such limited caffeine was a mystery. Brody grabbed two cups and poured coffee into them. To one cup he added a small amount of cream and a packet of sugar, before he took a big swig from the black coffee he adored.
Blay stared at him, one eye closed, the other eye narrowed. Brody looked down. Nope, all tucked in, buttoned and zipped. He glanced back at his brother who was now frowning. "What?"
"Who is that for?" Blay nodded to the cup on the counter.
"Me," Amber said as she entered the kitchen. "Wow, this is nice!" She walked to him and elevated on her toes, giving him a kiss. "I love the granite."
Blay swung his gaze from Amber, who was roaming the big kitchen and looking at the appliances, to him. The man's eyebrow rose, and he shook his head back and forth. He smiled and took another drink of his coffee, holding Blay’s stare. The little manwhore had absolutely no right to condemn the relationship he was regenerating with Amber. None whatsoever.
"Blay?" They both turned at Amber's question.
"I'm sorry. What?" Blay blinked at her innocently.
"I was wondering if you are on shift today?"
"Ah, no. I traded a forty-eight with Reno so I could meet the little man yesterday. I'll pull four straight, starting tomorrow night."
Amber returned from admiring his appliances and leaned her back into his front. He rested a hand on her hip and smiled at his brother.
"Thank you for that. I know a double shift has got to be exhausting," Amber said.
"Actually, I think I worked out more yesterday playing with Gage then I would during a double." Blay chuckled. "That kid is awesome. You did good with him."
"Thank you. Hopefully the next time you two meet, he won't exhaust you." Amber took a sip of her coffee and glanced at her watch. "Well, Sergeant King, we have to get to work, and you have paperwork to complete with your HR department."
"Don't you mean our HR department?" He chugged a couple scalding hot gulps so he could top off his mug.
"No. I'm DEA. My HR doesn't give a shit as long as I'm not dating someone in my chain of command—" she pointed at him when he opened his mouth "––in the DEA." She pushed her cup across the counter to him. "Will you top me off? I need to go grab my bag and weapon."
"Bring mine?"
"You got it." Amber headed to the living room.
Blayze hissed, "Seriously, you're making this mistake again?"
He spun and glared at his brother. "Repeat that and you're going to be bloody."
Blayze shook his head. "Whatever, man. What are you going to do when she leaves again?"
"I'm not going to do that. I'm not that person anymore." Amber walked into the kitchen and handed him his weapon. "You don't have to take my word for it Blay, but I'd appreciate a chance to prove people can grow up and change."
Blay's eyes bounced between them. "Not sure I can do that, but I'm going to make it easier for you two to figure it out. I'll grab my shit and bunk somewhere else. Don't want to impede the groove."
Brody took his weapon and slid it on. "Amber, grab your bag and we'll head to work."
She glanced between brothers. "All right."
Brody waited until he couldn't hear her footsteps down the hall. "Blay I don't know what crawled up your ass, but you don't have to leave unless you are going to continue to be a dick. This is your home as much as it is mine. Hell, you helped me refurbish damn near every inch of this place. If you don't want to stay with me, take the third apartment. It's yours."
"You're making a mistake, Brody. Just because you have a kid together doesn't mean you need to take her back," Blay whisper-hissed and shook his head.
"Did you ever stop to think that I still love that woman?" He returned the hiss and pointed back toward his bedroom.
"Why? What has she ever done but hurt you? She didn't tell you about your son for ten years, Brody. Ten years! Do you think she's going to stick around when the going gets tough? She's proven she’s a runner. Leopards can't change their spots and become tigers. It doesn't happen," Blay spat but managed to keep the words low and quiet.
"You know what? I was wrong. You can't stay here. Take the third apartment or don't, I don't care, but you're not staying in my home. I really