"Cheyenne's so nice," she was saying. "Even with that monster of a mother. Can you believe she grew up living in motels and clunker cars? That she had to beg on street corners? What kind of life would that be?"
He found his shoes and headed to the kitchen for his keys. "Cheyenne's nice," he agreed.
"And here I am wallowing in self-pity because my boyfriend got my sister pregnant. I should be more grateful."
"You'll get through this."
"Do you think she did it on purpose?"
"I wouldn't put it past her."
"Me, neither," she responded. "I wish I could talk to Cheyenne about it. But … it's not the same with Kyle's friends now. They have to be … have to be loyal to him. They were his friends first. I know they feel bad about what's happened, but … what can they do? No more Fridays at the coffee shop for me." She'd added a singsong quality to her voice, but that quickly fell away. "I wish … I wish it could be different. I wish-"
"Olivia?" He interrupted because he'd heard her voice crack and knew she was about to break down again. "Don't think about Cheyenne or any of Kyle's other friends-"
"Who aren't my friends anymore," she broke in, but he didn't let her distract him.
"I'm coming, okay? I've got my keys in my hand. I'll talk to you when I get there."
"I'm sorry, Brandon. You shouldn't have to come out so late."
"I don't mind," he said. "Just stay put. I'm on my way."
"Thank you. I'm so tired. Maybe if I get some sleep tomorrow will be better."
"Of course it will. Don't worry about anything. I'll take care of you." He strode to his front door. "Now let me talk to Fisk."
She didn't need to ask who Fisk was. He'd been bartending at the Sexy Sadie since they were kids. "Sure. Goodbye, Brandon. You're coming for me, right? You're coming now? And you'll show me the stars?"
A smile tugged at his lips. "If that's what you want, honey. Give the phone to Fisk."
"Okay … "
The music got even louder as the phone changed hands. Then Brandon heard the boom of Fisk's deep voice. "‘Lo?"
"Fisk, Brandon Lucero."
"Oh, hey, Brandon. What's up?"
"I wanted to ask if you'd keep an eye on Olivia until I get there. Can you do that for me?"
"I would, but-"
"No buts. Don't let her go anywhere."
Fisk lowered his voice. "I doubt she could make it to the door. That's why I called Kyle a few minutes ago. I know he's seeing her sister these days-what a mess that is-but as soon as I said I was going to call Noelle she wouldn't give me her phone, and I didn't have the number for any of her friends or family. So it was Kyle or no one."
Brandon had been jogging to his truck. At this, he stopped. "Don't let him take her."
"I just wanted someone to get her home safe."
"I'll see to that."
"I'm not sure I'll be able to stop him, Brandon. You'd better get here quick."
"Shit." Brandon hit the end button as he fired up his truck and roared out of his driveway.
* * *
By the time Brandon arrived at Sexy Sadie's, Kyle was already there. But he didn't have to worry about Olivia leaving with his stepbrother. She was clutching the bar for all she was worth, wouldn't even stand, despite Kyle gripping her shoulders and urging her to get up.
"Let go of her," Brandon said, coming up on him from behind.
At the sound of his voice, Kyle whipped around. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I came to take her home."
Fisk had watched him walk in. Now he hurried over to address them. "I don't want any trouble, boys."
Brandon lifted a hand to reassure the bartender that they weren't going to cause a scene but kept his focus on Kyle. "She doesn't need your help, bro. I've got it from here."
Olivia turned a beseeching expression on him. "Don't let him take me, Brandon."
"I won't, honey. Just get your purse off the floor, and we'll go home and look through the telescope."
Her pretty blue eyes filled with tears but she blinked them back. "That's … good." Releasing the bar, she got up, managed to sidestep Kyle even though he reached for her and staggered right into Brandon's arms.
"I'm so glad you're here," she said, clinging tightly to him.
He let his arms close around her, once again feeling that inexplicable protectiveness he'd experienced all those years ago when they danced at prom.
The menacing look on Kyle's face made Brandon wonder if he'd be able to keep the promise he'd just given Fisk. Kyle didn't seem willing to let Olivia go without a fight. "You need to take her to her parents'," he said, his voice threatening, low.
Fisk stepped forward. "Come on now. Let Brandon handle it, Kyle. I shouldn't have called you. You have no say anymore."
"I'll let her leave with someone else but not him," Kyle shot back.
Brandon arched an eyebrow. "She's the one who called me."
"Olivia-" Kyle started but she wouldn't even look at him.
Brandon backed off enough to see into her face. "Do you want to go to your parents' house? Your sister's probably waiting up for you. You know how concerned she is about your welfare. You wouldn't want Noelle to worry, right?"
"You son of a bitch," Kyle ground out.
"I'm just asking the question." Brandon spread his hands, smiling when Olivia insisted she definitely didn't want to see her sister.
"That comes as a real surprise, honey," Brandon said and returned his gaze to Kyle. "I think she's made her desires clear."
A growl sounded deep in Kyle's throat and he clenched his fist as if he'd throw a punch.
Prepared to put Olivia behind him in case he had to defend himself, Brandon stiffened. But Fisk grabbed Kyle before he could do anything stupid.
"Calm down, buddy," Fisk said in a low voice. "I'm sure you could cause some serious damage, but I think your brother could, too. You don't want to wind up with a shiner for your wedding."
"Don't hurt him!" Fresh tears caught in Olivia's long lashes when she saw Fisk shoving Kyle back. "Please, don't hurt him."
Her panic over Kyle's well-being showed that she still cared about him, and that took the fight out of him. Dropping his hands to his sides, he watched her with such agony that, for the first time ever, Brandon felt a degree of sympathy for his stepbrother. Maybe the way Kyle's life had intersected with his own wasn't what Brandon would've wished for, but Kyle was obviously in a great deal of pain.
"I'm sorry." Kyle shook his head. "I'm so sorry."
He was speaking to Olivia, but she didn't respond to him. She'd already closed her eyes and turned as if she couldn't bear to look at him another second.
"I won't let anything happen to her." Brandon had to offer his stepbrother that much comfort as he guided her out.
Chapter 7
Brandon felt like he deserved a medal. He'd managed to stop Olivia when she'd started peeling off her clothes. There'd been one moment when he'd almost succumbed-when she locked her arms around his neck and tried to pull him into bed with her. She kept insisting she could do casual sex and, Lord, did he want to believe her. With her body up against his, the silk of her panties coming out the back of her loosened shorts, he'd nearly thrown honor and decency to the wind. Thoughts like, "Just one kiss, one taste, one touch … " went through his head but considering the desire raging through him, he'd known that was all the spark it would take to start a conflagration. Sternly reminding himself that she wasn't in any condition to give consent, he helped her remove the shorts she was so intent of getting off but refused every advance.
And now he was paying the price. Tense and completely unsatisfied, he tossed and turned while the girl he'd dreamed about for over a decade lay in the next room wearing nothing but her T-shirt and a pair of pretty panties. He felt her soft skin in his mind every time he closed his eyes.
The memory alone made him hard.
He could only hope she'd want him as badly in the morning, but he knew her better judgment would take over by then. As much as she thought she wanted a wild affair, something to fill the sudden loneliness, it was all too typical of being on the rebound. She wasn't the type to take sex lightly, which was why he'd always been careful to keep a safe distance. He wouldn't be good for someone like her. He was too devoted to his freedom.
Frustrated with his inability to shut down, he rolled over to search for his phone on the nightstand. For the past hour, he'd been debating whether to send Kyle a text. He figured he might as well be gallant all the way around.