“Yeah, I wouldn’t go very far, though,” she added with a chuckle. “They reckon it could be any day now.”
Lizzie moved to give her very pregnant sister-in-law a hug while Garth moved to shake hands with Brute and Mason. “Thanks for coming, guys. You didn’t have to.”
“No worries, man,” Mason said. “Can’t have you tearing up the place in a fit of rage, so someone has to watch over you.”
Garth nodded then turned a wide-eyed gaze on Brute. Rage burned in his friend’s eyes for two seconds before his fist collided with Brute’s jaw.
Brute stumbled back but managed to remain on his feet. He’d sparred many a time with Garth but never had he received a punch with so much force behind it.
“You’ve got two seconds to explain why you smell like my sister and sex,” Garth growled.
“What the hell are you doing?” Lizzie screamed at her brother, moving to stand between him and Brute.
“Move out of the way, Lizzie,” Garth said in his alpha voice.
“No.”
Brute appreciated Lizzie’s effort to protect him, but he could fight his own battles, and this one he would gladly face. He moved behind Lizzie and gave her a hug. “Thank you for looking out for me, but I’ve got this.”
“But—”
“No buts. Go sit with Maddy and let me handle your brother.”
She turned in his arms and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Be careful.”
“So, how long have you been fucking my sister?”
Brute understood his friend was shocked and angry, but he would not put up with disrespect. “You talk about Lizzie like that again, and I will be forced to respond.”
“So, you’re trying to tell me you’re not fucking my sister.” Garth got all up in his face, but he wasn’t backing down.
“Fucking, no, loving, yes.”
Garth growled but took a step back. “Same difference. You went behind my back and got with my sister.”
Brute wouldn’t deny it. “And if I’d asked your permission first?”
Garth was back, chest to chest with Brute. “It doesn’t make any difference. You didn’t ask.”
“Because you and I both know you would have said no.” Brute tried to keep his voice calm, but he hung on by a thread.
“Damn right I would have.”
Brute winced. “Which is why I didn’t bother asking.” He was prepared this time when Garth took a swing at him and dodged before he could make contact.
“Stop it!” both Lizzie and Maddy shouted. Maddy stayed back, but Lizzie got into the fray.
“Leave him alone, Garth. He didn’t do anything I didn’t want him to.”
Garth turned his anger on his sister. “You don’t know what you want. You’re too young.”
Lizzie, in typical fashion, didn’t back down, instead getting all up in her brother’s face.
He’d had enough. “Stop it!”
Everyone turned look at him.
“Listen, Garth, you can punch me as much as you like, but it’s not going to change anything. I learned something tonight. I’ve spent all these years trying to please you and I should have been trying to please her.”
