Page 76 of Burning Love
“West, that is a calendar to raise money for their fire station. Give me a break. You can’t tell me that he’s the only one with a picture like that.” Her brother was silent. “Right?”
“No,” Braylon said. “But most of the other months have group shots or at least two people in them. This was the only month of a single fireman. These are the comments online made about it. Along with a vote that he won by a landslide.”
Another screen came up and she saw message after message about Jace being the hottest thing they’d seen, he could come battle any fire or save any kitten on their property.
“That’s nothing he can control,” she argued. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there aren’t things out there about Rowan or Nelson like that.”
Her brothers looked at each other. She knew she was right. Neither West nor Braylon would do anything that stupid. Rowan was always in swim trunks in the water, and Nelson just liked to have fun.
“This isn’t about them,” West said. “They can handle themselves.”
“So can I,” she said, crossing her arms. “In the past all you ever cared about was someone using me to get to you.”
“And it’s happened,” West said.
“That’s right. It has. I took care of it and I know what to look for. Jace didn’t even know who I was.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Braylon said.
“He didn’t. I believe him. He didn’t grow up around here. He moved in with his father when his mother died when he was seventeen. He finished high school where he was, his father renting an apartment for them to stay there a few months, then he moved here.”
“I don’t understand that,” West said. “Explain it.”
“I don’t have to explain anything to you,” she snarled.
“Calm down, Talia,” Braylon said. “We only want what’s best for you.”
“Then let me handle my life on my own. Don’t come at me like this.”
“You didn’t know about the calendar and these comments,” West said.
“Who cares? It was years ago, right?”
“Five years ago,” Braylon admitted.
“There you go. And if they asked him to do the calendar again, he’s doing it for work. It’s not like he’s got anOnlyFansaccount.”
Braylon laughed. “He better not,” West growled.
“Come on,” she said. “You’re being ridiculous. You’re losing your cool. If you don’t stop, I’m going to call your wife on you.”
That was a bigger threat than telling their mother.
West never lost his cool with anyone other than family.
Talia knew it was because he cared, but she didn’t need her hand held all the time.
“Abby needs to rest,” West said.
“That’s right. And I think you’re taking your frustration out on me over your concern for your wife and son that will be here soon.”
“She has you there,” Braylon said, grinning again.
West inhaled. “Tell us more about this guy. What happened to his mother?”
“It’s not my story to tell.”
“Talia,” Braylon said patiently. “Don’t be that way. His mother died. We know what it’s like to lose a parent as a teen. What happened?”
