Trouble Travels in Threes (Trouble, Tennessee 3)

“Fourteen,” Allister replied, dragging his hand down his face. “Any particular reason we’re shipping ‘em in and out faster than we can get ‘em fed and watered?”

“Successful livestock dealers handle transactions, Allister. Look around this place. If we don’t start turning some major profits somewhere, it will be mighty tough to keep running this town.”

“Coming from the man who stares at millions in the bank every damned day.” Mac entered the office and slammed the door behind him. “Either of you heard from Markie?”

“Not me,” Allister said.

Draegan groaned. “As if he’d touch base with you anyway.”

“That was ugly,” Mac said, quoting what their dear mother used to say when they snapped at one another.

Draegan and Allister smiled as if the quote had stirred a memory. Doris McCall had been in her grave for nearly a decade and for painful reasons too great to acknowledge, they seldom mentioned her.

Draegan pushed away from the desk and said, “Markie was pretty hung up on this guy. He’ll probably be out all night.”

“Speaking of which…” Mac let his voice trail off. “What happened to you tonight?”

A recollection stamped its place in Draegan’s mind’s eye and he couldn’t shake the delectable memory. Regardless of sweet recollections, he was still doggone perturbed.

“Whatever it was, it must’ve been a humdinger,” Allister said. “Serena called Ellie for a little chitchat.”

“She did?” Draegan leaned forward, nearly foaming at the mouth for information. “What’d she say?”

“How the hell would I know?” Allister grunted. “Thanks to you, I get to go home to Ryan and Derek. Ellie would’ve been in my bed if Serena had been in yours.”

“Sounds like you’re taking one for the team,” Mac said, staring at Allister. Then, he turned his attention to Draegan. “If Sable ends up with an invitation to join Ellie and Serena, I’m blaming you because you couldn’t take one for the team.”

“Yeah, well, join the party,” Draegan grumbled.

“That’s it!” Allister shook his finger at Draegan. “That’s what started this whole thing. Isn’t it?”

“What?” Draegan knew damn well what Allister meant but he wasn’t about to volunteer information. Sometimes listening was the best option, particularly around his brothers. They were, after all, sleeping with his woman’s best friends.

“You know about the detective,” Mac said.

“You knew!” Draegan flew off the handle. “You knew about Brice?”

“Hell, Draegan, she hasn’t exactly hidden it.” Mac walked into the kitchen and returned with a bottled beer. After twisting off the cap and throwing it in the wastebasket, he added, “He’s been sending her flowers and shit.”

“Every other day or so,” Allister added.

“And no one thought to tell me?” Damn it. Now he was pissed. “You both know how I feel about her. You know! And you let some outsider send her gifts?”

“That’s right,” Allister said, slapping Mac across the chest. “I forgot about the shopping bags he sent in here.”

“And the car,” Mac said, clearly taking the taunting too far.

“A car?”

Allister laughed. “If you’d left it at shopping bags, we might have pulled one over on him.”

“Did he send flowers or not?”

“Yes to the roses and no to the shopping bags. I threw that in for laughs,” Allister said.

“This is not a laughing matter.”

“I like Bane. He’s a good guy,” Mac said.