Rough Love (Tannen Boys 1)

“Don’t fucking hurt him again. We got more than enough shit on our plate and don’t need to add your fucking him over to it.” His thick finger points at me threateningly, his lips curled.

Familiar. So fucking familiar.

My jaw drops in shock as a shiver of recognition runs through me, but I straighten my spine and talk back just as forcefully. “It seems that was a bit of a misunderstanding. We hurt each other.”

He scoffs, and Shay’s eyes are ping-ponging between us like we’re a tennis match, a grin spreading on her energetic face.

“Damn, girl. Not many folks bite back at Brody. I like you already.” She hooks her elbow through mine, pulling me along with her, and I follow even though I have no idea where she’s taking me. She’s preferable to Brody, at least. “What’d you say your name is again?”

“Allyson. Allyson Meyers. We met several times when you were little, used to have dinner with your family,” I explain.

Shay’s eyes flicker. “That was a long time ago then, wasn’t it?” I can see that she still feels the loss of her mom and dad, and I hate that I carelessly brought it up. I’m just distracted . . . by Bruce’s MIA routine, by Brody’s glare, by my own heart’s racing.

I call out to Cooper, and he steps out of the car, looking at me for guidance. “Honey, this is Brody Tannen and Shayanne Tannen. They’re Bruce’s brother and sister.”

Brody’s eyes go downright black as coal, burning me with questions. I hadn’t considered that he might be confused by Cooper’s appearance and jump to the wrong conclusion. “Brody, Shayanne, this is my son, Cooper Meyers.” As Brody shakes Cooper’s hand, I give the slightest shake of my head and Brody visibly relaxes, the coiled tension in his muscles dissipating the tiniest bit.

Shayanne’s all smiles, though. “Well, hey there, Cooper! Wanna see some goats?”

He looks to me for permission, and when I smile, his excitement bubbles up. “Yes, ma’am!”

So I guess we’re going to see goats, and hopefully, Bruce.

Chapter 17

Bruce

“Come here, you little fucker,” I snap at the monster that’s trying to escape the reach of my outstretched arms. As rough and mean as my words are, my hands are sure and gentle. Shay loves each of these beasts, and they’re the bread and butter of her soap operation. Well, maybe not bread and butter, but they’re the milk of it, at least.

Baaarbara the goat bleats at me, which I swear sounds like ‘neener, neener, you can’t catch me’ and darts off again. I give chase, cussing a blue streak the whole time as I slide around the dirt and she escapes again. It’s then I hear giggles coming from over by the gate.

I look up and see Shayanne first, her cheeks puffed up by the big grin she’s wearing. I flip her off before I realize why she’s so amused. It registers a heartbeat later that right next to her are Allyson and Cooper, who just saw my utter failure at catching the tiny critter. Shit, I must look like a damned fool.

“Uh, hey, guys. Didn’t expect to see you out here. How was practice?” I say, wiping my brow with a bandana and glaring at the black and white fluffball that’s making me look bad.

“Seriously?” Allyson snaps.

I recognize that fire. She’s not just pissed. She’s furious on the edge of volcanic rupture. Her eyes are narrowed, she’s damn near bull-snorting through her nose, and her jaw is clenched like she’s holding back a whole litany of curse words. Probably because of Cooper, because I get the feeling she’d love nothing more than to light into me.

“I take it practice didn’t go so well, then?” I don’t dare smile as I say it, even though seeing her hot and bothered does something to me. I hate to see her upset, but damned if she’s not adorable when she’s ready to give me what-for.

“How could you?” she hisses. “They were counting on you. I was counting on you. And you’re just out here playing with goats. I’m disappointed in you, Bruce Tannen.”

She whirls on her toe, grabbing at Cooper’s hand. His eyes are wide, and I’m betting it’s likely he’s never heard his mom go nuclear on someone. She might not have gone off in a big, spectacular fashion of yelling and foot stomping, but make no mistake, her disappointment cuts deep and wide.

She’s already making headway back toward the house, and her car, I’m guessing, when Shayanne snaps her fingers, breaking me out of my trance. “Holy shit, man! What did you do? Whatever it is, you’d better go fix it. Now!”

I stumble toward the gate, the same fucker that was running from me before now chasing after my feet and getting me tangled up. “Al! What the fuck, woman! Wait a damned minute!”