Page 14 of The Beautiful Mess

“Sven,” Keegan admonished. “Be nice.”

Kerry slid his gaze over to Keegan, but his little lamb was too busy checking out Kerry’s chest to notice. The urge to flex his pecs like a douchebag was strong, but he resisted. Keegan must’ve sensed his attention because he jerked his head up and met Kerry’s gaze. An adorable blush bloomed across his cheeks, and his full lips parted on a sigh.

“No,” Sven snapped. “Niceis what got Kerry into this mess. We need to be vicious and go after the threat with relentless fury.” He released a long, frustrated groan, but Kerry couldn’t tear his gaze away from Keegan’s. His discarded T-shirt hit him in the face, breaking the spell Kerry had been under. “Put that back on and dial down your pheromones.”

Kerry chuckled, though nothing about his life was funny. He used Sven’s comedic interlude to pull himself together. By the time he put his shirt on, Keegan had turned away to study the gym setup. “You’re right,” Kerry said.

“Of course I am.” Sven preened for a few seconds before sobering. “About which part? You’re going to unleash vicious fury?”

Kerry chuckled and shook his head. “What good would that do? A furious reaction is sloppy and a waste of time. I need to be strategic and precise. Like a surgeon.”

“We’re not going to neuter him,” Sven argued. “Although…”

“Kerry is right.”

The trio turned to see who’d interrupted them. Dominic stood in the open doorway wearing the same clothes from the previous evening and carrying his messenger bag. Either he wore the same outfit every day, or he hadn’t been home yet. Kerry was going with door number two and added guilt to the cocktail of emotions burning a hole in his stomach lining.

“I’ll take it from here.” Dom strode across the gym with a swagger that matched his confident remark.

Sven narrowed his eyes. Kerry knew he hated being dismissed or ignored almost as much as he resented Kerry for cockblocking his attempt to seduce Dom at the Thirsty Cowboy on the same night Kerry met Keegan.

“Why should I trust Kerry’s future in your hands?” Sven demanded.

Dom smirked as he joined them, staying just out of clawing range. “You sure wanted my hands all over you not that long ago.”

Sven snorted. “As if. You would’ve been lucky to make it past first base.”

“Oh my god!” Keegan turned big hazel eyes on Sven. “He’s the lion from the Thirsty Cowboy.”

“Mmhmm.” Sven’s eyes flashed with irritation when he looked at Kerry. Clearly, his brother still held a grudge about his interference.

“Lion?” Dom asked.

Keegan recapped the story of Rueben’s playful narrations, and Dom seemed to get a kick out of the comparison. He raked his gaze over Sven and said, “A gazelle, huh?”

“Graceful and beautiful,” Sven said smugly.

“And still shopping in the twink department,” Dom said. “Aren’t you a little old for crop tops?”

Sven’s cobalt eyes shimmered with wicked delight, and his mouth twisted into a smirk. He was about to unleash one hell of a snappy comeback, and Kerry was certain it would contain details from their encounter that he didn’t want to know.

“Whoa!” Kerry said, stepping between them. “Let’s not hit below the belt,” he told his friend.

Dom held up his hand. “Sorry, Stevie. Maybe I’m just jealous because my midsection has gone to hell while your body is banging.” He cut his eyes to Kerry and grimaced. “Sorry.”

Sven normally would’ve been pissed at anyone calling him Stevie beyond the age of twelve, but the compliment seemed to soothe his ruffled feathers. “I’m sorry too. There’s no one better than you to have Kerry’s back at a time like this.”

Kerry was on the verge of patting himself on the back when Dom turned his full attention to Keegan with a spark of interest in his gaze.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Dom said, a seductive smile curving his lips.

Keegan had been watching Dom and Sven’s byplay like a tennis match. His gaze widened when he realized he’d gained the lion’s attention. “Hi. I’m—”

Sven slapped his hand against Keegan’s shoulder. “Time to go. Dom and Kerry don’t need our help.” Sven propelled Keegan toward the door.

“You could at least introduce me to your friend,” Dom called after them. His lips curved into a smile until he turned his head and met Kerry’s gaze.

“Don’t,” he growled.

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