Rough Edge (Tannen Boys 2)

Emily shrugs casually, as if my betrayal of the oath of sisterhood is no big deal. But I know good and well that it is. “Rix, I don’t care. He didn’t seem that into me at Two Roses anyway, and now I know why. That man likes ’em dirty, just like you.” She makes ‘dirty’ sound like a compliment, right before she slaps her forehead. “Which reminds me that he was trying to figure out how I got my hands clean . . . because he thought I was you!”

She seems delighted at that and laughs like a twin switcheroo is the funniest thing ever. I think Brody would beg to differ. I would too.

“We’re good. Go get you some of that cowboy.” She shoves at my shoulder with a smile. “Just make sure you tell me all the dirty details, each and every inch of them.” Her wink is silly and reminds me of those easier days when we were thick as thieves.

“You mean it? I swear, say the word and I’ll never talk to him.” I sound like I’ve already made up my mind, but Emily knows me well enough to see right through my front.

Emily freezes, her mouth hanging open before she sets her glass down on the coffee table so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter. The glass, not the table, because it’s wood. And these glasses must be industrial strength. I’m rambling again, but only in my head now.

“I should beat the ever-loving shit out of you.” This is what I expected, but I don’t let my hands ball up. Not against her. I’ll take the blows, knowing that I deserve them. She throws a sissy shot at my shoulder, more of a tap than a punch, but it’s probably all she’s got. “You like him! But you set me up with him. What the hell?”

“You said he was The One, and I wasn’t going to get in the way of that.” I’m still apologizing.

She rolls her eyes. “I say that every week, sometimes twice on Sunday if Mr. Saturday Night had particularly good oral skills.” She’s kidding, I think. She might fall in love all the time, but she’s pickier than I am about who she fucks, usually only opening her legs after dating someone for a long while. “But you? You never chase down dick, and the one time you feel like it, you pawn him off on me because I’m mouthing around again?”

Both her hands go to my shoulders, and she shakes me so hard that my teeth clatter together. “Stop it. For the love of fuck, nobody needs you to martyr yourself to make up for years-old shit. If you want your Cowboy, climb on and yee the hell outta his haw. I’ll find my own cowboy. Or lawyer. Or poet.”

A thought seems to hit her out of nowhere, bringing a big smile to her face. “Or . . . random subject change . . . unrelated to our present conversation.” She winks, letting me know that it’s right on topic. “Have you met the new doctor in town? He came in to get a new vehicle yesterday, and let me tell you, those scrubs were doing all kinds of good things for his ass. Did I mention he’s a doctor? With eyes the color of the sky on a summer day? And a new F-150 in ravish-me-all-night-red? I will definitely be on the lookout for that truck at the grocery store so I can bang his buggy in the produce section. Oops, did I do that?” She places her fingers over her mouth, eyes wide and feigning innocence, and I’m astounded that guys actually fall for that.

I’m stunned, shocked into silence. I was expecting her to damn near kill me, feel betrayed, and filet me with her tears. And she’s totally fine with my mouth-fucking Brody, and maybe more. In fact, she’s already acquired her next target, a doctor.

“I don’t know what to say. This is not at all how I expected this conversation to go.” Not thinking, I drain the entirety of my glass in one go and then cringe at the gross taste. “Fuck, how do you drink this stuff?”

Emily smiles and sips hers, eyeing me over the rim of the glass. “Okay, so now that we have that figured out . . . when are you going out with Brody?”

I reach for her glass, plucking it from her hand and chugging it too because as gross as it is, I could use a little blurriness as I confess. “Em, I’m not you. I’m not looking for the husband, two-point-five kids, and a dog. I’ve got a husband . . . Cole Automotive. That garage is my husband, baby, and a not-housebroken dog all rolled in one. I don’t have a lot of time for anything else. I’m not planning to date him. I just want to fuck him. Maybe a lot if he’s as good as I think he’ll be. I get the feeling that’s Brody’s deal, too.”