Page 6 of Irresistible

Brody slid out of the seat and swept his hand up. “You need backup, just wave.”

Lilly lifted her drink and shoved her hip into Brock the same way. “Let me out.”

“Cool your jets, woman.” He slid her a long look and crossed his arms. “Any particular reason you’re in the market for a man?”

“Women don’t need a particular reason. We have needs just the same as you all.” Bumping his hip again, she winked. “Let me out. I have some research to do.”

“Give me a second to slide out of the seat.”

Lilly gave him a sweet smile and waited for him to move his mass out of her way. Once he did, she followed Poppy. “Let’s put some money on this game,” she called out to her friend.

***

Brock looked at his youngest brother and lifted his shoulders. “What?”

“Don’t you think it’s about time you did something about your decade-long crush? If you don’t, then one of those guys is going to be enjoying Lilly’s charms, not you.”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“Denial. Yeah…that’s not working.” Brody laughed in response.

The brothers turned toward the pool table that sat in the middle of the pub, and Brock narrowed his eyes. Lilly was bending over, getting ready to break. God damn, she was every Southern man’s dream…an ass full enough for two hands, long legs, and enough sass to keep things interesting.

“That’s biscuits and gravy she’s got going on there. That’s a long, slow good time,” Brody remarked.

“Fuck you. Don’t talk about Lilly that way. You’ve known her since you were five years old.”

“I’d say the same thing to her face and she would laugh right along with me. You’re the only one who has a stick up your ass. It’s ’cause you’re denying the thing you’ve felt since you were eighteen. Do something about it or leave her the hell alone.”

“Baby brother, when did you become the expert on women?”

“Don’t you listen to the gossip around town? I’m the freaking love doctor.”

“Going through women faster than you go through socks doesn’t make you the doctor of anything.”

Brody ignored his brother and went on. “You’re thirty and you should settle down. Maybe if you had a good woman in your life, you’d be less cranky.”

“I’m not cranky.” Brock watched his baby brother give him a get-real look and guessed he had a lot more to say. Most of which he probably didn’t want to hear.

“You’ve been home for a year and I’d say it’s about time.” Wiggling his eyebrows, he pointed to Lilly. “I double-dog dare you to take Lilly Bertrand out on a date. Put your money where your mouth is and show me how it’s done. Woo her and win her and then I’ll start listening to you. If you don’t then you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Brock swiveled in his seat and watched Lilly lean against the brick wall. The lighting over the pool table picked up the honey highlights in her hair. His stupid brother was right. If she had needs, then he was going to be the one to fill them. And then some.

A man sidled up next to Lilly, and she graced him with a big, easy smile. That wasn’t a smile that any man needed to see…except him. As they started chatting, Brock felt his muscles tense. The first thing he’d like to do is punch the asshole in the face. After that, he’d sling Lilly over his shoulder and take her home. Which proved his brother had a point. God damn, he hated when that happened.

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