“You’re worried about her,” Tenor said.
Irritated, maybe. Frustrated. Vexed. Yes, I was goddamn worried. “The bar isn’t going to run like it used to, but she’s convinced it will.”
“You don’t give a damn about the bar,” Tate said. “You’re worried about her.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“It’s Madison,” Tate insisted, his gaze appraising.
“I never hated her.” My attitude during my run-ins with her over the last few years streamed through my head.
Tenor tapped his fingers against his desktop. “Everything you said rubbed her the wrong way.”
Tate smirked. “But I think you want to rub her the right way.”
“Jesus, Tate.” The sight of her in nothing but a sports bra and underwear flashed in my head. There’d be so many right ways with a body like that. She was strong, and for once, I wouldn’t have to hold back— No. I was not looking for a fuck, and definitely not with the prickliest woman I’d ever met.
My brothers shared another knowing look.
“You two are pissing me off,” I growled.
Tenor kept tapping his fingers.
I pushed out of my chair and stomped toward the door, but Tate sidestepped, blocking me.
“Let’s talk about this,” he said gently.
I straightened to my full height, but that was the same as Tate’s and he’d never been intimidated by me a day in his life. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“You care about Madison and you’re worried she’s making the wrong decision.” His calm tone should be infuriating, but goddammit. He was right.
“I know she is.” I ran my fingers over my short beard. “This makes me sound like a prick, but she doesn’t know enough about the business to pull a dive like Flatlanders out of the hole it had likely been operating in.”
“She had enough money to buy you,” Tenor said.
“Life insurance,” I answered.
“Didn’t any go to her nephew?” Tenor asked.
I shrugged. “Maybe there’s a trust or something.”
“Everything was left to Madison?” Tate said, a crease forming across his brow. “The bar, the life insurance, and even their parents’ old place? From what I heard, a lot of people are pissed they didn’t know it was for sale before she accepted an offer.”
All of her neighbors would’ve put an offer in. “Who’s she going through?”
Tate’s lips pressed together like he tasted something sour. “Sal Longwood.”
“Fuck.” Sal was slimier than a northern pike and his teeth were just as sharp. For someone who didn’t trust easily, she’d gone for the least trustworthy guy. “Why the fuck would she use him?”
“Wasn’t he friends with her dad?” Tate asked. He thought for a moment, then shook his head. “I’d have to ask Mama.”
“I’ve gotta talk to her.” I tried to step around Tate, but he stopped me by pushing his fingers into my chest.
He didn’t let me pass him. “You’re going to go charging in there, demand to know why she’s working with a sleazeball like Sal, rant about the mistakes she’s making with the bar, and then you’re going to wonder why the hell she’s upset and won’t talk to you?”
My chest rose and fell under his quelling hand. That had already been happening, minus the Sal business. “Maybe.”
“Remember when Madison’s dad lost his shit at a parade and punched a horse?” Tenor asked.
