Love Profound (Cowboys & Angels 2)

With a half-hearted smile, I shook my head. “I need to grow up and move out. It’s not like I can’t afford to live on my own.”

With pinched brows, Wade asked, “Amelia, what in the world brought this on?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m feeling emotional. I’m sorry. If you could please put the boxes in my mother’s office, I’d really appreciate it.”

Stepping back and out of his grasp, I turned on my heels and headed straight to my room. By the time I hit the top step, tears were streaming down my face, and I had no fucking clue why.

Mitchell handed me a beer and sat down next to me. He was staring out at the dance floor with a scowl on his face.

“You look like you want to beat someone’s ass,” I said.

He let out a gruff laugh. “I do. My brother Tripp.”

I followed Mitchell’s gaze to the dance floor, where Tripp was spinning Corina around.

“You like her?” I asked.

He pressed his beer to his lips and took a long drink while shrugging. “I don’t think he’s that into her. He’s only dating her because he knows I was attracted to her.”

“Why did you let him ask her out?”

“He said he liked her first. Brother code, and all that shit.”

Two women walked by, batting their eyelashes and laughing.

Mitchell and I tipped our heads to them and said hi. I was glad when they kept walking, and I got the feeling Mitchell was, as well.

“They’re not exclusive though, are they? I saw Tripp all over another girl the other night.”

Mitchell turned to me. “No shit?”

I nodded.

Leaning in close, Mitchell demanded, “Define all over.”

“Kissing, hands on her ass, grinding into her while dancing. That type of shit.”

Now Mitchell looked pissed. “I can’t imagine Tripp would ever cheat.”

Focusing back out on the dance floor, I said, “Why don’t you ask him?”

“That’s a great idea,” he said. “Go cut in and start fishing Corina for answers.”

My head snapped over to him. “What? I said for you to go ask. Not me!”

Mitchell was still watching them dance. “If Tripp thinks I’m the least bit interested, he’ll play games with me.”

“Really?” I asked with surprise. “He’s your brother. Why would he screw around with you like that?”

Mitchell grinned. “That’s what I would do.”

I shook my head. “Seriously? Why would you mess around with Corina’s emotions?”

“Corina’s, I wouldn’t. If it was a random hook-up, I would.”

“And you think Tripp would do that to Corina?”

Mitchell looked back at them. “No, they’ve been dating for a few months now.”

Right about then, Tripp and Corina stepped apart. She headed to the bathroom while Tripp made his way to us. The girl from last night stepped in front of him. He smiled and shook his head. I couldn’t help but notice how Mitchell sat forward and took it all in.

Tripp leaned down to her ear and said something, then laughed. They parted ways and he walked straight to us.

“What’s up, boys?”

Now I was pissed. I didn’t like picturing any of the Parker brothers as cheaters.

I wasn’t giving Mitchell the chance to think about this any longer. It was time to nip the shit in the bud. “Dude, I saw you with that girl last night. You’re not stepping out on Corina, are you?”

Tripp stared at me like I was insane. “What? No. Corina and I broke up a couple months ago.”

“What?” Mitchell and I said at the same time.

“Why are y’all still going out?”

Tripp looked at Mitchell. “I ran into her. She’s here with Paxton. Girls’ night.”

Mitchell dropped back in his seat.

Taking a seat next to Mitchell, Tripp slapped his back. “I know you like her. I liked her, too, but we never connected. I’ll admit I was being a dick by hanging on longer than I should. Corina told me a few months back she didn’t have strong feelings for me, which is probably why we never slept together.”

Now Mitchell was sitting straight up. “What? Y’all never slept together?”

Tripp took a drink of beer. “Nah. I’m going to take a guess that she was probably still hung up from that one-night stand y’all had.”

My eyes widened. “You slept with Corina?” I asked, staring at Mitchell.

Mitchell closed his eyes. “Dude, I was going to tell you, but Steed told me to let it go.”

Laughing, Tripp shook his head at his brother. “That’s why a part of me wouldn’t let her go. I was pissed. It’s water under the bridge. If you like her, Mitch, go for it.”

“Go for what?” Cord asked as he placed three beers on the table in front of us. “Girls at the end of the bar bought them for y’all.”

I leaned around Tripp and tipped my hat. They all waved and giggled.

With a sigh, I sat back. “Don’t y’all ever get tired of this game?”

“Endless pussy? Fuck no,” Cord said before heading back to the bar. I glanced over my shoulder to see Trevor behind the bar. He was busy, but not too busy to stop and flirt with a girl standing there.