Free Beg Me by Jennifer Probst Page B

really. Rafe has to do a better job explaining the intimate details of my past. Nothing like your brothers spilling your dirty laundry.”
    Tara waved her hand in the air. “We’d never share your secrets. It’s in the circle of trust.”
    Rick tugged her hair playfully. “Hmm, seems you’ve been watching too many movies and not enough studying.”
    “I got an A- on my last test!”
    “It should’ve been an A.”
    Rafe rolled his eyes. “Yeah, like you’re a perfectionist, Rick. I saw your station before. It was a bit of a mess. Pop would’ve kicked your ass.”
    Tara giggled.
    Rem figured this was a perfect time for his announcement. “Cara and I are friends now. I invited her to join us for a drink tonight.”
    Silence fell at the table.
    “Friends?” Rick repeated. “Are you kidding me?”
    “You’re not sleeping with her?” Rafe asked in confusion.
    “Nope. We’re just friends.”
    “Who’s friends?” Rem groaned at the sound of Rome’s voice. Sloane greeted everyone and slid into the leather booth with a glass of sparkling water. Her dark good looks, and no-nonsense attitude screened a brilliant mind. As “The Queen of Cards” she made millions on the circuit and had just got back from another tour.
    “Cara and Rem are now friends,” Rafe filled in.
    “Not the Cara who broke your heart and abandoned you?” Sloane asked.
    “Is there anyone at this table that doesn’t know my personal shit?” he grumbled.
    “No,” Rome said.
    “Dude, you’re screwed up,” Rick said. “First you said you’d never see her again after the FANTA-C date. Now you’re suddenly sneaking around, walking dogs, as friends . Why don’t you both try again? It’s obvious you’re into her.”
    Rem glared and jabbed his finger at his brothers. “Stay out of this. “
    Summer spoke up. “Rem is right, it’s none of our business.”
    “I agree,” Sloane said. “Hey, maybe you can take her to Chains?”
    Rem choked on his beer. “No way. I know she had Paul teach her, but I’m sure she’s ready to pull out of the club scene. I think we both needed FANTA-C to close the door on the past, and start fresh. But not together.”
    Silence fell again.
    As he glanced around the table, he received sympathetic stares that told him one thing. He was a big chump.
    “Well, this is a quiet table.”
    He looked up. Cara stood next to him, shifting her weight from foot to foot in her trademark gesture of nerves. Rem stood and gave her a half-hearted hug, feeling on display as the crowd in the booth took everything in. Sometimes, family was a real pain in the ass.
    “I’m glad you can make it.” He quickly made introductions to the girls, but his brothers surprised him. They slid out of the booth and caught up Cara in big bear hugs.
    “You look great,” Rick said. “All grown up.”
    Cara laughed and blushed. “You guys, too. I cannot believe I’ve been in Vegas over a year and never ran into you!”
    Rome motioned to Rick. “Started with this guy, and one by one, he dragged us out here. Whatcha drinking?”
    “Blue Moon on draft,” Rem and Cara said together.
    Rafe grinned. “Squeeze in with us.”
    She sat down and her leg pressed against his. He loved when she dressed up, but in a casual denim skirt, cowboy boots, and a white lace top, Cara Winters was drool worthy.
    “How’s Harry?” he asked grudgingly.
    She smiled. “He’s doing great. He’d been at the shelter a long time, and I was afraid he’d lost hope. He’s literally the sweetest dog on the planet and now he’s all mine.”
    The ladies sighed. Yeah, if they only knew Rem’s days were numbered with the serial killer dog. “What do you do, Cara?” Sloane asked.
    “I teach special education at Sommerset. I really love working with the kids.”
    Summer nodded. “I teach second grade at Lakeside. I swear, as tired as I get, those kids make it worth it.”
    The women bonded, chattering nonstop and slipping into girlie subjects that Rem wanted