Belle - Kilts and Lies

K.A. BELLE

Copyright 2019

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Kilts and Lies

Text Copyright 2019 K.A. Belle (Kasey Belle)

First E-book Publication: October 2019

Cover and art copyright 2019 Anna Josey/Sin City Book Art

Digital Formatting by K.A. Belle (Kasey Belle)

ALL RIGHT RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, incidents are products of the authors imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

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Kaseys Court

jacob

Hey, Rory? I called out to my brother from inside the kitchen entrance.

I nodded at our cook Marlon as he prepared for the lunch crowd. We didnt open until eleven-thirty weekday mornings, nine on weekends so our patrons could enjoy the different sporting events televised on one of our many flat screens.

Yeah? He stuck his head out the door for the walk-in cooler and cocked an auburn eyebrow. Like me and the rest of the Campbell children Rory had red hair and green eyes.

See if we have any Summer Lager left while youre in there. We should use it up tonight if we do.

Foist it off on the cousins?

My cousin Logan in particular since I knew he hated the stuff. Hell yeah. Summer is over. We cant serve it to customers.

I like how you think, bro. Rory ducked back into the cooler. I heard bottles clanging together as he moved cases around. Found a case!

Sweet. Bring it here! I yelled back.

Rory walked behind the bar carrying the case of beer Id requested with two others we needed for stock stacked on top of it. Youre awfully bossy today, little brother. He set his burden on the floor by the beer cooler located under the prep station. Do I need to take you outside and bounce you around the parking lot until you cry?

I snorted a laugh and looked down at Rory. I wont lie and say I didnt play up the fact that I was a few inches taller than him or any of my brothers when they tried to act all big and bad. I still remember the day when they realized their baby brother was also the biggest brother. It was my seventeenth birthday, and the whole family got together to celebrate. My mother wanted to get a picture of her boys together. We stood in a line oldest to youngest. Mom started giggling. Oh, my, she said. Your growth spurt did you well, Jacob. Guess whos the tallest son now? My father threw his head back and laughed at the incredulous looks on my brothers faces. It was a proud day for me in the Campbell household. I bragged to anyone who would listen. Id annoyed my brothers to the point they threatened to join forces and beat the shit out of me if I didnt stop. I toned it down, but only a little.

Good luck with that. Im not only taller, but I outweigh you by thirty pounds. If you can stand the embarrassment, Im game to let you try and beat me up. I reserve the right to embellish how you begged for mercy later.

Fuck you. Rory narrowed his eyes and scowled.

Ooh, burn. I said and laughed in his face. He deserved it. As the middle child Rory had been hell to live with. He could play victim as easily as he played instigator. He was coddled for the former and rarely punished for the latter.

I picked up one of the lemons Id laid next to the cutting board and sliced it into rings for garnish. Rory stocked the beer. Once I was finished with the lemons, I did the same with the limes.

Rory glanced at the clock on the wall above the register. Its almost eleven-thirty. Im going to unlock the door. Then, Ill grab the cash for the drawer. Need anything else while Im in the office?

Nah. Im good.

Maggie texted me, Rory informed me as he filled the till. She said she was running late. She had to help mom with some wedding crap bullshit nobody cares about.

Im going to go out on a limb and say she didnt actually use the word crap or bullshit. Im pretty sure Ryan and Ethan care.

Subtext. Ryan and Ethan are the only ones.

Uh-huh. Should I quote your subtext to Ethan and Ryan? Better still, our mother.

Why are you so mean? Rorys pouty expression made me snicker.

Quick as lightning, I grabbed Rory into a headlock and gave him a noogie. Because you make it easy?

Get off of me. I allowed him to shove me away. Asshole.

I walked the floor and made sure the tables had salt, pepper, and condiments. The door opened, and I waved at the old man coming through the door.

Hey, Mr. OLeary. You want your usual?

I think Ill mix things up today, young Jacob. Ill have rings instead of fries. He winked and sat at his usual table by the window.

I like a man willing to live on the edge every once in a while.

Martin OLeary had been coming to The Tilted Kilt since my dad opened the place. Martin was an old man even then. He had to be at least eighty-five now, not that Id ask him to confirm his age. He had been the first customer through the door on day one and had kept up the tradition ever since.

The day went on as usual. We werent overly busy, which was a good thing considering the bar would be inundated with family starting around five. I glanced at the clock. Less than half an hour before the bar would be overrun with Campbells.

Whats your mystery dates name again?

Referring to Sammy as my date stretched the truth a bit. Okay, a lot. Sammy McClane was a friend. Im talking strict friend zone, no benefits. My brother Ethan was getting married the next weekend. Sammy had volunteered to play my girlfriend so I wouldnt have to attend all the family parties or the ceremony alone.

I glanced over my shoulder at Rory. My dates name is Sammy.

And where did you meet them?

At the gym.

My family learned long ago not to assume or assign a gender to the people I dated. If I found a person interesting and wanted to get to know them better, Id ask them on a date. Sometimes it went somewhere, others not so much. I hadnt done a lot of dating since I broke up with Brittany nine months ago. Actually, she broke up with me, but whatever. I was better off.