by C. A. Harms
"What the hell are you two doing, swapping recipes?" Bennett barks as he walks over and grabs another two-by-four . "We're being paid to build a fucking garage here, not gossip like girls."
Aaron tucks his chin toward his chest to hide his smirk, and I arch my brow at my brother. He holds my stare, and just when I thought he is about to say something, he turns around and storms away. Knowing that something is eating at him, and he won't talk about it leaves me with a knot in my stomach.
"I think someone needs a Midol," Aaron says as he moves past me, carrying his own two-by-four, shaking his head as he joins my brother.
Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I type out a message and hit send.
Me: You find out what had Lexi in a mood yet?
Sutton: Yup!
Me: Wanna share?
Sutton: Nope!
I stare at my phone as if at any minute she'll text me the details, only nothing follows.
Me: Not even a hint?
There's a long pause, and I'm just about to put my phone back in my pocket when it vibrates in my hand.
Sutton: Bennett is your brother, and I refuse to tell you how big of an ass he is. But just so that you know, I may kill him by the end of the week. Warning! You may have to visit me in prison.
"Pull your head out of your ass Brant, we've got work to do," Bennett growls, and I shove my phone in my pocket and join them. For the next few hours, I ignore his shitty mood, refuse to ask him what the hell his problem is, and keep my head down. Then, of course, if he wants to talk, he will, but at this point, I know that being trapped in the middle is something I don't want.
I lay on my couch, staring at the television, barely able to hold my eyes open. Working in the heat wipes me out. Finally, being home for less than an hour, I showered, and after a few slices of leftover cold pizza, I crash on the couch and am ready to call it a night.
I'm startled by the sound of someone knocking on my door, and I sit up quickly, juggling the controller that I've practically thrown in the process. The entire apartment is dark except for the flashes on the screen in the corner.
As I stand and move toward the door, another knock echoes, only this time it is much louder.
Looking through the peephole, I am surprised to find Bennett standing on the opposite side. He appears to look as wrecked as I feel, only with him; I know it's for entirely different reasons.
As I open the door, he looks up at me and says nothing. But neither do I. Hell, he showed up at my place, so I know there's a reason. He finally pushes past me with a silent stare down and walks inside, I close the door behind him. His back is to me; he runs his hand through his hair and then drops his chin, looking down toward the floor.
Still, I say nothing. Things are so touchy with us, and though he's the one who brought Sutton and I back together, I'm still not sure if he's done this to make her stay or because he was genuinely okay with us being together.
"I fucked up," his words are low, and he has still yet to look at me. "I don't know how to fix it."
"How'd ya fuck up?"
I already know it has something to do with Lexi, but I don't want him to know that.
Slowly he turns to face me, and even in the darkroom, I can see the look of frustration on his face. "I said it was a mistake because she's more than a one-night stand kinda girl; she deserves more."
"Who?"
Bennett takes a step toward me and places his hands on his hips. "You already know, don't pretend that Sutton hasn't talked to you. Those girls stick together. You piss one off; they all fall in line. So, it's six friends or six enemies."
"All she told me was that she might kill you by the end of the week," he grins, and I can't help myself I do too. "Why don't we grab a beer, and you can let me see if I need to hide you from the six-team mobsters?"
It feels good having Bennett here, in my place. Granted, the reasons for him coming here aren't the best, but he's here. He's come to me. He could have gone to any of the guys, but he came here; that means something.
He follows me to the kitchen, and I pull two beers from the fridge, popping both tops. Then, holding one out to him, he sits down at the table, and I join him. "I don't know if coming here was the best choice."
"But you are here."
"Yeah," he says, taking a drink. "But some of the shit I need to say, you may not wanna hear."
I take in a slow deep breath and nod, giving him the go-ahead.
"This turns into a fistfight; there's no one here to stop it," he adds.
"Then I guess we'll either beat the shit out of each other or be men about whatever it is you got to say and work through it as two brothers should."
