Reckless (Brazen #2)(20)

Nikki jumped in his arms, her eyes flying open.

“Shhh honey, it’s okay,” he soothed.

“No the hell it isn’t okay,” Lucas bellowed.

Nikki rolled off of him, grabbing for the covers to hide her nudity. Her face was bright red with embarrassment. She looked downright mortified.

Lucas stalked forward, and J.T. braced himself for impact. Then Lucas stopped and cast a disgusted look down at the bed.

“For God’s sake, get some clothes on so I can beat your ass properly.” If he wasn’t so sure that Lucas was going to do just that, he’d laugh. He cast a wary glance over at Nikki before rolling out of bed.

Nikki launched herself toward Lucas, the sheet wrapped tight around her body.

“Lucas, no! Stop, please. You can’t just barge in here like this and threaten J.T.” Lucas growled, but J.T. noticed he curtailed his anger when he looked at Nikki. His entire gaze softened, and he reached out to touch her cheek.

“I’m going to kick his ass, Nikki, and he knows it. He’s been expecting it. Why the f**k else would he be in bed with you when he knew damn well I was coming home?”

“Lucas, please,” she pleaded. “I love him. Don’t do this.” He put a finger to her lips. “J.T. doesn’t need you protecting him. If I don’t kick his ass now and get it out of my system, there ain’t a hope I’ll ever be able to stomach him.

He took advantage of you. He was supposed to be protecting you.”

“But—”

“Nikki, honey, let it go,” J.T. said as he dragged his pants on. “I want you to stay here, okay?” He leaned over and kissed her, hard. “Trust me.” Her eyes were troubled, and her bottom lip was firmly caught between her teeth as he started to follow Lucas from the room.

When they hit the living room, Lucas gestured curtly toward the door. “Outside.” J.T. sighed but followed. This wasn’t going to be pretty, but it was necessary. Lucas was one pissed-off son of a bitch right now. Yeah, he could hold his own, but both of them were going to hurt before it was over with.

He barely cleared the door before Lucas grabbed him and tossed him off the porch.

He landed with a thump, and Lucas came after him.

“You bastard,” Lucas gritted out as he landed a fist to J.T.’s jaw.

J.T. swung, bloodying Lucas’s lip and knocking him back. J.T. scrambled up and circled Lucas warily.

“Don’t you think she’s had enough hurt in her life?” Lucas demanded as they stepped around each other. “You made her cry, you son of a bitch. Our mother couldn’t make her cry. All the taunting and abuse she suffered at the hands of this town didn’t make her cry. You made her cry. I’ll never forgive you for that.” J.T. sighed. “Yeah, I did, man. I’m a lousy bastard.” He broke off when Lucas swung again. He ducked, but Lucas’s other fist connected with his nose.

J.T. went sprawling, but he got up just as quickly and lunged for Lucas. They went down in a heap, rolling in the dirt as they fought for position. J.T. punched him in the gut, and Lucas grunted.

“You don’t deserve her. No one in this piece of shit town deserves her,” Lucas growled.

J.T. rolled off Lucas and scrambled to his feet.

“You’re right, Lucas. I don’t deserve her. But I love her. She loves me.”

“Oh, so now you love her. What happened to I think I love her?”

“I’m a goddamn idiot,” J.T. said. “What do you want me to say? I love that girl, and nothing you say or do is going to keep me away from her. You got that? Do your worst, Lucas, but remember that you’re trying to beat the shit out of the man your sister loves. I don’t think she’ll forgive you for that.”

Lucas’s shoulders sagged, and a murderous gleam entered his eye. “Fucking pu**y,” he grumbled. “Hiding behind a woman.”

J.T. grinned. “There are worse things than hiding behind Nikki. She could take you, I think.”

Lucas rubbed a hand through his hair and let out an exasperated sigh.

“Hey, dude, are you AWOL?” J.T. couldn’t keep the concern out of his voice.

Lucas smiled. “Nah. My CO has a baby sister too. He was only too happy to let me go kick some ass.”

“Well then, instead of me kicking your ass, why don’t we go out and have a drink to celebrate the fact that I’ll be your brother-in-law.”

“You kick my ass?” Lucas sputtered. “I was going easy on you because I didn’t want to permanently injure the guy Nikki thinks she’s in love with.” J.T. glared at him.

“Married? For real?” Lucas asked as if he’d just caught that part. “You’re marrying her?”

“Well, the hope is that she’s marrying me,” J.T. said. “Now, can we get cleaned up?

I’m starving.”

Lucas glared at him again. “Don’t say another goddamn word about why you’re starving or I swear to God, I’ll kill you.”

J.T. chuckled. “Come on. Let’s go. Nikki will be glad to see you.”

Chapter Ten

Nikki sat on J.T.’s lap at Tucker’s while Lucas navigated his way through the crowd, holding a pitcher of beer. He gave her a decidedly big brother indulgent smile as he plunked the beer down.

“Hey, got room for us?”