Razed (Barnes Brothers #2)(36)

But she didn’t wait for an answer. Digging the money out of her purse, she dropped enough cash on the table to cover the bill and the tip. Ignoring the intense way Zane’s gaze cut to her, all but searing her, she rose. “I’m not feeling great. I need some air. Zane, Abby said she can get you home when she and Zach head out. I’ll bring your stuff by in a little while.”

“I don’t think so,” Zane said, rising, his voice low.

“Please.” She stared at him, unable to explain the awful, vicious ache in her chest.

“We don’t mind running you to the loft later, Z.” Zach shot her a smile, but it was brittle around the edges. “See you in the morning, Keelie.”

She gave him a short nod and then headed for the door.

She heard a chair scrape behind her.

Then Abby’s voice.

She didn’t know if she’d get out of there without him following her or not.


*

“Give her a couple of minutes,” Abby suggested, catching Zane’s hand.

“We were on a date,” Zane half snarled.

“Yeah.” Abby gave him a sympathetic smile before she turned a hard glare on her husband. “Then we ruined it.”

Zach looked up at that. “Hey, we didn’t ruin it. She invited us to join them, Abs.”

“And if you hadn’t sat there pouting because your brother called the woman he likes before you, then I suspect Keelie wouldn’t have left, feeling like she had done something wrong, instead of you, you big baby,” Abby shot back.

“Nobody made her leave.” Zach sat up, his voice edged.

And loud enough that more than a few people glanced their way.

“No.” Abby shook her head. “But you sure as hell didn’t do anything to make her feel like she should stay. It was their date . . . and you successfully made her feel unwelcome. Happy . . . sugar?”

“Enough,” Zane said quietly. He eyed the money Keelie had tossed down. The server appeared in the next moment and he checked the bill. She’d calculated it pretty much to a T, including the tip. Gathering up the money, he turned it over and then stood. “If it’s all the same to you, Abby, I’ll pass on the ride. I’m just going to call for a cab.”

“That’s stupid, Z.” Zach stood up, eying him narrowly. “Cab fare from here to the loft will be insane.”

Zane just turned on his heel and strode out of the restaurant. They weren’t far behind him but at least he didn’t have to worry about offering free entertainment to the patrons if Zach didn’t get off his back. An annoying little tic pulsed in his temple and he reached up, rubbing at it as he pulled his phone out of his pocket, opening the browser to search for a cab company.

“Come on, Z . . .”

Slowly, he looked up, met Zach’s gaze. “I’m calling a cab,” he said quietly.

“Sounds good to me.” Abby leaned in and kissed his cheek and then turned to her husband. “Come on, Zach.”

“We’re twenty minutes away from the loft. We pass by it on our way home.” He stood there stubbornly, hands jammed in his pockets.

“If I get into a car with you right now, I have a feeling I’ll have my hands around your throat by the time the ride is over with.” Zane shot him a sharp-edged look. “We’d have to make Abby drive. She’ll get pissed at me if we get blood all over one of the cars.”

“What in the hell is your—”

“Enough.” Abby’s voice was sharp, cold as ice, and cut between them. Zach lapsed into silence and his gaze landed on his wife’s face. She advanced on him and Zane couldn’t deny getting some smug satisfaction from the moment as she jabbed a finger into Zach’s chest. “Tell me one thing, Zach. If you get off a plane, who is the first person you’re going to call . . . me? Or one of your brothers?”


*

Zach had absolutely no idea how things had gotten to this point.

Zane was moving a little too fast—actually, for Zane, he was moving at light speed and Zach was now officially a little worried. And so, yeah, maybe, a little bothered by the fact that his brother—his best friend, next to Abby, hadn’t seen the point in letting him know he was coming to town.

But now, not only was Zane mad at him, Abby was.

“Well?” she demanded, drilling her finger into his chest again.

“You know I’m going to call you,” he said irritably. He caught her wrist. And because he hated when she was mad at him, he started to stroke his thumb over the sensitive inner skin. “You’re my wife. I should call you.”

She gave him a sweet smile. “And who would you have called a year ago? Two years ago? Five?”

Setting his jaw, he just stared at her. He’d like to argue it wasn’t the same.

But then, he looked over at Zane. Behind the lenses of his glasses, Zane’s eyes were unreadable. Zane had never been the easiest one to read, but now he was less so.

“Well, f*ck,” he muttered. Hooking a hand over the back of his neck, he nodded and then turned around, heading off toward the car.

“Don’t you think you could maybe say something?” Abby said as she fell into step next to him,

“Why?” he bit off. “If I say much more, he’s going to feel like hitting me. I’m mad enough that I’ll hit back. We’re in public. If we get into a fight in public, my mom will kick both our asses. I’m an idiot and he knows it. He doesn’t want me to do anything but leave him alone right now.”