Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,20

you be this territorial,” Bowen muses, going to my pantry to root around for snacks.

“I’m sorry, who told you three you could come over?”

“Or that you took her on a date to Alfiano’s?” Forrest continues the line of questioning.

I growl at their intrusion, but I should know better by now. My house was the hangout spot now that none of them wanted to laze around at our childhood home. Too many memories of Dad and too much of Mom’s nagging meant they all freeloaded off me and my fridge on the weekends. Saturday and Sundays, I was on call. I’d always go in if an owner needed me, but the office itself was closed for wellness visits or surgeries. What couldn’t wait until Monday, I’d take on, but a man needed a few days of relaxation here and there.

“What is this, a firing squad?”

“Yeah, aiming right at your balls if you don’t spill the tea.” Fletch flops down on my sectional sofa, right on the chaise part.

“Spill the tea?” Bowen smirked … well, as much as Bowen could smile. It honestly looked like a grimace.

“You’re all so stuck in bumfuck that you don’t even know the current slang. Spill the tea? Tell us the gossip. Fill us in on the dick down.” Fletch says these things like they’re not completely ridiculous.

“Okay, where the fuck did you come from?” Forrest throws a chip at his twin.

“Same womb you did, brother.”

“Gross, don’t even make jokes like that.” Bowen shudders. “But, really, Keat, what is going on with you and the redhead?”

I sigh, knowing they’ll only keep on with their ridiculousness if I don’t answer. “Her name is Presley. She brought her grandmother’s dog in after he ate a foreign object—”

“Wait … Chance is Hattie’s dog, right? Wait a fucking minute, is this the dog who ate the lace underwear?” Forrest’s eyes light with glee.

I now regret telling them any story from my job, even if they looked at me with something other than bored, forced interest for half a second.

Pointing my finger at my brother, I continue, “I’m not answering that. Anyway, I saw her around town … and I asked her out.”

“First girl you’ve looked at enough to do something about since Katie,” Bowen says quietly.

I know that he knows it’s not just some one-off thing for me to ask a woman out on a date.

“So … how’d it go? You are tighter than the broad—”

“Do not finish that sentence!” I yell at Fletcher. “It … let’s just say there probably won’t be a second date.”

Forrest stops flipping through channels and Bowen stops mid-bite of his chip and salsa. And then all three of my brothers say at the same time,

“The sex was bad, wasn’t it?”

The male ego of this conversation could punch a hole through concrete. “We didn’t have sex.”

“Well, there is your first problem.” Fletcher ticks off a finger.

“I agree.” Forrest nods.

“As if I’d take the first woman I’ve dated in two years to bed on the first night.” I roll my eyes.

Bowen grins sheepishly. “Honestly, Keat, and I know you … but I agree with them. If anyone needs to get off, it’s you.”

“Thanks, brother.” I glare at him.

“Why aren’t you going out again?” Forrest asks.

I pick at the sweatshirt I have on, trying not to make eye contact. “She rejected my kiss.”

“I’m sorry, what was that? You’re mumbling.” Fletcher moves closer to me.

Sighing, I raise my voice. “She rejected my kiss.”

My youngest brother begins to howl with laughter while Forrest gives me a sympathetic look and Bowen just pats me on the shoulder where he sits on my other side.

“Tough break, man. But she’s super-hot. Way out of your league.” Forrest shrugs as if I know this about myself.

“Gee, thanks, guys. Way to make a guy feel good about himself.”

Bowen looks thoughtful. “Hmm, I don’t think she’s out of his league. Sure, she’s gorgeous and Keat’s just average, but he’s a doctor. Which gives him bonus points. Maybe ask her out again … I mean, you must like her if you asked the first time.”

Glancing at him, I know what he’s trying to do. The same thing my middle brother has been attempting since Katie left. Help me to move on.

“The worst she could say is no … again.” Fletcher starts cracking up and I whip the pillow behind my back out and smack him in the face.

“Enough ragging on big brother. Or I’ll kick you all the fuck out of my house.”

There, that’ll teach them to