He holds my stare, taking in a slow, calming breath.
"From the beginning, I always thought I'd end up with Sutton." I grip my beer and try not to be too obvious. Every time I think of the two of them together, my body instantly reacts. Even from the beginning, it was like a hot flame filling me from head to toe. The truth is, I hate to think of her with anyone but me.
"I watched her the first night I met her for more than an hour before I decided to talk to her. She's always held my attention, like some pull whenever she's around."
He watches me, and I say nothing.
"I spent more than a year around all the girls, laughing with them, and you were right I staked some claim on each of them. I know I had the chance to make a move and tell her how I felt. But, instead, I flirted with each of them and many others. I went on hooking up with women, never once thinking how that was making me look."
I take a drink, needing to do something other than grip the bottle.
"I spent a lot of time at Sutton's place," I picture them all cuddled up on her couch or even in her bed, though I'm not sure that ever took place. It's still where my mind goes, and suddenly I want her here, in my arms, in my bed.
"And during that time, I got to know Lexi too."
Maybe this is where he's choosing to get to the root of the problem.
"I just never imagined that I'd fall for two girls at the same time." His chest rises as he takes in a slow deep breath. "I kissed her, and I shouldn't have."
My nostrils flare; who's he talking about?
"Not Sutton, but I did kiss her too," he chuckles, and I start to stand. "Before you two got together, calm down, killer."
Little fucker thinks it's funny.
"I kissed Lexi, a little more than kissed actually, and I told her it was a mistake without thinking my words through. Now she hates me."
"Why was it a mistake?"
He drops his gaze as he lifts his beer once more. Again, I can tell he's hesitant about what he is about to say, and I do my best to hold back my temper.
"Because I shouldn't be kissing Lexi when I still look at Sutton and wonder what if."
I stand and spin around, walking away from him. I need a second.
"I know that shit is never gonna happen."
"It's not," fuck; I can feel myself trembling with irritation. Hearing Ben chuckle only pisses me off more.
"What I'm saying is that Lexi deserves more than a guy that's only half in, and until I can look at Sutton and you together and not feel even a fraction of jealousy, I shouldn't be kissing her."
I sit my beer down on the counter and turn to face him. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say. Here my brother is standing in my kitchen, confessing he still feels something for my girl, which lights an irritation inside of me. Am I supposed to shake his hand and hug it out? All I want to do in this moment is punch him.
"But the idea of Lexi being with someone else," he shakes his head. "It makes me feel sick."
“Then I guess you get your shit together, real fuckin’ fast. Before some guy comes along that doesn’t refer to her as a mistake.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Sutton
* * *
"Where are you?" I plug one ear and try to hear Brantley over the band playing in the background. "Sutton," he says my name louder, and I walk toward the fr
ont entrance so that I can step outside to hear him better.
"Hold on a minute."
I slip past the crowd of guys blocking the doorway, and one of them grabs my waist, pulling me back. I'm just about to shove him away when I hear a familiar voice. "Sutton?" I pause, still holding my phone before me, and feel instantly like the air's knocked from my lungs. "Damn, it is you."
Suddenly I am pulled in tight to a manly chest, and a strong set of arms is hugging my body tightly to his.
"Damn," he whispers near my ear and my heart races. "It's been what, three, four years maybe?” I nod, still unsure of what to say.
Nate had been the one guy, other than Brantley who'd tipped my world on its side. He is older by two years, and last I heard, he'd moved to Colorado to work for his uncle. But, he was my high school love, the one that I'd given all my firsts to, including my first heartbreak.
"You look good, but then again, you always did. Still gorgeous," Nate scans over my entire body from head to toe, and still, I have no words. "Please tell me you aren't rushing off?"
It hits me then what I was actually in the process of doing, and my stomach hollows out as I lift the phone to my ear. "Hello? Are you still there?"
