"Yeah. But I didn't. So deal with it."
"Don't worry," I said. "I will."
His eyebrows lifted. "Do I look worried?"
Oh, please.He didn't look worried. He looked like every girl's fantasy. But that was hardly the point. I replied, "I don't know.Areyou? Worried, I mean?"
"Me?" He made a sound that was almost a laugh. "Nah. This'll be fun."
The implication was obvious.It would be fun for him. Not for me.
Probably the script called for me to gather up my stuff and run for the hills. But that wasn't going to happen, no matter how unwelcome I felt.
I wasn't giving up.And besides, thanks to him, I had no place to go.
And even if Ididhave a home to return to, what would I do when I got there?Obsess over the house, anyway? Watch on TV as Brody turned my grandparent's legacy into something godawful, purely out of spite? Or worse, cry later on when he pulled a major plot twist and demolished the house anyway?
In my mind, I could almost see it.
Hello, Wrecking Ball.
Goodbye, any chance to reclaim the house.
But now, thanks to that surprising job offer, I wasn't withoutsomedegree of influence. Plus, the truth was, I needed the money more than I cared to admit.
So I stiffened my spine and told Brody flat-out, "If you think you can run me off, forget it."
"Me?" He offered up a cold smile. "I wouldn't dream of it."
God, I hated this – the tension, the anger, the pressure building between us. Desperate to release at least some of it, I tried for a joke. With a nervous laugh, I said, "Youdorealize, if Ihappenedto 'slip' off the roof or something, you'd get some super-bad publicity."
His expression only darkened. "Let's get one thing straight," he said. "You're not getting anywhere near that roof."
Oh, for crying out loud."I was joking."
"It's no joke," he said. "I don't need some amateur messing this up."
"Oh come on. I just meant—"
"Iknowwhat you meant." A new edge crept in to his voice. "And let me tell you something. Even thoughIwouldn't toss you off – since I'd be stuck cleaning up the mess – I can't say the same for my brothers."
At the implied threat, I felt the blood drain from my face. "What?"
"You heard me," he said. "Now, you want some advice?"
"From you? Not really."
"Stay out of their way," he said. "And mine, too, while you're at it."
I made a sound of frustration. "I already told you, I was joking."
But in front of me, Brody looked like he wouldn't know a joke if it hit him in the face with a hammer.
Still, I tried again. "Andyouwere joking, too." I hesitated. "Right? I mean, your brothers wouldn't seriously toss me off the roof or anything." I felt myself swallow. "Would they?"
"Think what you want," he said. "We start tomorrow at eight." His gaze raked the length of me before he said, "And wear a jacket or something, will you?"
I frowned. "What?"
