Page 19 of The Mountain Man's Flirt

Lyla

After packing my things back into my suitcase and putting a load of laundry in the washer upstairs, I hurry back to my kitchen. The bell in the front rings and I step around the counter, a teasing remark on my lips.

But it’s not Amos standing there in the center of my donut bakery.

It’s Jamie.

My stomach tightens. Why did he have to come here today? Why does he always have to show up and tell me what to do?

He gives me a condescending smile. “The place looks nice, little Lyla.” It’s always been his nickname for me. It was cute when I was eight. Now, it’s just annoying.

“What are you doing here?” Even as I ask the question, I already know. He’s checking up on me. Being his typical overprotective and controlling self.

“Who pissed in your cornflakes today?” He demands with a scowl.

“You did this,” I gesture around the shop. “You arranged the loan I needed and had my shop approved with the city.”

“I’ll be honest. I’d hoped for a little bit of gratitude.” There’s a hardness in Jamie’s blue gaze that I’ve never noticed before.

“Why? Why did you have to go behind my back and do everything for me? Why couldn’t you let me stand on my own two feet?” I cross my arms over my chest and brace myself.

“Who told you this?” He frowns. “Did Amos open his big mouth?”

“Don’t blame him when you’re the one who went behind my back,” I defend. I won’t let Amos come under fire for this. The argument is between me and Jamie. “Just tell me why you did it.”

“Because you’re a stupid kid who doesn’t know fuck-all about living a day in the real world!” He yells.

I blink, not having expected the outburst from my usually cool and in control older brother. Does he really think that about me?

Before I can respond, the door to the shop swings open and Amos is stepping inside. Fire dances in his gaze and he levels Jamie with a furious look. “Don’t you ever raise your voice at my future wife again.”

Jamie looks between the two of us and shakes his head. “You fucked my little sister?”

Amos takes a step toward his best friend, his chest heaving. “You watch your mouth when you talk about her.”

I move closer, stepping between the two. I put a hand on Amos’s chest. “I can hold my own against him.”

When he looks at me, something in his gaze softens. “You shouldn’t have to.”

“Look, you want to play bakery for a few months, fine. Hell, you want to spread your legs for my friend—”

Amos slides me behind his back in one smooth motion then his fist is connecting with Jamie’s chin. His head snaps back, hitting the wall.

I gasp. I didn’t want him to hit my brother even if he was being a douchebag. But I also know that Amos would never forgive himself if he didn’t defend me.

“You get the hell out of her shop,” Amos says. “You set foot in here again with her permission and even then only when I’m present as well. You got that?”

“I could take all of this away from you,” Jamie insists, looking at me. His eyes are filled with a fury and resentment I don’t understand.

“You just try,” Amos says, grabbing his friend by the shirt collar and hauling him outside.

I watch the two of them through the big glass window. I don’t understand this man at all. Sure, Jamie could be a bit mean-spirited to me at times. But it’s never been anything like this before. This is a whole new level of venom.

Amos shoves Jamie toward his car and stands on the sidewalk, watching until my brother’s vehicle finally pulls away.

The moment he comes into the shop, he’s pulling me into his arms. “I’m sorry, honey.”

“I don’t know why he has to be like that,” I sniff against his t-shirt. “It’s like he hates me sometimes.”

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