“You’re such a cougar,” August told her.
I stopped to listen to their conversation, feeling not an ounce of shame. If they were going to ogle strippers on the lawn, they deserved what they got.
“And what are you?” Bernie asked archly. “It hasn’t escaped my attention that two men have decided to move in with you, each bringing their own bedroom set. Did you start one of those reverse harems without telling me? Bring your own mattress to apply?”
“Reverse harem?” August sounded scandalized. “How do you even know that term?”
Good question.
The two guys paused on the front porch, looking August over with interest. I crossed my arms to keep from dragging her behind me and glared at them, but they were already moving toward the front door.
“I’m not starting a harem, reverse or otherwise,” she informed them loudly.
Damn right, she wasn’t.
“Too bad,” one of them said to the other as they crossed the threshold. “I’m a great team player and rent is fucking brutal lately.”
Bernie buried her face in August’s shoulder as they both started laughing hysterically.
“Want to let me in on the joke?”
The girls spun around in surprise, laughing harder when they saw me standing there with my arms crossed over my chest.
“Big brother has arrived,” Bernie wheezed. “We’re in trouble now.”
“Tell him Chick did it,” August ordered while fighting to catch her breath. “I’m fine throwing him under the bus since he bought furniture without asking for permission first.”
I frowned. “Weren’t you planning to put the queen in there until you could take him mattress shopping?”
August nodded adamantly, finally getting a handle on her giggles, though her eyes still gleamed with humor. “He knew that, and trust me, I gave him an earful when I called him about it. He said letting him do this was a favor for him, since he wouldn’t be able to sleep on the queen and I’d feel guilty about sending him to the chiropractor’s office. I’m not sure why anentirebedroom set was necessary though. I’ll have to pay him back for that.”
She wasn’t talking revenge—she would actually pay him back the cost of what looked to be top-of-the-line furniture. If he didn’t accept it, she would slip it into his wallet as he slept. I spoke from experience. Any time I’d purchased a tool or supplies for one of our projects, she’d insisted on reimbursing me one way or another.
I couldn’t blame the man for not wanting to sleep on that bed, but he had to know she wouldn’t like this, and he sure as hell wasn’t winning any points from me with the naked delivery guys.
“Miss Sunshine, ma’am? We have a placement question.”
Her smile dropped and she looked at Bernie. “Did he call me ma’am?”
“Go on, Miss Sunshine,” Bernie said, pushing her toward the house. “I’ll fill Wade in and then I have a few classes to run, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
August hugged her tight and my mood temporarily lightened at the sight.
“Thank you for today,” she said fervently.
“I hope you’re still saying that tomorrow when your muscles start aching.”
“Too late. But I’ll take a bath tonight.” August sent me asuggestive look before following another half-naked gym rat into her house. Without me.
“Fill me in on what? Did something happen you didn’t tell me about?”
Bernie shrugged. “She had to deal with some cocky teen drivers, but she handled it. Her skills are fine too; she just needs to get over her nerves. You don’t have to worry.”
“Who’s worried?” I watched two of the shirtless dude-bros strut outside in time to the music. They caught me glaring this time and gave me a wide berth to get to their truck.
Bernie put her hand on my arm. “You don’t have to worry about them either. These boys are pure himbo goodness, and not after your girl. They’re not her speed, anyway. She likes grumpy old men covered in dirt, for some reason.”
I looked down at myself and grimaced. I’d washed my hands and face before I left, but as usual, my shirt and pants needed degreaser and a run through a car wash before I got close to anyone. Compared to these kids, with their shaved chests and oiled-up eight packs, I wasn’t winning any beauty contests.
