Page 53 of Bull Rush

“They’ve become easy friends.” Cooper looks at them amused at how they’re walking arm in arm.

“Yeah. Bea reminded me of Hazel a little bit. If Hazel was missing the mean streak a mile wide.”

“But that’s what you like about her, isn’t it?”

“I couldn’t live without it.” Then I look at him. “And when did you become such a fucking goddamn romantic?”

“When I realized I was going to do whatever it took to win her over, despite the odds.” Cooper grins like a fool and then looks at me, raising a brow. “I highly recommend it if you’re fixed on coming out of this with everything you want to keep.”

I lean backon the porch swing and stare out into the evening after Cooper and Bea have gone off to bed for the night. Even though it’s still technically late summer, the temperature has dropped with the sun, and a cool chill drifts over me. A moment later, I hear the creak of the screen door, and Hazel’s standing there.

“Mind if I join? I brought beer.”

“No, I don’t mind.” I scoot over to make room for her, and she hands me the extra bottle.

“Your friends are really nice. I see why you did what you did for them.”

“They’re good people. I’d do it again if I had to.”

She stares at me in quiet contemplation for a moment before she takes a draw off her bottle and kicks her feet to make the swing rock.

“They’re so in love too. That fresh kind where everything seems possible. I didn’t ask how they met. Did they meet at your work?”

I smirk. “Nah. She was his brother’s girl.”

Her heel catches on the deck, and the swing stops again.

“What? No way!” She looks back at me, mouth agape.

I nod. “Don’t say that to him though. In his mind, she’s always been his.”

“Wow. I would have never guessed someone as sweet as her for something like that.”

“Love’s love, I guess.”

“I guess,” she says in a tone that sounds doubtful, starting the swing moving again as she contemplates it.

“Never been in love like that?” I ask. Stupidly, I might add.

“To go after one of your brothers? No, can’t say I have. Although Grant does look really good in a suit.”

“You wouldn’t fuckin’ dare.” I point the end of my bottle at her.

“If Curtis wasn’t around, maybe. Just to piss you off. It might be worth it.” She grins at me and takes another sip.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t know if you could lure Grant to his death like that. He’s got a strong self-preservation streak.” I have a hard time believing any woman could lock Grant down for more than a night.

“He does, doesn’t he? Still not married. Living alone in his tower. Has he ever been in love?” Hazel muses.

“Couldn’t tell you. If he has, he’s never said.” I shrug.

“Lev?” she asks.

“Lev’s had someone I think he loved once. He might have forgotten her now that he’s moved on with life.”

“Lev pining after someone is a real vision to wrap my head around.” Hazel laughs. Levi is hard as nails, tougher than the rest of us by a long shot. But he has a soft core—one that the right people could reach when they needed to.

“He’s not that different from me.”

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