Page 90 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

“Leave it, Liam. I can handle this.”

“Maybe so, but now that I’m in town, I’m not going to let you self-destruct like you did last time.” Liam lowered his head, still keeping his eyes on Braxton. “This is more. We both know Cora is special to you. What you and Cora have is nothing compared to Anna. So are you going to go after her or just have her come to work every day and try to avoid her?”

More like she’d avoid him. She’d done a remarkable job so far in the past few days. Granted, he hadn’t called her. Hell, no. He had his pride. Unfortunately, his pride might get in the way of the best thing that ever happened to him.

“She kicked me out.” The words tumbled from his mouth before Braxton could hold them in. So much for that pride. “I don’t know what happened at the open house. Before it started she’d agreed to let me take her home, but she left early and by the time I got to her house, she’d decided we were over.”

“Then make her talk,” Liam demanded. “If she’s worth fighting for, then get off your sorry ass and go do it.”

“I thought I’d feel sorry for myself for a bit longer.”

The corners of Liam’s mouth tipped up, the scar running alongside his face shifting with the smile. Without a word he headed into the kitchen. Moments later he returned with a tumbler of bourbon.

Braxton stared at the glass Liam thrust toward him. “I hadn’t planned on getting drunk. I was thinking I would just sit in the dark and pout like the mature person that I am.”

With a shrug, Liam downed the amber liquid. He slammed the empty glass onto the coffee table and, with a heavy sigh, sank down on the other end of the couch.

“Is this the part of the evening when I have to ask you what’s wrong?” Braxton asked as he watched Liam rub his eyes. “Because I’ve got my own shit to deal with, but if you want to unload, feel free.”

Silence filled the room and Braxton propped his socked feet back up onto the table.

“I think Macy is going to be a problem.”

Braxton wasn’t surprised that Liam and Macy were going to be an issue now that Liam was back, but he was stunned that he admitted the fact out loud.

“You can’t leave us,” Braxton stated. “We need you here.”

“I’m not leaving,” Liam confirmed, a hint of regret to his tone. “I want to, but I’m not. I owe Chelsea, I owe you and Sophie.”

“And Zach?”

Liam hesitated. “I hate owing him anything, but we’re all in this together.”

“What’s going on with Macy?”

“Nothing.” The quick reply left no room for argument, almost as if he were trying to convince himself.

“Then there should be no problem,” Braxton retorted, knowing it would get on Liam’s nerves.

“She drives me insane with her dates, her flaunting them in my face.”

Braxton knew now would be the worst time to laugh . . . so he cut loose. “You’re kidding? She doesn’t flaunt them. She dates. You’re just home now and hearing about it.”

Liam let out a growl and pushed to his feet. Grabbing the tumbler off the table, he stalked back into the kitchen and came back with a full glass . . . and the bottle.

“How much are you planning on drinking?”

Liam snorted. “Not enough to dull the ache.”

“I take it you’re staying here tonight then?” Braxton asked. They were adamant about not drinking and driving—as anyone with common sense should be—but after the accident that caused so much scarring and landed Zach in prison for a year, they always took precautions.

“I don’t want to talk about Macy or me or what the hell she’s doing right now or who she’s doing it with.” He took a deep drink. “I want to know what you’re going to do to get Cora back. We don’t need that negativity at the resort. Your tension will hurt business.”

“And that’s all you’re worried about is business?”

Liam reached over for the bottle, poured himself another dose, and settled back onto the couch. “I might be worried about you, but only because if you’re the reason this resort tanks, Sophie will kill you and then Zach and I will have to dig a hole big enough to bury you.”

Braxton laughed. They had the oddest ways of communicating love, but it was so evident. The loyalty of the Monroe brothers, the bond they shared was so deep and resilient there was no way anyone or anything could sever it.

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