Free Thrasher by K.S. Smith Page B

Connor while you get some fresh air. I’ll give you five minutes, and then we’ll head outside.”
    Duke groaned as I turned and rushed into the foyer and jumped into my brother’s arms, hugging him for dear life. “Connor! I’m so glad you’re home. What an unexpected surprise! What are you doing here?”
    He set me down, and I noticed the blonde standing next to him.
    “Hey, Brie, I wanted to come home to tell you the good news face to face. I’m getting married.”
    Shocked, I glanced from him to the woman and then back to him.
    “Married? Congratulations! Do Mom and Dad know?” I extended my hand out to the stranger who was standing before me, my brother’s fiancée. “Hello, I’m Brianna Hamilton. Pleasure to meet you.”
    She pulled me into a hug as a dainty southern accent floated from her lips. “Brianna, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Abigail Templeton, but you can just call me Abbey.”
    When she released me from her embrace, I smiled at her and my brother, still completely shocked. “Well, why don’t you both come outside. I’ve got somebody I’d like to introduce you to as well.”
     

CHAPTER TEN
    Connor and Abbey followed me outside where Duke was standing near the edge of the pool, a beer in his hand. I rushed over to him.
    “You good?” I asked, and he smiled, nodding his head.
    “Duke, this is my brother, Connor, and his fiancée, Abbey. Abbey, Connor, this is Duke Thrasher, my boyfriend.”
    My brother’s eyebrow lifted. “Boyfriend?” he questioned.
    “Oh, don’t you dare even start,” I began. “You come home with a fiancée who we’ve never met, and you want to get all I’m her big brother, hear me roar about my boyfriend? I don’t think so!”
    Abbey laughed before pulling Duke into a hug. “Pleasure to meet you, Duke.”
    Then Connor stuck out his hand. “Yes¸ pleasure.”
    “Why don’t we have a seat. Would either of you like something to drink?” I asked.
    Connor held up two fingers. “Red wine, please.”
    “Of course, my brother, the wine connoisseur. You wouldn’t want something normal like a beer,” I teased, making my way into the kitchen. I poured two glasses of wine and grabbed a beer for myself from the refrigerator.
    After placing the drinks down in front of them, I took a seat next to Duke. “So, tell me about the proposal. And the ring… let me see the ring,” I begged.
    Connor lifted the glass of wine to his mouth, and Abbey slid her hand across the table in my direction. “Isn’t it gorgeous? He picked it out all on his own.”
    I admired the platinum teardrop diamond that sat perfectly on her finger. “It’s beautiful.”
    Then Abbey went on, “We were walking in Central Park after just having dinner together at a new restaurant that’d just opened, and your brother stopped to tie his shoe. I was looking off at another couple who were also sharing an evening stroll, and when I looked back, he was holding the ring up toward me. I was so excited I could hardly breathe. It took me at least five minutes before I could answer him.”
    I watched on as my brother admired his fiancée, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Well, I am just so elated for the two of you. I know you’ve just gotten engaged, but have you set a date yet?”
    Connor took a sip of his wine and nodded, Abbey answering for the two of them. “June sixth, at The Plaza. My maid of honor has already reserved the date.”
    I nodded, a grin on my face, positive my mother was going to have a heyday with the fact that the wedding wasn’t going to be at the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee. Smiling, I winked at my brother. “A New York wedding… Mom and Dad will be thrilled.”
    Connor kicked me underneath the table, and I couldn’t help but laugh before he tried to change the subject. “So, where is Megan? I was expecting that she’d be here. I wanted her to hear the good news as well.”
    Abbey’s eyebrow raised. “Megan?”
    “My best friend. She’s like a