uneasy. “Yeah, look, this is none of my business and I don’t want to get involved. You’re a sweetheart…”
She frowned. “Okay, why do I get the feeling there’s a ‘but’ in there somewhere?”
“I love my brother, I do. He’s a good guy, but when it comes to women and relationships, he’s a train wreck.”
She laughed. “I kind of assumed that. Fortunately, I’m not the least bit interested in having a relationship with your brother.”
“Is that so?” J.T. asked.
She looked up to see him filling the doorway, a scowl on his chiseled face. “I was just telling your brother…” She stammered when she saw the barely repressed fury in his eyes.
“Don’t you think I’m the one you should be talkin’ to about this, not my brother?”
Jake hovered just behind J.T., looking as though he would rather be anywhere else. They were clearly making the situation unbearable for everyone. J.T. was right; as much as she hated to admit it, she needed to set him straight on where they stood so they could both get on with their lives.
She crossed the studio and stepped in front of J.T. “Excuse me, I’d like to have a word with Jake, if you don’t mind.”
He folded his arms, effectively blocking the doorway with the width of his shoulders. “I mind.”
She sighed. “I was just going to ask him if I could reschedule our appointment.”
He raised an eyebrow, giving her a thorough once over.
Although she was wearing a black tank top, denim capris, and sandals, the heat of his gaze made her feel as naked as she’d been the night before, when his big, work-roughened hands had been exploring her so thoroughly.
He stepped aside. “Good idea; we need to talk.”
Jake gave her a look that suggested he was thinking, “What the hell have you gotten yourself into?”
She gripped Jake’s forearm, hoping he would be able to read the unspoken message in her eyes. The last thing she wanted Jake to do was provoke J.T. Jake was a good friend. She’d never forgive herself if he got hurt because of choices she’d made. “Can we hook up later?”
“Define hook up ,” J.T. said, glaring at the pair.
Tired of being bullied by this behemoth, she whirled around to face him, hands on her hips. “You need to mind your own goddamn business and let me say what I have to say or you can get the hell out.”
Ty chuckled, covering his mouth with his hand when J.T. glared at him.
“Fine, say what you have to say.”
“I don’t need you standing over my shoulder, monitoring my every word.” She pushed against his chest with her index finger. He didn’t move, which only served to remind her of how powerful he was. He wasn’t used to taking orders and she was sure he was going to remind her of that once they were alone. “I’d like some privacy.” When he didn’t move, she said, “Now.”
He glared over her shoulder, looking like he was getting ready to take his frustration out on the first available target. “I don’t think so, sugar.”
Obviously Ty shared her fears because he approached his brother, slapping him on the back.
“Come on, man. Step outside with me for a minute.”
J.T. shot him a sidelong glance. “Why would I wanna do that?”
Apparently, Ty was used to dealing with his brother’s wrath because he didn’t back down. Quite the opposite, he stepped up, getting in his face. “The lady asked you to leave, so that’s what you’re gonna do.”
“You really want to push me right now, Ty?” J.T. asked, shoving him.
“Stop it,” Nikki shouted. “Stop being such an asshole, J.T.” She stepped between the two men, knowing her personal safety would never be in jeopardy amid two cowboys. Harming a woman, any woman, went against their code of honor. Using her body as a barrier was the best way to diffuse the situation. “Just give me a minute, okay?” Her voice softened on the last word.
Mirroring J.T.’s fury would only prolong it, so she decided to try a different approach. She
She frowned. “Okay, why do I get the feeling there’s a ‘but’ in there somewhere?”
“I love my brother, I do. He’s a good guy, but when it comes to women and relationships, he’s a train wreck.”
She laughed. “I kind of assumed that. Fortunately, I’m not the least bit interested in having a relationship with your brother.”
“Is that so?” J.T. asked.
She looked up to see him filling the doorway, a scowl on his chiseled face. “I was just telling your brother…” She stammered when she saw the barely repressed fury in his eyes.
“Don’t you think I’m the one you should be talkin’ to about this, not my brother?”
Jake hovered just behind J.T., looking as though he would rather be anywhere else. They were clearly making the situation unbearable for everyone. J.T. was right; as much as she hated to admit it, she needed to set him straight on where they stood so they could both get on with their lives.
She crossed the studio and stepped in front of J.T. “Excuse me, I’d like to have a word with Jake, if you don’t mind.”
He folded his arms, effectively blocking the doorway with the width of his shoulders. “I mind.”
She sighed. “I was just going to ask him if I could reschedule our appointment.”
He raised an eyebrow, giving her a thorough once over.
Although she was wearing a black tank top, denim capris, and sandals, the heat of his gaze made her feel as naked as she’d been the night before, when his big, work-roughened hands had been exploring her so thoroughly.
He stepped aside. “Good idea; we need to talk.”
Jake gave her a look that suggested he was thinking, “What the hell have you gotten yourself into?”
She gripped Jake’s forearm, hoping he would be able to read the unspoken message in her eyes. The last thing she wanted Jake to do was provoke J.T. Jake was a good friend. She’d never forgive herself if he got hurt because of choices she’d made. “Can we hook up later?”
“Define hook up ,” J.T. said, glaring at the pair.
Tired of being bullied by this behemoth, she whirled around to face him, hands on her hips. “You need to mind your own goddamn business and let me say what I have to say or you can get the hell out.”
Ty chuckled, covering his mouth with his hand when J.T. glared at him.
“Fine, say what you have to say.”
“I don’t need you standing over my shoulder, monitoring my every word.” She pushed against his chest with her index finger. He didn’t move, which only served to remind her of how powerful he was. He wasn’t used to taking orders and she was sure he was going to remind her of that once they were alone. “I’d like some privacy.” When he didn’t move, she said, “Now.”
He glared over her shoulder, looking like he was getting ready to take his frustration out on the first available target. “I don’t think so, sugar.”
Obviously Ty shared her fears because he approached his brother, slapping him on the back.
“Come on, man. Step outside with me for a minute.”
J.T. shot him a sidelong glance. “Why would I wanna do that?”
Apparently, Ty was used to dealing with his brother’s wrath because he didn’t back down. Quite the opposite, he stepped up, getting in his face. “The lady asked you to leave, so that’s what you’re gonna do.”
“You really want to push me right now, Ty?” J.T. asked, shoving him.
“Stop it,” Nikki shouted. “Stop being such an asshole, J.T.” She stepped between the two men, knowing her personal safety would never be in jeopardy amid two cowboys. Harming a woman, any woman, went against their code of honor. Using her body as a barrier was the best way to diffuse the situation. “Just give me a minute, okay?” Her voice softened on the last word.
Mirroring J.T.’s fury would only prolong it, so she decided to try a different approach. She
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