Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts Page A

places?”
    The
entire café stared at the scene. Kazlyn blushed and pivoted to face Ty. “I’m
sorry. My brothers obviously have no manners.” She cast a glare over her
shoulder.
    Ty
tilted her chin up. “I understand. I have two sisters, remember? I’d act the
same way if I saw one of them with a boy I didn’t know.”
    Luke
guffawed. “And now he’s playing on our sympathies. Not gonna work, buddy. Don’t
come near her again. Kazlyn, we’re leaving. Now.” He reached for her elbow.
    Kazlyn
pulled away from him and stood next to Ty.
    “I’ll
take Kazlyn home,” Ty said.
    Luke’s
eyes narrowed. Kazlyn expected him to say something awful but instead he threw
a punch at Ty’s jaw. Ty dodged to the side as Porter grabbed Luke and Kazlyn
screamed.
    “Luke!
You red-necked idiot!” She reached for her and Ty’s coats, securing her fingers
around Ty’s hand. “Don’t you touch him.”
    She
tugged on Ty. He paused to pull some money out of his wallet and toss it on the
table, then walked with her passed her brothers. He nodded to Porter, but
wisely said nothing. They hurried out of the awkwardly silent restaurant and a
few blocks through the cold to his truck.
    “I
am so sorry,” Kazlyn muttered. She leaned against the truck, unable to meet his
gaze.
    He
tilted her chin up, dipped his head, and kissed her. The movement of his lips drove
every thought of her brothers from her mind.
    Ty
pulled away and smiled gently. “It’s okay. He missed.”
    Kazlyn
couldn’t help but laugh. Ty settled her inside the truck and she proceeded to
give him directions on which way to drive. The drive home should’ve been
uncomfortable, but Ty made her laugh with stories about Jamison’s little
brothers saying things about his black skin, then getting scolded by their
mother. “I guess there isn’t a lot of racial diversity up here,” Ty said.
    “Not
really,” Kazlyn admitted, “You are definitely a welcome addition.”
    He
smiled and ran his thumb along the back of her hand.
    They
were in her driveway and she had to say it again, “I’m so sorry about my
brothers. They’ve always been overprotective, but it’s been worse since my dad
died.”
    Ty
nodded. “I really do understand. It’s hard being an older brother, especially
without a dad around. You feel like you have to protect your family more than
ever.”
    “Thanks
for understanding. Luke’s obviously the worst. Probably because he’s the oldest
and thinks he has to be dad. Plus, he’s been grumpy since he gave up his career
to save the ranch.”
    “What
was his career?”
    “He
has a master’s in mechanical engineering. He started working for Boeing in L.A.
after graduation. Then, Dad died and he came home because Porter couldn’t manage
the ranch alone.” She sighed. “Porter went to college, but his heart was always
here. Luke needs more and it makes him a bigger pain in the butt than he
usually would be.”
    Ty
tilted his head to study her. “It’d be hard to let your dreams go.”
    “True.”
Kazlyn felt a surge of guilt for complaining so much about school. At least,
she could pursue her dreams. “I’d better get inside before they get home.”
    Ty
rushed around to help her out of the truck and walked her to the door, holding
her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world. Kazlyn loved it, but
really hoped her brothers wouldn’t appear anytime soon.
    “I’d
invite you in, but maybe not the best idea tonight.”
    “Maybe
tomorrow night,” Ty said.
    Kazlyn
squinted up at him. Porter was right, he was a brave one. “You want to see me
tomorrow night?”
    “Of
course, I do.”
    Happiness
encompassed her. Luke throwing a punch hadn’t scared Ty away.
    “Is
there any place to go to dinner, besides the café? Not sure I want to appear
there anytime soon.”
    “Me,
neither! Tomorrow is the carnival. It’s kind of fun and their fried pickles are
better than the Bull’s Head.”
    “Really?
Then I can’t miss it.” He