop thinking about your damn beer and tell us what the hell is going on,” Tyler said as he looked over his shoulder.
    Brayden sighed and did the same. The place was pretty empty, and they were alone at least for the moment so whatever they said would be private for now.
    “I don’t feel like talking,” Brayden said and took another sip. Maybe if he just kept drinking, they’d leave him alone. He’d kept his secret for longer than Tyler or Matt had kept theirs. He didn’t feel like sharing it now, even though he knew the weight of secrets pushed down on them all. Time moved forward, and new people were entering their tight-knit group, changing the dynamics beyond a mere brotherhood.
    “You don’t have a choice right now,” Jackson said smoothly, and then he took another sip. “You see, we know you’ve been hiding something, but we’ve let you keep it secret since you don’t seem to be in pain. However, things are changing. Ever since Greg died, you’ve been acting differently. Like you’re waiting on something that could actually happen now, instead of watching from the sidelines.”
    Brayden held back a wince at the bastard’s name, even though Jackson wasn’t that far off.
    “That