The Girl With Hearts (Midtown Brotherhood #1) by Savannah Blevins Read Free Book Online Page A

suffered, and it was obvious.
    “I’m just trying to be nice,” Henrik said over his shoulder. “And food is my strong suit.”
    The Good Samaritan routine would be impossible. He underestimated Drew’s protectiveness toward Leila. Even though he’d been wrong about the reason for it, because they apparently really were just friends, it didn’t mean it still didn’t exist. They were brothers, after all, and overstepping boundaries ran in the family.
    “I guess you have a point. Breakfast has always been your specialty.” Drew leaned over his shoulder, wafting the smell toward himself in appreciation. “I may have to let you piss her off more often.”
    “With my track record, I don’t foresee that being an issue.” He couldn’t remember a time since their first encounter that didn’t end with her proclaiming his damnation to the world. It was kind of their thing.
    “Speaking of your track record,” Drew’s eyes suddenly depicted the same suspicion as his tone, “this un-Henrik-like gesture isn’t the beginning of some kind of revenge attempt at Derek, is it?”
    He shot a look over at his brother, who gazed expectantly at him. “You think I’d try to hook up with Derek’s ex over a cheap shot during a regular season game?”
    Drew dramatically rolled his eyes. “You know your beef with Derek is more than just a well-deserved stick to your mouth, which I’m sure you’d been running since the puck dropped, so don’t bullshit me.”
    Straightening his shoulders and focusing on the eggs, he nodded. He hated Derek for a lot more than just that one cheap shot. “No. This has nothing to do with Derek.”
    Drew started to stick his finger in the array of ingredients on the counter, but Henrik quickly reprimanded him with a quick tap on the wrist.
    “Good,” Drew responded, rubbing his hand as he shot Henrik a dirty look, “because Austin would kick your ass, and so would I. You know—with Austin’s help.”
    He snorted, trying to appear casual. “Why do you always assume I have some kind of agenda to get in a girl’s pants? It’s just eggs, Drew. Everybody has to eat.”
    “When has it ever been just eggs with you?” Drew poked him playfully in the ribs. “You know Leila is off limits. Besides, she was a complete mess when she showed up here. She doesn’t need your eggs and ‘hey girl’ line-dropping ass over here hitting on her just so you can get back at Derek.”
    The certainty he heard in his brother’s voice struck a nerve. “Your opinion of me is really that low?”
    Drew sighed, giving him a sympathetic grin. “You realize we’re neighbors, right? We share a wall.”
    Henrik instantly grimaced, and Drew laughed. “I’m not judging you, but it’s my best friend we’re talking about, here. Forgive me for being cautious.”
    Henrik stared at the bubbling grease in the skillet and sighed. Even his own brother didn’t trust him enough to do the right thing anymore.
    When had that happened?
    So, he brought a couple women home every now and then. That didn’t mean he’d lost all sense of moral righteousness. He broke his man code and slept with his best friend’s sister. He knew it was wrong.
    He hadn’t pursued her in some preplanned, heartless scheme like Drew was suggesting, though. Leila had shown up at his door commando, for crying out loud.
    Commando.
    He was a man, not a saint.
    “Fine,” he said slowly, his hand shaking as he set the spatula down, and took off the apron. “You make her feel-better eggs, since obviously I am incapable of doing something nice without it ending in an invitation to my bedroom.”
    Drew shoved the apron back at him. “Henrik, I was just making a point.”
    “That I am an untrustworthy bastard. Message received.”
    “That’s not what I meant. She just doesn’t need another complication in her life right now.”
    He knew Drew read the volatile look on his face, because he winced and immediately started backtracking. “Okay, I didn’t