All Fired Up

by Lori Foster

  That made Mitch grin. “She enjoys her work.”

  “She enjoys being bossy,” Brodie countered.

  Jack nodded. “She learned from our mom.”

  So far, Mitch had learned more about Charlotte from her family than from her. He’d like a few hours alone with her, to hear her take on things. Until then, this would do.

  “She could get a pet and bring it with her to the office, but that’d make it tough for her to get everything done.” Brodie looked toward the building. “She visits all the other family pets a lot.”

  “You mentioned a shelter?”

  “We offer our services in getting animals there. The place is great,” Jack explained, “but located back on an old country road. Charlotte probably got the flat leaving there.”

  Far as Mitch was concerned, she shouldn’t be out at night on back country roads. He wouldn’t mind accompanying her when she needed him. If he got a chance, he’d make the offer, and hope she took him up on it.

  One thought led to another and he asked, “She doesn’t do any of the more dangerous stuff?”

  “God, no,” they said, almost in unison.

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “She picks up the slack with local stuff when we’re already committed elsewhere,” Jack explained.

  And yet every day since, she’d been answering phones, filing papers—pretty much doing everything, including fetching coffee. “You said she runs the office alone?”

  “Like a five-star general,” Jack confirmed. “She started working with us when she’d just turned sixteen. Mom coached her through it at first, but it didn’t take long to realize she was an organizational whiz. These days, Mom happily takes her cues from Charlotte.”

  “You already had the business back then? Started young, didn’t you?”

  “I’m thirty-five, Jack’s thirty-two, so we’re a lot older than Charlotte, but yeah, we were young.” Brodie smiled with some fond memory. “I was still actively sowing my wild oats, but Mom didn’t put up with any slackers.”

  “Plus she figured if she kept Brodie busy, he’d have less time to get in trouble.”

  “Look who’s talking.” As if imparting a secret, Brodie leaned in. “Jack was the real Romeo, he was just more secretive about it.”

  “A stampeding herd of elephants would be more secretive than Brodie. Though I’ll admit, he did try to keep his activities off Charlotte’s radar.”

  “She was young and impressionable, and we were her big brothers,” Brodie said, all lofty and full of himself before he gave Mitch the side-eye and added, “same as we are to you.”

  The absurdity of that took Mitch from grinning to choking. Why did they keep doing that to him? Throwing him off balance with sentimental nonsense? Denial came automatically. “No.”

  Brow cocked, Jack asked, “No what?”

  How to explain without insulting them? “The idea of a brother, any brother, is a novel enough concept. I’m not anyone’s idea of a kid brother, so don’t go overboard.”

  Unconcerned, Jack shrugged. “It’s a fact, though. We’re older and you’re younger.”

  “By only a few years!”

  Taunting him, Jack murmured, “We could even call you the baby brother.”

  God help him, did their heckling now include him? He wouldn’t mind that so much, but not over something that left him mentally reeling.

  “No.” Emphatic, leaving no room for debate, Mitch said, “You can’t.”

  “And,” Brodie added, ignoring what he’d said and how he’d said it, “that makes us big brothers. And big brothers look out for little brothers.”

  Mitch shook his head. “You can put a stake through that idea right now.” He’d always taken care of himself. He’d continue to do so.

  He wouldn’t be a burden to family, ever.

  “Little brother.” Brodie held out his arms. “The idea will wear on you.”

  When it had literally almost taken him off his feet? Getting used to it was doubtful.

  Jack, thankfully, let him off the hook. “Brodie takes himself way too seriously. Don’t let him bother you.”

  That made him sputter, since for once it was Jack who’d done the most goading.

  “With Charlotte, though?” Jack continued. “She’s always been that type of girl.”

  Glad to be on safer ground, and pretty sure he caught the meaning, Mitch said, “The type where you wanted to protect her?”

  Jack studied him. “She’s a crazy hard worker, smart, but not very experienced with men.”

