Beautifully Undone (The Beaumont Brothers #3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

thought of earlier when we were playing in the street. “In the club. She’s become quite good, and her voice is like silk.” All of that was the truth; it just wasn’t something I needed to clear with Ted. But it was something to talk about other than Alex fucking Clayton, which I now knew I couldn’t bring up. “I haven’t told her yet. I was going to tell her tomorrow. Just thought I’d mention it to you tonight since you’re here.”
    “That’s great. I’ve always thought she should be singing with you. I’m glad you’ve decided to let her. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”
    Ted knew me too well. It wasn’t that I didn’t want her singing with me before. Well, let’s be honest here, I didn’t want her singing with me because I didn’t want us labeled as a “couple.” Not in the sense of a relationship type of couple, but a performing duet. And not for my benefit. For hers. She was good, and with the right connections, she could be well on her way to a great career and a recording contract.
    “Well, I think she needs a chance to be seen, even if it is in that small club,” I said, though I wasn’t entirely sure that club was right for her. I wasn’t convinced she’d get the exposure she needed. “She needs a break. A break out, I mean.”
    “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
    “She’s good, Ted. I mean really good. As in, ‘top of the charts’ good. She needs someone bigger than me, but she’s gotta start somewhere.”
    “Don’t sell yourself short, Ash. With or without Mel beside you, you shine. And who knows, maybe you need each other more than you realize, and you know I’m not just talking about music.”
    “Not that again.”
    “My sister needs you, Ash. I can’t be here to protect her anymore.”
    My eyes shot to his. He was back on this again? “You know I’ll always look out for her. But why are you pressing this? I told you, Melody and I could never have that kind of relationship. We get along great, always have, but there’s never been any intimacy between us. Sure, we kissed back in sixth grade, but after that, we knew it would never work. We both felt it and have always stayed clear of that path.”
    “I just want to make sure my two best friends are happy and safe. I’m in Phoenix now. I can’t be here to look after her. Our dad is back east and probably could care less, and mom is, well, in a world of her own these days.”
    “Melody’s safe with me. We have each other’s backs no matter what. So just stop your worrying, man.”
    “Okay. I wish I could stick around for a few days so I could hear you guys.”
    “Me, too.”
    “Maybe next time.”
    “Maybe next time, what?” Melody said, squeezing her delicate yet curvy frame in between us. Her breasts accidentally brushed against my arm. I didn’t think she noticed, but I did. She grabbed her glass from the counter and gulped down the last few drops of beer that had to be room temperature by now.
    “Oh, nothing important,” Ted said. “We were just talking about the next time I come see you guys, we’d be able to spend more time together, that’s all.”
    “Like Christmas,” I said.
    “Yeah. Exactly,” Ted affirmed. Then he put his arm around his sister and pulled her in for a squeeze. “We’re gonna have a blast. Now, I need a shot,” Ted proclaimed in a rather dangerous sounding tone. “Tequila!” he shouted to the bartender and held up three fingers.
    When the shots arrived, we clinked our glasses together and drank. Melody grabbed one of the lime wedges and sucked it. I watched as her lips puckered, and my mind went back to sixth grade and the kiss we both pretended never happened.
     
     

CHAPTER SIX
    Melody
     
    Asher and I sat on the floor in the middle of his mom’s living room going through some of her old boxes of stuff. Thank goodness she didn’t have a whole lot of stuff, and what she did have was well organized. We were just about finished. There were only two boxes left in the