Breathless by Cheryl Douglas

Author:Cheryl Douglas [Douglas, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Nashville Nights#8.5
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

***

“You lay one hand on her, and I’ll kill you,” Brent warned Keith.

Keith was used to his brother issuing orders, and he’d gotten pretty good at ignoring them. “Mind your own business.”

“I’m serious,” Brent said, kicking Keith’s feet off the coffee table. “Tara’s important to Ava, and that means she’s important to me too.” Brent had always looked out for their family, and apparently that protective instinct extended to his fiancée’s friends and family as well.

“What makes you think I’m even interested in Tara?” Any man with a pulse would be interested in Tara. She was a knockout, and they both knew it.

“Spare me the B.S.” Brent crossed his arms. “It’s not a question of whether you think she’s hot. I already know you do. But I’m asking you, just this once, to consider my perspective.”

Brent had bent over backward to make sure Keith had the kind of life their father could never provide. He owed Brent everything. Keith couldn’t, in good conscience, ignore his request. He raised his hands. “Fine. Hands off. I promise.”

Brent looked him in the eye. “You’ve always kept your word to me, little brother. I trust you.”

“Don’t worry, man. You can count on me.” Brent was more than just his brother. He was his best friend and the last person on Earth, outside of their father, Keith wanted to disappoint.

“Excuse me,” Tara said, stepping into the room. “If you guys need a few more minutes, I can come back.”

“No, that’s okay,” Brent said, looking at his brother. “We’re good. Right?”

Keith knew Brent was asking him whether he intended to cross him. “Yeah, we’re good.”

Brent gave Tara a kiss on the cheek as he walked past her. “Just give us a shout if you need anything.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “Or ask this guy. He spends so much time here we should charge him rent.”

Keith had a large two-bedroom suite on the tenth floor, and Ava often invited him over for dinner when he didn’t have other plans. “You’re just jealous ‘cause your fiancée prefers my company to yours.”

Brent smirked. “In your dreams, buddy. Be nice to our houseguest.” Raising an eyebrow, he mouthed, “But not too nice.”

Tara braced her hands on the back of the sofa. “I should think about turning in. It’s been a long day. Who knew shopping for wedding shoes could be so tiring?”

“Come on,” Keith chuckled. “You can’t tell me you didn’t have fun shopping with my brother’s black Amex card.”

Tara glared at him. “I don’t need your brother’s charity, and Ava was taking care of herself long before he came along.”

Keith raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, I was just joking.”

Tara sighed and sat down opposite Keith. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. Let’s just say I’m a little sensitive about that subject.”

She’d piqued his curiosity. They’d been friendly in college and in the months since Ava and Brent reconnected, but he didn’t know as much about her as he’d like to. “It sounds like there’s a story there.

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