Hotshot (The Bennett Brothers 1)

I look behind me to make sure Nick is occupied then turn back to my brother’s questioning eyes.

“Yeah, you got a problem?”

“No, she looks happy. Happier than I’ve ever seen her. So did you, before Claire came storming in here.”

“She’s a nut.”

“She’s a hot nut.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me? You have a thing for the nutcase nurse?”

He shrugs and gives me a look of indecision. “We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you.”

“Bizzy wants to keep us quiet, ease Nick into it. She’s concerned about his reaction.”

“Why?”

“Fuck knows. If it was up to me, we’d be moving her in tomorrow.”

Mathis chokes mid-sip and spews his beer everywhere. “What the fuck? Move her in?”

“Hell yeah.”

“Are you insane?”

“In a way. I’m insane about her. She’s worried about Nick.”

“Understandable. He’s going to go ape shit.”

“He’ll get over it.”

“He’ll only get over it if you’re serious.”

“I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

He stares at me, searching for something, then his face breaks into a wide, cocky grin. “I’ll be damned.”

“Yep,” is the only response I give.

“Must have been some resort, to turn the notorious jackass who’s never uttered the word commitment into a fully taken man.”

“It’s not the resort. It’s the woman, you dumb fuck.”

“Huh, I’ll have to remember that.” He takes another swig of his beer, still smiling.

“So are you satisfied or do you want to gossip some more?”

“I’m done, for now. But why don’t you fill me in on the actual business side of the trip?”

The door opens, and Nick comes out rolling his eyes. “What are you two talking about? Hopefully something more interesting than breaking down the hotness factor of Joe Palos, Perry Carver, and Darren Jackson.”

A low, throaty, rumble escapes, and Mathis starts to cough to cover my jealousy. “Shaw was telling me about the weekend.” He shoots me a look, telling me to get it together.

I glance over my shoulder and catch Bizzy watching me through the window. She purses her lips, trying to hide her amusement. I raise an eyebrow and give a slight nod to let her know it’s not funny.

She throws her head back laughing, and Claire starts shaking her finger at me. It takes all the willpower I have not to stalk to her, throw her over my shoulder, and haul her to her bedroom, showing her exactly how I feel about her discussing the ‘hotness factor’ of other men. Especially the same men who took every opportunity to razzle me by flirting their asses off with her.

The thought of teaching her a lesson and showing just how possessive I am sends a message to