  Talk of her brought her forefront in Mitch’s thoughts again...not that she’d been far from there anyway. Glancing at the shop, he asked, “Where is Charlotte?” Once the words left his mouth, he thought to amend, “And Ros?”

  Not one easily fooled, Brodie smirked. “They’re both inside, probably wrapping up. When Jack and I have longer days, they do too.”

  Knowing Charlotte was close made him even more determined to see her.

  “She’s a good person, very special to us.”

  That particular, cautioning tone slowly brought him around to stare at Brodie.

  Jack added, “She’s never dated much, and she can be really naive about a lot of things.”

  That took his attention to Jack. “You two keep referring to her as a girl, but she’s a woman now.” They seemed to have missed that fact.

  “Maybe.” Though his tone didn’t change, significance brought Brodie closer. “Thing is, I’d demolish anyone who hurt her.”

  Jack nodded. “Same.”

  Rather than let them rile him, Mitch shared his own smirk. “She mentioned that the night Bernie hassled her.” He could hold his own and then some, not that he had any intention of hurting Charlotte, or fighting with his brothers. “Charlotte is... She’s nice. One of the nicest women I’ve ever met.”

  They agreed.

  “And I’m not Bernie.” Whether these two realized the distinction yet or not, Charlotte had seemed to know instantly. He thought of how she’d touched his arm after he’d popped Bernie. Definitely a naive move, but then again, her touch had worked...so maybe she understood more than any of them realized.

  “We know the difference,” Brodie said.

  “Bernie she’d ignore.” Jack gave him a speculative look. “You, she doesn’t.”

  “You think?” Interesting take, since he hadn’t seen her much lately. “Whenever I’m around, she’s busy.” Or was she avoiding him? He hoped not, but he’d rather know for sure—especially since she’d seemed interested.

  He wouldn’t bail just because Brodie or Jack ordered him to. But Charlotte? If she told him to get lost, he’d honor her wishes. Wouldn’t like it, but he’d do it.

  Jack relieved him when he said, “I think she has it in her head that she shouldn’t intrude.”

  Well hell. He wanted her around. “So she’s not still upset about Brodie teasing her?”

  Brodie smiled. “Most of the time, Charlotte doesn’t get upset, she gets even. At least with us. You, though? You’re new to the mix, so...”

  Jack folded his arms. “She was definitely embarrassed. It surprised me, because Brodie teases her all the time. It’s sort of their thing. But instead of laying him low the way she usually would, she ran, which says a lot as far as I’m concerned.”

  Wanting them to spell it out, Mitch scowled. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning I guess I need to do the whole big brother speech.”

  Jack added, “Which is why we clarified first that we are, in fact, big brothers.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  IT WAS ALL Mitch could do not to groan.

  Or curse.

  They’d been standing around in the heat for a while now, and though they didn’t know it, he had important things he could be accomplishing, work on his house, orders for his business
...and time with Charlotte. He couldn’t mention any of that because he didn’t want them know the extent of the roots he’d put down here. He also wasn’t keen on dissecting how he felt about Charlotte. Not when he hadn’t yet gotten her alone.

  When he hadn’t even kissed her yet.

  Cutting to the chase, Mitch met Brodie eye to eye, since he was the closest. “Let me guess. She’s off-limits?”

  He and Jack shared a noteworthy glance before Brodie rolled a shoulder. “See, that depends. If you’re just looking for fun, yeah, stay away from her. And that’s not a warning I plan to give twice.”

  Mitch allowed himself a slow smile, knowing it wasn’t friendly, but at the moment he didn’t care. “Thing is, I don’t take well to threats—just as I’m guessing you wouldn’t.”

  “I’m not messing with someone’s little sister.”

  Though Brodie said it easily enough, without any anger in his tone, Mitch felt himself bracing. Getting into a brawl wouldn’t serve his reasons for being here, and in fact might destroy everything. Thinking of Charlotte, he tried a breath and asked, “Have you ever?”

