Page 3 of Hart Breaker

I’ve had just enough zero fucks juice—which happens to be one drink—to put his ass in his place, but Grimes pulls me into a one-armed hug.

“Congratulations, Hart.” Stepping back, he smiles. “What are you going to do to celebrate the big win?”

This opens a door I did not previously see, giving me the perfect opportunity to piss rat face off even more.

The first time I ever realized people could be assholes was after Dad lost our house. We had to move into the mobile mansion where we lived until Mom finally stopped taking his ass back, and eventually ended up moving in with our grandmother and changing schools.

“Kill them with kindness, my little hearts,” Mom would say.

Mostly, I did as she asked, but not always. I’m not a boy anymore, and kicking his ass, whether he deserves it or not, would result in jail time and pissing off the team’s owners since his fiancée is family.

So, kindness it is.

“I’m going to Disneyland, baby!”

“You think you could give me a lift home before you head west?”

“Florida’s south, Grimes.” I chuckle as we approach the exit.

“Disney World’s in Florida, not Disneyland,” Brett remarks in his normal condescending tone.

I wonder how much jail time I’d get for busting his mouth.

I look from him to Riley, whose hazel eyes are wide and worrisome.

I love women. Love them. Seeing them uncomfortable is not something I relish in. Unless it’s due to initial penetration, we usually work that out within a few thrusts.

In this case, that’s neither here nor there, I remind myself and set to right the wrong her piece of shit fiancé has put us in. “You have my card on file.”

She nods and forces a smile.

“Put the OG Knights,”—I say Knights like he said land—“tabs on my card.”

After saying goodnight to the old men and Jackson, we head out.

“You done?” Grimes chuckles, and I glance over at him.

“Done what?”

“Stewing,” he states.

I shake my head as I come to a stop. “Not stewing, just imagining busting bones.”

“She said yes.” He shakes his head. “Some chicks like assholes. You should try that instead of the whole Knight bit. She may finally see that you’ve got a thing for?—”

“Grimes, you’ve got the wrong idea. I don’t have a thing for anyone. I treat all the ladies the same.”

“You and Boone both have a”—he pauses and chuckles—“way with the ladies. But you’re different with the Brooks sisters.”

Well, shit, but also bullshit, and I’m calling it.

“First, do not compare my harmless appreciation to Boone’s … whatever it is Boone does; and second, they’re Ross adjacent. Of course, I’m?—”

“So are Maggie Sawyer and Sydney Sparks, but you’re constantly flirting with them, and Izzy’s last name is Ross, yet?—”

I bark out a laugh. “All three of them are worse than me. Hell, I think they’re almost worse than Boone.”

“You don’t pull that with either Brooks girl. I get it with Lauren; she’s just a?—”

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