Tailored for Trouble (Happy Pants #1) - Mimi Jean Pamfiloff Page 0,111

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Taylor made her way down from the podium and charged off to where the mob had gathered near the edge of the dirt field being used as a parking lot. They started cheering. Oh, shit. That meant Jack was winning.

Wait. Shouldn’t she be happy about that?

No. Of course not. She didn’t want anyone fighting. Period.

She pushed her way through the crowd. “Excuse me! Excuuuuuse me!” She broke through just in time to see Jack straddling Bennett’s stomach, cocking his fist for a blow.

Oh God! “No! Jack do—” That fist came down, and she looked away, wincing. Oh, damn that had to hurt. The crowd went wild, and when she looked back, Bennett was in the process of throwing Jack off. It was like watching two big lions trying to chew each other up.

As everyone seemed to be basking in a bit of pre-matrimony bloodlust, not lifting a finger to break the two boneheads apart, she decided it was all up to her. She stormed toward Bennett right as he lunged for Jack, who was on his back, his mop of brown hair in his eyes.

Everything happened so fast.

She grabbed Bennett’s large arm, telling him to stop, at the precise moment his arm pulled back. His elbow hit her square in the breastbone, knocking her straight back. She landed with a thump in the dirt, choking for air.

The crowd fell silent, gasping, and maybe that’s what got Bennett’s attention, because he was suddenly over her. “Taylor! Fuck, are you all right. Please tell me you’re all right.”

Jack shoved him aside. “Get away from my sister, asshole!”

Bennett gave him a quick look. “You’re Taylor’s brother?”

Jack bent over her, ignoring Bennett. “Tiger, can you breathe?”

Her air returned in a gasp, and she nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine I just—”

“Did he hit your stomach?” Jack asked, calm but frantic—if that was possible.

“No,” she groaned. “Just my chest.”

“We should get her to the hospital,” Bennett said, now hovering to the other side.

“Hey. Back off!” Jack barked, his big green eyes projecting a death ray. “I’m a doctor. And you can just stay the hell away from her.”

“Like hell I will,” Bennett growled. “She’s carrying my baby.”

Jack sprang up, completely forgetting all about Taylor. “I don’t care if she’s carrying your goddamned litter. You will stay away from her.”

Litter? What was she, a dog now? Oh, no. I’m a tiger. “Guys!” She wheezed, trying to get to her feet. “Enough.”

Jack regained his composure and turned his attention to helping her up. “Slowly. Get up slowly.”

“I’m fine,” she said, now standing and covered in dirt.

“Taylor,” Bennett said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

She held out her hand. “Just leave, Bennett. I’ll call you in nine months.”

He stepped toward her. “Please, let’s just go somewhere and talk.”

She pierced him with her gaze. “Don’t you get it, Bennett?” she whispered. “You weren’t the only one who put their heart on the line. It’s over. Just go back to your demons and leave me the hell alone.”

Jack stepped between them, facing Bennett. “She said leave.”

“This is between her and me,” Bennett snarled, the tip of his nose almost touching Jack’s since both men were about the same height.

“Not anymore,” Jack retorted, not backing down.

Oh God. They were going to fight again. She was just grateful her two other brothers, Marcus and Rob, and her father hadn’t shown up. Not that they hadn’t tried. The moment they’d heard Bennett Wade would be at the party, they began ironing slacks and getting out the hair gel. As a compromise, she agreed to bring Jack because he was the most level-headed of the men in her family. Racecar drivers, not so much. Surprisingly, Rob, the vintner, was a notorious hothead.

Ms. Luci suddenly appeared out of nowhere and wedged herself between the two men, facing Bennett. “It is time for you to go, young man. And don’t think I am not calling your mother. Just wait until she hears about this!” She shook her finger in his face and then turned toward Jack. “And you!” She pointed at him, hissing what sounded to be like some very lewd words in Spanish before finally saying, “I’ll not have fighting at my fiesta. You take your sister home, this minute.”

Jack nodded like a shamed little boy. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me.”

Luci gave him a strange look. “You wouldn’t happen to be single, would you?” She shook her head. “Oh. Never mind. Off with you.”

Luci’s eyes then moved to Sarah, who’d now worked her