Page 22 of Fake It Till You Make It
“You ain’t never lied.” Tobias polished off his beer, signaling the waitress for a second round.
“Exactly. And she mentioned some guy named Prince.”
“Think that’s her boyfriend?”
Eli studied his mug once more. “I don’t know who he is, but I already know she deserves better.”
“Do you now?” Tobias quizzed, not moving from the pointed question.
“Yep.”
“Got anybody in mind?”
And just like that, Noah came strolling up, beer bottle to his lips. He swallowed before asking, “What did I miss?”
The chair scraped against the rough plank floors, the sound jarring even in the chaos.
“Amarie’s a big hit in town,” Tobias whispered.
“A pretty little thang like that is bound to be taken soon. I know she said she wanted to have a talk with me, so I’m gonna mosey on over and—”
“Sit down,” Eli interjected. “I need to talk with you both.”
Noah dropped in the chair opposite Tobias. “Okay, big brother. What is it that you want to say? Make it quick. I don’t like to keep the ladies waiting.”
“First, don’t get close to Amarie. Neither of you. She won’t be here long.”
“Since when is that a problem?” Noah quizzed.
“The last time I trusted a woman I just met, I ended up divorced and I’m pretty sure close to destitute.”
“Yeah, but Amarie made you money from the women interested in the bachelor auction,” Tobias reminded.
“That’s cause enough to light my fire.” Noah grinned.
“It’s not,” Eli snapped.
“Can’t say I’d be complaining. It’s probably good for business to have a pretty woman around.”
“Really, keeping her around because she’s cute? Do you ever get tired of bad ideas, Noah?”
“Sometimes, it’s good to be confronted with your bad ideas on a daily basis, Eli. It improves a man’s disposition.”
“There’s a lesson to be learned in there, somewhere,” Tobias nodded.
“Yep. Don’t take relationship advice from a bull walrus.” Eli swore his baby brother had lust on the brain twenty-four seven.
“Hey,” Noah chided. “Quit with the vet metaphors neither one of us understands.”
“Walruses grab the attention of several females at once by making lots of noise.”
Noah shrugged, nonplussed by the comparison. “Want to be seen, got to be heard. Since when do you care who I talk with?”
“Since all your talking ends with pillow talk.” There was more bark than he intended. Why that was, he decided not to ponder.
“Did you see that smile she aimed my way yesterday? Dazzling.”
Noah grinned to himself like a man thinking his luck might hold for a chance to get to know Amarie better. Not going to happen on Eli’s watch.
