Unexpected Rush (Play-By-Play #11)(58)

“Whatever. So are you heading to the ranch this weekend?” Flynn asked.

“Yeah.”

Harmony swallowed, then turned to Barrett. “What’s going on at your parents’ place?”

“Our parents have invested in a new blues club that’s having their opening weekend in Austin. So we’re all flying in to hang out with the parents and go to the club. Tucker’s off because it’s the midseason break, so even he’ll be around.”

She smiled at him. “That sounds fun.”

“You should bring Harmony,” Flynn said. “Hell, you should bring her entire family, Barrett. They’ve come to the ranch before, haven’t you?”

She shook her head. “My mom and my brother have been there, but I was on a college trip the last time they came out, so I missed it.”

“Then you definitely have to come. Doesn’t she, Barrett?”

Barrett had no idea how to respond to that. Bringing Harmony’s family would be innocuous enough, except he’d want to be alone with Harmony, and if Drake was there . . .

“What?” Flynn asked.

“My brother doesn’t know Barrett and I are seeing each other. And Barrett doesn’t want him to know.”

“Ohhh,” Flynn said, giving his brother the once-over. “So, uh, what’s the big deal?”

He knew he was going to end up having this conversation with Flynn. “Drake and I are teammates. He’s protective of Harmony. How do you think he’d react if he found out Harmony and I were seeing each other?”

Flynn shrugged. “No way to know unless you tell him.”

Barrett shook his head. “No way. We’re getting ready to head into training camp, then preseason. The last thing Drake and I need is tension between us. We need a solid defense.”

Flynn rolled his eyes. “I think you’re underestimating him.”

“And I think you’re underestimating his potential reaction. I’ve seen him around Harmony. He’s never approved of the guys she dates.”

Harmony laughed. “This is true.”

“Yeah, but none of those guys have been you.”

“Not gonna happen.”

Harmony got up and took her plate to the sink, then started doing dishes.

“Hey, leave those,” Flynn said.

“Nope. You two cooked. I’ll clean up.”

Barrett finished his plate, then took it over to the sink, helping Harmony dry the pots and pans.

When she finished with the dishes, she turned to him. “I’m going to go take a shower.”

“Okay.”

After she left, Barrett joined Flynn in the living room.

“I think you’re off the mark with Drake,” Flynn said.

“And I think you should butt out on this. This thing with Harmony and me is brand-new. We aren’t sure where we stand with each other. It might not even work out. And what if that happens? How do you think Drake would feel then if we break up? He and I have been friends a lot of years. I was reluctant to even start anything up with Harmony for this very reason.”

“Oh, so she forced you into it?” Flynn asked with a smirk.

“No. Dammit, Flynn, this is complicated. Which is another reason I’d just as soon leave Drake out of it.”

Flynn raised his hands. “Hey, I get it. I’m just giving you shit. What you do in your personal life is your business. But just be careful, okay. I like Harmony. I kind of think you’re okay, too. I’d really hate for either of you to get hurt.”

“I don’t want to hurt her. But let the two of us navigate this in our own way. And that means leaving Drake out of it.”

“Your choice. But I think it’s going to blow up in your face.”

“Maybe. I just intend to take this thing day by day and we’ll see how it goes.”

Flynn gave him a dubious smile. “You do that, Brother.”

“I’ve gotta shower. I promised Harmony a full day of sightseeing.”

“Okay. Tonight we’ll head into the city for dinner, since I know you two have an early flight tomorrow morning.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“Sure wish you could stay longer. I kind of didn’t hate having you around this weekend.”

“I didn’t hate it, either.” It was times like this that he missed his brothers, though he’d never admit that to any of them. “But I’ll see you again next weekend. And hey, the restaurant is coming along.”

“It is. Next time you come out it’ll be more than just an empty shell. And I’ll have an actual staff.”

Barrett smiled. “You have Ken.”

“I do. Fortunately, he’ll drive the wheel for me while football season gears up. And when I’m in town, I’ll get to watch the inside of the restaurant take form.”

“Yeah, kind of like my house. I’m anxious to get back home to see how things are going there.”

“We didn’t get to talk about that. I’m sure you’re anxious about it.”

“Not really. I have a great contractor, and Harmony’s actually handling it all. She’s an interior designer.”

Flynn’s brows rose. “Is that right? Very cool, man.”

“Yeah. So hopefully I can just pop in, check progress and not have to stress the minor details.”