Beautiful Trouble (Trouble, Tennessee 1)

He was, after all, a gentleman, and he had responsibilities to the women there in Trouble. He was supposed to be their friend and a professional they could turn to if they needed a strong shoulder to cry on or if they just needed some advice as they settled into their new lives. Until Draegan was absolutely certain he could love Serena, he wasn’t about to do something that might later break her heart.

He deepened the kiss and her arms went around his neck. Her tongue swept across his and a little whimper fell from her lips. His cock responded and his pulse raced. And as much as he hated to do it, he slowly backed away and said, “I can’t do this. Not right now.”

“It’s okay.” She patted his hand before she stood. “You and Markie have a history. I understand that. I just wanted you to know that I want to be in your life, too. Maybe you and Markie can talk and see if that’s even a possibility.”

She kissed his cheek and before he could set her straight about Markie, she was gone.

Chapter Fourteen

Doc, Trevor, and Harley were dragging ass by the time they made their way to the office the next morning. Doc couldn’t wait to give his report to Draegan and hightail it to the cottages. He’d probably find Sable in bed with Mac and Nicholas, but that was okay. At least he knew where to find her.

Trevor and Harley were already at the desk when Draegan entered the office from the side-door. “Nice of you three to show up this morning.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Harley asked, his face turning red. Draegan could crawl underneath his brother’s skin quicker than a woman could crawl in his bed and that was saying something. Draegan was a real player.

“I was here all night,” Draegan said.

“That’s your problem,” Harley fired back. “Not mine.”

“You weren’t here.”

“No,” Doc spoke up then. “We were down at the barn. Mac’s mare, you know the one he’d planned on selling? She dropped a foal last night.”

“What?”

“That idiot we call a brother thought she’d foundered,” Harley explained.

“Explain how that happens,” Draegan said, crossing his arms. He then cut his gaze at Doc. “And you missed this?”

“I’m a physician, Draegan, not a vet. And I don’t know the first thing about animals.”

Trevor laughed. “You knew enough to offer Mac four hundred dollars for her. If he’d taken you up on that, you would’ve been laughing all the way to the bank.”

“Don’t think I haven’t thought about that,” Doc muttered, turning his attention to Draegan. “Why didn’t you call one of us if you needed something?”

“I figured you were with the little woman.” He stuffed his hands in his front pockets. “Besides, I had company last night.”

“Company? Who?” Harley squinted. “Tell me it wasn’t that girl from Nashville, the one who drives all the way up here for karaoke?”

“Nope.”

“Who then?” Harley pressed his brother for details.

“Serena.”

“What?” The lone word fell from their lips in unison and then Doc quickly added, “Tell me you didn’t, Draegan.”

“Oh I didn’t. I wanted to but…” He laughed and shook his head. “She’s just so darn cute. Ya know?”

“And you didn’t fuck her because she’s just too cute to fuck?” Harley sniffed. “That would be a first.”

“She thinks me and Markie have a thing going.”

“And where did she get an idea like that?” Trevor asked.

About that time, Markie sashayed into the office with a box of donuts. “Good morning, lovers.” He set the box of goodies on the desk and blew kisses around the room. He fluttered his eyelashes and studied Draegan. “Hey, sugar. Did you sleep well last night?”

Everyone laughed and Draegan said, “Yeah, Markie, I slept like a baby.”