Page 36 of Off Limits
Brady snickered. “I like seeing you like this.”
“Like what?” Rex clicked a few things on the mouse, then closed the laptop. He leaned back in the black leather office chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Restless. A little uptight.” He smiled. “You’re usually so cool. Too cool. It’s nice to know someone can still have an impact on you.”
Rex had had a horrible break up with a woman that he’d hinted at possibly marrying until he found her sleeping with one of his friends in their condo. After that, Rex spent every night with different women and completely shut down his emotions. Kind of like Brady.
“You impact me every day with your annoying comments.” Rex retorted.
Brady rolled his eyes. “You know exactly what I mean, dipshit.”
Rex’s phone buzzed. After reading the text, he shot up from the chair. “Well, she’s here.” He blew out a breath. “Please behave.”
“Go get her.” Brady stepped aside to let Rex go get his girl.
Taylor grabbed Brady’s arm. “Come on.” He tugged him through the tables and people toward the front of the brewery.
“What are you doing?”
“Don’t you want to witness this meet and greet?” Taylor chuckled.
Brady laughed. They reached the front doors and both cupped their hands around their eyes to watch Rex meet Anna in the parking lot. He was sure they looked like the weird neighborhood peepers.
Rex touched Anna’s face and kissed her. Brady hadn’t expected the tug at his heart. In fact, it had been so sharp, he sucked in a sharp breath.
“You could have that.” Taylor nudged him.
Could he?Could he be so enamored with a woman that he couldn’t wait to see her. To kiss her. To not wait another second to touch her. Yes, he could. He was.
Rex entwined his fingers with Anna’s and walked toward the doors.
He did want that. But he wanted it with Jane and he wasn’t allowed to have her. He exhaled and pushed the door open to walk outside with Taylor as the couple approached.
“Way to be discreet,” Rex teased.
“You know discreet isn’t in my nature.” Brady held out his hand to Anna. A somewhat funny thing to say to the brother of the woman he’d been secretly fucking. Perhaps discreet was more in his nature than even he’d known. “Hi, Anna. I’m Brady. It’s such a pleasure to meet you. Rex hasn’t stopped talking about you.”
Anna blushed and shook Brady’s hand. “It is so nice to meet you, Brady. I must admit, I’ve heard plenty about you as well.”
“From this cad?” Brady nodded in Rex’s direction. “Don’t believe a word of it.”
They all chuckled and finished introductions before heading back inside. Taylor offered Anna a tour of the brewing room and she accepted with the utmost enthusiasm. But not without getting some affection from Rex first.
“I think someone is falling in love.” Brady snickered. He hadn’t seen his friend behave this way in quite some time. “I never thought I’d see the day.” He motioned to Sam to bring them a pint of stout.
“I never thought I would either. I don’t know what it is about her.” Rex shook his head. “Something about her got under my skin immediately and took root.”
Sam slid the pints of dark beer across the bar.
“Thanks, Sam.” Rex nodded, then picked up his pint and sipped.
Brady drank from his glass. “You seem happy.”
“I am. Like in a way I’ve never been before.” Since meeting Anna, Rex had seemed lighter. Not light enough to admit he’d slept with his sister.
“Good. You deserve it.” Brady grinned at his friend. Rex did deserve happiness. Didn’t everyone?
An electric current shot through the air and raced up his spine. He knew before he heard her call out her brother’s name that Jane was not only back in town, but she had entered the brewery.