"Who was that?" The hope that Brantley had missed the last three minutes is gone when his voice comes through the phone, sounding annoyed and maybe a little pissed.
I point to the phone and then move for the door leaving Nate staring after me. "Just an old friend," please let that be enough.
"I thought you were at Gibson's," I look back toward the front entrance of Rusty's Pub just as the door opens and Nate steps out. My hand grips the phone a little tighter.
"We were," my eyes lock with Nate's, and he moves in my direction. He still has the same sweet, charming smile, only it doesn't affect me quite as much as it once did. I'm no longer that inexperienced girl he once knew. "We left."
"I know," I sense Brantley's irritation. "Since I'm standing outside the bar and there are no signs of you anywhere. I figured that part out already."
Nate stops only a few feet away and still holds my stare.
"Where are you?"
"Rusty's," I hear the rumbling of a truck come to life and then the echo of a stereo before it fades. "We came to listen to the band play."
The silence on the other end of the line makes me nervous. Then Brant speaks, "And meet up with an old friend," the way he says friend gives me chills.
"No, that was completely unplanned," the buzz I was feeling only seconds ago has disappeared.
"Tell me, is this old friend someone I should worry about?"
"No," I'm staring at Nate when I reply. "You don't have anyone to worry about." Nate arches his brow, and the corner of his mouth tips up in a smirk as if my words are a challenge. The cockiness he's always been so good at resurfaces. It's a part of what made me so attracted to him all those years ago.
The rumble of a truck echoes, and I look to the left just in time to see not only Brantley's truck but two others following behind. It appears he brought the calvary of Hudson men with him.
One by one, they slide into parking spaces, and as the doors come open, six powerful and confident men climb out of each. But all I can see is one. His stride is intimidating, with his hat flipped backward, still holding the phone to his ear as he stands at the side of his truck. I can't see him clearly at this distance, but I can almost visualize the scowl on his face.
"You might wanna tell pretty boy there to head back inside. It'll be better coming from you than me." The call ends, and he starts walking toward me.
"Who's that?" Nate asks, and I smile as I watch him get closer.
"Brantley."
"Someone you know well?" I nod.
As Brant gets closer and his face comes into view, I feel my pulse quicken. The rest of the guys are a few feet behind and chuckling as they take in the scene. With Nate standing at my side, Brantley is walking like he has a purpose. His jaw ticking and his shoulders squared.
"Is he your guy?" Nate asks, only I don't answer him. Instead, I take a step toward my determined man. Then he grabs my hip and tugs me to him, cupping the back of my neck just before his lips press firmly to mine, and I melt against him.
It's a little surprising that he is kissing me in front of Bennett, but those thoughts are quickly lost when I feel his tongue run over the seam of my lips. It’s more than, I’ve missed you kiss; this is more of a possessive you are my woman kiss. I can feel its effects throughout my entire body.
Pulling back much too soon, I'm still momentarily in a haze when I hear Brantley talk. "Yeah, I'm her guy."
Slowly I open my eyes to find him staring over my shoulder with his jaw still flexing and his nostrils flare. Positioning my body in front of his, I do my best to regain his attention in the hope that Nate will walk away.
Trailing my fingers over his jaw, the scruff there tickles my fingertips, and he shifts his gaze back to me. "Why do I feel like you are marking your territory?"
"Because I am." He doesn't attempt to deny it. Instead, his grip on me tightens, and he skims his nose over the side of mine. My heart races as he kisses the corner of my mouth and pauses there for a few seconds. He doesn't pull back, and again I am completely lost in him and how he affects me.
Chapter Forty
Brantley
* * *
I hold Sutton close as I stare over her shoulder into the eyes of the man who has yet to leave. Hearing Bennett talk about Sutton and his feelings for her, then showing up at a bar to find she'd already left, has me feeling a little on edge.
Bennett and Rory move around Sutton and pause at the guy's side. "Dude, you might wanna go back inside now," Bennett warns the guy, laughing and shaking his head.
