The Duet: A Brother's Best Friend Sweet Romantic Comedy (Falling for Franklin Series Book 3) by Hailey Gardiner

Author:Hailey Gardiner [Gardiner, Hailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-08-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Connor Cane

“Ella Mae,” Mitch Allen drawls in his thick Alabama accent. “Long time no see.”

He’s left his blonde companion back at the bar, seeking Ella Mae out alone. Judging by the expression on his face, I don’t think he anticipated encountering me in the process. He looks thwarted.

I glance down, noticing that Ella Mae’s visibly shrinking. Encountering this man is making her withdraw into herself, something I’ve never seen her do before.

The effect that Mitch Allen has on me is just the opposite. I find myself drawing up to my full height, filling out and shifting towards him to make it clear that he’s not going anywhere near Ella Mae.

“Mitch,” she says with a tense smile.

I’m still holding her hand, and I give it a reassuring squeeze, tugging her a little bit closer to my body. She brings her other hand up to the inside of my elbow.

“Connor Cane,” Mitch says, acknowledging me now that he sees we’re clearly together. “How’ve you been, man?”

We’ve crossed paths a few times at award shows and on red carpets, but I wouldn’t count Mitch as anything more than an acquaintance. He’s garnered quite the reputation since his breakout song a couple years back, allowing fame to go to his head.

I’ve heard it said that wealth and success just makes you more of what you already are. Mitch’s success has done a beautiful job at bringing out his true nature as a first class jerk.

“I’ve been good,” I say.

I look pointedly at Ella Mae and give her a reassuring smile. Her eyes widen a bit as she looks up at me.

“I didn’t realize the two of you knew each other,” Mitch says.

“Yeah,” I say. “We go way back.”

Mitch gives me a dark smile. “That’s funny. So do we.” He turns his lazy gaze on Ella Mae again. “How’s the songwriting going? I’m assuming that’s what you’re still doing since you’re here.”

She doesn’t answer him.

“We’ve got a duet coming out on my record, actually,” I say with a tilt of my head. “Ella Mae’s really something.”

Mitch gives a derisive little laugh that makes my hands twitch. “Yeah. She sure is.”

His eyes dart down to our joined hands, seeming to accept the fact that if he wants to speak to Ella Mae, he’s going to have to go through me. Which means this conversation is about to come to a swift end.

“Don’t let us keep you from enjoying your evening.” I say. The threat is there in my voice, I make sure of it. He’d better take the hint and get out of my sight.

I’d love nothing more than to grab Mitch by his shirt and shove him up against the wall. Whatever he did to Ella Mae, he’s clearly not remorseful at all.

Unfortunately, my opportunity to exact revenge on her behalf doesn’t come. He takes a step back, narrowing his eyes at me.

“Y’all have a good night.”

“You, too,” I say flatly.

He turns his back on us and swaggers back to the bar, running a hand through his long hair.

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