Read Online Busted (Barnes Brothers #3) by Shiloh Walker - Free Book Online

stayed with his initial plan of an early dinner, followed by bed. So far, Trey had done nothing but listen to the pompous ass who was Baron I. Capstone as he attempted to talk over and around everybody else at the table.
    Trey was trying to figure out how to excuse himself—so he could get those damn wings—when she walked in.
    He damn near choked on the tea he’d just swallowed.
    Ressa
 . . .
    Trey thought maybe his mind was playing tricks on him, but after he blinked and rubbed his eyes, she was still there. Although it could be a hallucination brought on by lack of oxygen.
    That body ought to be illegal.
    Get it together
.
    He swallowed, clenched his hands into fists—almost managed to suck in some much needed air.
    But then she saw him.
    She pursed her lips, frowned as though she was puzzling something through.
    He saw the very
second
she recognized him and something that looked like dazed shock fell across her face. He could sympathize. He’d accepted the fact that they wouldn’t see each other again, and that it was for the best.
    That didn’t mean he hadn’t enjoyed every white-hot dream, and the rare, blistering climax that might follow.
    Yes, he still thought about her.
    Yes, he still dreamed about her.
    And now . . .
    She slowly resumed walking toward them and his heart started to hammer in his chest. Some wild hope started to jump and dance.
Maybe
—
    “Hmmm. Boys, I’ve just found who
I’m
taking back to the hotel,” Capstone murmured.
    A rush of possessiveness, the kind he hadn’t felt in years, slammed into him, catching him off guard.
    He had no idea what he might have said if Max hadn’t laughed. “Baron, son, you couldn’t manage that if you lived a thousand years.”
    Then Max shifted his attention forward. “Ressa, sweetheart. It’s been far too long.”
    All the puzzle pieces fell into place. Max . . . Max knew her. He’d mentioned he had a friend who could handle the moderating bit—
a librarian
, he’d said.
Has handled events like this before. You’ll love her.
    Feeling a little dazed himself, Trey thought,
Yeah, Max. I think I could do just that. I could love her.
    Her gaze moved around the table and as it landed on him, need, longing attacked him with vicious, desperate claws.
    “Hello, gentlemen,” she said, her voice smooth and warm as melted chocolate. And her mouth—she’d painted it with some rich, vibrant red and he had to force himself to listen to what she was saying, instead of just watching her mouth as it formed those words. Her gaze landed on him and he inclined his head.
    “Well . . .” She drew the word out, inclining her head. “This is . . . something of a surprise, Mr. . . . ?”
    He grimaced. He’d heard that from her so many times. Ithad become habit, dodging when people pushed, even for something as small as his name. His family had come in after Aliesha’s death, surrounded him in the days that followed, and even though part of him had wanted them there, another part had dreaded it. Because if Zach was in town, and Sebastian, even though he’d just been a bit actor then, they were known names and the reporters had flocked around. Abby had been there too and any time she and Zach were together, that brought reporters out in droves.
    It had been a small slice of hell, even as he took comfort in having his family around.
    While he was grieving for Aliesha, and trying to deal with what was going on with his son, then—and the black hole of memories in the hours that followed after he’d left his family—he also had reporters dogging his every step. Normally, he wasn’t one of the brothers who caught much attention when it came to reporters. Authors weren’t that fascinating when it came to media attention, but nothing brings them out like tragedy.
    Yeah, it had become second nature to avoid the media, to avoid having people recognize
him
period.
    And it was time to get over it.
    “Yeah, um . . . hi.” He rose and glanced