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Just like always, I couldn’t ignore the bait. Hale knew me too damn well.
“What do you remember?”
“She was in the class below mine.”
I knew this already. I’d graduated BHS when Betty was a freshman, and I’d never noticed her back then. But since she’d gotten the role in the play, I’d done some snooping.
“She was on the dance team, did you know that?” he asked, that mischievous grin widening. “I didn’t know her personally, but the whole damn football team enjoyed watching her dance. She was a tiny thing, but she sure could move that tight little body.”
“Hale,” I warned with a growl, unable to control my anger at the thought of a bunch of fucking football players ogling her back in high school.
“If she looks like she did back then, I can see why you’ve got your panties in a bunch. Hot as a firecracker, that one was.”
“If you disrespect her in any way or make her feel uncomfortable with your usual rude behavior, I’ll knock your teeth out.”
Hale’s green eyes widened before he let out a sharp bark of laughter. “You’ve got it worse than I thought.”
Ignoring him, I turned to look up the aisle again, hoping to see that flame of red hair in the crowds. I was wound tighter than usual. Somehow, Hale’s ribbing eased my nerves. Jealousy and anger had replaced the spiraling worry. I’m sure he’d done that on purpose.
“Yeah,” he sighed. “I can see why you’ve got it so bad.”
My gaze snapped to his, where he was looking in the opposite direction. Sure enough, Betty sauntered up the aisle in tight red jeans and a white long-sleeved top made of loose material that formed to her body when she walked. She’d kept her hair down, a curtain of fire shimmering past her shoulders.
“Damn, Ben.” Hale whistled under his breath. “You sure you can handle all of that?”
Again, I ignored his not-so-subtle taunts. Hale lived to stir the pot and cause mayhem. We gave each other shit all the time. Usually, I was in a much better frame of mind to handle it. But I was having Betty withdrawals—yes, after two days.
That twisting sensation in my gut loosened and allowed me to finally breathe. The nerves melted away as I watched the gorgeous redhead coming my way and beaming a smile at me. As I watched her come closer, I could only think one thing over and over.She belonged with me.
As the woman who was the sole center of all my thoughts lately came within a few feet, I murmured to my brother, “Be nice, Hale. Or I’ll beat the shit out of you later.”
“Damn. It’s like that, is it?”
“Just like that.”
When he’d tormented me about girls in the past, which seemed to be one of his favorite pastimes, I’d always rolled my eyes and ignored him. I’d never threatened him with violence. Not that I thought Hale would say anything to scare Betty off. I just didn’t want him accidentally offending her or hurting her feelings in any possible way. Hale could often come across as extremely offensive, even on hisbestbehavior.
Then she was right in front of me, wrapping her slender arms around my neck and pulling me down for a kiss. “Hey there, handsome,” she whispered against my lips.
“Hey, beautiful.” I hauled her in tight and kissed her back, wanting to bury my face in her hair and lose myself. But my brother watched like a nosy pervert, so I eased her to my side and took her hand. “Betty, this is my brother, Hale.”
“Ah. The home builder who doesn’t like homebuilders.” She offered her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Hale, taken aback at her greeting, had me grinning wide. He reached out and shook her hand, seeming to regain speech. “The teacher who plays actor in her spare time. Nice to meet you, too.”
“Hale,” I warned, scowling at this motherfucker.
But Betty only smiled bigger, completely unfazed. “Who is a fantastic actor in her spare time. The best in town, as a matter of fact. If we’re going to be completely honest, I might as well set you straight now.”
“Better than Bennett?”
“Hell, yeah.” She squeezed my hand affectionately. I squeezed hers back.
Hale’s smile widened to something akin to genuine respect when he turned to me. “She’s a keeper.”
Letting go of her hand, I wrapped my arm around her waist and hauled her against my body, squeezing her luscious hip. “I’m well aware,” I said to her, not Hale.
Her brow pinched a little then she stepped up to the table. “So, what kind are you serving?”
