Of Water and Madness Read Online Free PDF Page B

sure.”
    “Funny how things change, huh?” Liam asked, turning to Rian. “And here we are, three very lucky men.”
    Rian chuckled, sipping more of his whiskey. “I never thought I’d love anybody, much less her. But I do.” He paused, staring into his glass, his brow creasing. “She’s my light.”
    “I know what you mean,” Jax agreed, smiling at his friend. “Hell, I never thought you’d get hitched either, but here we are.”
    “And I never thought you’d let a woman hang around longer than a day,” Rian put in with a knowing smile.
    “Hey now,” Jax started, wagging his nearly empty glass at Rian defensively. “She isn’t like other women, okay? You both know that. She’s…damnit, I don’t know. But there’s something about her that gets under my skin and stays there. She sticks, and she doesn’t let go. But by the time you realize she’s got you, you don’t want to let go either. Does that make sense?”
    Liam shifted his weight and nodded, pleased to hear the honesty in the other man’s voice. “Perfectly. Blythe’s never been one to do things halfway. It’s all or nothing with her, and once she has her mind made up, she stays the course. I’m glad she found you, Jax, I really am.”
    “I’m the one who should be glad,” Jax acknowledged, shaking his head. “That little redhead is the best thing that ever walked into my life.”
    “How is Rhiannon doing?” Rian asked suddenly, watching Liam with serious eyes.
    “Better, much better. She’s nearly herself again.” Liam played with the glass in his hands, watching what remained of the whiskey slide around seductively. “I’ve waited my entire life for her, you know?”
    Rian nodded, and Jax reached over to pat Liam on the shoulder. “I didn’t give her enough credit at first, but she’s tough as nails, that girl.”
    “Yes, she is,” Liam agreed, lifting his glass for another toast. “To the women.”
    They touched glasses and downed what was left of the whiskey in an ancient and time honored male tradition.
    “Another,” Liam announced, reaching for the bottle and cheerfully pouring more dark amber liquid into the glasses.
    “I should go back,” Rian began, only to be halted by Jax.
    “Oh no you don’t. We aren’t done with you yet.” His mouth flashed into a wicked grin, and Rian took a deep breath and obligingly sat back down.
    “One more. Then I’m calling it quits,” he told them seriously as he lifted the now full glass up for another toast.
    “Sure thing, pal. Whatever you say.” Liam grinned, enjoying the sound of glass hitting glass as they toasted.

     

 
     
     
     
     

“So I told him,I said ‘Jax, you gotta keep a level head if you’re gonna date my sister, because she’s crazy.’”
    Rhiannon scowled at Liam as she tried to support his weight, rolling her eyes. “That’s not a very nice thing to say about Blythe.”
    “What? She is crazy,” Liam reasoned, dragging his feet as Rhiannon led him up the stairs to his room. “But that’s what makes her so special.”
    “I can’t imagine she’d appreciate you warning her boyfriend that way. Now he might think she’ll try and poison him or something.”
    “Eh.” Liam waved the thought away, letting out a whoosh of breath the second they reached the top step. “God, that’s a lot of stairs.”
    “You’re just a lot of drunk.” Rhiannon sighed, her own head swimming slightly from too much champagne. “Now come on, you need to sleep this off.”
    “With you around, baby, who can sleep.” Liam chuckled, his hand squeezing her waist playfully.
    Rhiannon snorted out a laugh as she pulled him along the hallway, hoping she could make it to his room before he passed out. At least he was still awake, though, along with Jax. Rian had already passed out at the bar in the parlor by the time they had found them.
    Rhiannon smiled to herself at the memory of Blythe bursting into the parlor, Capri and herself in tow, wanting to know where the