I tried not to snicker. "Really? There was a yokel?" I lowered my voice. "Tell me, did you report him to the authorities?"
"I tried," she huffed. "Turns out he owns the place."
"Wow," I said. "How terrible."
"Yeah. Tell me about it." As she spoke, she took a single step forward, as if expecting me to throw open the door and step aside. And when I didn't, she stopped short and eyed me with open hostility. "You'renotmoving."
I gave a few stupid blinks. "I'm not? Are you sure?"
Her jaw clenched. "I can see you."
"That's funny," I said. "I can see you, too."
"Oh, for God's sake." Waverly turned to Roy and said, "Move her out of the way, will ya?"
Roy looked from Waverly to me and back again before telling her, "I'm pretty sure that's not in my contract."
"Fine," she snapped. "I'lldo it."
But just as she started to move forward again, a familiar male voice from somewhere beyond the porch asked, "Is there a problem?"
In unison, we all turned to look. As we did, Brody sauntered into view, as if he had all the time in the world.
I smiled in relief. Obviously, he'd slipped out the back while I'd been guarding the front.
At the sight of him, Waverly said, "There you are!"
"Yeah," he said. "So what's the problem?"
Waverly jerked her thumb vaguely over her shoulder and said, "She won't let us in."
Brody gave a loose shrug. "Yeah, well. It's hard to find good help, you know?"
Hearing this, I didn't know whether to laugh or throttle him. And besides, by now I'dalreadypulled open the door nice and wide – not that Waverly seemed to notice.
And why?It was because she was giving Brody that look again, like he was the tallest, tastiest cup of coffee ever.
I spoke up. "If you wanted to come in, you should've said so."
At this, I swear Roy snickered, even if hedidcover it up with a cough. As for Waverly, she ignored me completely as she turned away and hustled off the porch to join Brody on the front walkway.
With a flirty smile, she leaned toward him and asked, "So, where were you?"
"Here," he said. "Where were you?"
"I wastryingto get inside." Her tone grew breathless as she said, "Did you know it rained the other night?"
"Yeah, so?"
Her smile widened. "I'm betting we've gotmajordamage." She said this like it was a good thing.
But Brody wasn't smiling. "You think?"
"Sure," she said. "I heard it rained likefourinches." Sounding nearly orgasmic, she breathed, "Just think of the 'before' footage. If the ceiling caved in, we're gold, baby."
Baby?
Good grief.