  Nonplussed, Brodie stalled.

  Jack snickered. “He can’t answer that on the grounds it may incriminate him.”

  “And you never did?” Brodie shot at his brother.

  Defensiveness wiped away Jack’s smile. “We’re not talking about any girl. We’re talking about Charlotte.”

  Calmly, Mitch said, “I only met her a few days ago, she’s an adult who can make her own decision, but so you know, I’m not messing with anyone either. So let me whittle this down. The problem is that you think I’d disrespect her?”

  Brodie blew out a breath. “Hell, I don’t know you well enough to understand what you might or might not do with Charlotte.”

  “When you know me better, you’ll understand—”

  “Exactly,” Brodie said. “We’ve been trying, but you’re holding back.”

  Un-freaking-believable. “I’ve answered every damned question you’ve asked.”

  “Because we haven’t dug into anything touchy.”

  Touchy? Affront took him back a step. “What the hell does that mean?”

  Hands in his pockets, face grim, Jack studied him. “From what we’ve heard, you didn’t have an easy life.”

  Uncertainty constricted his windpipe. “It was fine.” If daily neglect and occasional abuse could be called that. Fine? He hadn’t known from one day to the next what would happen. But the past was behind him now. He would not stand around sharing shit stories with men who, thankfully, had never known what it was like to... No. Goddamn it, no. He wasn’t a whiny bastard, and complaining about it wouldn’t change anything.

  He planted his feet and took a stance. “Judge me on who I am now.”

  Jack frowned. “No one is judging you—”

  “Of course you are.” Mitch wasn’t fooled, and he wouldn’t let them fool themselves either. “With good reason. I get it, believe me. You’ve already been more accommodating than I expected. You want to know my past?” Maybe if he rushed through the important parts, they’d let it go. “Not before I got busted, and definitely not after, did I do anything illegal. It was only that one time.”

  “We know,” Jack said quietly. “We checked up on it.”

  Good. They weren’t as gullible as they’d seemed. “So you know it’s true.”

  Undeterred, Brodie said, “You spent five years in prison.” Sympathy, or something equally nauseating, held him back, but only for a second before he continued. “What did that do to you?”

  Fuck this. Mitch weighed the odds of just walking away. How would they take that? Would they see it as some sort of guilt?

  Damn it...what he had with his brothers felt fragile and yet important. What would it take? How much would he have to share?

  Jaw tight, remembered rage burning his eyes, he whispered, “You want the nitty-gritty?”

  “We want to know you,” Jack corrected softly.

  “So yeah, that includes the nitty-gritty.” Shaking off the emotion, Brodie sharpened his tone and held out his arms. “We’ve been sharing left and right, hoping you’d pick up on it, but you’re as closed off as you were the night we met you.”

  “I don’t want to bulldoze you.”

  “Dinner would be bulldozing?” Brodie shot back. “You’ve been invited multiple times.”

  Jack put a hand on Brodie’s shoulder, maybe to rein him in, maybe to align with him.

  “Jesus.” It was almost funny. Dinner though? He could handle sitting through a meal easier than this interrogation. He filled his lungs with the muggy evening air. “I thought it’d be better to ease into things.”

  “Yeah, I’m not asking you to live with me.” Brodie paused. “That is...you don’t need a place to stay?”

  Now he did laugh, and thankfully, it eased some of the tension, enough so that he could unclench his muscles. “No, I don’t.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

  Mollified, Brodie nodded. “Good, good.”

  “Obviously,” Jack cut back in, “this little chat was necessary because you’re not denying being interested in Charlotte.”

  He could, Mitch thought. It’d probably make things easier to assure them both that he had no designs on Charlotte one way or the other. But he wouldn’t start this new relationship with a lie. He was interested, damn it.

  And he wouldn’t let any man tell him what to do.

  “Here’s the thing.” He again glanced toward the building, and saw Charlotte and Ros moving away from the door. Before he got too distracted with her, he turned back to the brothers. “She intrigues me.”

