Page 28 of Piece Of Me

“Did you kiss her?”

Surprised at Millie’s in your face attitude, he snuck a look over his shoulder to make sure the girls were still occupied. They were. Ryan was arguing that her pink barbie was stronger than Cameron’s purple one.

“I might have,” he replied casually.

“No,” Millie Sue said, shaking her head violently. “God, no.”

“You’re going to give yourself a headache if you don’t stop that.”

Millie swore and punched his arm. “Taz, I’m being serious. Scarlett is family.”

He sat back and tapped the steering wheel with his fingers, pissed that he’d brought this up. Pissed that Millie was so obviously concerned about the fact he wanted to call Scarlett. What did that say about her opinion of him?

“I like her,” he finally admitted.

“You like a lot of women.”

“She’s different.” His response surprised the hell out of him, and maybe it showed because Millie Sue sat back, looking just as surprised as he was. Neither one of them said anything for a few moments, and then Millie rubbed her forehead.

“So, Nikki Salter isn’t in the picture anymore?”

“No.”

“When did that happen?”

“Come on, Mills, are we really doing this right now?”

“Yes, Taz. We’re really doing this right now.”

He’d had enough. He got that Millie would be protective of Scarlett. Hell, he wouldn’t expect anything less than that. But he wasn’t about to run a play by play of his love life with her.

“I think you’re forgetting that Scarlett is a grown woman.”

Millie’s face softened. “I know that. And trust me, I’m glad that she’s dipping her toes into the waters again. She’s been holed up at the ranch for months and it’s not healthy. But Taz, you don’t do commitment. You’re not boyfriend material.”

“You’re getting ahead of things.”

“I probably am, but it’s Scarlett and she’s like a sister to me. She’s been hurt, Taz. Badly. And trust me, I know what that’s like. To be so sad you think happiness will never find you again. It’s a terrible headspace to exist in and it takes a lot to claw your way out of that hole. Scarlett was always so confident and free and sassy and…”

“That sounds like the Scarlett I know.” He thought of the woman he’d first met in the post office.

“But she hasn’t been and that’s my point.”

“She seemed pretty much her old self last night.”

“You don’t know her old self.”

“You know what I mean.”

Millie sighed and slowly nodded. “She has changed over the last little while, don’t get me wrong, and it’s all good things.”

“Then let her change. Let her live her own life. Let her decide who she wants to see.”

Millie regarded him silently, gently rubbing her round belly and finally shrugged. “You’re right. You’re both adults and obviously attracted to each other. But if you start up something with Scarlett you need to know a few things.”

A part of Taz couldn’t believe he was having this conversation, but he obliged his friend. “I’m listening.”

“She’s got three brothers who wouldn’t think twice about castrating any man that hurts her. Trust me, if her baby daddy ever has the balls to show his face in Montana, he’ll be heading back to Europe a gelding. And secondly, if you do manage to convince her to give you a shot and you become a thing, don’t ever put me in the middle. Because I love you both, but she’s family, Taz, and family will always come first. I don’t want to lose you. You’re too important to me.” She nailed him with a look that brooked no argument. “Don’t make me choose.”

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