The rest of the guys join then, holding the door open for the pretty boy to follow. I kiss Sutton's cheek, then her neck just beneath her ear, and she sighs, making me smile. Or smirk, considering the douche is watching her and I closely. He looks a little troubled by our closeness.
That's right, bud; she's mine.
When the door closes, and I'm left alone with her, I put a small distance between us, and she glances up at me. Then, twisting just enough to look behind us, she laughs and glances back at me. "Do you feel better now?"
Honestly, I want to toss her over my shoulder and carry her off to my truck. I'm not sure I'll feel better about anything until I have her in my bed and exhausted from hours of screaming my name. I'm humming with irritation and not just from the last ten minutes. I've never felt this possessive of anyone.
"Who's the guy?"
"Are you jealous," Sutton runs her fingers over my jaw and down the side of my neck.
I ignore her question and continue to pry. "Old boyfriend?" When she nods, I slide my palm around her waist and rest it at the top of her ass. "Someone you still have feelings for?"
"No," she lifts herself just enough to kiss me, and when she tries to pull away, I hold her there. Staring at her, trying to gauge her reaction, and as if she can read my thoughts, she kisses me once more. "I haven't thought of him in years."
"But you're thinking about him now?" I don't like being this version of myself. I'm not the jealous type, not usually. Sutton makes me act crazy, and this is just one example of the uncontrollable behaviors I suffer from in her presence.
"You're kinda cute when you're jealous." Cute? "But no," she rubs her body against mine, and I allow my hand to slide lower, cupping her ass. “No… Only you.”
"Only me," I repeat, taking a step and moving her along with me in the process. Then, step by step, I guide her toward the outside wall of the building. I use the weight of my body to pin hers securely. She nods her head, looking up at me through her long lashes. Her lips part slightly, her chest rising and falling with each slow deep breath she takes. "I think we should get outta here."
"But you just got here."
"And I only came for one reason," to get my girl.
Placing my mouth to hers, I kiss her slo
wly, allowing the desire to build. It takes no time at all for me to grow hungry for more. Sutton is addictive; hearing her soft whimper or moan is something I strive for daily. Fuck, it's sexy.
"I think we should go inside, even if it's only for an hour."
"An hour is too long," her smile widens.
"Forty-five minutes?" she challenges me.
"I'll give ya thirty," and that is pushing it. "Then you and I are outta here. I have other plans."
She doesn't argue, just flashes me a knowing smile before leading me inside the bar. The band's sound echoes throughout the entire space, and immediately I start to scan over my surroundings. It's a habit I developed from years of training.
Almost instantly, I find the guy who, when I showed up, was standing much too close to my girl. He's with a few other guys, and when he sees us walking through the crowd, he stops talking and watches us closely.
Sutton's fingers are threaded through mine as she leads me toward our crowd. I don't miss the way he scans over her and then pauses before looking back at me. He offers me a slight nod and being the ass that I am, I offer him nothing but a scowl. For longer than I expect him to, he holds my stare, and then he looks away.
It doesn't take our friends long to realize we've joined then, as one by one, they all say hey and give Sutton a hug they didn't get the chance to earlier. Until right then, I hadn't acknowledged that my show of possession took place outside in front of my brother. My stomach knots and I wait for him to show me a sign of his irritation. But instead, he hugs Sutton and chuckles as he stares over her shoulder directly at me.
"I better not hug ya too long; grizzly might take my arm off." Sutton bites her lip to hide her laughter, and just to add a little fuel to the fire, Bennett kisses her on the cheek. Quickly I grab her arm and pull her back to me. With her back pressing firmly to my chest, I engulf her in my arms.
A few minutes later, Sutton tries to step away, and I grip her tighter, triggering her to look back at me over her shoulder. Then, without stopping myself, I kiss her softly and rest my forehead to hers.
