Once he stumbled back and doubled over resting his hands on his knees, I asked again. “Done now?” Dropping my arms to my sides, I quietly struggled to calm my own labored breathing.

“You’re an asshole,” he gasped.

“And you’re gonna listen to me now.” I leaned against the brick wall.

“Don’t tell me what to fucking do.” His tantrums hadn’t changed, not one iota since I’d met him. And he wondered where Haven inherited it from, I mused, watching him for signs of round two.

“Look, the way you caught us wasn’t cool. I know that. But don’t think for a second I was anything less that real about her.” I spoke slowly. His face reddening, he stood, looking for another fight.

“Don’t talk about her. You don’t even get to mention her name, asshole!” he huffed. “She’s my baby sister! You don’t fuck with my baby sister!” He lunged and I moved out of the way. “Not fucking ever. You used her. I’ve seen you do it time and time again. You’re a fuck ‘em and forget ‘em guy.” His voice gaining both aggressiveness and rage, he continued.

“Where the fuck do you think I learned how?” I responded in kind. I wasn’t backing down this time. Shit needed to be done. “She’s different.” My voice low and menacing, he turned around and charged at me again.

“I know. She’s my little sister!” He tried to slam his shoulder into my stomach, but missed when I pushed him backward.

“No, she was different, Trip,” I said in a slow precise tone.

He stopped and pulled his hands up to his hips, breathing hard. “I’m listening.”

“She wasn’t just a conquest for me, Trip. She’s Haven. That girl is fucking special. To all of us. I wasn’t out to hurt her.” I was as uncomfortable as hell; feelings between guys just wasn’t a thing we did.

“Well, you should have known not to go near her. Not ever, dude. She was always going to be off limits.” Trip could be a dick and make a hell of a display by being just that, but when it came to family, he was fiercely loyal. If I couldn’t be around all the time to protect Haven, she couldn’t have had better than her two brothers.

“I’m not going near her again. It fucking hurts, but I’ll stay away because I know I’ll never be anything close to what she deserves. And I hate that there’s a damn rift between everyone. I need it sorted out for her, for you, and for my boys.” I told him truthfully, taking a shuddering breath as I laid it all out for him.

"When the boys’ mom left us, I had nowhere to turn but to my family. I suddenly found myself the single father of two boys with nobody to help me. Except you guys. I've loved you since we were kids, Trip. The whole family. I had no way of knowing that what I felt for Haven would change, but hear this: I love that girl with every piece of whatever I have left. But I love you and Mace, too. You two dickwads are the only thing on this planet who could force me to turn my back on her. It broke her heart, Trip. Hell, it's still breaking. I don't want that for her, but what we have, our family, is more important. So I'll stay gone. You have my word that Haven is off limits."

"You can't talk your way out of this, Jude." Trip's tone was harsh, but I saw the fight had gone out of him. "You're right about one thing though. We're family. For no reason other than your boys, we'll make this right. They deserve that much. But you've still gotta talk to Mace, and I sure as shit don't envy you for that." He held the door open for me, grabbing my elbow just long enough to get in a final demand. "And seriously, keep your hands off my sister."

“I hear you.” I clapped him on the back and walked in the back door hoping I’d miss Haven as I headed through, but to no avail.

I only made it halfway through the parlor when I heard her laugh. It was a laugh that had very nearly brought me to my knees time and time again. Today was no different; except this time, it hurt just a bit. I was miserable and she was able to laugh; she still had joy. It was a double-edged sword. I wanted her to be happy, but at the same time, it pained me that it was without me.

I stopped moving when I reached the half wall that sectioned off the waiting room from the back area. What I saw was like a punch to the balls.

The cocky country boy from the garage was back… and he was flirting with my gir— I cut that thought process off. She wasn’t my girl, but anyway I looked at it, she wasn’t gonna be his either. The jackass leaned on the glass display cabinet beaming a cheesy-ass megawatt smile at Haven.

I grabbed Trip by the arm before he could walk out there and pricked my ears up to hear what they were talking about.

“That’s really pretty on you,” Cowboy said, pointing to the necklace Haven was playing with around her neck.

“Oh, this is just an old piece of junk, really. It’s kinda pretty though, I suppose,” she answered on a short giggle. She was fucking giggling. This guy was pulling out the cheesiest damn lines and she was eating up the attention.

“I think you and your pretty necklace should come to dinner with me.” He leaned forward and brushed his fingers over the necklace that sat just between the swell of her breasts.

Over my dead body!

Before I could say a word, Trip stormed past me and interrupted their little flirt fest.

“You’re needed out the back, Haven,” he said tensely, glaring at the cowboy.

“I’m a little busy here, Trip. It’ll have to wait a minute,” she replied, not even looking at him but still smiling at the jackass who wasn’t getting the memo.