Page 21 of Shared By Her Brother's Best Friends

I sigh and sink down underneath the bubbles, enjoying the echoing distorted sounds of the house around me for a moment before coming back up. Deciding I need a distraction, I dry my hands and open my book, turning to the page I was last on.

It’s only when the water is cold that I realize I’ve been reading for a while. I love how books can transport you away from your worries into another world, if only temporarily. Marking my place, I put the book down and climb out of the tub,wrapping the big fluffy towel around me and brushing my teeth before putting on my pajamas, a Chinese silk pair I got from Jessica for my bachelorette party. She was my maid of honor, as I had no other real friends and Adam forced the issue.

As I head out into the corridor, I can hear the sounds of the guys talking downstairs. When I realize it’s about me, I can’t resist the urge to eavesdrop and I creep halfway down the steps, straining to hear them.

Whoever warned that listening into people’s private conversations means you’re likely to hear something you don’t like was completely right.

Chapter 11

Mason

The second the door shuts behind J-Bird, I round on Jax. “What the fuck man? It’s bad enough we made the mistake of fucking the Prez’s sister like some common club bunny this afternoon, then you gotta make it worse by riding in like her fucking white knight? Acting the savior and then playing happy families taking her and the kid out for dinner? Wake up man, she’s off limits. What the fuck were you thinking?”

I know exactly what he was thinking, he’s got that hangdog look about him that tells me the stupid bastard has gone and started having feelings for Emma. Ty comes to the same conclusion as me, voicing my thoughts.

“Fuck, man. You like her, don’t you?” he says, raising an eyebrow.

I can tell from Jax’s stricken expression that he does. Hell, we all like Emma, there’s nothing not to like. But wisely, he doesn’t voice this, he lets his rational mind do the talking. I’m not about to say that either. The best thing for all of us is to pretend this afternoon was a meaningless mistake.

“No. Of course not, I barely know the chick. I was just doing my job, making sure the kid was okay. Taking them for dinner meant nothing. I just had to sweeten her up, didn’t I? The last thing we want is for her to go running her mouth to J-Bird and tell him that his best friends fucking used her as a spunkrag,” he says, his crudeness giving away that he doesn’t see her that way at all.

He thinks he can lie to himself as well as us. That makes two of us.

“Fine,” I say, though I don’t believe him for a minute. “But from now on we keep things strictly professional around Emma. She’s just a girl, she’s nothing special.”

“Easy peasy,” Jax declares jutting his jaw out. “You know there’s a line of bunnies at the club waiting to suck my cock.”

I look to Ty who shrugs nonchalantly. “Sex is just sex, and beautiful or not, Emma is just one woman. The Iron Serpents come first. One fuck doesn’t change anything. I can control myself.”

I stare at them making sure my point is heard, that they know how serious I am. Having sex with Emma was a huge mistake.

“Good. The sooner we find out who is after her kid, the better. Then we can get back to the club and far away from Emma. First thing tomorrow, Jax and I will go pay a visit to Bess. She knows everyone and has eyes and ears throughout the county, if anyone can help us find out what’s going on, it’s her,” I explain.

“Is your contact the hot redhead with the massive tits?” Jax asks.

I nod. “You know damn well who she is,” I grunt, shooting him a look. “Hopefully, she’ll be willing to share some info with us, for a price. Doesn’t matter how close we were back in the day, with Bess there’s always a price.”

“Oh I bet I know the price,” Ty chuckles. “Why haven’t we gone to her sooner?”

I ignore his insinuation, answering the question, “Because Bess usually drives a hard bargain.”

“I’ll bet she does,” Jax chuckles.

I ignore him, continuing my explanation. “If we could find out another way it would be best, but it seems we need to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.”

“Ty, that means you’ll need to stay behind to keep an eye on Emma and Max. Think you can handle it?” I ask.

Tomorrow is Saturday so Max will be home all day with Emma, yet another reason I want to go out. I don’t want to have to be stuck indoors playing happy families. I wouldn’t even know how to act around them both. Fucking and fighting I can do. Hanging around with a young kid and a woman I find myself inexplicably drawn to but is utterly off limits, I have no idea how to act.

“Sure. Piece of cake,” Ty agrees with a shrug.

My guess is he’ll just quietly stand guard while they amuse themselves. He’s not one for small talk or worrying about social conventions or being polite. Which is why he’s the perfect one to stay behind. Jax will be too friendly and give off the wrong impression, and I’m cold and distant when I’m uncomfortable. I’d probably make Emma think I hated her guts just by trying to avoid getting into a situation like this morning again.

Not that I think I’m irresistible or anything. I’ve no idea what Emma’s thinking, perhaps she believes it was a mistake and regrets it. Chances are that’s exactly how she feels.

I don’t know why the thought makes me feel a little wounded.

At that moment, the sound of a creaking step grabs our attention. We freeze, listening for the culprit. A second later there’s the quiet but unmistakable sound of a door gently being closed.

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