Page 28 of Disarming The Rancher

The hotshot who’d been giving them the eye the whole time tossed his napkin onto the table. Brax made a mental note to ask what her relationship was with each of her band members.

“I better let Hardy know our plans,” she said with an infectious smile.

“I’ll wait right here.”

She nodded before practically trotting over to her security detail.

Hardy was youngish and had a decent size to him. His weapon was visible from his shoulder holster. Brax’s mother generally had a no-guns-inside-the-house policy but she seemed to be willing to make an exception for Raleigh. This seemed to come with the territory of hosting someone famous.

Brax studied each of the new faces that he could see from the vantage point behind the island as he made a meatball sandwich. Adam came over and joined him as he took the first bite.

“Sorry about having to track you down,” Adam started.

Brax shook his head. “Don’t be. We have to get used to staying in touch while there’s a threat.”

“Raleigh sure looks relieved you came back,” Adam pointed out.

“Doesn’t mean anything except friendship,” Brax said.

“All right. You want to play it that way, it’s cool.” Adam’s smirk wasn’t helping matters.

“Aren’t you busy with your new wife and new daughter?” Brax said.

“Never too busy to give you a hard time, brother.” Adam threw a shoulder into Brax and then winced in pain.

“I don’t feel a bit sorry for you,” Brax teased. “You had that coming.”

“That’s fair.” Adam turned to face the window above the sink, standing side-by-side with Brax. “Kenny might be a problem.”

“Hotshot over there?” Brax said low and under his breath.

“He’s the drummer in the band. From what I can gather, he has a thing for Raleigh like nobody’s business.”

“I noticed the same thing two seconds after I walked into the kitchen,” Brax admitted.

“He got real sour when he saw her talking to you,” Adam said.

“Then, my next move is really going cause him heartache.” Brax took another bite of meatball sandwich, chewed on it.

“What’s that, lover boy?” Adam teased.

“First of all…no.” That was all Brax had to say. “Second of all, she wants to head up to the loft and doesn’t want to freak anybody out by going by herself.”

“Try not to come back with so much lipstick next time. Okay?” Adam ribbed Brax with the same shoulder move. “Had that one coming too. It was worth it, by the way.”

Adam walked toward Prudence, who was giving their daughter a bottle.

Brax polished off the meatball sandwich as the big guy stood up.

Raleigh returned, rolling her eyes.

“Looks like we have company.” She hitched her thumb behind her as the guy thanked Brax’s mom for the food and then followed Raleigh.

“Ready?” he asked after introducing himself and shaking hands.

“Hold on.” Raleigh held up a finger. She walked over to Corbin and motioned toward his guitar.

He smiled before handing it over.