Page 47 of Off Limits
Chapter Twenty-Three
Brady
Brady inhaled deeply, holding Rex’s gaze. “You’re right. Jane isn’t one of my ‘play things.’” He added air quotes.
“You don’t do anythingbutplay,” Rex barked. His voice echoed off the kitchen walls.
His temper flared. “The same could have been said ofyoubefore Anna.”
“That’s enough.” Jane waved her hands between them like she could magically create a barrier. “We’re all adults here.”
“Ispecificallytold him to leave you alone,” Rex growled, gaze still on Brady. “He doesn’t do relationships. It’s a revolving door of women with him. What do you like to say?” His voice dripped with contempt. “‘Never the same one twice.’”
He flinched. Yes. He had said that. Owned it, even. It had been his spoken rule. No repeats. No confusion. Keep it easy, keep it simple. But standing here now, he saw it for what it really was.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to sleep with the same woman twice. It was that none of them were Jane. None of them could be. And if he couldn’t have her, he didn’t want anyone.
“Fuck you, Rex.” He’d had enough. He didn’t need his best friend to tear him down. He was plenty good at that on his own.
“Fuck me? Ha. Fuck you.” Rex launched at him, shoving Jane aside before cocking his fist and striking him on the jaw.
The connection caused his head to jerk back, something he was sure he’d feel later in his neck as well. Pain seared through his jaw and his teeth clattered together. Stars twinkled in his peripheral. He tasted copper on his tongue. Fuck, Rex had a good right hook. Brady stepped back, clutching his jaw with one hand and his towel with the other. The only way this situation could get any worse would be for his towel to fall and he stood there naked.
“Oh, my God.” Jane yelped, rushing to Brady’s side. “Are you okay?” She smoothed her fingers over his cheek and jaw. She swiped at his lip. “You’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine.” He licked at his bloody lip.
“God damn it.” Rex shook his hand out before pointing a finger at him with his other hand. “I thought we were friends. I trusted you.”
“You’re acting insane, Rex.” Jane turned to him and yelled. Her hands clenched at her sides, her body tensed everywhere. “You can’t come into my home and just start punching people because you don’t like or agree with the situation.”
“Stay out of it, Jane. You’ve always had a teenage crush on him. But you don’t know him like I do. He’s not in it for the long haul.”
“Teenage crush? What does that even mean?” Jane snapped. “I’m not a teenager. I’m an adult. I’m not staying out of it because it involves me and you can’t tell me what to do.”
“The hell I can’t. I’m your older brother.” Rex bit out. He turned his pointed finger on her. “In this situation, I know what’s best.”
She mock laughed. “I’m not even going to go there with you. You forget I know most of your secrets and bad decisions. So to say you know best is humorous. I’m two seconds from throwing you out of my house, Rexford.”
He turned to her, heaving breaths. “I appreciate you defending me but this is between Rex and I.”
“I’m not going to let him hit you, Brady.” Her fingers grazed his jaw. A line creased between her eyebrows. He wanted to rub it and smooth it away. He didn’t like to see her worried or angry or distressed.
“Princess, I’m fine.” He raised his eyebrows and glanced over her shoulder. “I mean he has a good right hook but I’m fine.”
Jane still stood in front of him, her green eyes scanning his face. Searching for damage. All she found was a split lip, a bruised jaw—and maybe the deeper bruising of his ego.
He hadn’t expected anything less from Rex. Hell, if he’d been in Rex’s shoes, he would have probably hit himself too.
