Boudreaux 01 Easy Love Read Online Free Page B

gig tonight?”
    “Do you want Mama’s recipe for her pecan pie too?” I snarl.
    “Wow, you’re very defensive for someone who’s not interested in the pretty Kate.”
    “She’s not pretty,” I mutter. She’s fucking beautiful.
    “Yeah, I’m not really into redheads with freckles myself. But the last time I saw her, she had a sexy little body,” Beau continues, speaking to Ben, who nods thoughtfully.  
    I’m going to kill them both.  
    With my bare hands.
    “When did you see her?”  
    “During one of my trips to visit Dec and Van at college.” Beau strips out of his own shirt and tosses it away. “That was a while ago, though. Maybe she got fat.”
    “She’s not fat,” I reply, walking right into his trap. “Look, I’m just being nice to her.”
    “Right,” Ben nods, just before he takes Beau down to the mat, but Beau pulls out, rolls Ben beneath him, and pulls up to throw a punch, which Ben rolls out of, and for the next few minutes they try to best each other.
    I am not lovesick over Kate. Sure, she’s sexy with her thick auburn hair and big green eyes, and the freckles on her face and shoulders simply beg to be kissed and traced, but for the love of fuck, she’s an employee. It’s just been longer than I care to admit since I last got laid.
    That’s a detail easily taken care of.
    But the thought of any of the usual women I call to scratch that particular itch holds no interest.
    Fuck.
    “Not paying attention gets your ass kicked, man,” Beau warns, just before he pulls my torso down and knees me in the stomach, then throws an elbow up, but I throw him off balance and he misses. Barely.
    “Stop daydreaming about hot redheads and pay attention,” Ben snarls.
    “I’m done,” I mutter, and suck down a bottle of water.
    “We have ten minutes left,” Beau says.
    “You go ahead.”  
    “Dude.” Beau, panting and sweaty himself, props his hands on his hips and levels me with a somber look. “Be careful.”
    “I haven’t done a fucking thing,” I reply, but the memory of that hot kiss in her loft is right there, front and center. Her sweet body pressed to mine, her hair tangled in my fingers, and those bright green eyes, full of lust and mistrust, pinned to mine as I backed away and ran like a bat out of hell.
    “Okay.” Beau shrugs and shakes his head. “But if you decide to do the fucking thing, be honest with her.”
    “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
    “You have a habit of making women fall for you, and then you squish them like bugs,” Ben adds.
    “I do not.”
    “Yeah, you do. Dad never meant for you to—”
    “This isn’t therapy,” I interrupt, and turn my back on both of them, headed to the shower. “I’m fine. Kate’s safe from me. I’ll make sure she gets to Dec’s gig safely, and then I’ll probably rarely see her after that.”
    “Eli.”
    I turn at Ben’s voice.  
    “I do want that recipe. Your mom’s pecan pie is the best.”
    I smirk, shake my head, and leave to the loud grunts of Beau getting his ass kicked.
    ***
    Kate answers her door and I just about swallow my tongue at the sight of her. Her hair has been swept up onto her head, with soft wavy strands hanging around her face. She’s in a silk black tank top that flows from the tops of her breasts to her waist, and white Capri pants.
    And the sexiest strappy black heels I’ve ever fucking seen.
    She’s safe from me. No messing with her.
    “Eli.”
    “Right the first time,” I reply, and offer her a smile. I seem to smile at this woman a lot.  
    “What are you doing here?”
    “I told you I’d take you to Declan’s gig tonight.” I raise a brow as she bites her lip and winces. “Problem?”
    “I kind of figured that offer was off the table. Especially after—”
    “After what?” She glances down at my chest and her eyes dilate. Oh, she’s interested, all right. The chemistry is off the charts.
    “After you kissed me.” Her eyes return to mine, and she tilts her