I’m trying so hard not to roll my eyes when Brody pins Justice with his gaze. “And, Justice, I dinna mind riding yer titties.Och, I mean, givingye a ride home. I’m a simple guy. Only gas orarseis required.”
“Brody!” I gasp. “I swear, I will knock out your overgrown ass!”
“Oh no, I got this.” Justice steps up to him, stroking her finger over his well-groomed beard. “Here, I thought all those muscles were filled with air so you could look at yourself while picking up bony bitches.”
“Nae.” His intense eyes drag over her slowly. “I love a challenge. All the women in my bed havegood meaton their bones. I’ll do the work, bounce ye up and down on my cock, just to hearye scream my name.”
Justice is already stalking off the curb when Brody’s fingertips graze her shoulder. “Alright, sweetheart, first ride’s free.”
Something transfers between them as she looks back at him. The dirty dog I’ve seen on many occasions disappears. A respectable mask descends, softening his chiseled features and mollifying the lustful rage in his sea-blue eyes. He removes his hand from her shoulder. “My mam would beat myarsefor lettingye ride home with a stranger. Ye’re Chevelle’s friend, right?”
“Let’s take thefreeride, Justice.” With a soft, firm voice, I assert, “Trust me. Brody won’t try a thing. Leith lit into his ass the last time the two of us had a problem.”
Justice hesitates. I cock my head. A few minutes later, she settles into the backseat with a frown on her face. I’m so wrapped up in aggravation with Brody MacKenzie that I’ve long forgotten my call with Leith when my cell phone broke.
* * *
Nobody speaks during the awkward,silent ride. Oldies play at a low volume. Brody pulls up to a dingy apartment complex with a beach theme. A streetlamp flickers as Justice mumbles her appreciation and gets out.
“Give me a second,” I tell Brody.
Letting his powerful arm fall over the back of the passenger seat, he nods.
I climb out of the car, following Justice a little way up the sidewalk. From the weakened streetlamp, I discern the hesitance on her face.
“Sorry about that. Brody favors half-naked hoes and has no accountability.”
Shaking her head, Justice replies, “Humph. Just because he’s built out of brick doesn’t mean every woman wants to jump his bones.”
Brody is a sore spot for me. I strive for a relationship with everyone in Leith’s family, but Brody got under my skin since day one and lived there. He’s a repulsive, egotistical ass. Though I’m far from amused by the beefcake, I try to keep the conversation light by teasing. “Oh, you like him!”
“Chevelle, flirting with Michie is the highlight of my night. Your brother-in-law is a looker too. You gotta keep them on their toes. But no. I’m good doing me.”
Chewing my lip, I start to back away.
“Wait,” Justice calls after me. “There was something I wanted to say to you.”
My eyebrows lift, and I toy with a chandelier earring.
“I’m so proud that you’re making moves with Ms. Kelly,” Justice says. I was keeping the surprise for Leith, but I’d told her of my plans with Ophelia Kelly so that I wouldn’t bust. “That will get you busy. But you put your all into Leith. I have no desire to ever be wrapped up into a man again—don’t need to, don’t want to. Now, I want the two of you to ride it out until you get your golden anniversary, but scale back a little, girl.”
She holds up her index finger and thumb. “Just a little. I only tell you these things because you looked out for me when I started at Michie’s.”
“A little.” I offer a faint smile, finally backing away as she struts to the gate of her building.
I suppose I had challenged Justice when reminding her what smiling felt like after she shared Lance’s suicide. I felt she loved him madly, and I never even met them together.
But she has no idea of my obsession with Leith. How long I’ve loved him. How long I’ve clung to him like the first good thing that belonged wholly to me since the death of my parents.
Sliding into the passenger seat, I close the door and fold my arms. “Thanks for the ride. But keep your eyes off my friends. There’s no fun to be had for you there. Got that?”
“Chev—”
“Don’t, Brody. Last time you encouraged Leith to have a bit offun, I . . .” I bite down my pride, wishing I had responded differently. I threw Leith’s engagement ring at him, ended us in half a second. But it took less than a fraction of that same second for me to see myself becoming my father. Wanting to fight, to kill, because of how hard I loved.
I bit my tongue. Leith had never cheated, though his older brother had dangled temptation in his face.
“Ever since we met, Brody, you had one hoe on your arm for you, and on the other arm, you had a hoe for your brother. You’ve chilled out since we married, but I promise you, Brody MacKenzie, unless it’s a new day, you’re still a cheating—”