  “Mom?” Jack asked, deadpan.

  It worked to lighten the mood, but Mitch answered seriously. “I meant Charlotte—though your mom is unlike anyone I’ve ever known.”

  “Before you think she’s all hugs and rainbows,” Brodie said, “know that she enjoys giving nonstop advice—which is more along the lines of bossiness. Plus she’s a big believer in respect and loyalty.”

  Thinking that was all pretty damned admirable, Mitch didn’t see a problem. “I noticed the bossy part.” He nodded at Brodie. “Especially when it comes to you.”

  “Brodie needs it more than most people,” Jack said. “I’m betting you noticed that as well.”

  Ignoring their laughter, Brodie turned his finger in the air. “Before Jack gets too deep in trashing my character, let’s rewind to you and Charlotte.”

  Was there a him and Charlotte for them to worry about? If he could find an upside to their surprise heart-to-heart, it was that they appeared to think he had a chance with Charlotte.

  Just then she stuck her head out the door. “Hey, Brodie. Therman called. He has an afternoon pickup tomorrow.” Her gaze briefly touched on Mitch, but skipped away again.

  For the life of him, Mitch couldn’t do the same. The sight of her in a loose pink T-shirt and slim-fitting jeans felt like a balm. He wished she’d come out and chat with them. He wished...hell, for a lot of things.

  And that, he knew, was what worried Jack and Brodie.

  She switched her pretty blue gaze to Jack. “Ronnie said you’ve got twenty minutes, tops, to get home before she eats dinner without you.” With an airy wave, Charlotte disappeared back inside and the door closed behind her.

  He wanted her—but the brothers he’d come to find weren’t entirely on board with that idea. “So I do dinner. How many times?” Would two be enough? Four? Somehow he doubted it. “You expect me to rehash life as a kid living in the slums? I won’t do that. Not with Charlotte and Ros there.” Not to anyone.

  “Wouldn’t ask you to.” Brodie ran a hand over his face. “Look, we don’t mean to be so pushy. You’re a grown ass man, right? Charlotte is a grown woman. I get that we’re coercing you and you�
�re being great about it. It’s just—”

  He sighed, because damn it, he could see it from their perspective. “You care about her, and you don’t know me that well.”

  “Come to dinner,” Brodie urged. “Relax, visit. Open up a little. That’s all we’re saying.”

  “You don’t have to relive your past.” Jack leaned back on his car. “But we need something so we can feel like we really know you. Look at it this way. As we know you better, so will Charlotte.”

  So they’d use her as enticement? Interesting. He glanced again at the offices. Ros paused by the door and waved to him.

  Feeling somewhat foolish, he lifted his hand in return.

  “You’ve already won Mom over,” Brodie mused.

  It sure felt that way. From the second he’d told her who he was, she’d been accepting. “You see the irony in that, right?”

  Jack shrugged. “Yeah, but that’s how Mom is.” More solemnly, he added, “Give us a few weeks. Come to some family dinners. Make time.”

  What they asked wasn’t terrible—except for the opening up part. If he could, he’d pretend his life started after prison.

  “Brute is always welcome,” Brodie said. “Our pets will be around too.”

  “It’ll be painless,” Jack added. “But we have nearly thirty years of history to uncover.”

  His history was so opposite to what they’d known. Just learning about his life from fifteen to eighteen would be enough for them to bar him away from Charlotte for all eternity. “The thing is—”

  “Until then,” Brodie said, undeterred, “we’d prefer you not get too involved with Charlotte.”

  “We can’t speak for her,” Jack added. “But I think you know it’s right.”

  Yup, and that put him back to square one. The brothers wore near-identical looks of challenge. The only difference was just that Jack tempered his with civility, whereas Brodie had a tendency to use his like a bludgeon.

  “Explain involved.” If they wanted him at dinner, was he supposed to ignore her?

  Jack opened his mouth, closed it—and Brodie stated, “Don’t sleep with her.”