“It’s not a problem or a big deal,” she stammered at the end, which had Stone smiling.
“Ah, fuck me.” T was never one to mince words, so she shouldn’t have been shocked. “You into him?”
She choked back a gasp, and her jaw dropped. “No.”
Even she doubted her words. T side-eyed Stone, giving him an unsure stare. Those two had an odd communication tactic. A silent way of speaking without words. It was truly annoying, especially when the conversation was focused on her. She flicked her gaze to Stone, who gave a small shrug. If she was reading it right, he was saying.“Why not?”
She squinted her eyes, watching her brothers. She didn’t need Stone’s or Bogs’ or T’s approval for anything. She was twenty-six, owned her own company, which she’d started from nothing, lived in a kick-ass apartment and was wholly independent.Approval not needed, boys.She’d had it with them.
She grunted through clenched teeth. “Earth to overprotective assholes. I’m an adult, free to make adult choices. I don’t need approval from anyone, you hear me?”
“Approval for what?” Kenzie asked from behind. Roxanne sighed, fully prepared to enlighten Kenzie on what a jerk Bogs was and what he’d done. Surely, Kenzie would be on her side. She spun around and stifled a gasp, stumbling slightly. Thankfully, the counter stopped her from falling backward.
Kenzie stood just inside the kitchen by the mudroom doorway. She was all smiles, though she looked confused trying to gauge what she’d missed. She lifted her hand, pointing behind her. “I convinced Jonah to come in for a beer and some food.”
Yep, there he was. The headlining star of their heated discussion for the past ten minutes. How was this even possible, and why the hell did it keep happening to her? The bulk of his body nearly filled the width of the doorway. He was almost tall enough to touch the top with his head. He was massive and currently looked extremely uneasy. His gaze darted around the room and then briefly shifted to Roxanne. It was a fleeting moment, but she didn’t miss the heat there. Smoldering eyes, set on her … in front of her brothers.
De ja vu.
Fuck my life.
****
Jonah and Kenzie had walked into a heated discussion between Roxanne and her brothers. The crimson shade covering her cheeks when she saw him had Jonah wondering if he’d been the topic of conversation.
The usual charismatic, easy-going Roxanne Barrett was the complete opposite as she stood in the center of the room, surrounded by her brothers, fidgeting on her feet. Jonah licked his lips, dropping his gaze to the floor, freeing her from his stare.
When Kenzie said she’d convinced him to come in, she was stretching the truth. Initially, he declined the offer as he drove her to T’s house. However, when they pulled up, and he caught the silhouette of a woman on the porch walking in, he knewexactly who it was. The image of her, even in the dark, was ingrained in his brain. When Kenzie asked a second time, he accepted.
“Jonah, man, good to see you.” Stone moved forward, shaking his hand.
Since his move back to Houston, he hadn’t seen much of Stone or T. It was his own doing, though. Both men had reached out plenty of times, but it was Jonah who kept his distance, and they respected his decision. Bogs, on the other hand, made it clear after he did him a favor that he was grateful, and he and Kenzie seemed to insert themselves in his life. Welcomed or not.
“It’s been a while.” The last time he’d seen them was at their father’s house for a BBQ. Even then, aside from pleasantries and a little bullshit, Jonah kept to himself and only stayed a short while. It was better that way, for all of them, he assumed. He’d only gone as a favor to Ethan, who insisted he make an appearance.
T stalked over, usual scowl locked in place, but his lip curled. “Too fucking long, brother. You move back and we never see your ass anymore.”
Jonah smiled. “Working.”
T nodded. “I hear you.”
Jonah kept his eyes on T, but he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He knew she was watching him. He stepped further into the room as everyone moved around, circling him.
He tucked his hands into his pockets. “Heard you guys are doing well?”
Stone snorted. “Too well. This is the first Friday in months we haven’t been out chasing. Influx of people who don’t want to show up in court or pay their fucking bonds.” He shrugged. “But it’s all good.”
“T!” The high-pitched voice sounded from across the room, garnering everyone’s attention. Nothing surprised him more than hearing about T Garrison settling down. Ethan had filled him in on some of the happenings between all the brothers since he’d been gone. He had to admit, Cassie was not at all what he expected when Ethan mentioned T had gotten married.
Cassie stopped next to her husband with a baby cradled in her arms. “Did you turn the oven on?”
“Yeah.”
“Great.” She turned to walk back to the living room but abruptly halted when her gaze landed on him. They’d only met once before, and he wasn’t sure if she’d remember him. Cassie’s eyes widened, and her lips spread into a grin.
It was clear from her facial expression.She remembers me.Though he hadn’t expected this type of reaction. Cassie immediately jerked her gaze to Roxanne and raised her eyebrows. Jonah was tempted to look over, but Cassie turned toward him once again.
“Hey Jonah, it’s so good to see you.” There was a little too much enthusiasm for a woman he barely knew. It was almost comical the way her gaze bounced between him and Roxanne. Any vibe of interest he may have gotten from Roxanne was confirmed by Cassie right now. He flattened his lips, battening down his reaction, and peered over at Roxanne, who was throwing eye-daggers at T’s wife.
