Bryan a tight smile tugging her arms free from Marcus. “Excuse me, I have to go,” she said, turning away.
“This isn’t over,” Marcus told her.
“Yes it is,” she insisted. Taking the hand Bryan offered her, she let him lead her away.
“He been bothering you?” Bryan’s eyes were troubled.
“Nothing I can’t handle.” She hoped. “What do you think of my Texas ensemble?”
“It’s cute,” he replied after a cursory look. “But I’m kinda partial to the leather one you were wearing the other night.”
“About the other night.” Her forehead creased. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”
“Have you?” He took a step closer, so close that she could feel the warmth of his lean body and inhale the compelling musky scent of him.
“Yeah.” She pulled nervously on the sheer black sleeves of her Rock & Roll Cowgirl top. “I want to apologize for what I did. I shouldn’t have used you like that. That’s not who I am. I’ve been doing a lot of things lately that are out of character for me.”
“Apology accepted,” he said softly and then ran a fingertip softly around the shell of her ear. “This mean you’re gonna take me up on my offer?”
She took a deep breath. It was a delicious dilemma. Things weren’t really settled with Marcus, despite what she’d just told him. But didn’t she need to see what this was between her and Bryan? Staring at his lips, she wet her own. “Yes, I think I will,” she told him.
“Let’s go to my room then.” His voice was low and rumbled deep in his chest. He took her hand and started for the door.
“Wait.” She pulled her hand back.
“What?” His brows drew together and a guarded expression returned to his eyes.
“It’ll have to be after the meet and greet,” she explained. “The rest of us have to be there since Sam and JR are going to be out with her family celebrating.” She let out a shaky breath. “And I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding between us. I want you to know upfront, I’m not looking for anything serious.”
“Neither am I, Red.” His eyes narrowed. “I think you know I’m not a white picket fence, one point five kids and two car garage kinda guy. But if we’re being completely honest with each other, I have to tell you I’m keeping those options open with you.”
“I’m gonna kill him,” Marcus growled, ice cubes clinking in his glass as he gestured at Avery and Bryan across the crowded party room at the Omni hotel. “He puts his lips on her one more time and…”
“I’m glad you’ve decided to get her back,” Dwight cut in. “But I don’t think maiming Bullet will win her over,” he warned.
“Maybe not,” he grumbled, running his hands through his hair. “But it’ll sure as hell make me feel better. It’s driving me crazy standing here and watching him touch her.”
“Have you told her how you feel?”
“Yeah,” Marcus snarled, shifting his attention back to his brother. “I took responsibility for everything. Told her I fucked up and how badly I wanted her back.”
“What’d she say to that?”
“Basically she told me to piss off.” He let out a long breath. “But not before she let me kiss her.”
“Well, she’s sure cozy with Bryan now,” Dwight observed sardonically as Marcus turned back just in time to see Bryan feeding her a stuffed mushroom. “I guess it must not have made much of an impression on her.”
“You can go away now,” Marcus said only half mockingly.
“Don’t be like that.” Dwight bumped his shoulder. “Looks like it’s not gonna be easy is all I’m saying. But I don’t believe you really thought it would be…Uh-oh.”
“Shit.” They were leaving together. He started to follow, but Dwight blocked him.
“I suggest you come up with something a little more subtle than man handling them apart.”
“Yeah, like what?”
“I don’t know. Let me think a minute.” Dwight scratched the top of his shaggy reddish blond head. “I know.” He pulled out his cell, slid his fingers on the display, and put it up to his ear. “Hey, Avery…Yeah, it’s Dwight…Why do you sound out of breath?”
Marcus’ jaw tensed.
“The elevators are still broken? Yeah, it’s easier going down ten flights than up. Listen, I was wondering if you’d give me a hand picking out some stuff for the baby tonight…No, I guess it can wait until tomorrow. Sure…Ok, I’ll see you at breakfast.” He slid his cell back in his pocket. “Sorry, little brother.”
“Thanks for trying,” he mumbled,